Top 10 Beach Camping Parks in North America

When summer arrives it's time to hit the beach, and what better way to experience the beach than camping at some of the finest beach camping parks in North America? You'll notice many of the top beach camping parks are located in Florida and Maine.

1. Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida

Henderson Beach State Park was named one of the "Top 15 Scenic Views" by ReserveAmerica, and is located just east of Destin, Florida on U.S. 98.

Tent and RV Campers here will enjoy more than 6,000 feet of natural sceneic shoreline, with sugar-white sand beaches and emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Activities here include hiking trails, fishing, swimming, surfing and snorkeling. The beach camping park at Henderson provides 60 campsites with water and electric hookups, with access to an air conditioned and heated bathhouse facility, as well as an outdoor shower. Henderson Beach is A.D.A accessible and includes beach wheel chair availability. There is a small store and snack bar. For more info call 850-837-7550.

2. Huntington Beach State Park- Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Chosen as one of the "Top 15 Park Beaches" by ReserveAmerica, Huntington Beach State Park offers its visitors 2500 acres of the best preserved beach on the Grand Strand. Camp here and you will be treated to a freshwater lagoon, saltmarsh, maritime forest and 3 miles of beach.

Activites at the Beach include canoeing, fishing, golf, jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boating, parasailing, powerboating, sailing and tennis.

Located on U.S. Hwy. 17 in Georgetown County, 18 miles north of the city of Georgetown and 3 miles south of Murrells Inlet, this beach camping park provides tent and RV camping starting at $25 per night, with electric and water hookups (30 amp). Other amenities include: bathhouse, boat launch, dump station, beach access, handicap access, showers, and store. Call 843-237-4440 for more information.

3. Doran Beach Regional Park - Bodega Bay, California

Doran Beach Regional Park is listed as one of the top choices for RV camping by RVersonline.com. Located on Highway 1, one mile south of Bodega Bay on Doran Park Road, about 2 hours north of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is considered one of the best natural beach settings in California.

Activities in the Bodega Bay area include: bird watching, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and fishing.

There are 128 RV spaces, as well as sites for tent camping. However, there are no RV hook-ups, so this site is best for fully self-contained RVs.

Amenities include: Fire ring and picnic table, restrooms with electrical outlets, flush toilets, boat launch, fish-cleaning stating, boat-rinsing station and coin operated showers.

A non-refundable reservation fee of $8 is charged for each individual campsite reserved. Individual campsite fees are $19 per night. Reservations are taken by telephone at 707-565-2267 or in person Monday through Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, excluding holidays. Reservations cannot be made online.

4. Bar Harbor Campgrounds - Bar Harbor, Maine

Located on Mount Desert Island, on the rugged east coast of Maine, Bar Harbor was called "Eden" back in the 1800s, and home to the Fords, Morgans and Rockefellers.

Mount Desert Island is also home to Acadia National Park, and voted one of the "Top 5 Islands in Continental U.S. and Canada" in 2006 by Travel and Leisure, as well as voted one of the "Top 10 North American Islands" by Conde' Nast Traveler magazine in November 2006. With those accolades, it's definitely a must-visit spot for tent and RV campers alike. One such campground is Mt. Desert Narrows, which offers many different types of campsites, including campsites next to the water with panoramic oceans views starting at $40 per day for tent campers, and $43 per day for RVers.

Amenities include: bathrooms, water, sewer and 30-50 amp electric hookups, cable TV hookups, laundromat, full-service store, heated bathhouses, dumping station, playground and canoe and kayak rentals. Call 866-917-4300 for more information.

5. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Another "Top Choice for RV Camping" by RVersonline.com, Topsail RV Resort is located at Santa Rosa Beach on Route 30A, one mile off U.S. 98.

Just east of Pensacola, visitors are treated to 3.2 miles of secluded, white sand beaches with majestic dunes over 25 feet tall.

Activities include freshwater fishing from the shoreline (no boats allowed), biking and bird watching. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park has excellent RV camping with 156 sites with full hook-ups, including sewer, electric, cable, and water.

