Which of these cars was popular for 1960s families for road trips?
Motorhome paradise: 10 great spots in the U.S. to visit on wheels
Few countries, if any, are more prepared for a motorhome trip than the U.S. Its countless roads, vast and diverse landscapes, and thousands of RV campgrounds offer different types of journeys for every camper profile. Take a look at the following 10 suggestions, ranging from specific places to entire road trips, and see if any of them entices your curiosity!
Image: Frankie
Yellowstone National Park
National parks and motorhomes are a match made in America, and no list of this kind would be complete without mentioning Yellowstone National Park, the oldest park in the country and a very popular RV destination for all the right reasons.
The park offers several RV-friendly campgrounds, and there are plenty of options to choose from in the surrounding towns as well. For drivers looking for an amazing scenic drive, take the Beartooth Highway, which will lead you to Yellowstone’s Northeast entrance. This roadway has been dubbed "The most beautiful in America" and is also known as the "Highway in the Sky."
Image: Johanna Persson
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, offering some of the East Coast’s most impressive and scenic beaches. With numerous RV parks throughout the islands, each with its unique charm, this location is an RV paradise.
Hike the largest dune system on the East Coast at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, kayak the peaceful waters of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, or take a ferry ride to Ocracoke Island’s rustic village. The Outer Banks has activities for everybody and infrastructure to provide all the necessary comfort.
Image: Sergio Martínez
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is another gem on the RV roadmap of the U.S. Located primarily on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, the largest island off the coast of Maine, the park is sometimes referred to as the "Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast."
Aside from being home to the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the U.S., the park features several different habitats, offering plenty of plants and animals to see. Acadia has four campgrounds within the park, three of which are RV-friendly.
Image: Marek Konopnicki
California
The entire state of California makes for an incredible RV road trip, offering an endless supply of natural beauty, from towering redwood forests to dusty deserts to breathtaking seascapes and shorelines.
RV travelers can start their journey just northeast of San Diego and follow a clockwise loop, visiting the coast first and exploring the state's inner beauties later.
Image: Fabian
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park features some of America’s most beautiful landscapes, set along the sun-blasted frontier of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. That countryside includes remarkable monzogranite formations and boulders, such as Skull Rock, as well as multiple mountain ranges.
Year-round camping is available in this area, although the summer heat may not be for everyone. There are several campgrounds in the park, ranging from well-developed to primitive options and beyond.
Image: Mariana Brás
Rocky Mountains
A road trip around the Rocky Mountains in a motorhome is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that any RV camper would love to add to their wishlist. These mountains stretch over 3,000 miles from New Mexico to British Columbia, offering a lifetime's worth of exploration opportunities.
Drivers could spend weeks at Yellowstone and Grand Teton alone, but the entire route is packed with amazing scenery and comfortable RV parks, ranging from primitive sites to lush locations with premium amenities.
Image: Luke Porter
New England
New England is an excellent region for an RV road trip. Its balanced blend of forests, rocky seascapes, colonial history, and gorgeous seaside towns offer plenty of opportunities for adventure, sightseeing, relaxation, and more.
A possible route could start in upstate New York, heading east and north into the parks of upper New England, and then heading south along the coast after Acadia for some breathtaking ocean views.
Image: Rodrigo Curi
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina, containing expansive forests and mountainous terrain. This southern wonder features hiking trails, including parts of the greater Appalachian Trail, and a vast array of plant and animal life to explore.
The area is a popular RV destination, and there is no shortage of camps along the way, offering rest and comfort for happy campers.
Image: lucas Favre
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The majestic state of Colorado is filled with breathtaking landscapes, and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is no exception. The Gunnison River sculpted this vertical terrain of rock over thousands of years, creating many picturesque paths for hikers of all skill levels to explore.
During the winter, the sloped hills become a great destination for cross-country skiers. After a long journey in the wilderness, visitors can return to their RV at the South Rim Campground, which welcomes thousands of guests each year.
Image: Vladimir Kudinov
Sedona
Located where the Colorado Plateau drops down to Arizona’s deserts, Sedona is world-famous for its red rock formations and vibrant communities. RV campers can also visit the Grand Canyon, which is situated not too far to the north.
Sedona is filled with RV parks and campgrounds, and ample public lands in the area offer a multitude of primitive camping opportunities.
Image: Julian Ackroyd