Leisure Magazine Names Idaho The Best State For Camping

Idaho has claimed top honors in the United States for being an outdoor enthusiasts' wonderland, according to a major lifestyle magazine and website.

The state's blend of rugged backcountry, natural waterfalls, clean rivers and lakes, and abundance of incredible camping destinations has finally been given the flowers it deserves as America's best place to pitch a tent or park a trailer.

If I had to rank the top three states to camp in that I've visited, they would be Idaho, California, and Washington State, and in no particular order. Being an outdoor fan and having camped all over central and southern Idaho, I can't argue with RVezy's findings (via Forbes) from earlier this year.

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Idaho Was Recently Named Best State To Camp In By Outdoor Retail Website RVezy

Credit: Greg Jannetta

According to the survey, Idaho beat out Alaska and Utah as the nation's best camping playground. The website noted three major factors as to why Idaho was honored above all others, and those were affordability, forest coverage, and public land volume, according to RVezy.

Having grown up on the West Coast, I do enjoy camping near the ocean, but I will say Idaho can hold its own when it comes to natural beauty and open space. The Sawtooth Mountains are incredible, as are popular spots like Alturas, Ketchum (Wood River Valley), and Stanley Lake. Idaho's gateway to Yellowstone National park prior to entering into Montana's Gallatin County is an amazing area for camping as well.