Summer is in full swing, but let’s be honest – there is no usual summer vibes or the constant urge to sunbathe at the beach for most of us. A lot has happened during the last three months, and the situation is predicted to get worse in the coming days. This has further shut down some of the typical summer activities at places where people tend to gather, which would mean that the 4th of July celebrations this year will also be limited in grandeur, and activities. However, you can enjoy quality time with friends and family on the fourth of July, as long as you keep the number of people joining in below 10. However, there are reasons to be happy too as with the relaxation of restrictions coming into effect, we would likely be allowed to take on activities which were restricted during the past two months. This includes your visits to the beach, parks, and of course – camping at the great outdoors once again.
However, you might have to make extra preparations this time, though! While most of the national parks have reopened, most are still operating at limited capacities – meaning that you would have to get an entry pass first. If you are considering camping at a national park, you can easily check the current status, occupancy cap, restrictions, if any, and other related information here. Your best pick to go camping at the soonest (July) will be to use the Independence federal holiday! The best way to top off our time away from the great outdoors due to shelter at home orders and quarantines would be to head towards popular campsites, starting from this Fourth of July weekend. Most of the popular campsites are open again, and there is not the usual rush of summer visitors due to the COVID-19 scenario. To further help you decide where to spend the fourth of July adventure at, without further ado, let’s jump straight into some of these top camping destinations across the US.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this green patch of land is a treasure cove that features numerous ridges of forest cover, a wide variety of plant and animal species, cascading mountains with scenic views of both states, and is also home to various wildflowers. The park is reopening in a phased manner – which means that some regions will be inaccessible. You can access different types of campsites like the front country for those hiking through, backcountry for those driving, group camping sites, and even horse camps.
Yosemite National Park
If you are someone who had been missing the great outdoors and want to get back into the wilderness again, very few options compare in contrast to Yosemite National Park, California. Yosemite can be perfectly described as a forest shrine that encompasses of gorgeous waterfalls, scenic landscapes, endless deep valleys, and lush greenery. As California was one of the leading states in COVID-19 cases, there are plenty of restrictions still in effect for Yosemite, and entry is allowed only through online reservations which can be made by visiting the park website or recreation.gov website. In line with maintaining social distancing norms, camp four has been closed temporarily. However, you are still allowed to camp with reservations at Upper Pines Campground and Wawona Horse Camp (please note that camping at Wawona Horse Camp requires you traveling on horseback).
Grand Canyon National Park
The historic landmark and tourist attraction in Arizona feature layers and layers of colorful and ancient rock formations. Spanning across a whopping 277 miles of land divided into the northern and southern rim, Grand Canyon is also one of the best choices for planning a combo road-camping trip. A scenic road trip through the wild west always gets you back in the summer groove. While the Grand Canyon’s south rim is open around the clock, entry through the north rim is restricted due to the recent outbreak of Magnum fire. The Grand Canyon is, after all, one of the best national parks in all of America that offers some of the most amazing and unique options for experiencing the thrills and spills of camping. There is no shortage of fun when you camp at Grand Canyon, thanks to the numerous famous spots like the South Rim, North Rim, Mather Campground, Trailer Village, and NPS Campgrounds. However, make sure that you stay updated with the status of both North Rim and South Rim, as they are both subject to temporary closures and reservation cancellations due to the ongoing magnum fire outbreak. If you are still worried about parking along the road trip, rest assured for we have you covered with some of the best parking spots in the area.
Yellowstone National Park
America’s first National Park continues to be one of the popular campsites to date with its unique hydrothermal features – the hot springs being an all-time favorite that keeps attracting visitors to this top campsite all year round. The national park, which has three entrances at Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is currently open with limitations. While the Fishing Bridge RV Park continues to remain closed due to ongoing construction, the remaining campsites at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, and Madison are all open for reservations. Walk-in entries are still a gamble, so it would be ideal to consider pre-booking your campsite in advance before venturing out on your trip to Yosemite.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is undoubtedly your answer to lush greenery and great outdoors that you have missed due to stay at home orders, and quarantines. With a diverse variety of vast wilderness, a beautiful mix of the ecosystem, and everything from green rainforests to snow-tipped glaciers of the Olympic mountains. There is almost every possible option to experience the different elements of our ecosystem here, and there will always be the continuous adrenaline rush of expecting the unexpected at the Olympic National Park. You can choose to camp at Kalaloch, Sol Duc, and Mora on the 4th of July by making reservations. All other campsites will only accept entry on a first-come, first-serve basis, which could make it a difficult task to get spots at this national park.
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Renee is your go-to travel guru! With 15 years of wanderlust-fueled writing, she’s your go-to guide for all things travel and driving-related. When she’s not behind the wheel or jet-setting across the country, you’ll find her binge-watching movies/series or listening to true crime podcasts.
