This Town Is the Calmest Camping Spot in the U.S.

If you’re looking to reduce stress, you might want to consider taking a camping trip. A survey of campers by Campspot found that 93 percent of campers felt more relaxed after a camping trip versus another kind of vacation.

Campspot has fittingly put together a list of the calmest camping spots in America, weighing factors like campground density (that is, how many campgrounds are in the area, not how crowded they are!), the ratings of campgrounds, the price of campgrounds, campground amenities and proximity to water and dark sky parks. Crunching all that data, the best place for a calming “camp-cation” is Ashland, New Hampshire.

Located about 90 minutes north of Boston, Ashland is the gateway to New Hampshire’s Lake Region, with a small downtown for provisions and 12 campgrounds (available via Campspot) within 25 miles. The immediate area is known for its various hiking trails and the Little Squam Lake and Squam Lake, where you’ll find the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, which offers wildlife cruises on the lake. White Mountain National Forest, home to Mt. Washington, the tallest mountain in the Northeast, is just a 30-minute drive from Ashland, and it’s a perfect spot for stargazing.

Need some more camping inspiration? Check out the top 10 destinations from Campspot’s ranking below.

1. Ashland, New Hampshire
2. Auburn, Maine
3. Grand Rapids, Michigan
4. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
5. Knoxville, Tennessee
6. Port Aransas, Texas
7. New Braunfels, Texas
8. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
9. Lake George, New York
10. Navarre, Florida

As part of the research, Campspot also looked into what makes campers feel relaxed. The most important element is fresh air, followed by natural water features and a clear view of the night sky. Interestingly, Campspot reports that “91 percent of campers wanted access to the internet of some kind,” with one in three campers saying “internet access at a campground is a contributing factor to a feeling of relaxation.” 

Well, there’s always airplane mode if you want to pretend to be off the grid!