The Dyrt has announced its 2025 Best Places to Camp Regional Awards, highlighting top-rated campgrounds across the United States based on user reviews and ratings.
The annual list draws from millions of submissions on the camping app, which offers resources for state and national parks, RV parks, glamping sites, and free camping options.
Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt, said the awards showcase the variety and appeal of camping destinations nationwide.
“It’s not just camping season, it’s Best Places to Camp season!” Smith said. “Some of these locations are up in the mountains, others are on islands in the South,” Smith explained.
For 2025, The Dyrt divided the country into six regions: Central, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, Pacific, and Southeast. Sixty campgrounds were recognized in total. Several sites are repeat honorees, reflecting sustained popularity among campers.
The Mountain Region’s top spot went to Lost Lake Campground in Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest. Known for equestrian camping, the site operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meanwhile, Anchor Down RV Resort in Tennessee, leading in the Southeast, offers paved sites with full hookups and views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The rankings arrive as camping participation continues to grow. According to The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, nearly 81.1 million Americans camped in 2024, including 5.8 million first-time campers.
More than 25 million people have tried camping for the first time since 2021.
Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt, described how personal experience shapes his perspective on the diverse appeal of U.S. campgrounds. “I grew up camping in Minnesota, spent a bunch of time in the Pacific Northwest, and even lived the vanlife and traveled the country a few years back,” Long said.
Long noted a recent trip to Schoodic Woods Campground in Maine’s Acadia National Park, which ranks second in the Northeast Region. “One thing I’ve learned from camping all over the U.S. is that a great place to camp can be great for so many reasons. Experience as many as you can,” he said.