RVParks.us

1. Custer State Park, SD. Buffalo. Actual wild buffalo walking next to the car. The kids lost their minds. Also great junior ranger program and easy hikes. 10/10 from all three kids.

2. Fort Wilderness, FL (yes its Disney but its a state-adjacent experience). The kids put this at #1 because its Disney. I put it lower because its $180/night. But the memories are priceless or whatever.

3. Hunting Island, SC. Beach, lighthouse you can climb, dolphins visible from shore. Our kids named individual dolphins. We stayed two weeks.

4. Watkins Glen, NY. The gorge trail is stunning. Even our "I dont want to hike" teenager was impressed. Short enough for little legs, dramatic enough for older kids.

5. Palo Duro Canyon, TX. Texas's Grand Canyon. The colors at sunset had our artist kid filling an entire sketchbook.

6. Devils Lake, WI. Swimming, hiking, rock scrambling. Free junior ranger booklets. Our son fell in the lake and called it "the best day ever."

7. Assateague, MD/VA. Wild horses. End of argument.

8. Myakka River, FL. Alligators visible from a boardwalk. Our youngest was terrified and thrilled simultaneously.

9. Starved Rock, IL. Waterfalls and canyons in ILLINOIS. Who knew? The kids explored every canyon like mini Indiana Joneses.

10. Cumberland Falls, KY. The "Niagara of the South." On full moon nights you can see a moonbow. We drove 4 hours out of our way for it and it was worth every mile.

State parks are the best value in camping. Usually $20-35/night and the experiences blow expensive resorts out of the water.