According to Statistica, 50 million Americans above the age of six went camping in 2021. This number will likely significantly increase in coming years as more people turn toward adopting full-time or part-time camping around the country. 

If you’re interested in camping and want to tour the Northeast but are unsure where to go, you’ve come to the right blog. At Cruise America, we have experience with all things camping, so we know the best campgrounds in the Northeast and can point you toward them. 

Since there are numerous fantastic places you can go camping in the Northeast, you won’t be hurting for options. Yet, we don’t want you to feel overwhelmed, so we’ve shared must-visit campgrounds you’ll love.

12 of the Best Campgrounds in the Northeast

The US Northeast region is spectacularly beautiful, with countless small towns, forests, coastlines, and major cities. 

Most people visiting states in the Northeast gravitate to the cities, but you should place a foot onto the off-beaten path and see the true beauty of the area on the campgrounds. 

Below are some of the best RV campgrounds and camping locations in the Northeast that you must consider visiting if you’re interested in touring this region in a motorhome. 

1. Rocky Neck State Park - Connecticut

One of the best campgrounds for those who want to be near the coast is Connecticut's Rocky Neck State Park. This park has everything sand and sea and is one of the biggest campgrounds on our list, with about 160 campsites dispersed throughout the area.  

If you choose to visit the Rocky Neck State Park, you’ll be surrounded by 700 acres of land home to miles of hiking trails and over half a mile of beachfront for swimming and fishing with the correct permits. Should swimming, hiking, and fishing not be your idea of fun, you can laze on the beachfront or enjoy a few hours of birding at the oceanfront, salt marsh, or forest. 

However, the only downside of this park is that you will have to walk quite a distance from your car to a campsite, so be prepared to make multiple trips. Luckily, if you’re camping with an RV, you won't have the same issue. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The Rocky Neck State Park campground is open from May to September.

• Entrance costs between $7 and $22 each night and could be more for RVs. 

2. Acadia National Park - Maine

Those traveling through Main should visit the Acadia National Park campground. This campground offers visitors scenic wild ocean views, dark skies strewn with twinkling stars, and beautiful forestry. 

The main campground at Arcadia National Park is the Blackwoods campground, and the majority of it is found on the stunning Mount Desert Island. When staying at this campground, you can easily walk or drive to Bar Harbor, only a few miles away. 

Additionally, the Acadia National Park campgrounds offer lots of shade, a decent amount of privacy, and firepits. You’ll likely also love that the ocean is a short walk away. Should you plan on staying a while, you can explore the miles of carriage roads, stroll to Jordan Pond, or enjoy a day of relaxing at Sand Beach. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The Acadia National Park and all of its campgrounds are open 365 days a year so that you can visit at any convenient time. 

• Tent campers can expect to pay $20 a night, and RV campers $30 a night. 

3. Delaware Seashore State Park - Delaware

Another great seaside campground you should consider in the Northeast is Delaware’s Seashore State Park. This campground is a real gem because it offers campers direct access to six miles of coastline and 20 miles of bay shoreline. 

When visiting this campground, you can expect to enjoy swimming, surfing, and sunbathing with its two swimming beaches. It also has modern bathhouses, jetties, and two campground choices on either side of the Indian River inlet. 

Additionally, the campgrounds at this state park accept tent campers and RVs, with some of the campsites having three-point motorhome hookups for water, sewerage, and electricity. 

You can also look forward to booking a charter, participating in a guided hike, windsurfing, sailing, or enjoying a spot of fishing, clamming, or crabbing. History buffs will also love visiting the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum, filled with maritime exhibits and historical re-enactors. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• This campground is open year-round but only has self-servicing lots available to campers in winter. 

• Nonresident motorhome campers should expect to pay $58 per night on weekdays for full hookup sites. 

4. Round Valley Recreation Area - New Jersey

When you first see the Round Valley Recreation Area, you might think you’ve been transported to the boundary waters found in the midwest, but we promise you’re safe and sound in New Jersey. 

