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Camping in an RV offers the best of both worlds—you get to immerse yourself in Mother Nature, but you don’t have to sleep on the ground or dig any catholes. Win, win. Next time you’re planning a family trip, consider how much fun it’d be to rent an RV and travel to a spectacular place that offers outdoor fun for all ages.
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Here are five incredible RV destinations that your whole family will love. And once you’ve narrowed it down, head to RVshare to find and reserve the perfect RV for your trip.
Carpinteria State Beach is on the California coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. This year-round destination is a real crowd pleaser, thanks to its gorgeous beaches and mild weather. Whether you want to swim, surf, or go tidepooling, you can do it all and more at Carpinteria.
Enjoy a spectacular sunset and let the crashing waves lull you to sleep, then wake up and go for a coastal walk along the bluffs or a seaside walk in the sand. Nearby, there’s the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve, Tar Pit Park, and the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary—a protected area of coastline where you can observe seals in their natural habitat.
Leashed pets are allowed at this campground, just not on the beach.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Florida
Image courtesy of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
What family wouldn’t want to go camping with a touch of Disney magic? Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in Buena Vista, Florida encompasses 750 acres of pine and cypress forests full of wildlife and trails for exploring. The campground accommodates RVs with electrical hook-ups and amenities like picnic tables and charcoal grills.
The Fort Wilderness Campground offers golf carts for rent, plus recreational opportunities like archery, horseback riding, canoeing, and more. The kids will love the pool with a waterslide. You can take your trip up a notch by visiting nearby Walt Disney World theme parks via Disney’s complimentary bus service.
Some sites allow pets.
Grand Canyon/Williams KOA Journey, Arizona
Image by Stephen Yelverton Photography
Staying at the Grand Canyon/Williams KOA Journey RV park in northern Arizona is the perfect way to see the Grand Canyon as a family. Stay at the amenity-rich KOA and take a day trip aboard the Grand Canyon Railway. The Williams train station is just a 10-minute drive from the campground. Enjoy a train ride to the Grand Canyon—which is entertainment in itself, thanks to live music and a Wild West show—then enjoy the canyon before catching the train back to Williams.
The Grand Canyon/Williams KOA Journey has a little store, a playground, laundry facilities, and even a kid-sized train that goes around the campground. It’s a fun spot to enjoy as a family, and its proximity to the Grand Canyon and the Grand Canyon Railway makes it convenient, too.
Pets are allowed.
Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park, Tennessee
Image courtesy of Smoky Bear Campground
Bordering the northeast section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park is 13 miles outside of Gatlinburg and 18 miles outside of Pigeon Forge in Tennessee. It has 46 full hook-up sites for RVs, including water, sewer, electricity, cable and Wi-Fi—i.e., your home away from home.
The campground also has a clubhouse, store, swimming pool/hot tub (available seasonally), and a playground. There’s even a free book and DVD lending library. Most importantly, it’s nestled up to the nation’s most popular national park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is chock-full of hiking trails for every hiker in your family.
Leashed pets are allowed in the RV park.
Zion National Park Watchman Campground, Utah
The western entrance to Zion National Park. Credit Ed Freeman via Getty Images
Sleeping inside Zion National Park is the best way to see it; that way you don’t have to wait in line to get in each day. Park your RV at your reserved site within Watchman Campground (reserve six months in advance at Recreation.gov), wake up to the sights and sounds of Zion—and maybe a deer or two walking through your site, and then walk to the shuttle depot and travel to your first trailhead of the day.
Hiking in Zion is spectacular; you’ll find easy treks, very difficult ones, and everything in between. Take the Riverside Walk path alongside the Virgin River, then tackle The Narrows if your group is up for some wading. Spend a few hours at the Zion Lodge, then head back to the campground for some R&R.
Properly restrained pets are allowed in developed campgrounds and some areas of Zion National Park.
How to Rent an RV
Image courtesy of Andre Ouellet
Renting an RV is simple thanks to sites like RVshare—the largest online community for RV owners and renters. With more than 100,000 vehicles around the country to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect motorhome or trailer for your family trip.
Simply enter your destination, trip dates, and number of travelers, and filter for your preferences and budget. Compared to renting a home or a hotel room, renting an RV is often a very affordable alternative. Many RV owners on the site even offer to deliver the RV to your destination, but always check your destination’s rules about RV rental delivery before booking.
Considering you don’t even need to own an RV to plan an RV trip anymore, what are you waiting for? Once you start traveling this way, you won’t want to stop.
