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- In addition to federal campgrounds, private camping via Airbnb is a great option.
- Airbnb campsites offer views, amenities, and hospitality you won't find at a government campsite.
- We found some of the best private campsites in the US available on Airbnb this summer.
Last summer, there were 94.5 million camper households throughout North America and 10.1 million of those households camped for the first time, according to Kampgrounds of America (KOA) data. KOA also notes that most campers intend to increase their trips this year. That means federal campsites found on Recreation.gov will likely book up fast for peak summer weekends and holidays, and many could be left scrambling to find camping reservations.
I was one of those last-minute scramblers last summer while trying to plan a Washington camping trip. Unable to find any openings at nearby federal campgrounds, I turned to Airbnb and found a private campsite with breathtaking views on top of a mountain ridge.
Though slightly more expensive, it turned out booking the campsite through Airbnb had many advantages, from the rare location to great host communication to being able to easily reschedule my trip when bad camping conditions arose. Curious about the other incredible private campsites on Airbnb, I trawled the site for some of the most enticing options for campers this year.
Whether you prefer roughing it in exchange for undisturbed solitude or a family-friendly atmosphere with a hospitable host, Airbnb has as much variety for campsites as it does home rentals.
We chose the best Airbnb campsites in the US based on the following criteria:
Browse all of the best Airbnb campsites below, or jump to a specific area here:
- Best Airbnb campsites in the Southwest
- Best Airbnb campsites in the Midwest
- Best Airbnb campsites in the South
- Best Airbnb campsites in the Northeast
- FAQs: What to pack for a camping trip
- More great outdoor vacation ideas
Here are the best Airbnb campsites in the US, sorted by region and then by price, from low to high.
Two-acre homestead farm campsite - Oregon
Book this Oregon Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $20
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.8
Located on a two-acre homestead with views of the Willamette Valley — which has few wineries in the area worth exploring for the Pinot Noir — this standalone campsite is set up in the garden of an organic farm. Here, you'll be surrounded by free-range chickens and have access to the host's back porch, bathroom, and laundry machines. Guests will need to bring their own tent and cooking supplies, but can spend their free time exploring the gardens and the greenhouse.
The host also recommends tasting the wild blackberries that come into season in July or exploring the nearby Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, which is open for hunting and fishing.
Crescent City orchard campsite - California
Book this California Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $48
Location: Crescent City, California
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 5.0
At the very top of California, you can camp in this private orchard right off the Pacific Coast Highway and 10 minutes from the beach. Open for RV and tent camping, the host offers two private campsites in their private apple orchard. Amenities include freshwater, picnic tables, barbecue grills, an indoor bathroom, and a solar shower.
The stunning location is ideally situated for exploring the beach and redwood forests at Jedidiah Smith State Park. Guests are welcome to pitch a tent or sleep in their car.
Heart Mountain view campsite - Wyoming
Book this Wyoming Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $40
Location: Powell, Wyoming
Sleeps: 6 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
Twenty minutes from the Cody entrance of Yellowstone National Park and just minutes from the Heart Mountain Ranch Trailhead, this ranch campsite offers hikers a unique setting to camp out before hitting the trails.
Accommodations are rustic without Wi-Fi or power, but guests do have access to a picnic table and running water (though only until September 25 each year). Not to mention, the location is hard to beat with its sweeping views of the beautiful Heart Mountain right outside your tent flaps.
Denali view campsite - Alaska
Book this Denali Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $70
Location: Cantwell, Alaska
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.7
Grab a front-row seat to the beauty of Alaska at this private campsite perched just 30 minutes down the road from the South Entrance of Denali National Park. The grassy campsite is on a 1.5-acre lot, connected to the host's 1960s-era homestead, and is easily accessible via a gravel road. It's a dry campsite, meaning there's, electricity, running water, or toilets but the views are impeccable, looking right into the Caribou Mountain Pass, and you can even see Mount McKinley when the weather is clear. You'll need to bring all your own food, water, and firewood, but you can also make use of the brick fire pit, table, and bench. The host can rent you a canoe to explore nearby Mirror or Summit Lakes.
White Aspen luxury campsite - Washington
Book this Washington Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $99
Location: Leavenworth, Washington
Sleeps: 10 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.8
On 673 acres of private land, you can sleep on top of the ridge in the Washington Cascades at the luxury White Aspen Camp, which Insider personally reviewed in 2020. This private campsite is located 14 miles from Leavenworth and is equipped with flush toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables. You'll have access to hiking and mountain biking trails and remarkable panoramic views at an elevation of 5,600 feet — high enough to watch the clouds float on by below your feet.
This location is remote and the conditions can get extremely windy, so although it has some modern amenities, a sense of adventure is required. White Aspen also offers glamping alternatives if you don't have a tent.
Secluded mountain view campsite - Colorado
Book this Colorado Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $26
Location: Hartsel, Colorado
Sleeps: 16 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.8
Located on five undisturbed acres of land perched in front of the mountains, this campsite is two hours southeast of Denver. There is no Wi-Fi or running water, which means you are dry camping, but the site can be accessed by a dirt road so trailers and RVs are also welcome to camp out here.
