Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, and Black Friday is Nov. 27, so the holiday week runs from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 29. Six weeks out is the time to lock in a campsite, because the best holiday spots fill first. These six warm-weather picks run from the hardest to book to the easiest.
Quick timing guide: Cumberland Island, Pinnacles and Fort De Soto take reservations only, so book them this week. Valley of Fire and Organ Pipe Cactus also take reservations, but Organ Pipe has 208 sites and same-day booking. Padre Island takes no reservations at all, so arrive early in the week.
If you’d planned on Fort Pickens, Hurricane Isaias closed Gulf Islands National Seashore on Oct. 9 (see this week’s news roundup). Fort De Soto and Padre Island below are our Gulf beach alternatives. Our November guide covers the rest of the month.
Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia: a wild-horse Thanksgiving
Why now: The ferry still runs every day of Thanksgiving week. The fall schedule covers Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, while the winter schedule, with no Tuesday or Wednesday boats, starts Dec. 1 (Cumberland Island Ferry, NPS Cumberland Island).
Know before you go: You need a camping reservation, and dates open 6 months ahead to the day. Sea Camp, ½ mile from the dock, has drinking water and allows fires in the rings. Each site holds up to six people, and Senior and Access pass holders get 50% off (NPS Cumberland Island). Sea Camp has just 16 individual sites and 2 group sites, with cold showers. Book the campsite before the ferry (Cumberland Island Ferry). Boats leave St. Marys at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. The campers’ return boat leaves the island at 10:15 a.m., and you need to check in 60 minutes before departure (Cumberland Island Ferry).
Heads-up: Managed hunts from October through January close the wilderness area and its campsites on hunt dates (NPS Cumberland Island). The park says visitor services are running normally but could change with the weather (NPS Cumberland Island).
Best for: Tent campers who can pack light and want a quiet holiday.
Pinnacles National Park, California: cool-weather hiking and condors
Why now: Fall is one of the two best seasons here. Temperatures ease after the summer heat, condors are active, and crowds are lighter than in spring (California Camping Guide).
Know before you go: Pinnacles Campground on the east side is open year-round and takes reservations only, with no first-come sites. It has 134 sites, including 30 RV sites with electric hookups and 10 cabins. Generators aren’t allowed in any site (Recreation.gov). The East Side shuttle has ended for the season, so expect longer waits (NPS Pinnacles). The west entrance is day use only (NPS Pinnacles).
Heads-up: Fire danger is listed as Very High, so wood fires and charcoal are banned. Propane stoves are allowed in the campground. Bear Gulch and Balconies caves can close without notice (NPS Pinnacles).
Best for: Hikers, birders and Bay Area families.
Fort De Soto Park, Florida: full hookups on the water
Why now: This is the warm Gulf beach alternative to Fort Pickens. All 236 sites have water and 30–50 amp electric hookups, and many sit right on the water (Pinellas County, The Florida Buzz).
Know before you go: Reservations open 6 months ahead (7 for Pinellas County residents), with a 14-night limit in any 30 days. Sites 1–85 suit units shorter than 16 feet, and pets are allowed only in sites 86–164. With tax, a night costs $45.77 – $53.68 (Pinellas County). The online reservation system is back up after an outage (Pinellas County).
Heads-up: The far end of the bay pier is closed for hurricane repairs. New beach parking rates of $3.50 an hour (capped at $12 a day) start Dec. 1 (Pinellas County).
Best for: RVers who want hookups, families and anglers.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada: red rock at its most comfortable
Why now: The summer heat closure is over, and trails reopened Oct. 1 (Deep Arrival).
Know before you go: Two campgrounds have 72 sites, all by reservation, and some have power and water hookups. Sites cost $20 a night ($25 for out-of-state vehicles), plus $10 for hookups, with a 14-day limit in any 30 days (Nevada State Parks).
Heads-up: The West Entrance is closed Monday through Thursday through the end of 2026, which includes Thanksgiving Day. Use the East Entrance via SR 169 or SR 167 (Nevada State Parks). The whole park closes Dec. 1 – 14 for annual maintenance, so plan to leave by Nov. 30 (Nevada State Parks).
Best for: Photographers, Las Vegas visitors and first-time desert campers.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona: the big desert campground
Why now: The monsoon season, which runs mid-July through September, is over, and the monument is open year-round (NPS Organ Pipe Cactus). With 208 sites, this is the best last-minute pick on the list.
Know before you go: Twin Peaks Campground has 34 tent-only sites and 174 RV sites, with no hookups. A night costs $20, half off with a Senior or Access pass, and entrance is $25 per vehicle for 7 days. Book on Recreation.gov up to 6 months ahead or on the same day. There are solar-heated showers and a dump station. Generators are allowed 8 – 10 a.m. and 4 – 6 p.m., never in sites 113–208, and ground fires are banned (NPS Organ Pipe Cactus). The visitor center closes on Thanksgiving Day (NPS Organ Pipe Cactus).
Heads-up: Since Aug. 24, border-wall construction has closed the crossover roads south of South Puerto Blanco Drive, Grey’s Ranch Road, Camino de Dos Republicas and a 150-foot strip along the border. South Puerto Blanco Drive is open (NPS Organ Pipe Cactus).
Best for: Big rigs, snowbirds and stargazers.
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: free beach camping, no reservations
Why now: This is the budget pick. Camping on North and South Beach needs no camping fee, and every site in the park is open year-round (NPS Padre Island, NPS Padre Island).
Know before you go: All camping is first come, first served, with no reservations and no hookups. A dump station and freshwater fill sit by the Malaquite Campground entrance. Camping isn’t allowed on Malaquite Beach (NPS Padre Island). Malaquite costs $14 a night and Bird Island Basin $8, half off with a Senior or Access pass (NPS Padre Island). Malaquite has 48 sites and Bird Island Basin 34. Overnight stays need the $25, 7-day vehicle pass, and the park takes cards only (Park Atlas).
Heads-up: Beach camping can close during coastal flooding, so check the tide chart before you drive onto the sand (NPS Padre Island). The park also warns of high October tides and canine distemper, so keep dogs vaccinated and close (Park Atlas).
Best for: Budget campers, four-wheel-drive beach campers and anglers.
Thanksgiving planning checklist
- Book this week. Cumberland Island, Pinnacles, Fort De Soto and Valley of Fire are reservation-only, and their holiday weekends go first.
- Don’t count on a fee-free day. The last 2026 NPS fee-free days are Oct. 27 and Nov. 11, both for U.S. citizens and residents only. Thanksgiving week isn’t one of them (NPS).
- Plan the holiday meal around closures. Organ Pipe’s visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, and Valley of Fire’s West Entrance is closed that Thursday.
- Cook on propane. Pinnacles bans wood and charcoal fires, and Organ Pipe bans ground fires.
- Check conditions the morning you leave. Gulf beaches can still close for high tides or storms.
Coming Thursday: the Thanksgiving camp gear list, built around these six trips
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