A campground is a designated area where people can set up tents, park campers or RVs, and spend the night outdoors. Most campgrounds provide basic facilities like restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits where families can roast marshmallows or cook meals. Some campgrounds are simple clearings in the woods with numbered sites, while others offer amenities like hot showers, playgrounds, or small stores that sell supplies.

Campgrounds exist in national parks, state parks, and on private property. When your family plans a camping trip, you typically reserve a campsite at a campground, which gives you a specific spot to pitch your tent or park your vehicle. Rangers or managers oversee the campground, making sure everyone follows the rules and respects nature.

The atmosphere at a campground differs completely from staying in a hotel. You might hear owls hooting at night, see deer wandering between campsites at dawn, or smell campfire smoke drifting through the trees. Fellow campers often wave or chat as they pass by, creating a friendly community of people who all came to enjoy the outdoors. Some people visit the same campground every summer, returning to their favorite spot year after year.