Best Lakeside & Riverside Camping in America
Find waterfront spots with a campground nearby — wake up steps from the water for swimming, fishing, and paddling.
All Lakeside & Riverside Camping
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4.5(1,645)LeFleur's Bluff State Park Mayes Lake
A 305-acre park of lakes, forests & fields that offers camping, fishing & a 9-hole golf course.
4.5(346)Bay Park
A waterside recreation area on 96 acres, with courts, fields, a skate park, golf & a fishing dock.
4.5(312)El Dorado Lake
This 8,000-acre reservoir offers boating, a swimming beach & fishing, plus diverse wildlife.
4.5(1,761)Arkansas River
The sixth-longest river in the United States at 1,469 miles, the Arkansas River flows from the Rocky Mountains near Leadville, Colorado through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to meet the Mississippi. The upper Colorado stretch offers premier whitewater rafting through Brown's Canyon and the Royal Gorge, plus Gold Medal trout fishing. The 445-mile McClellan-Kerr Navigation System in Oklahoma and Arkansas supports commercial barge traffic and recreation. The river drains nearly 170,000 square miles across its course.
4.5(569)Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach
Lakeside park is a go-to for picnics, rope swings, kayaks, a snackbar & group & event rentals.
4.5(2,094)Rock 'N River Water Park
Family-friendly water park features a lazy river, a water playground, slides & tipping buckets.
4.5(389)Smithville Lake
2 swim beaches, boat rentals, golf courses & camping grounds along a huge lake with bike trails.
4.5(856)Gila River
A 649-mile tributary of the Colorado River flowing through New Mexico and Arizona, the Gila River drains nearly 60,000 square miles of dramatic desert and mountain landscape. For over 2,000 years, Indigenous peoples thrived here — the ancient Huhugam civilization built 500 miles of irrigation canals supporting 50,000-60,000 people. The river's headwaters feed the Gila National Forest and Wilderness Area, one of the first designated wilderness areas in the United States, offering hiking, camping, and hot springs in remote canyon country.
4.5(697)Mayo River State Park
Mayo River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Rockingham County, North Carolina in the United States. It covers 2,778-acre along the Mayo River, and it adjoins a Virginia State Park of the same name. North Carolina's park is near Mayodan, North Carolina.
4.5(147)Rocky Neck State Park Bathing Beach
Sandy beach featuring a boardwalk, a seasonal pavilion & nearby park amenities & bath facilities.
4.5(887)Salinas River State Beach
Popular destination for bird-watching, fishing & horseback riding, with a dune trail & picnic area.
4.5(1,292)San Carlos Bay - Bunche Beach Preserve
Natural tidal wetlands reserve with mangroves, a sandy beach, kayak rentals & birdwatching.
4.5(8,731)Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
Massive, long-running hot-springs pool in serene mountain surrounds, open to the public.
4.5(119)Fort Myers Beach Pool
Temp ClosedHeated water for lap swimming plus kiddie pool, slides & play structures & a wheelchair swim lift.
Tips for Visiting Lakeside & Riverside Camping
Reserve campsites early — waterfront spots book out fastest in summer
Check whether the campground is first-come or reservation-only
Pack a bear canister where required and store food safely
Confirm potable water and fire-ban status before you arrive