As the days grow longer and the temperatures begin to climb, the desire to get outdoors and soak up the beautiful weather grows strong. If you’re planning spring camping trips, look for locations with standout scenery and gorgeous wildflower displays. 

We’ve gathered a list of must-see spots across the United States, so shake off the dregs of winter hibernation from your bones and start loading your gear…you’re going to want to see these magnificent spots.

Linville Gorge Wilderness Area – North Carolina

Often called “the Grand Canyon of the East”, Linville Gorge comes alive in spring when North Carolina has released the remnants of her notoriously mild winters and the Blue Ridge Mountains grow lush and green once again.

Plenty of natural hiking trails lead you through fields bursting with mountain wildflowers and the gorge itself is spectacular, stretching for 12 miles at an elevation that ranges from 2,000 – 4,000 feet.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee

You’ll be hard pressed to find a prettier camping spot in the spring than those in the Smoky Mountains. In fact, the park is often called “the Wildflower National Park” thanks to the 1,500 flowering plants that can be found there.

Be sure to check out the Cove Hardwood Self-guided nature trail for some of the best wildflower views in the park. There’s also a 2-mile section of the Appalachian Trail that has lovely floral displays from mid-April through May.

San Isabel National Forest – Colorado

If remote camping is your thing, you’ll love claiming a spot at San Isabel. Reserve a campground at Angel of Shavano, but be prepared for a long commute—getting there requires a three hour drive from Denver, which may explain why the campground is rarely crowded…even during peak tourist season.

Here you’ll enjoy hiking, mountain biking, excellent fishing opportunities, and the unsurpassed beauty of the forest. Solitude has never looked so good.

Yosemite National Park – California

Is Yosemite spectacular in spring? Yes. Is it spectacular any other time of the year? Also, yes. However, there’s something particularly lovely about the park in the spring, when the snow on the mountains begins to melt and turns even the smallest streams into bodies of rushing water.

Plan your visit in May or June when California poppies bloom alongside Redbud and Dogwood trees.

Glacier National Park – Montana

While some campsites at Glacier may be reserved up to 6 months in advance, many are first-come-first-serve, so be prepared to get to the park early to grab a spot. Trust us…it will be well worth the effort as Glacier is one of the most scenic parks in the country.

Spend your days hiking through Alpine forests exploding with purple asters, glacier lilies, and bear grass. At night, stretch out under the impossibly magnificent blanket of stars and keep an eye out for the Milky Way—it just so happens that Glacier is one of the few places where this celestial body can be seen from almost any campground in the park.

It’s time to brush the dust off your pack and start making plans. There’s an endless network of trails and campgrounds just waiting to show you the beauty around them. Lace up your boots, friends, and go connect to the great outdoors.

Happy camping!