Camping and biking are some of the best ways to spend time outside. Combining camping and biking on the same trip may just be the best way to spend time outside.
Here are the best mountain bike towns with A-grade camping so you're always just a tent flap away from the mountain bike trails.
Moab, UT
Between the miles of trails, climbing sites, and camping spots, overhyping Moab is nearly impossible. A couple of the most well known trails are Slick Rock and Porcupine Rim. These trails will keep you in the saddle all day.
And thanks to the various trail organizations, new trails are being sustainably added every year. Every time you come back to Moab you'll be riding old favorites with the chance to find something brand new.
Plus, Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Park, so you're bound to find a plethora of camping options as well.
See more spots for camping in Moab, UT.
Sun Valley, ID
You'll ride away shocked after visiting the world-class mountain biking at Sun Valley, Idaho, and you'll wonder how it's flown under the radar for so long. Sun Valley is one of the greatest riding areas around with more than 400 miles of single track, lift access at the resorts, and jaw-dropping alpine views.
You can cruise down 3,400 feet of vertical terrain once you step off the lift at Bald Mountain. Ketchum and Hailey both offer terrain parks for all levels, from kids learning to ride on balance bikes to the most seasoned riders wanting to soar through the air. And the Osberg Ridge Trail puts the cherry on top of it all as it's been reopened after being burned to the ground during the 2013 Beaver Creek Fire.
Get a glimpse of the Sun Valley scene in this video:
Camping in the Sawtooth National Forest is the best way to stay close to the trails you want to ride all summer in Sun Valley Idaho.
Click here to find the best campsite for you!
East Burke, VT
Prior to contrary belief, great mountain biking is not always found in the rugged terrain of the west. East Burke, Vermont, used to be known for flowy cross-country trails, but due to new developments, the terrain has quickly turned into some of the best technical dirt available.
You can ride the Darling Hill Ridge to the Passumpsic River to experience some soft singletrack and connect with more technical trails on Burke Mountain. All told, you have access to more than 100 miles of trail. Riding Sky Dive trail will give you a diverse array of terrain as you start in wide-open hardwood glades and end up in a mossy spruce forest. For even more technical runs you can go to the Q Burke Mountain Bike Park, which is a ski slope in the winter, to rip down 2,000 feet of vertical.
The Burke Campground fills up fast and offers a rowdy weekend packed with cyclists. If that's not quite your cup of tea, there are lots of other quieter campgrounds nearby. And if camping doesn't fit your fancy, the Burke Hotel is a great lodging option in the area.
Brevard, NC
This is America's best-kept mountain bike secret. Between Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest you'll find an incredible amount of rolling singletrack -- locals estimate up to 1,000 miles of it.
Pisgah National Forest is where you'll find technical singletrack. The sides of the mountains are carved with terrific lines that go for miles and miles, with more trails to ride than you could fit into a single lifetime. There's everything from machine-built flow trails to granite slickrock with breathtaking views is at DuPont State Forest.
And there's even more trails in the works, thanks to The Bike Farm. This mountain bike base camp is currently constructing a new network of trails on its 440-acre biketopia chunk of land that'll range from cross-country, freeride, and downhill shuttle runs.
There are tons of camping opportunities near bike trails for all levels of riders in this neck of the woods.
Let's Camp
Finding a campsite near a mountain bike town doesn't have to be a chore. You just have to know where to look. Websites like The Dyrt make it easy to find a great campsite that suits your needs. If you're looking at this list and don't see anything close to home, don't worry. With mountain biking tools available at MTB Project and campsites listed on The Dyrt, you'll be able to find some great mountain bike trails for your skill level with even better camping.
Once you've found your getaway, don't forget to load up your mountain bike on your trusty bike rack. As always, if you need help finding the right mountain bike rack for you - just give us a holler.