Best RVing Destinations in US

Beaches, Deserts, Mountains & Forests

With RVing now trending, including among younger people, the great landscapes of America are seeing more visitors. And for those of us with a RV, a trip of a few weeks can take us from mountains to beaches to deserts to forests. Of course, we all want to be efficient too so it is important to find the best RVing destinations for you and your traveling companions.

A recent study by StorageCafe looked at the top 100 US RVing destinations where there are sufficient numbers of campgrounds, then ranked them according to features such as electric, water and sewerage hookups, air quality, and extras such as provision of cable TV, pools and pull-through parking, plus pet friendliness. Using this as a guide, let’s take a journey through America, for ideas on great destinations for any season.

Summer Heat Means Beach time

As temperatures ramp up, many’s thoughts turn to beaches. Expanses of white sand await you from The Carolinas to California, not to mention Florida and the Gulf Coast. In the StorageCafe study, Zephyrhills, close to Tampa, and Fort Myers scored 4^th and 10^th places, respectively, having more than a dozen RV parks each. They offer a variety of facilities at reasonable prices and beautiful beaches close by. Naples, in 18^th position, is a top-name resort further south on the Florida Gulf coast, with facilities like pools at most campgrounds and nearby, plenty of retail options and no fewer than 70 golf courses. As long as you are at the beach, consider taking advantage of the water and try wind-surfing or stand-up paddle boarding, which are becoming hugely popular sports.

While you can certainly rent all the gear, we have gotten an inflatable paddleboard which is easy to store. For some, having the “real” thing is more important especially if you prefer the open sea. However, these can really clutter up the motorhome and get damaged if stored outside. One option, especially for those who are staying long term or who return to the same area is storage. For example, when staying in Zephyrhills, you can easily find a Tampa self storage unit so you can easily pick up your toys on the way to the beach.

Gulf Coast Sea Fishing from Spring to Fall

Maybe your prefer to be ON the water inside of in in and fishing is your favorite sport. Gulf Shores, Alabama, known as the Red Snapper Capital of the World, got 7^th place in the StorageCafe ranking and has a dozen or so RV campsites with amenities like WiFI and cable. You could also try the Texas resort of Rockport — which scored 6^th place — and has even more RV campsites plus a rather classy ambience. Known as The Texas Riviera, some folks come and end up staying awhile. In some cases, they find keeping fishing tackle and other tools at a Rockport self storage facility to help them keep the peace in the crowded RV. For anyone traveling with kids, family activities are plentiful and include dolphin watching.

Head to the Hills for Cooler Air

To escape the summer heat and give the RV air-con a rest, America’s mountains win with the top three spots in the StorageCafe survey. Places like Pigeon Forge near Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains, Branson in the Ozarks of Missouri and Hot Springs in Arkansas’s Ouachita range. offer plenty of campgrounds and attractions including theme parks and concert venues. For more fresh air, head to places such as Colorado’s South Fork at an elevation of more than 8,000’, a top-10 RVing destination with many well-equipped campsites and trails to enjoy.

Forests Help You Breathe

Take your forest bathing to a new level as you travel to one of America’s great forest areas. Travel north to south to watch the leaves change color in New England. Enjoy fall in your RV as you watch first sugar maples then oaks and other trees transform. Forest fans also find great RVing destinations on the West Coast: Top locations include Grants Pass in Oregon, where you find access to the Siskiyou National Forest and its refreshing waterfalls. Over the border with California, Redding is in the Shasta Cascade region and the only CA area to make the top 20 of the StorageCafe survey. Lesser known by many, 13^th-placed Tyler near the sumptuous Piney Woods of northeast Texas offers another beautiful fall option or the option to appreciate the green thumbs of those who made this the Rose Capital of America.

Enjoy the Desert Sun in Winter and Beyond

To fully experience America, you might also want to see some desert scenery. Arizona’s Tucson and Yuma, scoring 11^th and 12^th places in the RVing study, have dozens of campsites and reasonable costs all year round. The former has access to the stunning Saguaro National Park while the latter is close to the Imperial Sand Dunes — used as sets for movies such as Return of the Jedi. For more amazing landscapes, you could travel to Deming or Carlsbad in New Mexico, both offering plenty of campsites. Consider staying all winter, and then watch the cactuses bloom in spring.

Over the last couple of years, travel restrictions kept more Americans near home and they realized just how much variety we have in our own country’s beautiful scenery. The rising sales of RVS shows that the desire to travel is strong and folks are doing it in their own way whether sticking close to home or hitting the road for long periods of time. The RVing industry has been scaling up as more hit the road to offer more and more amenities in places from beaches and deserts to mountains and forests. Whether you hit the top twenty of the StorageCafe survey or find your own path, safe travels!

Let us know in comments which places appeal to you and where you are heading this year.