Car camping, backpacking, or hiking by yourself can be intimidating. But we’ll let you in on a little secret—it can also be freeing and empowering.

Grab an inner tube, pack up a picnic, and seek out one of these idyllic spots for a must-do summer experience. Here are our favorite swimming holes from east to west and everything in between.

Ditch the beach crowds for your own private wilderness, and forgo the ritzy resort hotel for a tent and a bed on the world’s best natural mattress—the sand.