When planning your outdoor excursion, you'll quickly find out camping is a lot more than simply slinging your belongings on your back and heading into the woods. In order to have an unforgettable time — you know, the good kind — you'll need to do a bit of prep work before your trip. But, don't let that steer you away from spending time with Mother Nature. The more you plan upfront, the more you can truly relax once you arrive.
That said, the first decision is selecting where to go, then finding a campsite in that specific area. When making your selection, keep in mind what's important to you. For instance, if you're seeking amazing views and a secluded location, state/national parks will be your best bet. However, you will most likely need to make a reservation beforehand, as well as purchase a park permit for these primitive campsites.
While state/national parks are ideal for truly getting into the wild and are usually quite cheap, the seclusion does come at another type of cost. These sites tend to not have as many amenities — including bathhouses, running water, and electricity — so if you consider these type things essential, you might have a better time staying in a more established campground, such as a KOA, which are known to have more modern facilities. These campgrounds also usually rent out miniature cabins, in case you're not exactly ready to sleep on the ground.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter which type of campsite you decide on, as long as you're the most comfortable!
