The 10 Prettiest Places to Camp in the South

The best camping in the South: seasonality and weather

Camping in the southern US offers a diverse range of experiences, from the humid forests of the Southeast to dryer climates of Texas. Summer in much of the South brings intense heat and humidity, making camping challenging. If you’re planning a southern camping trip in July or August, you’ll want to look at higher elevations, or at least choose a site with strong coastal breezes.

Keep in mind, though, that mid-summer through mid-fall is also hurricane season along the coast, requiring careful monitoring of weather forecasts. That makes spring and fall the ideal camping seasons, though places like Florida are comfortable year-round.

Seasonality varies greatly across the region. In the Southeast, summer is marked by lush greenery and the constant hum of insects, while fall can bring bright red and orange foliage, especially around West Virginia and North Carolina. Around Texas, you’ll find more dramatic temperature fluctuations, with scorching days and surprisingly cold nights. If you’re near the beach, you’ll likely have warm days (or hot days, in the summer), but they’ll be tempered by coastal breezes at night.

Tips for beach camping in the South

The southern states of the US offer some of the best places to camp directly on the beach, especially in Florida and Alabama along the Gulf of Mexico. But beach camping is a different beast. While the allure of falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves and waking to breathtaking sunrises is obvious, it’s not without its challenges. Sand can be a constant companion, infiltrating tents, gear, and even your food. It requires diligent shaking out and cleaning to avoid a gritty existence. And if you’re camping with a pet, get ready for the unpalatable combination of wet fur and heavy sand.

Weather is a major factor, too. Ocean breezes are refreshing after a hot day, but also mean you’ll need to stake down your tent or, if you can’t, have a method for otherwise securing items like tent flaps and umbrellas. Coastal areas are prone to sudden storms, and humidity can be high, making everything feel damp.

Perhaps the most notable challenge of beach camping, other than sand, are bugs. Mosquitoes, sand flies (also called “no-see-ums”), and other biting insects thrive in coastal environments, particularly at dawn and dusk. Be sure to pack insect repellent and consider using mosquito netting. If you’re hiking or walking around camp, you want tall socks to protect yourself from ticks, and if you’re camping with your dog, be sure to check them for ticks before they snuggle up in your tent for the night.

The best places to camp in the South

The list below highlights some of the best camping in the South, from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the dense bayous of the Florida Everglades and stunning desserts of Texas. While no single list could capture the incredible diversity of landscapes in the region, these sites represent some of the most unique and scenic places to pitch a tent.

Jump to:

Devils Fork State Park, SC | Garden Key, FL | North Prong Primitive Campground, TX | Edgar Evins State Park, TN | Jekyll Island State Park, GA | Stone Cliff Beach Campground, WV | Gulf State Park, AL | Red River Gorge Geological Area, KY | Seneca Shadows Campground, WV | Chickee Wilderness Camping, FL

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Devils Fork State Park

• Location: Salem, South Carolina
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Developed
• View: A mountain lake and healthy forests

Devils Fork State Park is a stunning place to camp for those who love crystal-clear mountain lakes and lush, forested shorelines. It sits on the bank of Lake Jocassee in South Carolina and has some of the most scenic waterfront camping in the region, particularly from the coveted tent sites along the lake’s edge (sites nine through 18). Those sites have direct views of Jocassee’s deep blue waters, framed by the rolling, misty peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Sunrises turn the lake’s surface to gold, while evenings turn the water a soft shade of purple, with the occasional silhouette of a canoe gliding by. Reservations are required, though you may be able to snag a non-lakeshore site last minute. Read more at The Dyrt.

Garden Key

• Location: Homestead, Florida
• Campground type: Boat-in, then walk to sites
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Palm trees, a historic fort, and shallow lagoons

Garden Key Campground in Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote and unforgettable places to camp in the South. It’s about 70 miles off the coast of Key West, sitting on a sandy island surrounded by turquoise waters, coral reefs, and historic Fort Jefferson. With no cars, no electricity, and only the sound of ocean waves, it’s a true escape into nature.

The only way to reach Garden Key is by ferry (which NPS advises reserving months in advance, if possible), and campers need to bring everything, including drinking water. But those willing to pack smart will be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking beachside camping imaginable, waking up to pink and gold sunrises over the Gulf of Mexico, snorkeling in crystal-clear waters full of tropical fish and sea turtles, and watching the sun set behind the fort’s massive brick walls. No reservations are accepted, and if all the sites are full, campers need to share the overflow camping area.

North Prong Primitive Campground

• Location: Quitaque, Texas
• Campground type: Walk-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Red-rock canyons and towering cliffs

North Prong Primitive Campground in Caprock Canyons State Park offers eight secluded campsites in the middle of the park’s famous red-rock formations. Most tent sites have expansive views of canyons with flat clearings on vivid red dirt and are dotted with cottonwood trees and scrub oaks. The colors are vivid as can be at sunrise and sunset when light magnifies off steep red canyon walls in the distance. Reservations are suggested but not required – though with only eight sites, making one is highly advisable. You’ll need a backcountry reservation, though they’re just for access to the area, not for specific sites.