This recreation area has a few wilderness campsites and is perfect for those campers who want to explore an area with less traffic. It's ideal for those who want to hike, canoe, or swim, thanks to its beautiful reservoir that spans 2,350 acres. The surrounding area is also picturesque making it the perfect spot for family or couple picnics, and all the campsites are pet friendly.

Another perk of the Round Valley Recreation Area is that its secluded and offers campers solitude. It's a slice of peace away from the big cities like New York and Philadelphia. However, you should note that it doesn’t have as many amenities as other campgrounds in the Northeast, so it might be best for a short visit. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• Seasonal camping from April 1st to October 31st, but the trails are open year-round. 

• Campsites cost $25 per night. 

5. Assateague Island National Seashore - Maryland

The Assateague Island National Seashore campgrounds can be harsh if you’re unprepared, but we promise this Maryland location is worth visiting. For example, this campground is one of the only ones in the Northeast that is home to wild horses. 

It's also one of the only campground locations found on an island on the US East Coast. The campground itself has tent-only campsites, wild horse campsites, and campsites for motorhomes. 

However, if you’re going to camp in an RV, you must note that these campsites don’t offer hookups. Despite not having hookups, there are 40,000 acres to explore, with swimming, fishing, sunbathing, and picnics on the agenda. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The Assateague Island National Seashore campground is open year-round. 

• You should expect to pay $30 a night per campsite. 

6. Four Mile Creek State Park - New York

If you want to stay at a family-friendly campground close to Niagara Falls, you need to consider camping at the Four Mile Creek State Park in New York. The campgrounds at this state park are only 15 miles north of the mighty falls, so you’ll have plenty of time to enthusiastically explore the surrounding area and the falls. 

At this campground, there are 275 shady and sunny campsites and basic amenities like laundry facilities, showers, a camp store, yurts, and a modern playground. Another positive aspect about staying at this campground is that the park is minutes from Old Fort Niagara, North America's oldest continuously occupied military site.

You and your family can watch re-enactments of Canadian and American historical events at this site and tour the base. Yet, if this activity doesn’t appeal to you, the entire family can participate in one of the Lake Ontario shoreline hiking trails. Additionally, despite no swimming facilities, you can spot wildlife like whitetail deer and blue herons. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• No walk-in visitors. You have to book in advance to stay at one of the campsites. 

• You should expect to pay $18 to $34 per night with a $5 additional surcharge. 

7. White Lake State Park - New Hampshire

If you want to camp in New England in the Summer, the best campground can be found at White Lake State Park in New Hampshire. It has tent-only and RV campsites that can accommodate rigs as large as 38 feet. 

The campground at this state park is one of the best places to experience the nature found in this beautiful state, like the views of the glacier-formed White Lake and Mount Chocorua. You can even hike to this mountain if you’re feeling energetic and want to immerse yourself in a forest environment unlike any other.  

If you don’t want to do the hike, you can enjoy White Lake Beach, which is perfect for day visitors and campers who want to stop for a while. Just note that since it's uber-popular, it can get noisy until the evening hours. You can also expect to enjoy numerous hours swimming or fishing if hiking isn’t your idea of fun. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• This campground is open from May 28th to October 29th. 

• The various campgrounds at this state park range from $23 to $30 a night. 

8. Middletown City Campground at Sachuest Beach - Rhode Island

This might not be anyone’s first choice campground, but it's still worth checking out if you’re visiting Rhode Island and want a beach campsite. 

The Middletown City campground is found at Sachuest Beach and is almost always clean despite how many visitors flock to the sizable beach. It also has a wide array of facilities, making it an attractive option for seasonal campers, like electric, sewer, water hookups, hot showers, ice lockers, and toilets. 

