East Coast Camping Destinations

renogys blog Jun 11th 2017

Its no secret that Renogy loves camping, especially at scenic campgrounds. We love to camp because it’s a great way to relax, unwind, and reconnect with nature. If you have children or grandchildren, camping creates great memories and can help teach the little ones about the importance of conservation. Perhaps you’ve recently heard about the surge in RV sales, which also signals that camping is becoming popular once again. With all the new campers visiting the parks, it’s no wonder that state and federal authorities are setting rules and regulations to control noise. Many of these parks place limitations on when and where campers can run noisy equipment, which often includes traditional gas generators. Many campers are turning to solar power systems to get around these noise restrictions. Below is a small compilation of various state and federal parks spread along the northeastern US:

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Acadia National Park is located along the southeastern coastline of Maine. Acadia enjoyed federal status in 1916 and officially became a national park in February of 1918. It includes just about anything a camper could hope for: mountains, coastline, forest, and lakes. If you enjoy wildlife, the park is home to black bears, eagles, minks, and bobcats (to name a few). There are five campgrounds at the park, One of the sites is only for campers traveling with stock animals such as horses (Wildwoods Stable), and another is inaccessible by automobile or camper (Duck Harbor). The other campsites allow for RV parking with various hookups. It currently costs between $30-$40 to rent an RV site.

Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)

If you love sand, sun, and (usually) gentle waves, then Cape Cod may be your perfect camping destination. President Kennedy declared this area a National Seashore in August of 1961. At the Seashore you can find forest, coastline, and ponds. Visitors can camp, swim, and see various sites including cranberry bogs and lighthouses. Although the Seashore offers a limited number of rental cottages, there are no campgrounds. However, Nickerson State Park offers a nearby campground that is within easy driving distance to the Seashore. Note that between Memorial Day and Labor Day, campers are limited to a max consecutive stay of 14 days. Those that overstay will be asked to leave the park. Campsites allow for tents, vehicles, and RVs.

White Mountain National Forest (Vermont and Maine)

If you’re more of a hiker or climber, White Mountain may be the park for you. Perhaps you’ve visited or even hiked the Appalachian Trail, which is partially located in this great park. Established in 1918, this park has some great skiing sites and is home to mountain peaks exceeding 4,000 feet. If you’re into wildlife, you may spot a Canadian lynx, river otter, or porcupine. The park has cabin rentals, traditional campsites, and those that allow RV parking.

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

They say that Virginia is for lovers- camp lovers, that is. Surprisingly, this park is located little more than an hour away from the hustle and bustle of D.C. Take a hike along the Blue Ridge Mountains or drive down the iconic Skyline Drive. Established in 1925, this park is home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and a variety of wildlife. There are several campgrounds in this park, which feature rentable cabins as well as traditional campsites and RV parking. If you really like roughing it, you can set up a remote “wilderness/backcountry camp.” Of course, any backcountry campsite is subject to the “leave no trace” policy.