Ready for your next camping adventure? Here are some tips to help plan camping and adventure itineraries in some of America's most treasured land and sea places: national marine sanctuaries, national parks, and state parks.
This list is not exhaustive and does not include privately owned campgrounds and RV parks. The detailed sample itineraries provided for some of the sites (e.g., Florida Keys, Channel Islands) are based on a three-day primitive camping trip, with recommendations for things to do if you have more than three days to camp, learn, play, and explore.
Eastern Region
From New England's rugged shores to the freshwater shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, these sanctuaries offer nearby camping in public parks and recreation areas where you can easily access sanctuary waters for kayaking, boating, or exploring maritime history.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Massachusetts)
Nearby camping: Nickerson State Park, Cape Cod National Seashore (Coast Guard Beach, Race Point, and nearby public camp sites), and other Massachusetts DCR parks on Cape Cod.
Notes: Public camping within the national seashore and state parks places visitors just a short drive from whale watching ports like Provincetown and Gloucester that provide access to sanctuary waters.
Mallows Bay–Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (Maryland)
Nearby camping: Smallwood State Park and Widewater State Park.
Notes: Public camping and easy kayak access to the Ghost Fleet shipwrecks within the sanctuary. The Mallows Bay–Potomac River interpretive area and kayak launch site is just a few minutes from Smallwood State Park. Explore other places to go around the sanctuary.
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (Georgia)
Nearby camping: Skidaway Island State Park and Fort McAllister State Park.
Notes: The sanctuary is offshore, but these parks are ideal base camps for visiting with your own vessel or accessing Savannah-area boat rentals. The Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center in Savannah is about a 10–15 minute drive from Skidaway Island State Park.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Florida)
Nearby camping: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Bahia Honda State Park, Long Key State Park, and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Notes: Offers camping with direct access to sanctuary waters for snorkeling, diving, and fishing with Blue Star operators. Easy access to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center from Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Michigan)
Nearby camping: Thunder Bay River State Forest Campground and Alpena County Parks — including Sunken Lake and Long Lake parks.
Notes: Minutes from sanctuary waters with access to paddling, boating, fishing, and more. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (NOAA's main visitor center for the sanctuary) is located right in Alpena, within a short drive of these campgrounds.
Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary (Wisconsin)
Nearby camping: Kohler-Andrae State Park and Point Beach State Forest.
Notes: Campgrounds along Lake Michigan's shoreline with direct access to shipwreck dive and kayak sites.
Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (New York)
Nearby camping: Selkirk Shores State Park, Southwick Beach State Park, and Fair Haven Beach State Park.
Notes: All within a short distance of sanctuary waters, offering lakeside camping and boating access.
West Coast Region
Along the Pacific coast, visitors can camp in scenic state and national parks that border sanctuary waters. From California’s island wilderness to Washington's rugged beaches, these sites offer easy access to tidepools, hiking trails, and marine wildlife viewing.
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (California)
Nearby camping: Channel Islands National Park — primitive island campgrounds on Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands. No RVs: primitive only.
Notes: Camp along the shores of the sanctuary with opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching, and easy access to snorkeling, diving, and paddling.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (California)
Nearby camping: Sunset State Beach, New Brighton State Beach, and Half Moon Bay State Beach.
Notes: These state park campgrounds sit directly on sanctuary shorelines, with easy access to recreational activities. The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center (Santa Cruz) is about 5–10 minutes from New Brighton State Beach.
Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries (California)
Nearby camping: Salt Point State Park and Bodega Dunes Campground.
Notes: Provides coastal camping adjacent to sanctuary waters with access to tidepools and coastal trails. The Greater Farallones and Cordel Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Visitor Center, located near the Golden Gate Bridge, offers exhibits and maps for planning your coastal visit (about a 1.5–2 hour drive from these campgrounds).
Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (California)
Nearby camping: Montaña de Oro State Park, Morro Bay State Park, and Pismo State Beach.
Notes: All are within or adjacent to the sanctuary boundary and offer shoreline access, hiking, and paddling.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (Washington)
Nearby camping: Kalaloch Campground and South Beach Campground in Olympic National Park.
Notes: These campgrounds are right along the sanctuary's coastal boundary with easy access to tidepools, wildlife watching, and surfing.
Pacific Islands Region
Across Hawai‘i, coastal campgrounds near sanctuary waters invite visitors to experience the islands’ marine life up close. From whale watching and snorkeling to stargazing under clear tropical skies, these sites offer a unique way to connect with sanctuary environments.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (Hawai‘i)
Nearby camping: Anini Beach Park (Kauaʻi), Malaekahana State Recreation Area (O‘ahu), Camp Olowalu (Maui), and Spencer Beach Park (Hawai‘i Island).
Notes: These public beach parks and nonprofit campgrounds lie along sanctuary shoreline zones across the Hawaiian Islands, offering direct access for whale watching, paddling, and snorkeling during the winter breeding season. Anini Beach Park is popular for calm lagoon snorkeling conditions and is a 45-minute drive to the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery Center. Camp Olowalu is just a short drive from the sanctuary's small Kīhei, Maui visitor center.