The biggest advantage for campers in the Southeast is the long, warm season that stretches well into spring and fall, so you can comfortably pitch a tent when much of the country is still bundled up against the cold. The region is remarkably biodiverse, from the misty ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains to the cypress swamps of the Okefenokee to the barrier islands off the Georgia and Carolina coasts, giving campers an enormous range of landscapes to explore.
The new No. 1 this year is a vineyard, winery and campground all in one, Landry Vineyards Grape Escape RV Sites in Louisiana. St. Andrews State Park Campground on the Florida Panhandle checks in at No. 2 and starts a run of four state park campgrounds in the Top 5. Two properties that have very little in common, Wendy Oaks RV Resort in Mississippi and Canaan Loop Road dispersed camping in West Virginia, each make their BPTC debut.
Check out these and the rest of this year’s Best Places to Camp Regional Award winners in the Southeast Region, which are based on reviews and ratings from The Dyrt’s vast community of campers.
1. Landry Vineyards Grape Escape RV Sites — Louisiana
Location: West Monroe, LA
What makes it great: Landry Vineyards Grape Escape earns its spot on this list for being unlike anything else here: a working winery where a handful of full-hookup gravel sites sit on a hill overlooking active grape rows, with the property split by a country road between camping and the tasting room.
The draw here isn’t hiking trails or waterfalls — it’s the wine. The tasting room pours around 30 varieties, including a popular blackberry merlot and a chocolate raspberry port, and stays open Monday through Saturday. Saturday evenings often bring live music, and campers who time their stay right have stumbled into everything from solo guitar sets to a full bagpipe performance under the portico. One guest arranged a wine-and-cheese delivery straight to his site after a long day of driving.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Landry Vineyard was a quick overnight stop but couldn’t have been more idyllic. We purchased a bottle of port upon arrival and enjoyed sipping on it at the edge of the grape vines, under the stars. The vineyard is close enough to the highway for easy access but far enough away. The personnel at the vineyard were friendly and welcoming.” — danny C.
Campground details
Price: $40
Number of sites: 11
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
2. St. Andrews State Park Campground — Florida
Location: Panama City, FL
What makes it great: St. Andrews State Park tucks 176 gravel sites between Grand Lagoon and the Gulf, delivering water views from nearly every spot in the campground. Lower-numbered sites face the jetty with prime waterfowl viewing, while higher-numbered sites see regular visits from deer at dawn and dusk. The campground includes a central community area with built-in cornhole and an oversized checkerboard around a shared fire pit, and post-Hurricane Michael renovations brought updated bathhouses with hot water, electrical outlets, and new laundry facilities.
The real draw is 24-hour beach access for registered campers, split between two distinct experiences: a choppier, clearer Gulf side and a calmer bay side. A nature trail winds through freshwater swamp habitat and interpretive programs cover the local wildlife. Three camp stores are scattered throughout the park stocking basics, firewood and beach gear, plus there’s a boat ramp, fishing access, snorkeling and paved bike paths connecting it all.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Tops in my book. This campground has three camp stores, beaches, fishing, snorkeling, boat ramp, cafe and bike paths. All roads and bike paths are paved. Lots of wildlife.” — Brian K.
Campground details
Price: $28
Number of sites: 176
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
3. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground — Georgia
Location: Rising Fawn, GA
What makes it great: Cloudland Canyon is a hiker’s dream, with trail networks running directly from the campground to the park’s signature 600-step descent into the canyon toward Cherokee and Hemlock Falls. The campground splits into two distinct loops: the East Rim sits along the main park road with 24 sites offering direct canyon views but tighter spacing, while the West Rim’s 48 sites are more secluded, nestled among mature trees with some featuring personal connector trails to the broader hiking network.
