Sleep Under the Stars at the Best Camping Spots in Adelaide

Get ready for an adventure to remember with an escape from the daily grind into serene sanctuary at the best camping spots in Adelaide. Whether you're down for roughing it in SA’s abundant National Parks with just the basic necessities, or are seeking that touch of outdoor luxury with a weekend of stylish glamping, we’ve got you covered.

Pack up the car and your sense of wonder, set up your swag under a canopy of stars and beside a crackling fire, or rock up to pre-built havens stocked with the goods (wine) and soak up the bliss of life off-grid.

The perfect antidote to city living and a tonic for the soul. Embrace the opportunity to reconnect with nature, yourself, your mates or a loved one with the best camping spots in Adelaide.

McLaren Vale National Park View 

You can let your furred friends off their leash at McLaren Vale National Park View, a Hipcamp destination where you can pull up in a van or set up a tent. Set over 20 acres in the forever picturesque McLaren Vale, this gorgeous camping spot outside of Adelaide backs onto the Onkaparinga Gorge National Park. 

Set up camp on the open field and enjoy sea views and fantastic sunsets, as well as spot local wildlife from your camp chair, including kangaroos and many native bird species.

The National Park has numerous walking trails to explore, and is just a few minute's drive away from many wineries, local shops, restaurants and local beaches.

It's an ideal base camp to explore this popular region. All campers must be self-contained, with their own camp toilet.

Sites from $25.00

McLaren Vale

Rocky Paddock Campground 

Considered not only one of the best camping spots in Adelaide, but the best campground in all of Australia, Rocky Paddock is a must for escaping into nature for the weekend - or longer! 

Permits are required for this basic bush camping location, hidden among old pine plantations and unique rocky outcrops. The sheer serenity makes it completely worth it. 

Make the most of the cooler months to enjoy a roasting wood fire, where you and your family or friends can cosy up with hot chocolate and marshmallows. 

Online bookings, campground maps, and more can be found here

From $7.65

Tower Road, Mount Crawford

Alma's Hem Amphitheatre 

This family-friendly campground has some amazing views. There's a reason why Alma's Hem Amphitheatre is one of the best camping spots in Adelaide, with Inman Valley favourite named one of the best Hipcamp destinations to visit in 2023. Abundant in both natural features and activities, Alma's Hem delivers, every time. For every forest there's a bike and hike, for every river, creek, swimming hole and waterfall, there's a boat and fishing line. From the Heysen Trail to the beaches of Carrackalinga to Second Valley caves, it's all waiting to be explored. 

Set by a winter creek on a working cattle farm in the heart of the Fleurieu Peninsula, this serene and private campground is also perfect for a romantic getaway or small and larger groups. Pitch your tent, swag or park your caravan and settle in for blissful nights under big night skies. 

Campsites are located on a level grassy area, with flushing toilets, fire pit and firewood available. 

Sites from $39.00

Inman Valley

Coorong Island Retreat

Be a guest of nature at the idyllic Coorong Island Retreat. This is one of the best camping spots in South Australia, where you can slumber, play and explore the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong - a region that embodies all of nature's brilliance - and boasts breathtaking scenery and ample Australian wildlife for you to fawn over. There are even some unfenced sheep and alpacas at the property around the camp sites. 

Around the property there are options to venture out on a boat, bushwalking on nature trials, biking to Coorong, 4WD off-roading at Coorong National Park or even on a tasting adventure at Langhorne Creek. It is ideal for boating; a fishers and birdwatchers paradise. Paddle out onto the lake for the ultimate camping at Coorong experience. 

Coorong Island Retreat is suitable for self-contained campers with their own toilet/shower facilities, but the comforts of home are still available at some sites, including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen. Family groups, camp fires and well behaved pets are all welcome.

Sites from $36.00

Meningie

Wilpena Pound Campground, Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park

Take the five-hour drive from the CBD to find yourself amongst some of South Australia’s most impressive outback locations, perfect for a weekend of camping fun. Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park offers some of the most spectacular scenery and open spaces to pitch a tent, with the rugged landscape abundant with native wildlife and cultural heritage. Campers have access to toilets, showers, campfire and BBQ areas throughout their stay.

For those who aren’t keen to go without their creature comforts, Wilpena Pound offers an experience like no other, providing 15 stylish glamping tents complete with ensuites, plus powered and unpowered sites for tents and caravans. However you choose to spend the night, you will want to be well rested to explore the vast lands known to the Traditional Owners as ‘Ikara,’ meaning ‘the meeting place’, with unique experiences and guided tours available.