Edgar Evins State Park

• Location: Silver Point, Tennessee
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Developed
• View: A treehouse perspective of golden sunsets and a shimmering lake

Edgar Evins State Park in Tennessee has a unique spin on lakeside camping, with 60 wooden platform campsites built into the slopes surrounding Center Hill Lake. The elevated platforms give campers a treehouse feel, especially since they’re surrounded by green oak and poplar trees. Those platforms mean you always have a level spot to pitch your tent, and that you’ll have stunning views of the lake and surrounding forested hills. It doesn’t hurt that the campground is only an hour from Nashville, or that the lake is one of the best destinations for catching the changing fall foliage of any place to camp in the South. Reservations are recommended.

Jekyll Island State Park

• Location: Jekyll Island, Georgia
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Full service
• View: Dreamy Spanish moss and endangered sea birds

Jekyll Island Campground isn’t just a place to pitch a tent – it’s a front-row seat to one of Georgia’s most distinctive coastal landscapes. Unlike most beachfront campgrounds, this one is set back from the shore, but it’s a fair trade off: tent sites are spread under a canopy of ancient oak trees draped in Spanish moss, creating a setting that feels both secluded and deeply tied to the island’s history. Sites three to 11 sit in a bird sanctuary, and sites in the C Loop offer the best blend of privacy, quiet, and access to the tip of the island. Reservations are recommended.

Stone Cliff Beach Campground

• Location: Thurmond, West Virginia
• Campground type: Walk-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: The flowing New River and dense Appalachian forests

Stone Cliff Beach Campground in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a small campground, with just seven sites. Five offer a serene riverside camping experience, with sites directly on the banks of the New River, while two sit higher back in the adjacent forest. That means campers have immediate access to the river for fishing, swimming, or relaxing in the sun. It’s a tent-only site, so you don’t need to worry about noise from RVs, and beach campers will have views of high cliffs, with a rugged and untamed feel that sets it apart from most other national parks. Campers don’t need to worry about reservations, and the site is first-come, first-served only. But don’t worry: New River Gorge National Park never really gets very crowded. Read more at The Dyrt.

Gulf State Park

• Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Full service
• View: Lakeside scenery, coastal wetlands, and seabirds

Gulf State Park in Alabama offers some of the best coastal camping in the South, with stunning views of freshwater lakes, marshlands, and the Gulf of Mexico just a short walk away. The campground is dotted with towering pines and palmettos, with a mix of shaded sites and open spots with sweeping views of Middle Lake. For the best views, aim for sites along the waterfront, especially sites 11 to 9, or sites 469 to 496, which sit along a canal.

Lakeside campers here can count on incredible sunrise reflections over the water and are often visited by herons, osprey, and even the occasional alligator. One of the best parts of camping here is the quick access to the Gulf’s sugar-white sand beaches. Reservations are recommended.

Red River Gorge Geological Area

• Location: Stanton, Kentucky
• Campground type: Walk in or car camping
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Forested hills, rugged sandstone cliffs, and deep valleys

Not to be confused with New River Gorge is Red River Gorge, a dream destination for backcountry campers who love dramatic rock formations and dense Appalachian forests. It sits in Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, and is an intricate network of sandstone cliffs, natural arches, and towering rock walls that make it one of the most popular places to camp in the South. Backcountry sites are completely dispersed, meaning you can find your perfect spot anywhere you’d like, whether that means tucked beneath rock overhangs, on ridgelines with sweeping valley views, or in the quiet stillness of the forest floor. Princess Arch is a particularly popular spot. No reservations are needed. Read more at The Dyrt.

Seneca Shadows Campground

• Location: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
• Campground type: Walk-in
• Facilities: Developed
• View: Stunning Scenic Rocks and fantastic fall foliage

Camping at Seneca Shadows Campground is one of the best last-minute places to camp in the South, as most sites have excellent views of the iconic Seneca Rocks formation (though sites to the north may have the absolute best views). The campground is in Monongahela National Forest, surrounded by mountains to the east and west. For campers seeking the best views, opt for one of the walk-in sites. They’re in an open field with exceptional vistas, especially during sunset. Some sites are reservable on Recreation.gov, while others are first-come, first served.

Chickee Wilderness Camping

• Location: Homestead, Florida
• Campground type: Boat-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Marshes, moss, ‘gators, shorebirds, and natural beauty

Everglades National Park is an amazing place to camp if you love unique habitats, as the park is the largest mangrove system in the Western Hemisphere, and the park is home to more than 13 endangered species. The coolest way to stay in the park is definitely by pitching a tent on one of the park’s backcountry “chickees”: raised 10-foot-by-12-foot platforms above the marsh, where it’s too wet camp on the ground.

Most are paddle-in only, and, of course, you’ll need a freestanding tent. And you should have some basic waterway navigation experience, and rent a boat in advance. But campers willing to do that will be treated to one of the most unique camping experiences in the world, sleeping above the glassy, mangrove-tree-lined water and watching the ripples of wading birds, falling leaves, and even the occasional alligator sliding beneath the surface. Reservations are recommended, but last-minute spots may be available same day.