The West Rim tends to be the favorite among repeat visitors for its wooded, shaded, slightly separated sites — some even come with quirky perks, like site 37’s climbing tree. Every site includes water and electric hookups up to 50 amps, gravel pads, picnic tables and fire rings.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “The staff could not be more friendly and helpful. The park itself is beautiful and the West campground is well maintained and the shower rooms were in excellent shape. I would guess this part fills up very fast in peak season. We are here on a Monday night in early March and most sites are taken.” — Harold
Campground details
Price: $10-$270
Number of sites: 72
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
4. Petit Jean State Park — Arkansas
Location: Morrilton, AR
What makes it great: Arkansas’s first state park spreads its 125 sites across four loops, with Loop A sitting directly on Lake Bailey offering 35 full-hookup sites with 50-amp service, water, and sewer — sites so popular they stay booked roughly 93% of the year. Petit Jean’s trail system is the centerpiece, anchored by Cedar Falls, plus the easier Bear Cave Trail for interesting rock formations and multiple drive-up overlooks for those who’d rather skip the hike.
Mather Lodge serves meals with sweeping lake views, and the park rounds out its offerings with a pool, tennis courts and boat rentals in season. A paved multi-use trail links the campground loops directly to these amenities. Between the CCC-built architecture, the overlooks of the Arkansas River Valley and the range of activities — hiking, canoeing, fishing, and a genuine sense of history throughout — Petit Jean earns its reputation as one of Arkansas’s most beloved parks.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “National Park Worthy State Park. We decided on Petit Jean State Park to be our first Arkansas camping experience and it did not disappoint! The area in and surrounding the park is absolutely stunning with amazing hiking opportunities. Waterfalls, rock outcroppings, flora and fauna… it’s all here! The site was surrounded by hardwood and pines and very private. Extremely pet friendly as well. We highly recommend staying here!” — Bill T.
Campground details
Price: $25-$40
Number of sites: 125
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
5. DeSoto State Park Campground — Alabama
Location: Fort Payne, AL
What makes it great: Perched atop Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama, DeSoto State Park Campground offers 94 full-hookup sites and accommodates RVs up to 64 feet. Three trailheads leave right from the campground loops, linking to waterfalls and rock formations throughout the park, including the more challenging Scout Trail along the riverbanks and easier paths to Lodge Falls.
Beyond hiking, there’s kayak rental for paddling upstream toward the next dam, a swimming pool, a zip line course and tennis courts. The access road along DeSoto Parkway winds tightly through the mountains, so larger rigs should plan carefully. With waterfalls, swimming holes and a genuinely varied recreation lineup all within a short walk, DeSoto is a standout for active Alabama camping.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “What a beautiful place. Stayed the weekend and hit almost all of the trails, saw 4 waterfalls and so many amazing rock formations. There are three trailheads that leave directly from the campground, which is a well-kept and clean place with well spaced sites.” — Greg S.
Campground details
Price: $36
Number of sites: 110
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
6. Wendy Oaks RV Resort — Mississippi
Location: Florence, MS
What makes it great: Wendy Oaks’ 38 sites are built around an eight-acre private lake that anchors the whole property. All sites come with full hookups, including 12 pull-through spots and 8 coveted lakeside sites, and the resort’s signature touch is its hospitality — staff personally escort guests to their sites during office hours, and late arrivals have found lanterns waiting on their electrical boxes to help with setup in the dark.
The lake is stocked with bass, bream and catfish, plus there is free use of paddleboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on a first-come basis. Most sites include fire pits, picnic tables and trash service, and the lakeside spots add swings and benches for relaxing by the water. The climate-controlled shower house consistently earns praise for cleanliness.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “We love our overnight visits at Wendy Oaks. The lake is beautiful and there are so many birds there. Very peaceful place – I’d stay for an extended time here!” — Jenny
Campground details
Price: $59-$73
Number of sites: 38
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
7. Devils Fork State Park Campground — South Carolina
Location: Salem, SC
What makes it great: Devils Fork’s whole appeal centers on one thing: Lake Jocassee, often called the Caribbean of South Carolina for its crystal-clear, blue-green water. Campsites here come with picnic tables and fire rings, and the state park pairs its lake access with the Oconee Bell Trail and access to nearby waterfalls reachable primarily by boat, along with fishing and wildlife viewing right from the shoreline.
