Make RV camping easier with these resources and guides

It’s time to hit the road.

Rev up the RV, pack your camper, and get ready for fun. Whether you’re a van lifer or a part-time RV adventurer, a camping trip is the perfect way to unwind and explore the beautiful world around you. While there are tons of top-notch campgrounds in the United States, people traveling in an RV or camper will need to find campsites that cater to them. Hunting down the right spot isn’t always easy. Lucky for you, it’s about to get much simpler.

Make your next RV camping trip a breeze with these travel resources and guides. Uncover incredible campgrounds, learn all about boondocking, find ways to bring your pets along for the ride, and so much more.

A row of RVs parked in a lot near palm trees.

How to find awesome campgrounds

If you need campground suggestions, you’ve come to the right place. This list of stunning spots for an RV camping trip will have you itching to hit the road. Plus, you can find the best national parks for RV campers here.

Looking for details on unique campsites? Check out this feature on the inviting world of Spacious Skies Campgrounds. For an extra sporty RV camping excursion, you’ll also want to check out the options available at SkyPark at Santa’s Village. This mountain biking park will treat RV campers to some marvelous views. If you’re searching for a wilder camping experience, you can also find RV campsites within the stunning Stanislaus National Forest.

A couple sitting on top of an RV in the desert.

Learn all about boondocking

See if boondocking is right for you (and learn exactly what boondocking is) with this guide. As this resource explains, “For the van life and RV communities, boondocking means camping in an area without hookups. This kind of camping is also described as off-grid or dry camping, as the campers don’t use and/or have access to public utilities like water or electricity.”

If this kind of RV adventure sounds like something you would enjoy, you can learn more about boondocking on public land with the Bureau of Land Management’s tips for dispersed camping.

An RV to the left of a forested mountain range in the background.

Make RVing with your pets stress-free

There’s no need to keep your furry friends at home while you go camping. Discover practical ways to bring your dog or cat along for the ride with this guide to RVing and traveling with pets.

An RV driving on a road up to a snowy mountain.

Other RV camping tips and resources

Hungry for even more RV camping resources? We’ve got you covered. For a stress-free trip, check out these five tools that make trip planning easy.

Live the RV life at these 10 gorgeous camping destinations

Hop in for an RV adventure.

How do you balance road-tripping with the comforts of home? More and more Americans are doing so with RVs. Approximately 20 million will go RVing this holiday season, a 30% increase over 2022, according to the RV Industry Association Holiday Travel Intentions Survey. Not only will you feel more at home, but so will your pets. About 60% of RVers will bring their pets on holiday this season. Fido will thank you for not leaving him behind in a kennel.

Don’t have your own RV? No problem. With RV rental platform RVezy, you can book an array of experiences. Get some travel inspiration with this list of 10 rentals you can book at beautiful and outdoorsy RV camping destinations across the country.

Search the skies at America’s 5 top campgrounds for stargazing

Sleep under the stars.

Meteor showers, falling stars, and all kinds of constellations have a special way of capturing the world’s imagination. After a day spent exploring the great outdoors, starry skies manage to keep you outside marveling at natural wonders. Camping trips can be the perfect time to luxuriate in some stargazing, but you’ll want to carefully consider where you stay. Not all campsites are made the same, and some places offer clearer and darker skies than others.

So, where should an astronomy-enthused camper stay in the United States? While adventurous and experienced campers can stay anywhere near a dark sky park, other travelers will probably want to stick to established campgrounds. Get the lowdown on some of the country’s best campgrounds for stargazing in the list below.

Lael Wilcox is teaching the world to love bikepacking

Have you tried bikepacking?

Lael Wilcox of Tucson is planning something special for 2024: bikepacking 18,000 miles around the world. She’s still planning the route. And she isn’t going for easy. “I think a lot of people want to design the flattest route they can, but I love riding in the mountains, so screw it I’ll just ride in the mountains,” Wilcox said. “That’s way more inspiring for me.”

Haven’t heard of bikepacking? It’s a relatively new concept, but it’s simple to understand. You grab a mountain bike, load your essentials, and then take off on a multi-day trip over trails. Maybe it’s an overnight, maybe a couple of weeks, or perhaps you dream of biking across the globe.

Depending on your chosen route, almost any mountain bike might do. However, snowy or sandy conditions call for fat tires, and full-suspension bikes will serve you better on technical trails.

A woman on a bike.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte

Bikepacking events

You can bikepack on your own or with friends. Or you can enter a bikepacking race. Event organizers put together some brutal routes. On November 3 this year, The Tassie Gift 2023 took riders on a 1,800-kilometer (1,118.4-mile) race that traversed trails, roads, and goat tracks on the Australian island of Tasmania. Don’t mind the cold? Check out the Fat Viking 2024 on January 27. It’s a 150-kilometer (93-mile) ultra-endurance race through the snowy Norwegian highlands.

A bike parked in front of a tent in the desert at dusk.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte

In the United States, the Arizona Trail Race is an unofficial self-supported bikepacking event. Riders choose between a 300-mile and 800-mile trek, which takes them from the Mexican border up to Utah. Each race is a grueling series of ups and downs. Those riding the full distance must carry their bikes for 21 miles across the Grand Canyon!

Wilcox set a record for the 800-miler in April of 2022, finishing it in 9 days, 8 hours, and 23 minutes. “I think the hardest thing about the Arizona Trail is getting enough water. If I can time where I sleep to be near a freshwater source, that’s ideal,” Wilcox said. “Truthfully, I’m always running at a water and food deficit. When I did it the last time, I packed full cheesecakes, and I would eat those because they are so calorie dense. I also drank salsa because I felt like I needed some vegetables. It sounds wacky, but when you’re out there in the desert, your body starts craving bizarre things.”

