Ready to embark on a camping adventure across the USA? We’ve got the inside scoop on the best states for camping. So, what states made the cut? According to new research, Wyoming takes the crown as the ultimate camping paradise, with Montana and New Mexico hot on its heels. But hey, remember that camping is like a national sport here, and you’ll find fantastic spots all over the United States.
Now, how did they determine which states are camping gold mines? Well, they whipped up something called the Camping Index Score/100. Then, they looked at factors like the number of RV parks and campsites per 100,000 people, the presence of national parks and landmarks in the area, and even the diversity of plants and animal life.
Now, without further ado, let’s unveil the 15 best states for camping in the USA. And while we’re at it, we’d love to know where your state stacks up in this camping extravaganza. So, where does your state rank? Time to find out.
Wyoming
Overall Score: 72.12
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 350
Campsites per 100,000 people: 117.82
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.13
Montana
Overall Score: 69.29
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 418
Campsites per 100,000 people: 90.04
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.12
New Mexico
Overall Score: 65.94
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 103
Campsites per 100,000 people: 39.61
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.22
Idaho
Overall Score: 63.62
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 178
Campsites per 100,000 people: 51.47
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.22
Vermont
Overall Score: 61.23
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 405
Campsites per 100,000 people: 24.42
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 1.52
South Dakota
Overall Score: 61.12
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 75
Campsites per 100,000 people: 44.51
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.25
Utah
Overall Score: 60.15
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 212
Campsites per 100,000 people: 18.23
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.21
New Hampshire
Overall Score: 59.93
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 309
Campsites per 100,000 people: 15.62
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 1.45
Colorado
Overall Score: 59.86
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 141
Campsites per 100,000 people: 26.58
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.28
North Dakota
Overall Score: 58.81
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 104
Campsites per 100,000 people: 39.78
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.10
Maine
Overall Score: 58.68
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 188
Campsites per 100,000 people: 20.79
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.58
Arizona
Overall Score: 57.82
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 80
Campsites per 100,000 people: 18.13
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.28
Oregon
Overall Score: 56.39
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 85
Campsites per 100,000 people: 30.23
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.17
West Virginia
Overall Score: 53.30
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 63
Campsites per 100,000 people: 18.20
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.92
Alaska
Overall Score: 51.58
Hiking trails per 100,000 people: 119
Campsites per 100,000 people: 14.46
National parks and landmarks per 1,000 sq miles: 0.50
Source: Adventures on the Rock
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Steve Morrow owns Paddle About, an outdoor recreation and travel blog. Steve loves to travel, kayak, paddle board, camp, hike, and spend time outdoors with his wife and two kids. When he's not exploring the great outdoors, Steve enjoys writing about his adventures and sharing tips for getting the most out of your outdoor experiences. He has a lot of interesting stories to share, and he's always happy to help others get more out of life.
