Michigan Archives - Beachmeter

Guest post by Rob Fusili

Camping doesn’t always have to be out in the middle of the wilderness. There are a lot of campers that enjoy camping on the beach. It’s a whole different camping style and if you haven’t tried it yet, you totally should!

Other than getting another type of camping experience, the needed gear is also different when you go beach camping. You can even enjoy open camping on the beach and use pop up canopy tents right on the beach instead of a traditional tent. Not sure where to go? Here are 10 awesome destinations in the US to go beach camping.

1 Wright’s Beach, Sonoma Coast, California

Photo by ejbSF

What better place to start than sunny California? You can pack up in the RV or meander your way with tent and supplies. This beach is gorgeous and you are right on the coast for a unique camping experience.

This camping site has 27 sites and you can bring your pets for camping as well. The limited number of sites helps to keep the area from being overrun. You can book up to 7 months ahead of time for this beautiful area as well.

2 Kalaloch Campground, Washington

This beach campsite is located in Olympic National Park in Washington. This happens to be a very popular campground in the area because it has wilderness-type terrain that sits right next to a beach so you really get the best of both worlds with camping style and a beach at your front doors.

The campsites are inexpensive and you might just have the chance to see a lot of ocean wildlife from whales to bald eagles flying around the area. You can book at Kalaloch using the National Park service site.

3 Hoffmaster State Park, Michigan

Photo by churl

Right off of the shores of Lake Michigan lies Hoffmaster State Park. It’s about 3 miles from Lake Michigan’s shore and the campsite offers nearly 300 total sites to choose from. This campground has plenty of activities, including hiking, skiing, and gorgeous views. You’re so close to local attractions and so close to that beautiful great lake area as well.

4 Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina

Photo by IvoKee

South Carolina has quite the reputation for beautiful beaches that lie near clear waters. Hunting Island State Park is no exception. This is a stunning location that is situated between Charleston and Savannah so you are close to two well-known areas.

The campground is right next to the beach and you get simple, quiet seclusion so you can simply enjoy the outdoors without huge crowds. This campground houses about 100 sites at which you can hook up an RV or set up a tent. They offer water and electric at all of the sites.

The site also has plenty of activities like fishing, hiking, biking, and even crabbing. You certainly won’t find all of those options at some of the other locations listed. The best thing about this campsite location? You can camp for less than $10 per night, which is a super-low rate!

5 Assateague Island, Maryland

What could possibly be better than camping on a beach? What about beach camping that can boast wild horses in the area? It’s certainly a unique offering but Assateague State Park is located on a small Island off the coast of Maryland and the Island is known for herds of wild ponies that take up residence there.

The campsites for this park are ALL right next to the beach and it’s a gorgeous location and setup. They offer more than 100 campsites but you won’t feel like you’re all jumbled too close together. The rates are decent but a bit higher than some of the options here. For the experience, the cost is really pretty great.

6 Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hawaii

Unless you’re native to Hawaii, you probably won’t be able to just drive to this campground but if you’re looking for a unique experience on the most beautiful coasts available, you will want to consider this option. If you’re in the Hawaii area, this is an idea beach camping solution.

This beach has black sand that you probably won’t find at most beach camping locations. Then, you can enjoy the freshwater caves nearby and the tide pools in the water. It’s absolutely stunning and the camping areas are perfect! It does take a permit to camp but the cost is reasonable and if you’re a tourist that wants to enjoy the location, you can rent a camping van or check out a cabin to enjoy the location.

7 Homer Spit Campground, Alaska

Photo by momo go

Here’s another beach campground that really is best for the locals or if you’re planning a trip you can fly in. This campground is located in Alaska and the timing of your trip could make a difference considering their weather and daylight patterns.

This is a beach camping location that gives you the perfect view of the nearby mountains. It’s not very often that you can get beach and mountains in the same camping location. This campground has 100 RV locations and 25 tent locations. It’s close to nearby areas that have shops, bars, and restaurants so you will have plenty of available activities to enjoy Alaska.

