It's official! Summer is finally here. That means beautiful weather, longer days, and plenty of outdoor activities. It's time to head out on the trail and spend our days hiking and backpacking and our nights huddle around a fire telling ghost stories and making s'mores. Yep, that's right. It's time to go camping!

Just in time for the start of the season, the New York Times has put together an excellent guide for summer camping that includes tips on some of the best places to pitch your tents around the country. Their selections of the top campsites fall within some of the most spectacular national parks around the country, and the information includes reasons why you should stay there, phone numbers and websites to check the camps status, as well as alternate sites within the area.

For instance, the Times recommends staying at Mather Campground on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona due to its proximity to the park and of course the stellar views. But, be warned, the 50 available sites fill up quickly, and are typically gone by mid-day. Fortunately, the less visited Kaibab National Forest is nearby and offers another 70 primitive campsites that are available on a first come, first served basis.

The story offers great suggestions for places to camp in parks like Arcadia, Glacier, Grand Tetons, and more. But with many people choosing to stay close to home this summer, and camping being a relatively inexpensive way to travel, the sites are filling up faster than ever. If you plan to camp in one of the national parks this summer, be sure to make your reservation well in advance.