The main attraction here is the view, which from this treeless, but bushy landscape offers an unobstructed panorama of the distant mountains and a spectacle of stars at night. Bison and free-range cattle even occasionally pass by to complete the vision. In the case of wind, you can also pitch your tent next to a large rock for added protection.
Amenity-packed campsite near Zion National Park - Utah
Book this Zion National Park Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $40
Location: Kane County, Utah
Sleeps: 6 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
If you're making the rounds to Utah's Big Five national parks, this campsite seven miles from the entrance of Zion National Park is a prime choice. Located on a camping resort, campers will have access to the pool and hot tub, as well as a game room and convenience store. You can also take a hot shower every night in the shower house and do your dishes and the dishwashing station.
There are also courts for playing volleyball, basketball, and tennis, so between the natural beauty of Southern Utah and tons of fun amenities for all ages, no one will be getting bored on this trip. The campsite comes with a private picnic table and fire pit.
Shaded haven campsite near the Grand Canyon - Arizona
Book this Grand Canyon Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $59
Location: Williams, Arizona
Sleeps: 4 guests
Rating: 5.0
In a secluded location off of US-180, tents and trailers are welcome at this campsite 30 minutes from the Grand Canyon. At this campsite, you can enjoy stunning mountain views while taking advantage of amenities like a phone charging station and indoor and outdoor showers. For lounging around the campsite, your site also includes a hammock, picnic table, and a grill. The grounds are well lit and the host also provides lawn games like corn hole and laser tag.
If you don't want to drive to the Grand Canyon from the campsite, this location has the bonus of being near Williams Station, where you can hop on the iconic Grand Canyon Railway that will drop you off right at the South Rim.
Locust Grove farmhouse campsite - Ohio
Book this Ohio Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $28
Location: Perrysville, Ohio
Sleeps: 12 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
You're guaranteed peace and solitude at this campsite on a 100-acre farm that dates back to the 1850s. Happy campers will be surrounded by wild cherry, dogwood, and locust buckeye trees that make for a picturesque scene in any season.
A fully modern campsite, this spot offers electricity, Wi-Fi, and use of the shared bathroom and kitchen inside the house. The location is close to Mohican State Park and you can go horseback riding at other nearby farms in the area. But there's also plenty to explore right on the homestead, including an artesian spring, apiary, and raspberry and blackberry bushes.
The hermitage on Pearl Lake campsite - Michigan
Book this Michigan Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $50
Location: Lake Ann, Michigan
Sleeps: 2 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
Camp along a serene inland lake at this Michigan campsite located on the host's five-acre property on Pearl Lake.
A far cry from a primitive site, guests here are welcome to use the house bathroom and shower and also have electricity and water, plus use of a common area with a microwave, coffeemaker, and tabletop stove. The site also includes a spot for making campfires and you can pick out a favorite hammock for an afternoon snooze.
Bring your kayak or canoe along with you and launch it from the on-site dock. Other nearby attractions not to miss include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and the myriad of charming small towns and wineries in Benzie County.
Mountain view campsite near Big Bend National Park - Texas
Book this Big Bend National Park Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $20
Location: Terlingua, Texas
Sleeps: 6 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
You'll find just the basics at this primitive dirt campsite, but the views looking out at the silhouette of Big Bend National Park's Chisos Mountains will make it all worth it. There's no electricity or running water, so you will have to bring everything you need for your stay, but a fire pit, picnic table, and outhouse still make for an elevated experience from many campgrounds. The host also provides a dumpster so you don't have to take your trash with you.
This 20-acre property is located just five miles from the park entrance and is close enough to town to make any necessary supply run.
Appalachian campsite near Great Smoky Mountains National Park - North Carolina
Book this Great Smoky Mountains Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $45
Location: Bryston City, North Carolina
Sleeps: 6 guests
Rating: 4.9
Near the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this remote private campsite has no Wi-Fi but that's really a plus since campers can disconnect and fully take in the gorgeous sunset views through the treetops.
Located in rural North Carolina, you'll be surrounded by sloping forests eight miles outside of Bryson. The site is located at the end of a steep gravel road, which the host recommends having all-wheel-drive for and it has convenient amenities like electric outlets and potable water, plus a picnic table and fire pit. There is also an outhouse with a composting toilet and a separate shower stall with a water spigot. The picnic table is located on a deck looking out over an opening in the treeline and there is also a short nature trail.
High Point tower near Hot Springs National Park - Arkansas
Book this Hot Springs National Park Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $100
Location: Malvern, Arkansas
Sleeps: 6 guests per reservation
Rating: 5.0
This host has truly gone above and beyond to make sure you pitch your tent where the view is the best. Campers are invited to set themselves up in the custom-built lookout tower in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. The property encompasses 250 acres and the tower looks out towards Greater Hot Springs with cattle pastures in between.
