Billed as the largest gay campground in the world, Cactus Canyon can often seem like it too. Nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains of Southeastern Missouri, it seems an unlikely place for gay campers.

Camp Mars is a quiet, serene property. The forty acre park is alongside an endless pasture across which campers can enjoy spectacular Key West style sunsets. In years past sunset potluck dinners took place on the lawn in front of the office; the potluck dinner became so popular it is now an integral part of the Camp Mars culture happening every Saturday night.

Located ten miles from Saugatuck and a fifteen minute drive from Oval Beach, Campit is easy to get to and get to things once there. Primarily for gay men, women and even accepting straight people are welcome. Join the women’s social mixer every Friday night when mixers and some appetizers are supplied; bring your beverage of choice.

“Dinner Bitches!” screams the drag queen holding drooling hungry gay men at bay until the clock strikes six, opening the potluck table for consumption. In that call to consume resides a distinct flavor of Joe’s Hideaway. Owner Mama Joe controls the place like the quintessential dictator he is, with his call to dinner, his frequent behavior modification signs strewn throughout camp and his customers clear knowledge that their continued residency resides in Joe’s whim. Be it real fear of expulsion, as proclaimed on signs at the pool, or smiles behind hands is as yet undetermined.

Located in rural Western New York an hour southwest of Rochester and an hour southeast of Buffalo, Jones Pond is located near picturesque Angelica, a nearby community.

Lizard Landing is located at the end of the road on the Omussee Creek. The end of the road location being the benefit of a washed out bridge that was never replaced.

Getting to Long Fork is a lesson in perseverance, the first time you go. From the moment you exit I-79 and begin the nine mile trek up the holler, the back woods of West Virginia surround.

Oz is a natural stop for gay travelers leaving or returning to Florida. Located about nine miles east of I-75 in south central Georgia it is a day long trip from Sawmill. When leaving South Florida it’s easy to overnight at Sawmill and then Oz.

Rainbow Woods is a whole different kind of gay campground. Best described as primitive, sometimes it barely lives up to that. The place seems more suitable to tenting than to RV’s. It is actually a part of a mainstream camp called On the River. When registering be certain to pull into the circular drive or exiting will entail encircling the entire campground all the while scratching along untrimmed trees.

Roy’s takes a bit of getting to. Located well off I-16 it’s sort of midway between Macon and Savannah, or a few hundred miles and three hours southeast of Atlanta. Once there, who would want to be elsewhere?

Sawmill is the premier Florida gay campground setting the standard for gay camping in Florida. That standard is being raised in 2016 with implementation of a new resort wide smoke free policy making all indoor spaces and much of the pool area smoke free.

Located near Lehigton Pa, in the foothills of the Poconos, The Woods draws a huge crowd from Lehigh University. Adding to a significant seasonal camper group the university crowd has a large effect in diluting the average age at The Woods on any given weekend.

‘Tucked deep in a hollow of the Southern Appalachians is Timberfell Lodge, a paradise for men seeking either solitude or camaraderie with their gay brothers and where inhibitions are shed as easily as clothing.’ Timberfell is an excellent example of gay campgrounds being overpriced for gay travelers. Though basically empty weekdays it cost two memberships of fifteen dollars each plus RV parking at $42.50, including tax the overnight charge was almost eighty dollars; in the middle of nowhere with nothing going on.

This week read about Germany's chancellor-elect, Olaf Scholz committing to LGBT rights changes, and Egypt banning the "Eternals" movie for having gay couples.

Camp Mars cannot be introduced without a favorite quip: Camp Mars is located west of Jupiter, near Venus. Check it out on a map, it’s true.

Located near beautiful Saugatuck, Michigan, there is a great deal to do around Campit if you tire of all the activities offered on property. There are nearby wineries, farms, orchards, South Haven, Saugatuck, and Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

Open May into October, Freedom Valley Campgrounds is a great, reasonably priced campground with super kind owners. Michael and Jeff make a point of being available to everyone.

Located at the base of the foothills of the Appalachians in northeast Georgia in rural Canon, In the Woods is a fantastic place to enjoy your choice of camping experience, from rustic to all the amenities!

Hats off to the fun, outgoing, and awesome Jones Pond owners Bryan and Matt for their constant efforts to make sure your time there is a great one! Matt and Bryan are caring hosts and make sure every stay at their campground is a memorable time. They’re friendly owners and are really passionate about their campground, taking pride in their park. They are always improving facilities and infrastructure.

Lizard Landing is a small, well-maintained and clean gay campground at the end of the road with one long side bordering the river. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure your needs are taken care of and to insure a great camping experience.

Oz is a full service, year-round gay campground and resort. From the start of peak season till the end, fun fills this beautiful property. This is a great, full-service, gay-owned campground for short and long term stays. Weekends can be very relaxed or very exciting depending on how you choose to spend your time.

Roseland is one of those places campers love. Nestled in the mountains of northern West Virginia, the trip there is steep and narrow. Big rigs and long trailers won’t enjoy the journey and likely won’t make it to the festivities.

Where camping meets nightlife describes Sawmill. It’s a great place to camp, a year-round retreat where you can be you without the cliques often present in gay clubs. Sawmill is a jewel in the woods, an amazing, friendly, peaceful, inclusive, no attitudes camping paradise that’s a one of a kind fun, clean, safe, and relaxing place where making customers happy seems to be the No. 1 priority; most weekends are themed around events.

The Woods must be popular. Even though the owners didn’t promote the poll to its members it still made this year's list. Drawing from New York City, Philadelphia, and the Baltimore, Washington area, The Woods apparently has a large enough following that it needs. Regardless, enough respondents completed the survey to land The Woods at No. 7 on the Favorite Gay Campgrounds in North America list.

Gay Camping and RVing in Florida

A few years ago I bought a 28-foot Sunnybrook fifth wheel trailer, and named it Heath. Heath was towed by a 2500HD Chevrolet Silverado pickup, which I named Jake. Last year I upgraded to an Open Range 350 square foot condo on wheels with all the comforts of home including a washer and dryer, and king size memory foam bed — he is also named Heath. Hauling Heath Jake can pass anything except a gas station.

Gay camping is a growing phenomenon across the USA. Most gay campgrounds are located east of the Mississippi River with a noticeable dearth of facilities in the West. Then most in the East and Midwest are located in close proximity to one or more major metropolitan areas. A commonality seems to be that successful gay campgrounds are located within about a two hour drive of a major urban center.

The initial and ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are as varied as the persons and institutions it has touched.

Vitambi Springs wasn’t accidentally omitted or forgotten, we were intentionally snubbed by the writer. We are the closest campgroundserving all of South Florida; you would imagine SFGN readers would want to know about us.

The Hallmark Channel and Lifetime may have kicked off their famous Christmas movie marathons weeks ago, but for many South Florida residents, the holiday season is just getting into full swing this week.

Camping in the wild outdoors is an enduring memory for many. Whether that memory includes a small leaky tent, a rustic wooden cabin, a travel trailer or a luxurious motorized coach, chances are it brings a smile each time it happens across your consciousness. Places of relaxing quietude become meshed in our life script, regularly returning us to moments when life truly was wonderful, even when the recollection dates to a time decades removed.