Best Destinations for Your Memorial Day 2022 Trip

Camping on Memorial Day 2022

The last Monday in May each year, Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday created as a time to mourn, honor, and celebrate the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. Memorial Day is also well-known as the start of summer, so it makes sense that it’s one of the busiest times of the year for outdoor lovers in the United States. Whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day with a backyard barbecue or a weekend camping trip, you’re not going to be alone.

How to Plan the Perfect Memorial Day Weekend Camping Trip

All the camping gear you’d use on Memorial Day is the same as any other summer camping or backpacking trip. The big difference about camping on this holiday is that so many Americans go out on Memorial Day weekend, so campsites are often crowded and booked in advance. 

So, the key thing to remember when planning a Memorial Day camping trip is to plan early and plan well. Make sure you reserve your campsite well in advance, and that you’re aware of the restrictions and regulations at your destination. Some campsites prohibit fires, others prohibit pets, others have limits on the number of campers you can have at a given site, and so on. 

Campsites are loaded up on Memorial Day, so park staff will be bogged down and less able to accommodate any abnormal requests than they are during less busy times of the year. Do your due diligence and make sure you’ve dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s well in advance of Memorial Day Weekend! 

What to Avoid When Camping Over Memorial Day Weekend

Although it’s become the de-facto “start of summer” in much of the United States, remember that Memorial Day was created as an official time for mourning, not a time for celebration and parties. It’s a great day to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but remember that the reason we’re getting to recreate is because of the brave men and women who have fought and died in the line of duty.

The point is: You should always be respectful and courteous on Memorial Day. 

Getting intoxicated, playing loud music, littering, or otherwise being disruptive at campsites or elsewhere in the outdoors is never a good idea, but on Memorial Day many will find it extremely disrespectful, especially veterans or those who have lost family and friends in the line of duty.

Top Memorial Day Destinations

Almost any national or state park in the United States is going to be a good spot to visit on Memorial Day, but below are a few favorites. If you want to go camping for Memorial Day, these are excellent options!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee)

The lush, rolling mountains of the Smokies, nestled between North Carolina and Tennessee, are home to America’s most-visited national park for a reason. You can spend the day exploring Cades Cove and the rich history of the area, with buildings dating back to the 1800s. You can hike by streams, rivers, waterfalls, and many blooming wildflowers, then check out the popular tourist town of Pigeon Forge nearby! 

Unlike many other national parks, there is no admission fee, making the Great Smoky Mountains perhaps the U.S.’s easiest park to visit. 10 developed campgrounds, all of which have restrooms with running water and flush toilets, make for a comfortable, stress-free camping experience.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (Colorado)

Did you know Colorado has sand dunes, not just mountains? From sandboarding to dune hiking, Great Sand Dunes is a fascinating desert park. The mellower, end-of-spring temperatures during Memorial Day Weekend make for a great time to visit the park (before it becomes blisteringly hot in the summer). There are plenty of nearby campsites to choose from, too!

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota)

If you want to focus on the patriotic aspect of Memorial Day, Mount Rushmore is the perfect place to spend the holiday. This giant stone carving of U.S. presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, is an iconic American landmark, but the nearby area also houses plenty of other outdoor destinations. 

Devils Tower, Custer State Park, and Badlands National Park are all just a few hours away. It’s important to note that camping is not allowed inside the park proper, but it is available nearby. Just make sure you get reservations well ahead of time! 

Zion National Park (Utah)

The world-famous slot canyons of Zion are a must-see for any outdoor lover. The 2,000-foot deep canyon that gives this park its name houses a plethora of exciting hikes, from the spine-tingling catwalk of Angel’s Landing hike to the mellow Narrows Riverside Walk. There aren’t many campgrounds inside the park (only three), so be sure you book in advance. Zion is one of America’s most crowded parks, and regulations to manage those crowds are changing often, so you should especially plan in advance if you want to spend Memorial Day here! 

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

These 415-square miles of rugged mountain terrain north of Denver offer sublime alpine vistas and spectacular hiking, not to mention the local elk herd, bighorn sheep, and deer. Whether you want to try for a summit of Longs Peak, the 14,000-foot mountain that crowns the national park, or simply take in the fresh mountain air, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Rocky Mountain. 

The outdoor mecca of Estes Park is right on the edge of the park, and you can camp in the park itself at campgrounds in Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, or Moraine Park. If you want to go RV camping for Memorial Day weekend, there are also many RV sites, including Manor RV Park, Spruce Lake, and Jellystone Park.

Frequently Asked Questions