Hitting the road in your RV is one of the best ways to travel! Instead of suffering through airport security measures, bland restaurant food, and cookie-cutter hotel rooms, you can enjoy the comfort and familiarity of your home on wheels. You’ll save money and feel better by eating home-cooked meals instead of constantly eating out. There’s also no need to search for a clean public restroom with an RV. You’ll fall in love with this classic American travel method on your very first trip.
Traveling in a Winnebago or other camper makes it easy to visit quirky destinations off the beaten path. Whether you prefer to get in touch with nature or want to see America’s biggest and brightest cities, RV travel makes every option a possibility. With so many choices, picking your next destination can start to feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to have fun in an RV. Stop by your local RV dealership and then start planning your next trip.
National parks are some of the premier American travel destinations. There are 63 national parks to explore, plus a variety of national forests, monuments, and other protected lands throughout the country. Every national park features a uniquely stunning landscape full of native plants and animals. Many parks are also home to historical landmarks, interpretive centers, and campsites. Park, your RV in a full amenity campsite, rough it at a primitive hike-in site or even enjoy “glamping” at select park hotels.
National parks are perfect RV destinations because they’re scattered all around the country. Not all states have a national park, but there are multiple parks in every region. One great thing about RV travel is its flexibility. You can completely customize your national park trip to include whatever destination you’d like. Visit all the national parks in an area, plan a side park visit as part of a larger trip, or focus on one particular park. The sky is the limit in your Rockwood RV!
Nature is beautiful, but it would be a shame to overlook bustling city life. Visiting a city for the first time is a wonderful idea for your next RV trip. You’ll save money on hotel and food costs, giving you a bigger budget for exploring the town.
Traveling in an RV also gives you more flexibility to explore a city than other travel methods. If you fall in love with a city on your RV trip, it’s easy to stay for another day and explore further. All you need to do is add another night to your campsite reservation: good luck rescheduling airplane tickets or hotel reservations in the same situation.
Getting around a new town can be tricky for RV-goers. It can be hard to find city parking for your camper. Some streets may be too narrow or curvy for easy travel as well. Luckily, you can work around these issues by planning ahead. If you tow your RV or tow a vehicle behind your camper, consider leaving your RV at a campsite outside of town. Then head to the city in your other vehicle. You can also book rideshare or shuttle transportation from your campsite to the city, then use public transit to get around.
State parks offer similar experiences to national parks, but they have some important differences as well. State parks are usually smaller than national parks, which means they’re also less expensive and less crowded. Some national parks have long waiting lists and extreme entrance lines, but you can often drive up to a state park and immediately get inside. Every state has at least one state park, so there’s always one within the easy driving range. State parks are often dog-friendly as well, making them a great destination if you’re traveling with a four-legged family member. Get a taste of the local culture and visit a state park on your next journey.
As soon as you drive your camper home from the RV wholesalers, taking a road trip is the obvious next step. If you want to get technical about it, every RV trip is a road trip. However, there’s something special about planning a purposeful road trip. All you need to do is pick a fantastic destination, then take your time getting there.
Road trips are a fantastic opportunity to see parts of the country you’d normally miss. Give yourself permission to stop at interesting roadside attractions, take the scenic route, visit mom-and-pop establishments, and generally enjoy the journey. You might have taken a road trip in a car or van before, but you’ll find that traveling in an RV elevates the experience. There’s no pressure to reach your destination by a certain timeframe. Your RV holds everything you need. If one leg of the trip takes longer than you expected, simply find a nearby campsite and adjust your plans.
Visiting far-away family and friends is a vital way of keeping relationships strong. But unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get together. If you live far away from loved ones, it can be hard to find the time and budget to see each other. Recent travel restrictions and public health concerns have made the situation even worse. If you have a Forest River RV, though, it’s easy to visit your favorite people.
Traveling by RV is a clever strategy that lets you connect with loved ones while avoiding other expensive, unpleasant travel methods. You don’t need to wait in long lines or crowded seating areas when you take your RV instead of an airplane. There are no unusual restrictions or requirements for RV travel, either. All you need to do is pack your bags, fill up the tank, and hit the road.
RV trips are an especially thoughtful way to visit people who don’t travel much themselves. We all have loved ones who can’t get away easily. People with young children, health concerns, financial struggles, hectic work schedules, and many other complications can’t always travel as much as they would like. You can invest in these relationships with RV travel. Consider purchasing an RV extended warranty before your trip for a worry-free journey.
Believe it or not, travel boredom can settle in after a few trips. Once you’ve crossed your dream locales off the bucket list, it might seem like there’s nowhere else you want to visit. Don’t let indecision get you down. Make a resolution to go somewhere new, simply for the fun of it. Having a brand-new destination on the itinerary can liven up your travel routine. You’ll explore routes, discover new places to eat, research things to do, and generally enjoy the planning process again.
There are many ways to pick a new destination. Choose a state that no one in your family has visited before, then plan a trip to its biggest city or most impressive state park—scan feel-good national news stories to discover places making headlines for the best reasons. Research the locations of your favorite movies, books, or TV shows, then go see them in person.
If you’re still overthinking it, you can always close your eyes and pick a spot on the map at random. Remember that the journey is part of the fun. Even if your destination turns out to be a dud, you can always take a different route home. Time spent in your Puma XLE beats sitting at home on the couch any day.
If you’re traveling with family, friends, or a group, let everyone add a special destination to the trip. Vacations are group activities, after all. You can make amazing memories when everyone feels valued and included in the planning process.
You can explore a few different strategies with this method. If you already have an overall destination in mind, encourage people to pick something along the route. For example, you might be planning a family trip to the beach. Look at a map together and let everyone choose a destination on the way. This method gives everyone some control but will still get you to the seashore fairly quickly.
If you’re up for more of an adventure, give your family free reign over their choices. If one sibling wants to visit the Florida Keys, another one the Grand Canyon, and another the Great Lakes, you’re in for the trip of a lifetime. Stock up with supplies, hop in your Cherokee RV and start making memories.
RV travel helps you build relationships and make memories while traveling the country. If you’re running low on trip ideas, try one of these suggestions for your next vacation. Whether you use our exact idea or are inspired to take a different trip, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the journey. Visit our RV dealership to see campers in person and find even more inspiration!