Amenities include: swimming pool, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, camp store.

6. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Key Largo, Florida

Located at Mile Marker 102.5 in Key Largo, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the United States, extending 3 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 25 miles in lengh, the park covers 70 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has also been chosen one of the "Top 15 Amazing Locations" by ReserveAmerica. There are two manmade beaches to choose from: Cannon Beach, which is the snorkeling beach, has the remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck approximately 100 feet offshore; and Far beach, where you'll go to swim or relax in the sun.

Activities include: boating, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, nature hikes, swimming and scuba diving.

There are 47 full-facility camping sites for both tents and RV campers. Amenities include: Restrooms with hot showers; laundry facilities and concession stand. Pets are allowed in the campground. Camping fees are $31.49 (includes taxes) per night, includes water & electric. Call 305-451-1202 for more information.

7. Living Forest Oceanside RV & Campground - Vancouver Island, Canada

RV West Magazine readers have voted Living Forest Oceanside RV & Campground their favorite privately run RV park and campground. Located in Nanaimo, The Living Forest consists of 53 acres of pristine forested land on a peninsula where the Nanaimo River joins the Ocean.

Campers here will enjoy water on three sides of this park, and have their choice of sunny sites, river sites, ocean sites or secluded forest sites. If you wish to explore the Vancouver Islands, the Living Forest is a great place for a base camp.

Activities in the area include: scuba diving, fishing, wildlife cruises, golf, kayaking, hiking, mounting climbing and biking and swimming.

Amenities of this beach camping park include: ocean views, electric, sewer and water hookups, camp store, laundromat, hot showers, fire rings and picnic tables at all sites, wireless internet access, game room with big screen TV, playground, sunbathing beach and walking trails. Call 250-755-1755 or email oceanrv@campingbc.com for more information.

8. Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Massachusettes

Located on the coast of north-eastern Massachusetts, Salisbury Beach is one of Massachusettes' most popular ocean beaches, stretching for 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean.

Chosen as one of the "Top 15 Park Beaches" by ReserveAmerica, the 521-acre Salisbury offers visitors activities such as swimming, boating, fishing and camping.

The campground offers 484 sites with water and electric hookups. Amenities include: newly renovated bathhouses, three new comfort stations, showers, accessible restrooms and boat ramp. Some of the campsites are equipped with raised grills and extended tables for wheelchair access. From $20 per night. Call 978-462-4482 for more information.

9. New Brighton State Beach - Capitola, California

New Brighton State Beach is one of the most popular state beaches in California, and chosen as one of the "Most Beautiful Campgrounds" by Frommer's.

Located in the town of Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz, this 93-acre park along the coast of Santa Cruz offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. New Brighton State Beach is also popular for its family-oriented campground which sits on the towering bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean.

Camping amenities include: Restrooms, showers, RV sanitation station. Some sites have hookups. Four premium sites have the best ocean views and go for $35 per day. For reservations call 800-444-7275. It's first-come, first-served December through February.

10. Old Orchard Beach Campground - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Old Orchard Beach in Maine offers visitors wonderful activities, such as whale watching, deep sea fishing, kayaking and lobster boat tours.

Located near the cities of Biddeford, Saco and Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach Campground features large natural campsites to accommodate both tents and RV's, with full and partial hookups. All sites have fire rings and picnic tables. Sites without utilities begin at $28 in off-season ($33 in peak-season), while sites with water electric and sewer begin at $35 for off-season ($40 for peak-season).

Amenities include: free hot showers, restrooms, swimming pool, playground, athletic fields, rec rooms, laundry facilities and dump station.

New England’s largest salt marsh is off Route 9 in neighboring Scarborough with guided walks and canoe tours. For more information about Old Orchard Beach Campground, call
207-934-4477 or email relax@gocamping.com.

Synonyms:  Motorhome, recreation vehicle, caravan, camper and RV are used synonymously.

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