Below the tower, there is a swing and a firepit with seating for roasting s'mores or warming up on chilly evenings. The property also has a well-stocked spring pond that guests are welcome to fish in and wildlife like eagles and white-tail deer are frequently spotted. Keep in mind this is a dry campsite, meaning there's no water or electricity.
Sheep farm campsite - Maryland
Book this Maryland Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $40
Location: Fallston, Maryland
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 5.0
Only 25 miles northeast of Baltimore, you can fall asleep while literally counting sheep at this campsite on a farm. Guests are welcome to pitch their tent on a grassy lawn and enjoy a variety of four-legged neighbors from sheep to ponies and hard-working border collies. The campsite sits in a grassy field and amenities are basic with a hose for ashing up and access to a portapotty.
This is a peaceful place for a secluded escape with wide-open views and friendly farm animals to keep you company. Local attractions include the impressive Ladew Topiary Gardens, which sit outside a historic mansion, and Boordy Vineyards, which offers tastings every weekend on its patio.
30-acre homestead campsite - Vermont
Book this Vermont Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $42
Location: Townshend, Vermont
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 5.0
Located on an idyllic homestead, this Airbnb has one unexpected amenity that is sure to make your mouth water — a pizza oven. The campsite is located on a flourishing farm surrounded by goats, chickens, and two very friendly border collies.
In addition to the pizza oven, which the hosts sometimes use to make homemade pizza for guests, you'll also have an outhouse, two Adirondack chairs, and hammocks. If you don't have your own tent, one can be borrowed on request. There is no running water, but a five-gallon jug (filled from a nearby well) will be provided. The hosts welcome guests to check out the wooded trails around the property but note that you will have to walk about 200 feet from your car to the campsite and provide a cart for you to carry your things.
Empire campground near Swan Lake - New York
Book this New York Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $89
Location: Accord, New York
Sleeps: 6 guests per reservation
Rating: 4.9
Only 15 miles from the Catskills and eight miles from Bethel Woods, where you can see the historic hill of the Woodstock music festival, this campsite is a wholesome find for campers looking for a fun and easy stay in the outdoors. You'll pitch your tent in a grassy field near the forest and will have access to a bathroom and shower. There are some hiking trails in the surrounding forest as well.
Other amenities include a picnic table, gas grill, and complimentary coffee in the morning. The landscape is lush again with a view looking out into a sprawling field that offers more than enough room for your favorite sport or lawn game. Large groups can book multiple campsites, but there is a limit of six people per tent.
On the rocks at Toddy Pond campsite - Maine
Book this Maine Airbnb campsite
Typical starting price: $99
Location: Penobscot, Maine
Sleeps: 4 guests per reservation
Rating: 5.0
In Downeast Maine, you can pitch your tent on this platform on the shoreline of Toddy Pond. There's no Wi-Fi, but your stay includes the use of two kayaks and life jackets, so you can plan to spend as much time on the water as you like and explore the islands and inlets of the pond.
Your time back at the campsite will be well spent with convenient amenities like a gas grill (cooking utensils provided), a fire pit, a picnic table, and Adirondack chairs from which you can enjoy your peaceful vantage point of the lake from between the trees. At this location, you are only a 50-minute drive from Acadia National Park with many more small towns and hiking trails to explore in the immediate vicinity.
FAQs
What are the best places to go camping?
There are many beautiful places to camp in the US and it's tough to go wrong, but some of the most popular states for camping are ones where the scenery and weather are most ideal. The best state for you will probably depend on the time of year of your trip and what kind of experience you're looking for. However, according to a 2021 index report, the best states for camping, based on price, quality, and safety, were determined to be Rhode Island, Utah, and Maryland.
For even more scenic campgrounds, check out our guide to the best campsites in the US. However, keep in mind these spots won't be on private land so you'll be sharing the campgrounds with plenty of other groups. If you do prefer to have total seclusion, you may also want to consider booking a campsite via Tentrr, which connects campers and private landowners for camping and elevated glamping trips.
When is the best time to go camping?
With warm nights and opportunities for outdoor recreation, summer is the best season for camping, but to avoid the summer crowds it's best to plan your trip before school is out in June or early September, especially if you plan to camp at or near a national or state park.
What should I pack for a camping trip?
Besides your tent and sleeping bag, you will also need to bring your own food and supplies depending on the amenities offered by the campsite. What you need to pack varies depending on what kind of camping trip you're going on, however, you can consult Insider's essential packing guide for ideas. Don't forget to pack for comfort with extra blankets, camping chairs, and sleeping pads.
What does the average camping trip cost?
Government-run sites typically cost between $20 and $40 per night depending on the location. Private campsites listed on Airbnb sometimes offer competitive prices, but others that may offer more amenities and bonuses could cost up to $100 per night.
More great outdoor vacation ideas
- The best glamping destinations in the US
- Alternative sites to look for last-minute camping reservations
- The best hotels near US national parks
- The best camper van rentals
- The best RV rentals
Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.
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