The winter weather takes its toll on all of us. The long, dark nights and cold winds, combined with frigid and wet weather make us beg for sunny skies and better temperatures. As spring comes, you may be tempted to escape south for better conditions and a relaxing camping trip. We say you should let your inner snowbird fly free and make that trip. To make it even easier for you, here are some suggestions for our favorite spring camping spots. From quiet beaches to achingly beautiful deserts, and plenty more in between, these are our top picks for best spring camping here in the United States.
Mount that Roofnest tent and let’s go adventuring!
Huntington Beach State Park, SC
If you want to combine a traditional spring break trip with some killer camping, head to Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. The park is located just south of Myrtle Beach, which means you are a short hop from music, food, beach parties and more, but the secluded nature of the park itself means you have plenty of serenity and quiet when you are ready to tuck in for the night.
If you want to skip all the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach and just enjoy nature, Huntington Beach has plenty of fishing, multiple hiking trails and informational boardwalks, and it’s one of the best birding locations in the Southeast. Don’t forget to stop by the park’s nature center to see the interactive exhibits and the touch tank. This is a great way to become acquainted with some of the natural wildlife you’ll see during your stay.
Average highs are in the upper 60s to low 70s, but it can fall into the low 40s at night, so don’t forget to pack a coat.
Arches National Park, UT
It will be hard to ever write a piece about great camping spots and not mention Arches National Park. The towering rock formations are breathtaking on their own, but they way they glow in the light of a rising sun is truly an experience that defies expression in words.
Out in the wilds of Utah, Arches is packed full of outdoor adventures. You can explore ancient cultural history from the native populations, explore the various geological formations, gaze upon the unique desert wildlife and plants, or explore the dozens of hiking and off-road trails. If you are a fan of stargazing, the park also has some of the darkest skies in the country.
Temps are warming up in Arches for spring, but you should still pack smartly. The average high temp of 60 degrees can feel great under the sunny skies, but temps fall rapidly towards the freezing mark overnight so come prepared.
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Another iconic national park, Joshua Tree is a spectacular spring destination. First there is the weather, which could be described as perfectly pleasant. Average highs around 75 degrees with lows in the mid-40s overnight, and basically zero chance of rain.
But the real reason to head to Joshua Tree in the spring is to witness some of the most amazing desert landscapes in the world. Everyone knows about the iconic trees the park is named after, and the miles of hiking and off-road trails are legendary. All of that pales in comparison to the wildflower blooms that can take place in the park.
With this winter being one of the wettest on record, this spring should see vast swaths of Joshua Tree covered in wildflower blooms; giant lakes of color of life.
Bahia Honda State Park, FL
If you want to spend your spring camping trip sleeping in a hammock under sunny skies or enjoying all day in the water, maybe consider Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. The weather is downright balmy with highs approaching 80 degrees, and the low temps barely falling under 70.
You can experience some of the best sport fishing and scuba diving in the country during the day, and at night you can experience any of the dozens of restaurants, bars, or other nightlife that cover the entirety of the Keys. There are very few sandy beaches, so if that’s your thing you might need to look elsewhere.
Which leads us nicely to…
Padre Island, TX
One of the most popular and iconic spring break destinations in the United States is Padre Island. As the world’s longest barrier island, Padre Island is more than 100 miles of beautiful seaside views and white sandy beaches. So while Padre may be known for epic parties and armies of rowdy college kids during spring break, the sheer size of the island means you also have access to miles of wide-open beach and serenity. If you want to park up with your Roofnest tent and spend an entire week sleeping on the beach or reading a book with the ocean lapping against the shore in the background, there is no better place to go.
The only real problem with Padre island is the weather is not quite as nice as some other locations on this list. Average high temperatures are only in the upper 60s, which means that the beautiful ocean is still a bit too cold to go swimming, but that ocean breeze buffers low temps with the nights averaging in the low 60s, which makes for some amazing nights.
