The 10 Best U.S. Campgrounds That Need to Be On Your Bucket List

Does the thought of sleeping outside in a tent make you want to run to the nearest hotel (or glamping destination)? If so, you may not be aware of locations like these. Across the U.S., there are truly magnificent campgrounds that overlook the ocean, are nestled within red rocks, and even let you be one with wild horses. We spoke with travel experts to put together a list of the 10 best campgrounds in the U.S. that you must add to your vacation bucket list. Keep reading to learn about these unique outdoor destinations, and don't be surprised if you find yourself converting to the camper lifestyle.

1. Savage River Campground in Denali National Park, Alaska

Alaska's Denali National Park is not for the faint of heart. "[It] encompasses six million acres of tundra, forest, and alpine ecosystems," explains Debora Bridges, a publicist who runs Bridges Media Group and represents the park. The main draw is Mount Denali (also called Mount McKinley), which is the highest mountain peak in North America. The park is also known for its wildlife, which includes grizzly bears, moose, caribou, hawks, and eagles.

Riley Creek is the most common campground at Denali, but for something slightly more secluded, Jennie Flaming, founder of travel website Ordinary Adventures, recommends the Savage River Campground. "It's in the part of the park you can drive to, but it's not huge like Riley Creek. It's much [homier] and is in a beautiful location along the river," she explains. According to the National Park Service (NPS), this campground "sits in a spruce forest" and offers views of Mount Denali on clear days.

In addition, it's adjacent to the Savage River Loop Trail, where you can spot a lot of wildlife. The campground is only open between May and September, and Flaming notes that early September is an especially beautiful time here with the fall colors in view.

2. Colonial Creek North Campground in North Cascades National Park, Washington

One of the biggest draws of Washington's North Cascades National Park is the glacial-fed Diablo Lake, a gorgeous turquoise-colored body of water that sits below the North Cascade mountains. And the "remote, yet bustling" Colonial Creek North Campground allows you to set up right at the lake, with 41 campsites "in old growth forest," according to the NPS.

Laura Witt, the founder of camping and hiking blog Amateur Adventure Journal, suggests reserving a spot "just steps from the shoreline." She also notes that "the trailhead for Thunder Knob Trail is located at the entrance to the campground, so camping here means you don't have to find parking to access this easy trail." There is a South Campground across the street, which has "walk-in, tent-only sites" but it's closer to the main highway and therefore busier.

3. Kirk Creek Campground in Big Sur, California

Generally speaking, Big Sur is the stretch of California's Central Coast that's bordered by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The area is known for its beachside cliffs, an abundance of redwoods (it's part of Los Padres National Forest), hiking trails, and the fact that it's located along the famous Pacific Coast Highway—all of which make the locale an extremely popular camping spot.

Jenny Ly, the founder of travel website Go Wanderly, is partial to the Kirk Creek Campground, which is "perched on an exposed bluff 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean," she notes. Larry Snider, VP of operations of Casago Vacation Rentals, agrees, citing the sunrises over the Pacific as a draw. He also explains that the campground has "picturesque coves and an abundance of trails that lead to redwoods, waterfalls, and streams."

In terms of location, Snider points out that Kirk Creek is just five miles from Sand Dollar Beach, "which offers the longest stretch of sandy beach along the Big Sur coast." And Ly adds that it's only 30 minutes from the surf town of Big Sur.

Read the full article from Yahoo! Life here.