Sites in Ikara Flinders Ranges from $11

Sites in Wilpena Pound Resort from $37

Wilpena Road, via Hawker, Flinders Ranges

Cable Bay Campground, Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park

Escape to one of South Australia’s famed peninsulas for a few nights camping among the coastal wilderness of Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park at the southern tip of the Yorke Peninsula. Fill your days with adventures among the rock pools, coastal walks to the cliffs edge or take it to the water and scout your spot for surfing and scuba diving. There are several camping spots to choose from, but Cable Bay Campground is our pick of the bunch, with nine campsites overlooking the picturesque views of the offshore islands, wind protected sites and untouched nature at its finest. The facilities may be basic, but it’s a perfect destination for those of us wanting to get off the grid to recharge the batteries and get closer to nature.

Sites from $25

Innes National Park, Bay Road, Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Bellwether Wines, Limestone Coast

If you don’t fancy pitching your own tent but still want moments of seclusion, then a Glamping Bell at Bellwether Wines on the Limestone Coast is the spot for your camping trip in Adelaide. There are powered and unpowered sites plus six gorgeous glamping tents with their own lanterns, all at least 100m apart for privacy. You have access to the sites ‘posh loos’, complete with showers, toilets and even a claw foot bath to really indulge! You can have breakfast delivered to your campsite, or enjoy a food platter, bbq pack or a camp oven roast for delicious al fresco nourishment. There is a camp kitchen on site if you prefer to cook, or turn up the luxury with a wine lovers picnic basket to take with you as you visit the local cellar doors.

Unpowered sites from $40

Glamping tents from $200 for 2 people

14183 Riddoch Highway, Coonawarra

Vivonne Bay Campground, Kangaroo Island

If a camping trip on the secluded and vastly untouched sanctuary of Kangaroo Island sounds like you, then you’re in luck. Choose between seven camping grounds spread around the island, each surrounded by money-can’t-buy scenery, abundant wildlife and unique landscapes. Word has it that Vivonne Bay Campground is not only one of the best camping spots on Kangaroo Island, but one of the best camping spots in Adelaide. Situated by white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters and boasting excellent facilities including BBQ areas, toilets, playground and a sheltered picnic area. Opt for powered and unpowered sites for tents and caravans and set up your spot before diving in for swimming, surfing, beach combing, wildlife spotting and plenty of walking. Snagging yourself a site here is the hot camping ticket but be warned - it is a first come first serve basis, so you better get down there early!

Unpowered sites from $23

Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island

Chookarloo Campground, Kuitpo Forest

You will struggle to get closer to nature whilst camping in Adelaide than at Chookarloo Campground in the flourishing Kuitpo Forest in the Fleurieu Peninsula. With 23 unpowered campsites available with a variety of facilities including fire pits, rainwater, pit toilets and a picnic area, as well as the option for vehicle access and no vehicle access. You can wake up to the soothing sounds of native wildlife in this Eucalypt woodland, and fully embrace the sites being a perfect launching pad for day hikes, the newly opened adventure at TreeClimb, and perhaps most important of all - the infamous McLaren Vale wine region.

Campsite fees are charged per vehicle, at $18.70 per vehicle.

495 Brookman Road, Kuitpo, Fleurieu Peninsula

Christies Beach Tourist Park, Christies Beach

Camping with the family or a big group and worried about the logistics of it all? Perhaps a few nights at Christie’s Beach Tourist Park will solve all of your problems. Located ideally right by the beach, the boutique park boasts a camp kitchen, playground, laundry, amenities block (cleaned daily), lawn games and pedal carts. There is accommodation to suit every style of camper, with powered sites for tents and caravans, beachside villas and family cabins. Less than an hour from the city centre, this is a fabulous coastal escape the whole family will love, without needing to spend the tedious time in the car to get there, win!

Powered sites from $42 per night

39 Sydney Crescent, Christies Beach

Glamping at McLaren Vale

Craving a glamorous glamping escape among the vines? Whites Road Wines has you covered! Nestled in McLaren Vale, their Antenly Glamping Tent is your perfect hideaway. These 6-metre waterproof bell tents sit on a vineyard deck, offering stunning views and unforgettable sunsets.

Just minutes from top cellar doors, eateries, and scenic trails, you can explore by day and unwind by night with a bottle of local wine and tasty nibbles. Each tent is packed with charm and cosy touches, making it an ideal spot for a romantic getaway or a serene break from city life. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss!

McLaren Vale

Keen to explore more of Adelaide’s great outdoors after taking a peek at the best camping spots in Adelaide? Check out our favourite hiking trails for a scenic stroll, or plan a trip with your pooch with some of the best dog friendly accommodation in Adelaide.