5 not-too-hot places to camp this summer that are very cool
No need to sweat it out when reveling in the great outdoors


Camping in cooler temperatures during the summer is a treat — you get to enjoy the great outdoors without worrying about the mercury shattering. Here are five refreshing spots across the U.S. to beat the heat while you green your days off.
Covered Bridge Campground, Albany, NH
The Albany Covered Bridge inspired the name of Covered Bridge Campground
More than a dozen covered bridges remain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, including the Albany Covered Bridge just off of the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Originally built in the mid-1800s, the historic structure now ferries campers across the Swift River to the 49-site Covered Bridge Campground. Birdwatching is a popular activity here, with almost 200 species living in the shady old hardwood forest, as is hiking the nearby three-mile Boulder Loop Trail and going fishing for brook trout. On days when it might be in the high 70s, expect temperatures to cool off quite a bit by nightfall.
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
Riley Creek Campground is close to Denali National Park and Preserve's entrance
When it comes to camping in Denali National Park and Preserve, Riley Creek Campground is as cushy as it gets. Open year-round, this is the largest campground in the park and has restrooms, potable water and a well-stocked mercantile within walking distance. Each tent and RV site comes with a picnic table and fire grate and is close to the hiking trails that lead to the visitor's center. Expect cool and possibly rainy conditions, with summer temperatures usually in the high 50s.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Isle Royale National Park, MI
Visitors have to trek across Lake Superior to reach Isle Royale National Park
Getting to Isle Royale National Park is part of the fun. You need to cross Lake Superior, either by seaplane or boat, and depending on the weather, departure point and mode of transportation, this could take anywhere from 35 minutes to seven hours. The park is an archipelago of more than 400 islands, with Isle Royale the main one. Activities abound, from backpacking to fishing to canoeing, and there are 36 campgrounds to choose from, all with tent sites, outhouses and a water source. Note: Because of its remote location, make sure to read up on important things to know about the park and how to prepare for a visit.
Jubilee Lake, Umatilla National Forest, OR
The dark skies of Umatilla National Forest make it perfect for stargazing
Jubilee Lake's name is fitting — you want to celebrate once you arrive and see the shimmering water and feel the cooler air. Surrounded by spruce fir, the lake is great for swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating, and walking the 2.8-mile Jubilee Lake National Recreation Trail offers a picturesque way to take it all in. The Jubilee Lake Campground, with 48 tent and RV sites, vault and flush toilets, potable water and a boat ramp, opens in July. After dark, be sure to look up: On clear nights, the stargazing can be unreal.
Morro Strand State Beach, Morro Bay, CA
The famed Morro Rock is a volcanic plug
A trip to Morro Strand State Beach offers instant relief, with summer day temperatures usually 30 degrees cooler than inland areas. This is a fun beach to explore, where you can go windsurfing, bird watching, and see dunes, dune wetland and tidepools up close. For tent or RV camping, head to Morro Strand State Beach Campground, where all 70 sites are equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. The beach is a short walk away, and if you secure a site closer to the ocean, the sound of waves might lull you to sleep.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Arts on prescription: why doctors are prescribing museums and comedy
In The Spotlight Stressed-out patients in Switzerland are being prescribed a trip to the museum to boost their mental wellbeing
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Shompole Wilderness Camp: reconnect with nature at this secluded retreat
The Week Recommends This luxurious family-run camp in southern Kenya has access to more than 350,000 acres of pristine savannah
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Liberation Day: will Keir Starmer surrender to Donald Trump's tariffs?
Today's Big Question After failing to secure exemptions for the UK, PM must decide whether to retaliate or not
By The Week UK Published
-
Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels
The Week Recommends Sleep well at these lovely inns across Scotland
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 ways to drink spectacularly across the United States this spring
The Week Recommends A bar for every springtime occasion
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
6 welcoming recipes for cooking and baking during your spring days
The Week Recommends You want it flavorful, and you want it exciting
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Spring's best new cookbooks, from pizza to pastries
The Week Recommends Pizza, an array of brownies and Cantonese-American mash-ups are on the menu
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
10 upcoming albums to stream in the hazy spring
The Week Recommends Ring in the end of the cold weather with some new music
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Video games to play this spring, including 'Split Fiction' and 'South of Midnight'
The Week Recommends A meta co-op game puts you in a game within a game, and a life simulator that can compete with the 'Sims' franchise
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
7 new and long-established musicals to see on tour this spring
The Week Recommends Even 'Les Misérables' is back on the road
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Museum exhibitions across the globe are in artful bloom this spring. These are 5 to experience.
The Week Recommends See treasures from ancient Japan, Versailles and the Forbidden City
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published