Whether you are a college student looking for a relaxing vacation on a student budget or a nature lover dying to leave urban living behind for a few days, camping offers an inexpensive and exciting escape from the stresses of everyday life. Forget paying for expensive hotel rooms with mediocre service. Forget planning an itinerary that packs in all the pricey restaurants and public museums. Rather than spend your money racing around a new town or city trying to see all the tourist sites you can, why not relax in the wonders of nature and enjoy the expeditions available to you by foot and for free? Camping has been an American pastime for generations. Connecting with nature and exploring new landscapes opens our eyes to the marvels and beauties of the world we often take for granted. With vast deserts, snowy peaks, rocky cliffs, flowing rivers, dense forests, majestic waterfalls, and ever-blue lakes, there are an endless amount of places to explore, camp, and grow. The following lists the top 10 campsites in the United States.

1. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: If you're interested in mountain views and white water excursions, Rocky Mountain National Park (pictured above) is the camping destination for you. Located in northern Colorado, this park is set in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River. Surrounded by three different National Forests, Rocky Mountain National Park has sights for all types of nature lovers to enjoy. With campgrounds spread throughout the large park in many different areas of terrain, campers can travel from site to site, admiring the different aspects the park has to offer. The park is separated by the Continental Divide, giving the eastern and western portions of the park very different characters. To the east the park is much drier, with heavily glaciated peaks and valleys. Snow capped year round, the Never Summer Mountains stand craggy and rough in the western portion of the park. This area holds much history with trails leading to old abandoned mines and eerie ghost towns. Rich history, wildlife, alpine flowers, roaring rivers, soaring cliffs, scenic hiking trails, snowcapped peaks, and dozens of camping sites make Rocky Mountain National Park one of the most amazing areas in the United States.
2. San Gorgonio Wilderness, California: Only ten miles from the glitz and glam of Palm Springs, the San Gorgonio Wilderness is forty thousand acres of natural beauty that will make you forget you're in the land of Hollywood and movie stars. Set just below the San Bernardino Mountain range, this wilderness encompasses everything from rolling foothills and deep canyons to steep, rugged mountains. San Gorgonio displays a unique landscape transitioning between desert, costal, and mountain environments. The San Gorgonio Wilderness offers diverse camping for any nature admirer.
3. Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland: Coastal bays, sandy beaches, and light forests offer a majestic visit for any camper. While there are not elaborate campsites or hookups available, Assateague Island offers campsites with small grills and picnic tables. You can choose to rest on the soft sand of an ocean beach or along the bay as the salty waves lull you to sleep at night. What makes Assateague Island truly unique are the bands of wild ponies roam among the plants and native animals. You will share this beautiful world as a visiting camper, sleeping and exploring alongside the wild ponies that call Assateague Island home.
4. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon: Located in southern Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is the only national park in the state of Oregon. The central attraction for this park (as well as its namesake) is Crater Lake, which rests in the remains of a destroyed volcano. The national forest encompasses the amazingly blue lake and the entire wilderness that surrounds it. Set in the middle of forests and cliffs rising majestically into the sky at almost 2000 feet high, Crater Lake is the sixth deepest lake in the world. Crater Lake National Park has two designated campgrounds: Mazama Campground and Lost Creek Campground. If awesome lake views aren't your thing, don't worry. Crater Lake National Park also offers mountains, fifty thousand acres of forest, and bizarre geological landforms created by the volcanic activity in the area.
5. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah: If you are looking to camp among rocky cliffs and narrow canyons, Glen Canyon is the perfect destination for you. What is so memorable about Glen Canyon is the striking contrast between the deep clear blue waters of Lake Powell and the surrounding landscape of stark red sandstone, making up the cliffs and canyons at the water's edge. Lake Powell is the second largest man-made lake in the United States, stretching 186 miles across the red desert of Arizona and Utah. There are various beaches, resorts, marinas, and campsites found along the shoreline of the western edge of Lake Powell.
6. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: With half the worlds geothermal features all located in this three thousand plus square mile area, Yellowstone National Park will make any list discussing the wonders of nature. As the first established National Park in the world, Yellowstone is an awe-inspiring and mystical place. Full of volcanoes, rivers, mountain peaks, waterfalls, geysers, and wildlife, every area in Yellowstone National Park is a must see destination. There are over two thousand campsites available throughout the park; however, for campers dedicated to wildlife watching, Lamar Valley is set apart from the rest. While camping immediately in Lamar Valley is restricted, there are several camping areas available within a close distance to the spectacle. Formed over thousands of years by a mountain glacier, leaving several boulders and glacial ponds in its wake, Lamar Valley is now famous for its wildlife viewing opportunities. Watch bison, elk, grizzly bears, and grey wolves wander their home and soak in the natural wonders of the world we often overlook.
7. Kings Canyon National Park, California: Less infamous than the redwood forests of Yosemite National Park and Redwood National Park, Redwood Canyon in Kings Canyon National Park has the world's largest grove of Giant Sequoias. With over 15,000 trees in its 4,000 acres, Redwood Canyon offers a beautiful escape for any camper. With camping available at several different locations throughout the park, campers can see all Kings Canyon has to offer over a couple nights stay. Sleeping among the Giant Sequoias -- the largest living things on earth -- can make any nature seeker feel small and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Enjoy light hiking, fishing, animal watching, and camping at Kings Canyon National Park.
8. The Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama: As the largest wilderness area in the state of Alabama, The Sipsey Wilderness has tons to offer. Named after the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, this wilderness area has arguably the best water scenery in the country. The river varies from slow sections with sandy beaches to rock and boulder strewn areas, adding to the beauty and uniqueness of the landscape. With feeder creeks and small streams that run cold and clear over cascading rock and cliffs, the Sipsey is nicknamed "Land of 1000 Waterfalls" for a reason. However, the fall that is perhaps most notable is Fall Creek Falls. Be lulled to sleep by the sound of water trickling over smooth rock and tumbling off a jutted cliff as you rest your head to camp at Fall Creek Falls. While the Sipsey Wilderness isn't as expansive or as well known as Yellowstone or Yosemite, its simple beauty and remoteness help you to feel comfortable and at home.
9. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada: While setting up camp in what is considered one of the harshest deserts in the world doesn't necessarily sound like a fun or relaxing time, the sights and scenery may change your mind. With snow capped mountains looming in the distance, soft sand dunes, multicolored rocks, canyons gorged out by rushing water, and millions of acres of wilderness, Death Valley is one of the most unique landscapes on the planet. Camping is available all year at several campgrounds throughout the park as well as some seasonal camping available in harsher areas.
10. Acadia National Park, Maine: With spectacular views, plentiful wildlife, and a pristine landscape, Acadia National Park is a go-to destination for any nature admirer. For this reason, Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Camping here allows one to experience all the beauty of Maine at once. High mountains, vast woodlands, and forest lakes meet rocky beaches and ocean shoreline in one unforgettable spectacle. In Acadia National Park, you can bike on an old carriage road, hike paths along the shore and forest land, or just relax at your campsite while listening to salty waves crash into craggy rocks. Heralded as one of the U.S.'s most beautiful National Parks, Acadia National Park is a must see for any camper wanting the full nature experience.