Waterfront RV park: Find beach, lake, or river camping

Vicky SosaFebruary 25, 2022

Waterfront RV park: Find beach, lake, or river camping

Would you like to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of flowing water? It’s time to stay at a waterfront RV park! There isn’t much that is more relaxing than stepping out of your rig and seeing views of a lake, river, or beach. Now, you might be tempted to search for “waterfront RV camping near me” but we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.

Below we’ve listed some of the best campgrounds on the water. They are all on either a lake, river, or beach. RV park rates will vary, but one factor that influences cost is the location. If you’re worried about budget, consider camping during the week or during the off-season.

You’ll also be happy to see that you can go waterfront RV camping all over the US! And since Outdoorsy has the best RV rentals in every state, you’ll be able to find the perfect RV and be out on the water in no time. So make sure your camping checklist includes sunblock, water shoes, and your portable kayak because you’re about to have some epic adventures on the water!

Oregon – Mazama Campground

Price: starting at $20 per night

Located inside Crater Lake National Park, the Mazama Campground has over 200 sites. In June, all sites are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. In July, August, and September, all sites may be reserved in advance. All sites have a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-resistant food locker. There is also a laundry facility, dump station, and flush toilets.

waterfront campgrounds

At Crater Lake, fishing and swimming are the top things to do. Boat tours and bicycling are also popular activities. 

Rentals near Mazama Campground:

Montana – Big Arm Campground

Price: starting at $14 per night

One of the nicest campgrounds on the water is Big Arm Campground in Flathead Lake State Park. There are 41 campsites, including one wheelchair-accessible site. The majority of the sites are right on the edge of the water and each has a fire ring and grill, picnic tables, and bear-proof food storage lockers.

Just steps from the campground is a pebble beach that’s popular with sunbathers and swimmers. Other fun activities include fishing, board sailing, boating, picnicking, bicycling, hiking, wildlife viewing, scuba diving, and water-skiing. And if you need supplies, the two small towns of Big Arm and Elmo are just a few minutes’ drive away.

Rentals near Big Arm Campground:

Ohio – Sandusky / Bayshore KOA Holiday Campground

Price: varies by date and site type

Another great waterfront RV park is the Sandusky / Bayshore KOA. It has some of the best amenities around, including sports courts, an archery range, paintball facility, two pools, fire pits, playgrounds, jumping pillows, dog walking areas, a fishing pond, bathrooms, and laundry facilities.

lake campground

The campground is in an area known as “Vacationland” so there are a lot of fun things to do nearby. Being on the shores of Lake Erie means lots of water activities, but there are also museums and theme parks like the Maritime Museum of Sandusky and Cedar Point.

Rentals near Sandusky / Bayshore KOA Holiday Campground:

New York – Medina / Wildwood Lake KOA Holiday

Price: varies by date and site type

For lakeside waterfront RV camping in northern New York, check out the Medina / Wildwood Lake KOA. They offer full hookups and 50-amp electrical connections, complimentary WiFi and cable TV, children’s playgrounds, a jumping pillow, and a disc golf course. They even have an on-site winery where you can sample local wines.

camping near niagara falls

Within an hour’s drive from the campground are many attractions, most notably Niagara Falls. You can also visit the cities of Buffalo and Rochester easily.

Rentals near Medina / Wildwood Lake KOA Holiday:

Georgia – Crooked River State Park

Price: starting at $34 per night

Located on Georgia’s southern coast is Crooked River State Park, which has a great campground, right on the river. You can roll out of bed and go swimming, kayaking, or boating within minutes. The campground is equipped with showers and a dump station, and all sites have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring.

Image source: npca.org

To explore maritime forests, secluded beaches, and wide marshes, head over to Cumberland Island National Seashore. Or, visit the nearby city of St Marys, which often has fun events and has an exciting history.