The beach is also lovely year-round, and you’ll be able to swim, fish, or surf, as the sizable waves are ideal for beginners and advanced surfers. Moreover, it has a few campsites that can accommodate campers of up to 40 feet in length, but they tend to go quickly, so try and reserve a spot. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The campground season runs May 1st through Columbus Day. 

• The season rate to stay at this campground is $8,800.

9. Mongaup Pond - New York

Those looking for the best place to visit to participate in tent camping on the East Coast should consider the Mongaup Pond campground. This campground can be found in the Catskills region of New York and is perfect for primitive campers or those who participate in car camping. 

Since it is primitive camping, there isn’t much on offer, but you will have access to a grilling platform, local firewood, well-maintained restrooms, picnic tables, and water-filling stations. Yet, of course, the main attraction is the beautiful Mongaup Pond, which you can access.

You can spend the day swimming or fishing in the pond and retreat to the shady picnic areas at the end of the day. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also follow one of the hiking trails and see where it leads you. 

Should swimming and hiking not sound like the best use of your time, you can rent a rowboat, canoe, or kayak and spend some time on the water before returning to your campsite. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• This campground is open year-round except for July and August. 

• Camping fees are $22 per night with an additional $5 out-of-state surcharge. 

10. Little River State Park - Vermont

Those after a campground with many activities in the Northeast region of the US should add the Little River State park to their must-see list. The state park campgrounds are located in Vermont, and there are 81 tent or RV sites, five cabins for rent, and 20 lean-tos, so there's plenty of variety. 

Some activities you can look forward to if you stay at this campground include historic self-led nature walks, fishing, boating, and swimming. You will also be about 30 miles from Burlington, so you can go and visit the town and all it has to offer when staying an extended amount of time in the area. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The Little River State Park is open between May 20th and October 23rd.

• You must contact the state park to learn more about the fees. 

11. Watkins Glen State Park Six Nation Campground - New York

If you’re in New York and want to stay at one of the more popular campgrounds, you should visit the Watkins Glen State Park Six Nation campground. This campground is in the heart of the picturesque Finger Lakes region, so there's much to see and do. 

For example, because of the campground's location, you can easily visit the Finger Lakes. Beautiful hiking trails, spectacular wineries and wine trails, and plenty of waterfalls also surround the campground itself. One of the waterfalls you can’t miss visiting includes Taughannock Falls, as it's taller than even Niagara Falls. 

You can also admire dramatic cliff faces, hike the stunning Gorge Trail, or explore the scenic Seneca Lake. When you return to your well-kept campsite, you can look forward to clean restrooms, dump stations, playing fields, hot showers, firepits, picnic tables, a swimming pool, and playgrounds. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• The Watkins Glen State Park, Six Nation Campground, is open year-round from dusk to dawn, and same-day reservations are permitted until 3 pm. 

• Fees are dependent on the campsite chosen and the size of the rig. 

12. Dean Pond Recreation Area - Massachusetts

In the past, the Dean Pond Recreation Area in Massachusetts might not have made it onto our list, but this campground has recently undergone considerable improvements. For example, the recreation area now has good-quality sand, and a large section of the pond is available to campers for swimming. 

Since it's located in Brimfield State Forest, you can expect primitive campsites with few amenities, but the beautiful natural environment makes up for it. It might not have much to do in terms of activities, but there is more than enough open space to entertain yourself with a picnic or round of competitive frisbee. 

 

Campground Fast Facts

• This campground is open year-round, but you need to make reservations. 

• RVers and campers should expect to pay between $8 and $20 per night. 

Book a Cruise America RV Rental Today To Visit These Fantastic Campgrounds in the Northeast

As you can see, numerous campgrounds in the Northeast are worth visiting. If you’re eager to check a few of these locations off your must-visit list, it might be time to consider renting a motorhome. 

Fortunately, if you’re eager to explore this region, you can do so comfortably in a Cruise America RV rental. We have a wide variety of rentals available, so you’re bound to find a motorhome that suits your needs, wants, and preferences. So start planning your trip today by contacting us here.