Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor enthusiast or the last time you saw a national park was around the time the Brady Bunch Grand Canyon special came out, there’s no better time to see our country’s major natural wonders than the present– especially if you’re retired. Finally you don’t have to plan your trip around vacation time or the kids’ school schedules and you can really embrace the open road.
An RV can be one of the most efficient, comfortable ways to get from park to park, whether you’re exploring with your significant other or bringing the grandkids along for their first road trip. Like any kind of camping though, it’s important to find the perfect place to park so you can enjoy as stress-free an experience as possible and focus on the beautiful vistas.
The Best National Parks For Retirement RV Vacations
Teepees Just a Tiptoe From Bryce Canyon
Stay at the Ruby’s Inn RV Park for unbeatable amenities on the doorstep of Bryce Canyon. For those who aren’t fully comfortable with backing in yet, there are ample-sized pull through sites. In addition to full hookups for your rig, you’ll also find clean bathrooms with proper showers. It’s super easy to access Bryce, too, with a shuttle right there to take you from the RV park into the national park. If the grandkids came with, they’ll be delighted by the on-site swimming pool and teepees. When you’ve soaked up all Bryce has to offer, you’re just a hop skip and a jump from a whole host of other incredible parks, including the Grand Staircase Escalante, Arches, and the Grand Canyon.
Easy Pull Through Access to Three Parks
Near Arches and Canyonlands, Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground is a fantastic place to park. With pull-through RV sites, wiFi, life-size chess and checkers board, and plenty of places to relax including a pool and hot tub, you’ll have no problem savoring your downtime. For uptime, however, you’ll be pleased to see how accessible the nearby national parks are from Moab. In addition to Arches and Canyonlands, you’ll also be close to the stunning Dead Horse Point State Park, vibrant downtown Moab, and even Castle Creek Winery if you like to imbibe.
Have a Picture Perfect Trip in the Grand Tetons
Landscape artist Thomas Moran once described the Grand Tetons as “perhaps the finest pictorial range in the United States or even North America.” If you, too, want to see why these towering peaks have charmed travelers for hundreds of years, book an RV site at Colter Bay RV Park. You’ll be just a short stroll from Jackson Lake, across from which sit Doane and Eagle Rest peaks. Rafting on the Snake River is also right there, as well as horseback rides through the national park, plenty of hikes, and other activities. There are over a hundred pull-in sites with all the amenities, including coin-operated laundry.
Park Your Big Rig By a Big Cave
Not all of our country’s amazing national parks are out west. Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is just as awe-inspiring and unique in its own way. Park at Cave Country RV Campground, which is proudly friendly even to big rigs, and each and every one of its spots is a pull-in. It’s five miles from Mammoth Cave, but they boast extra amenities like cable TV and a dog park for when you get back from exploring. Not only is there an incredible cave system, but the gorgeous Kentucky hill country is great for easy hikes and horseback riding, too.
Get Backwoods at Blackwoods
If you want to get off the beaten path and try RV camping somewhere a little more adventurous, try the Arcadia Mountains in Maine. There are rewarding nearby hikes, including the Triad Pass trail from Jordan Pond. While Blackwoods Camping emphasizes tent sites, they have spots for smaller RVs. You’ll have to do without full-hookup, though they do offer sewer service. Once you’re in, however, it’s super easy to get around. The free Acadia’s Island Explorer shuttle gets you around the whole park in season, and you can enjoy everything from mountains to coasts to lighthouses.
One thing to be aware of on your journey, however, is that you may be moving from low to high elevations. The Grand Tetons, for example, are above 6,000 feet, and altitude adjustment can be an issue for some. Whether you’re worried about altitude or getting winded before you’re ready to stop, a can of Boost Oxygen will come in handy to help you power through from great view to great view.