Sites vary from lakefront tent spots you’ll need to walk into, to RV and standard sites with water and electric hookups, and kayaks or paddleboards can be rented on-site for exploring the lake’s coves and waterfalls. It’s a popular destination, so booking ahead is essential, especially for a lakefront spot.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “This is the best campground to go to. Your family and friends would love this place. I love the views and the lakefront, everything about this place is worth going to.” — Eric G.
Campground details
Price: $25-$172
Number of sites: 84
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
8. Seven Points — Tennessee
Location: Hermitage, TN
What makes it great: Managed by the Army Corps of Engineers on Percy Priest Lake, Seven Points combines spacious, well-shaded sites with a location just 15 minutes from downtown Nashville. Sites are generously spaced, some tucked among trees and others offering direct lake frontage, and all include water and electric hookups on level concrete pads.
Interior sites still offer lake views through the trees for those who don’t snag a spot right on the water. At the lake is a roped-off swimming area with a sandy beach and a boat ramp for launching personal watercraft. Seven Points operates seasonally from April through October, and camp hosts earn consistent praise for their helpfulness.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “We have now been here 7 times in the past 3 months. We love it. The campground is so beautiful and peaceful and the camp hosts are the best.” — Dan W.
Campground details
Price: $32-$50
Number of sites: 61
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
9. Blue Bear Mountain Camp — North Carolina
Location: Todd, NC
What makes it great: Set on 15 acres of mountain meadow and forest, Blue Bear Mountain Camp is a family-run retreat reached via a narrow, winding mountain road. An open meadow is ringed by wooded sites, creating a natural amphitheater feel. Because of its elevation, summer temperatures here run 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the surrounding lowlands, making it a favorite escape.
Electric hookups serve the RV sites, though water has to be filled at the office before setup. Beyond typical camping, Blue Bear rents teepees and treehouses for something different, and staff will haul gear out to remote walk-in sites using a military-style Pinzgauer truck. Miles of hiking trails wind through the surrounding forest and there’s an on-site fishing pond. Fall visitors rave about the foliage, while spring and summer bring wildflowers across the central meadow.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Blue Bear is by far my favorite campground. Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there (70-80 in July!), it’s just a wonderful, down to earth place to be. The owner is great and the host (Mike) is beyond amazing! We’ve been camping there for 8 years and love it more each time we go.” — Mandy R.
Campground details
Price: $25-$136
Number of sites: 41
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
10. Canaan Loop Road Dispersed — West Virginia
Location: Davis, WV
What makes it great: Canaan Loop Road is a stretch of free, primitive dispersed camping in the Monongahela National Forest with genuinely secluded sites spaced roughly half a mile apart along a single dirt road. The first few miles are accessible to standard cars and smaller RVs, though the road gets progressively rougher — and more four-wheel-drive territory — the deeper you go, with all the established campsites conveniently located before the truly rugged stretch begins.
Each site is marked by a fire ring and varies in size, from tight single-vehicle pull-offs to larger spots with room for multiple tents and cars, most surrounded by forest with several sitting near a creek. One reviewer described the forest floor’s moss as “like walking on carpet.” There are no facilities here — no restrooms, no water, no hookups — but that’s the appeal for the backcountry crowd this spot attracts. Trails for hiking and mountain biking open directly from many campsites, and a dedicated cross-country ski route threads through the roughly 3,000-foot elevation area during winter.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “I’m a new car camper and my mom and I took a day trip out to check out the sites. When I tell you this is the most beautiful, secluded, peaceful camping site I truly couldn’t have asked for a better find!!” — Emily T.
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: 7
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes