A new nationwide analysis from TRIO, a connectivity gear company for outdoor travelers, finds a small Maine coastal campground has earned the title of best in America.
Schoodic Woods Campground in Winter Harbor, Maine, earned a near-perfect overall score of 97.5 out of 100.
The study analyzed customer reviews across thousands of campgrounds nationwide, scoring each on cleanliness, facilities, scenery, peace and quiet, activities, and other key factors.
A few findings that may be particularly timely for a fall camping list:
- Schoodic Woods Campground in Maine’s Acadia National Park ranks No. 1 in America, with a 97.5/100 overall score and perfect marks for cleanliness
- Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park ranks No. 2, making it a strong option as desert camping season approaches
- Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park ranks as America’s most scenic campground
- Red Cliffs Campground in Utah ranks No. 1 nationally for activities
- California has the most campgrounds represented in the study, with 22 locations analyzed
- Buggiest Campgrounds: Rainbow Point near West Yellowstone ranks as America’s buggiest campground, followed by Frisco Campground in North Carolina and Pinnacles Campground in California
- Dirtiest: Horseshoe Bend Campground in Rogers, Arkansas ranks as America’s dirtiest campground, followed by Hodgdon Meadow Campground in Groveland, California, and Sycamore Grove Campground in Red Bluff, California
The TRIO analysis also includes separate rankings for scenery, activities, peace and quiet, cleanliness, connectivity, bugs and other factors, so I’m happy to pull together additional recommendations for any fall camping roundups you’re working on.
Here are more details:
America’s Top 3:
| Rank | Campground | Location | Score |
| #1 | Schoodic Woods Campground | Winter Harbor, Maine | 97.5 |
| #2 | Indian Cove Campground | Joshua Tree National Park, California | 97 |
| #3 | Seawall Campground | Estes Park, Colorado | 96 |
Schoodic Woods, located within Acadia National Park, earned Excellent ratings across every major category, including a perfect 100% cleanliness score, Excellent facilities, and Excellent peace and quiet.
States with the most campgrounds in the study:
California led all states with 22 campgrounds analyzed, followed by Arizona (13) and North Carolina and Utah, which each placed 10 campgrounds in the study. Tennessee (9) and Arkansas (8) also ranked among the most represented states.
Breakout rankings:
Most scenic campgrounds:
- Kalaloch Campground: Olympic National Park, Washington
- Tuttle Creek Campground: Lone Pine, California
- Kirk Creek Campground: Big Sur, California
Best for activities:
- Red Cliffs Campground: Hurricane, Utah
- Deep Creek Campground: Bryson City, North Carolina
- Cosby Campground: Cosby, Tennessee
