With more Americans than ever wanting to pitch a tent and spend time outdoors, it's no surprise that campsites are filling up fast and early these days. A new list of the top 10 hardest-to-book campsites in the US has revealed exactly which campsite is most difficult to reserve for summer fun, and never ones to admit defeat, we got to work to find out where we could camp instead that would offer similar amenities, activities and views.
Camping website The Dyrt published its list of the top 10 hardest-to-book campsites on Monday, researching which campsites are most consistently full or close-to-full after learning that 45.5% of campers reported having a difficult time getting a reservation at a campground.
“It’s great that more people are getting outdoors and embracing the joy of camping,” says The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. “But now more than ever, it’s important to really plan ahead and secure your campsite well in advance."
Campsites at National Parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone are well-known for filling up well in advance, but it turns out that the most difficult campsite to get a reservation at is beautiful Nevada Beach Campground, which sits among the pine trees near the eastern shores of iconic Lake Tahoe right on the Nevada/California border. The campsite is an idyllic spot to sleep under the stars and enjoy water sports on the lake.
“This campground was one of the nicest I’ve come across," writes one camper
"In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places in the US. Amazing hiking around the lake."
Where can you go instead?
It sounds wonderful, but with a 99.4% occupancy rate, good luck getting a spot there. We asked The Dyrt to provide some great alternatives for Advnture readers and they came back with several great options in the area.
If what attracts you to Nevada Beach is the access to the lake and the water sports, check out Meeks Bay Resort & Marina which is on the California side of Lake Tahoe, has loads of amenities and gets five stars from campers, with one calling it "nothing short of enchanting."
There's also the family-friendly (and maybe a little noisier) Eagle Point Campground which gets a noteworthy 4.5 stars.
"Lake Tahoe is such a beautiful place and Emerald bay is probably one of the most beautiful," shares one camper, who noted that there "wasn't a bad spot in the whole camp area."
If you want to stay in northern Nevada and don't mind which lake you're close to, you can actually find free camping at sites such as Moon Rocks Camp and East of Pyramid Lake campground which are both near gorgeous Pyramid Lake and have a more intriguing desert vibe.
No matter where you want to camp these days, it seems, you'll want to book early to avoid disappointment. You can check out the full list of hardest-to-book campsites here and if it's a popular National Park you're after, read our expert guide to navigating the National Park reservation system.
