You can enjoy a fun vacation with fresh air and stunning scenery without travelling far. Camp or pitch a tent and spend the night in one of these beautiful outdoor spots close to major cities. Accessible airports, train stations, and car rental agencies put you close to the sandy beach campsites, rolling meadows, and long hikes in the fresh air that await you.
Rocky Mountain Park, located in Colorado
A crown jewel of the National Park System, Rocky Mountain National Park is a high-altitude playground of snow-capped mountains, blue lakes, and a variety of outdoor pursuits not far from Denver. Reserve a timed entry permit online to enter the park between May 27 and October 10, 2022. The park’s 700,000 summer visitors have mostly left, so last-minute hikers will have the place to themselves.
Even in the summer, the Rockies can have erratic weather and fresh snow, so it’s important to check the forecast and bring along plenty of warm layers and storm gear.Outfitters in Estes Park, near the park’s entrance, sell essentials in case you’ve forgotten something.
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The Indiana Dunes National and State Parks
It’s not necessary to travel all the way to the Gulf or the coast to enjoy a beach vacation rich in biological diversity. More than 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan are protected by the recently established Indiana Dunes National Park and its companion state park, both of which are less than an hour’s drive from Chicago. Indiana Dunes is a relatively young national park, but its sand dunes and reliable waves have attracted visitors for generations who enjoy swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. Forests, rivers, swamps, and miles of boardwalk-lined beaches make this national park one of the most biodiverse in the world. Plan to spend multiple days exploring the area.
Camping spots for RVs and cars are available close to the water’s edge.
State Park of the California Channel Islands
Those in search of a genuine break from modern life should make their way to Channel Islands National Park. The park consists of five islands about an hour’s drive from Los Angeles, if you don’t count the time it takes to get there on a chartered boat. It’s rich in history, has lots to do, and has a wide variety of animals.
Travellers can set up camp on any of the five islands and share the space with various marine animals like seals, dolphins, and seabirds. Make arrangements with a private charter company to travel to the islands, and book backcountry campsites on any of the five islands.
Oregon’s Mount Hood National Forest
Locals and visitors alike love the Mt. Hood National Forest near Portland, Oregon. In the winter, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy fresh powder (and all year at Timberline), while in the summer, hikers and mountain bikers can enjoy the area’s 60 miles of forested ridges, lakes, and streams.
More campgrounds and day-use areas are expected to open in the coming weeks as the national forest gradually opens trailheads, parking lots, river access, and campgrounds. Campsites in high demand are those that can be reserved through the National Forest Service.
