Beyond the Picnic Basket: Jellystone Park's Award-Winning Formula

SOUTHFIELD, MI – May 15, 2026 – For the fourth consecutive year, the results of USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards have sent a clear message: the modern family camping trip looks less like a rustic retreat and more like a full-service resort vacation. Leading this charge is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, which once again saw multiple locations ranked among the nation's elite, cementing its status as a powerhouse in the outdoor hospitality industry.

Three of its franchised parks—located in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Virginia—landed in the top six for the nation's "Best RV Park," a testament to a consistent strategy that blends outdoor recreation with theme park-level entertainment. The continued accolades highlight a significant shift in consumer preferences, where amenities like water slides and character interactions are becoming just as important as scenic views and quiet campsites.

A Pattern of Dominance in Reader Rankings

The consistent high placement of Jellystone Park locations in a public-voted competition like USA TODAY's 10Best is particularly revealing. The awards process, which involves nomination by a panel of travel experts followed by a four-week public voting period, suggests that these parks are not just industry darlings but genuine fan favorites.

This year's winners underscore the brand's widespread appeal:

• Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, secured the number four spot. This marks the fourth straight year it has placed in the top four, a remarkable feat of consistency. The park boasts an impressive array of attractions, including multiple pools, large water slides, snowless tubing hills, and 4X4 adventure rides—features that blur the line between campground and amusement park.

• Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, was voted number five. A former number one winner in 2022, this location has now finished in the top six for five consecutive years. Its combination of a sprawling splashground, laser tag, and unique games like human foosball demonstrates a commitment to interactive, high-energy family fun.

• Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Luray, Virginia, rounded out the top six. Nestled in a popular tourist region, the park distinguishes itself with three swimming pools, two giant water slides, and a variety of activities from pedal boats to laser tag, ensuring it stands out in a competitive market.

“The fact that multiple Jellystone Park locations placed among the top six RV parks in the United States over multiple years underscores the extent to which families consider the parks to be true family entertainment destinations,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, the company that franchises the brand.

Redefining the Modern Campground

Jellystone Park's success is a direct reflection of major trends reshaping the North American camping landscape. The 2024 North American Camping Report from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) noted a significant influx of younger, more diverse campers who often seek experiences that combine a love for the outdoors with the comforts and conveniences of a resort. This demographic is less interested in "roughing it" and more interested in creating shareable, activity-packed memories.

The brand has capitalized on this by perfecting the "destination campground" model. Unlike traditional campgrounds that serve as a base for exploring a surrounding area, Jellystone Parks are designed to be the destination itself. A family can arrive and find a full vacation's worth of activities without ever leaving the property. This model includes not only RV sites but also a growing portfolio of 'glamping' options and luxury cabin rentals, catering to families who may not own an RV but still crave the campground experience.

This approach is validated by other recent accolades. The Jellystone Park near Zion National Park in Utah was a Good Housekeeping 2026 Travel Awards winner, while parks in Illinois and New Hampshire earned Park Innovator of the Year Awards from OHI, the outdoor hospitality industry association. These awards, from different sectors of the media and travel industry, point to a broad consensus on the quality and appeal of the Jellystone experience.

The Franchise Formula and a Bear-Sized Brand

The secret to replicating this high level of success across more than 75 locations in the U.S. and Canada lies in a carefully managed franchise system combined with a powerful, exclusive partnership. The franchisor, Camp Jellystone, provides the blueprint, but it's the strategic alliance with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences that provides the unique magic.

This partnership gives every Jellystone Park exclusive access to the iconic Hanna-Barbera characters of Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, Cindy Bear, and Ranger Smith. This intellectual property is the brand's key differentiator in a crowded market. While any campground can build a pool or a mini-golf course, only Jellystone Park can offer a wagon ride with Yogi Bear. This character-based entertainment creates a powerful emotional connection for families, tapping into parental nostalgia and creating new, magical moments for children.

The characters are woven into the fabric of the park experience, from themed weekends and dance parties to daily character interactions. This provides a consistent, marketable brand identity that individual campgrounds would find impossible to create on their own. For Warner Bros. Discovery, it's a savvy licensing strategy that extends its beloved characters into the lucrative family travel sector, keeping them relevant for new generations. This symbiotic relationship allows franchisees to benefit from national brand recognition and a built-in marketing hook, while ensuring a high standard of family-friendly entertainment is maintained across the entire system.