On this episode of the Campground of the Week podcast, we are talking about 12 bucket list state park campgrounds in the USA. These state parks are showstoppers. They are places that you should plan to visit at some point on your RV adventures.

We'll tell you a little bit about what makes each of these bucket list state park campgrounds so special. But more importantly, we'll tell you about the reservation window for each state park.

Reservation windows are how far in advance you are allowed to book a campsite. They are sooooo important to know because the most popular state parks book up FAST. Seasoned state park campers sit at their computers at midnight, waiting for the window to open like they are trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets for their preteen daughter. It's serious stuff.

If you have other bucket list state park campgrounds to add to our list, tell us about them in the comments below. Or better yet, head over to our Campground Reviews page and leave your recommendation for the whole RVFTA community.

And now for our list of 12 Bucket List State Park Campgrounds...

 

Assateaque State Park

Photo Credit: Maryland State Parks

Assateaque State Park is located in Berlin, Maryland. It's just about 15 minutes from Ocean City but feels a million miles away from the touristy crowds. The campground is fantastically maintained and wonderfully rustic. Sites back right up to the high, sandy dunes. There are amazing ranger programs right on site. Oh, and beautiful wild horses roam the island offering some pretty fantastic photo opportunities. There is one electric loop, and the rest of the campground is dry camping.

Booking Window: 12 months in advance

 

Nickerson State Park

Nickerson State Park is located on the Cape Cod peninsula in Brewster, Massachusetts. It offers 19 deeply wooded acres of pine and oak forest. There are 418 spacious campsites, and some overlook pristine freshwater kettle ponds. The whole state park is dry camping, but there are definitely sites that are big-rig friendly.

Booking Window: 6 months in advance

 

Custer State Park

Photo Credit: South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks

Custer State Park is located in Custer, South Dakota not far from the popular road trip destination of Mount Rushmore. Janine Pettit reviewed the Blue Bell Campground in Custer State Park on episode #103 of Campground of the Week. She admitted it was one of her favorite campgrounds ever in the whole, wide world. Campers rave about the natural beauty alongside of the ample wildlife. It's an added bonus that some of the campgrounds in Custer State Park offer water and electric hook ups.

Booking Window: 12 months in advance

 

Letchworth State Park

Photo credit: New York State Parks

Letchworth State Park is located in western New York State about an hour and a half southeast of Niagara Falls. It's known as the "Grand Canyon of the East" and is one of the most popular state parks in New York. There are three major waterfalls and cliffs as high as 600 feet. Campers can enjoy over 66 miles of hiking trails.There are also plenty of nature programs as well as kayaking, whitewater rafting, and many other outdoor activities.

Booking Window: 9 months in advance

 

Silver Falls State Park

Photo Credit: Oregon State Parks

Silver Falls State Park is located in Sublimity, Oregon, 90 minutes south of Portland and 40 minutes east of Salem. It's best known for the 8.7 mile loop Canyon Trail, also known as the Trail of Ten Falls. Visitors rave about this loop hike that offers stunning views of 10 waterfalls right within the state park. Larissa Richardson reviewed this campground on episode #27 of Campground of the Week, and said it was one of her family's favorite stops in the Pacific Northwest.