8 Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

Clear blue waters and a unique locale certainly make a great offering. This beautiful camping space is on an island arm of Wisconsin at Lake Superior called Devils Island.

The Apostle Islands include 21 different islands and you can camp on almost all of those. You can choose from beach side or wilderness camping even and the fees are really reasonable as well.

9 Grand Isle State Park, Louisiana

Photo by Lousiana Travel

Louisiana is mostly known for New Orleans and Bourbon Street but they have some really other gorgeous locations as well. The Grand Isle State Park is one of those. It’s only a couple hours from New Orleans so you can enjoy a tourist day and peaceful camping in the same trip. These rates are as low as $3 per night.

10 Bahia Honda State Park, Florida

We couldn’t finish off the beach camping locations without offering you a Florida beach camping spot. On this site, you can literally camp with the palm trees.

This spot is right in the heart of the Florida Keys and it is utterly perfect. You can enjoy all of the beach activities like snorkeling and fishing. This would be the perfect romantic camping option. The site costs a little more but the experience is well worth it.

If you need inspiration on where to go beach camping in the US, take a look at our post on fabulous beaches in US national parks.

Guest post by Nicole Villegas

Here’s a fun fact for you travel buffs: there are just 61 designated areas known as official “National Parks” in the United States. Only those given the formal title by the National Park system can include the official capitalization.

Of those 61, you likely are familiar with Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. With each respectively receiving over four million and six million visitors in 2018 alone, it’s safe to say they can’t exactly be considered “hidden gems” by tourists.

Reservations.com rounded up a list of 20 of the Least Visited National Parks in the U.S. to bring attention to those lesser known parks. We were excited to see four of them feature secluded beaches, gorgeous views and plenty of fun activities! Read on to learn about each one, you may just discover your next road trip or travel destination.

Channel Islands National Park, California

Visits in 2018: 366,250

California is known as a massive state, yet this National Park seems to fly under the radar. The isolated islands that make up its geography are home to many native species, while also preserving a variety of natural resources.

Visitors can craft their own special itinerary with everything from boating and scuba diving to hiking and camping available. Dolphins, seals, whales and elephant seals are just some of the species that make up the marine life native to Channel Islands National Park. This destination is a must-see paradise for any adventurer!

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Visits in 2018: 56,810

For those of you who built forts in their bedroom whenever they could as a kid, Dry Tortugas National Park is absolutely for you. Featuring a 19^th-century hexagonal fort called Fort Jefferson, this landscape is something out of a child’s dreams. You can explore Fort Jefferson, complete with its very own saltwater moat, and then enjoy the beautiful crystal-clear waters Key West is famous for.

The first thing you need to know about this park is the epic Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century hexagonal fort that looks as if a 12-year old boy designed it, complete with a saltwater moat and defensible against pirates.

Aside from five species of turtles (as the park’s name suggests), visitors can admire nurse sharks, crocodiles, schools of fish and many types of native birds.

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Visits in 2018: 25,798

Beaches don’t always need to be saved for a hot summer day. You’ll have to hop on a boat or seaplane to get to Isle Royale National Park, but the trip is worth it. Visitors can explore over 400 islands, enjoying beautiful beaches and waters that are perfect for fishing.

For those scuba diving aficionados, this national park features 10 major shipwrecks that attract incredible aquatic life. This landscape lends itself to a multi-island getaway!

Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands

Visits in 2018: 112,287

If you’re willing to hop on a flight to the Caribbean but stay within U.S. Borders, we have the perfect match for you. The Virgin Islands National Park is a true beach sanctuary, featuring miles of silky sand and fantastic scenic hikes.

Perfect for those who love to stay active while traveling, you’ll get to pack snorkel and hiking gear to make the most of this unique national park.

Cover photo by start livin, Unsplash