Rentals near Crooked River State Park:

New Hampshire – Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday

Price: varies by date and site type

RV parks on the water don’t get much better than this. The Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday is right on the Ammonoosuc River, making it perfect for fishing and bird watching. The campground has excellent amenities like full hookups with 50-amp electrical capacity, enough space for a 90-foot-long RV, a dog park, a swimming pool, and a small convenience store.

Nearby are White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park. Both are excellent areas for hiking, rock climbing, fishing, and mountain biking.

Rentals near Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday:

Mississippi – JP Coleman State Park

Price: starting at $15 per night

Located in northeast Mississippi, JP Coleman State Park has a great waterfront RV park. On the banks of the Tennessee River, visitors will find there are several places to fish and swim. The campground also has amenities like a pool, mini-golf, and a playground. 

waterfront rv park
Image source: tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org

History buffs will find the area fascinating. There is both Native American history and Civil War history to learn in parks and museums.

Rentals near JP Coleman State Park:

Virginia – Monroe Bay Campground

Price: varies by date and site type

Another of the best campgrounds on the water is Monroe Bay Campground, located on the banks of the Potomac River. There are over 300 sites with water and electricity, of these over 100 sites have sewer. There are also two dump stations as well as bathrooms and showers. All sites have picnic tables. Visitors will also enjoy the beach, boat ramp, and docking pier on site.

Monroe Bay Campground is perfectly located between Washington D.C. and Richmond, and you can easily make your way to either city using Interstate 95. So after spending your day on the water, you can spend your evenings enjoying the city life.

Rentals near Monroe Bay Campground:

Florida – Red Coconut RV Park

Price: varies by date and site type

One of the best RV parks on the beach is Red Coconut RV Park, located on Florida’s west coast. Along with epic sunsets, the park also offers water, sewer, electricity, and wireless internet. Each site also has a concrete pad patio and a picnic table.

waterfront rv camping in Florida

From the park, you have easy access to the city of Fort Myers. It offers lots of family-friendly activities including various museums, historical sites, and breathtaking parks.

Rentals near Red Coconut RV Park:

Maine – Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday

Price: varies by date and site type

Another great waterfront RV park is the Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday. The campground has pebble beaches with access to the ocean. The beaches are an excellent place to catch a sunrise or a sunset. The campground also has a basketball court, playground, the KOA Express Fun Train, horseshoe pits, corn hole boards, and planned activities.

waterfront rv park near acadia

The campground is on Bar Island, which is part of Acadia National Park, and you can catch a daily shuttle from the campground to the park. Acadia National Park is known for fishing, hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, and leaf-peeping.

Rentals near Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday:

California – San Elijo State Beach

Price: varies by date and site type

If you’re looking for oceanfront RV parks in California, one of the best is on San Elijo State Beach. Many of the RV campsites are almost literally at the water’s edge and about half the sites have electricity and water hookups. Some premium sites offer full hookups. There is a general store as well as restrooms, shower areas, and an RV dump station.

waterfront beach camping
Image source: visitcalifornia.com

Surfing is definitely the most popular thing to do in the area. But besides catching waves, you can also fish, scuba dive, and snorkel.

Rentals near San Elijo State Beach:

Washington – Pacific Beach State Park

Price: starting at $20 per night

The campground inside Pacific Beach State Park is a popular waterfront RV park in the state. There are 66 campsites, 26 of which are right on the water. RV sites offer 30-amp electric service. There are no water or sewage hookups, but the park does have a freshwater filling station and a dump station.

rv camping near olympic national park

Pacific Beach is conveniently located near several other great parks like Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest. If you’d like some big city adventure, Seattle is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.

Rentals near Pacific Beach State Park:

Ready for some waterfront RV camping?

We hope this list of RV parks on the water has gotten you excited for your next trip. Whether you’re looking for RV campgrounds on the beach, on a river, or on a lake, we know you’ll be splashing around in no time. So rent an RV today and get those water wings ready!

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