Take a Look at 11 of the Weirdest Campsites in the World

If the traditional family camping excursion isn’t cutting it for you anymore, pack up your gear and pitch your tent in one of these outside-of-the-box campsites. Trade your ho-hum camping experience for one that will surely find a place in the collective family memory.

People usually go camping to be near a body of water, so why not go the opposite route and try a campsite where fire is the draw? Accommodations at Mt. Nyiragongo in Congo include modest huts on the rim of an active volcano. Adventurous visitors should be prepared to hike, since the 8-kilometer trek to the campsite is pretty steep and can take anywhere between four to six hours to complete.

Related: 14 "Once in a Lifetime" Places to Camp for a Night

New York City is probably the last place that comes to mind when you think of singing campfire songs and pitching a tent. Did you know that the bustling metropolis is home to the largest urban campground in the U.S.? The site of NYC’s first municipal airport, now defunct, features 46 campsites and access to Jamaica Bay. You can even cycle down the airstrip once used by Amelia Earhart!

The White Sands National Monument is quite possibly one of the most alien-looking landscapes on Earth. Sleep among the rippled white dunes at one of the park’s minimalist campsites. Access there is first-come, first-served and is sometimes interrupted due to activities of the nearby missile testing range. If staying overnight seems a little too adventurous, there are two short hiking trails in the vicinity—Backcountry Loop and Alkali Flat Trail.

Throw your losing lottery ticket away and book some time off, because you might have better luck at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This camping spot might not look like much, but the 37.5-acre plowed field is the world’s only publicly accessible diamond-bearing site. On average, visitors dig up about two precious stones per day. People also find plenty of other gemstones there, including jasper and quartz. Feeling nostalgic about your rock collection of yesteryear? This is the perfect place to reboot your favorite hobby. In addition to the diamond field, there are trails, a pool, camping facilities, and picnic areas.

Buy a ticket in advance and mark your calendar for the next movie-under-the-stars event at this Georgia drive-in theater. You’ll enjoy two feature-length films and are welcome to spend the night once the credits have rolled. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring a picnic or snack on-site at the TDI-Grill concession. The next morning, campers are invited to the nearby Chattooga River for a variety of water-based activities