Bikers on a hillside road overlooking mountains at sunset.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte

Making bikepacking female-friendly

The 37-year-old Wilcox loves her adopted home of Tucson. It’s her favorite place to ride and train. This November, she organized a 400-mile cycling event there, the Tucson Komoot Women’s Rally. It’s the first Komoot held outside of Europe. Komoot women’s rallies are designed to make adventure cycling more accessible to women, nonbinary, and trans riders. About 50 women aged 19 to 70 plan to participate in the weeklong event.

Wilcox also spearheads Tucson’s Girls Riding Into Tomorrow (GRIT), a program that introduces 11 and 12-year-old girls to long-distance cycling. Underprivileged girls get six weeks of bike training culminating in an overnight weekend adventure ride. And they get to keep the bike they train on. Wilcox loves to see girls surprise themselves with what they can do. “When I see people take on new things, and shock themselves, and get excited, it brings me back to why I love this sport so much.”

Four girls in bike helmets.
Photo by Rue Kaladyte

Here’s how Spacious Skies Campgrounds welcome diverse campers

The outdoors are for everyone.

When Spacious Skies Campgrounds co-founders Ali and Eric Rasmussen started their company 2.5 years ago, they pledged to make camping more diverse. While building an empire of 15 campgrounds (and counting), they found ways to prioritize guest diversity and employee empathy. 

Their efforts include partnering with Black Folks Camp TooGirl CamperLGBT Outdoors, and Latinos Outdoors. All these organizations promote camping to people who may not always feel welcome outdoors.

“Eric and I toured the entire Spacious Skies collection in July, and we witnessed an uptick in diversity among our guests. That makes me encouraged and determined to continue our efforts,” Ali said. “As a lifelong camper and frequent solo camper, I know how important it is to feel comfortable in your camping place, regardless of whether it is a tent, RV or cabin. We strive to make sure that every one of our guests feels like Spacious Skies Campgrounds is a true home away from their homes.”

A campground with several buildings, an old vehicle parked on grass, and a tree.
Camping ranges from cabins to tents at Spacious Skies. / Photo courtesy of Spacious Skies Campgrounds

The Outdoor Industry Association recently reported an increase in the diversity of outdoor recreation users, with numbers up for Black, LGBTQ+, and Hispanic populations.

A table of kids crafting at camp.
Kids crafting at Spacious Skies. / Photo courtesy of Spacious Skies Campground

“We truly believe that the great outdoors can bring people together, regardless of their heritage, communities or outdoor experience, and we will continue to seek out opportunities for Spacious Skies Campgrounds to work towards greater diversity in our campgrounds,” Ali said.

A white and cyan camper van parked in the woods near a picnic table.
Photo courtesy of Spacious Skies Campgrounds

Spacious Skies Campgrounds offers cabins, glamping, and spaces for RV and tent campers in 15 locations in the eastern U.S., from Maine to Georgia. Amenities vary. Guests will find a swimming pool in Savannah and a rec hall with an arcade in the Adirondacks.

A child swimming in a pool.
Photo courtesy of Spacious Skies Campgrounds

Additionally, Spacious Skies participates in the National Forest Foundation Sapling Program. Every time a guest reviews Spacious Skies via an in-person review card or on Google, TripAdvisor, and Dyrt, the camping company donates a dollar to the sapling program, which plants a tree.

Go on a cozy fall camping trip at Letchworth State Park

Waterfalls await you.

Some people call New York’s Letchworth State Park the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The park’s incredible gorges are just one part of its appeal, though.

If you want to spend all day hiking past waterfalls and rafting down the Genesee River, Letchworth is the place to go. The region offers miles of trails, tons of scenic overlooks, and some stellar campgrounds. There are even cabins available for a unique glamping experience. Plus, the park enjoys an explosion of color in the fall. It’s one of the best places to spend a cozy fall weekend.

Plan your trip to Letchworth State Park with this photo guide to its best hiking, camping, and sightseeing spots.

See 10 waterfalls on a trip to Silver Falls State Park in Oregon

Here are five things to know before you go.

Oregon is rich in waterfalls, with many excellent waterfall hikes around the state. But the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park is a huge crowd favorite. If you’re a waterfall lover, you’ll want to take this hike.

Silver Falls State Park is located near Silverton, Oregon, 20 miles southeast of Salem. With more than 9,000 acres, it’s Oregon’s largest state park. Explore 24 miles of walking trails, or ride a horse or bike in some parts of the park. It’s also a gorgeous place for a picnic if you just want to chill and enjoy the trees.

Hikers near a forest waterfall.
Photo by Teresa Bergen

Go on a remote glamping trip with this floating safari camp in Sweden

Float on, alright?

Looking for a super secluded holiday with your sweetheart, besties, or favorite family members? Off the Map Travel offers a dream package for those who want to get really far away from civilization. Spend two nights at a floating safari camp at Sweden’s Lake Degerselet, just south of the Arctic Circle, then transfer by canoe for a final night at the land-based Aurora Safari Camp.

Despite the remote location, you won’t be roughing it at the floating safari camp. You’ll have two glamping tents, a double room, a toilet, and a shower. The kitchen has a two-burner stove, refrigerator, and a dining area. Act fast, or book for next year. The floating camp operates June through September and can sleep up to six people. Here are some of the adventures you can go on while you’re there.

Aerial view of a campsite design.
Photo courtesy of Off the Map Travel

Iconic California Christmas village is now a top mountain biking park

Bike through this festive park.

People who have lived in Southern California long enough might remember Santa’s Village, a year-round Christmas theme park that delighted children with rides and reindeer. Now, SkyPark at Santa’s Village has been revamped into a mountain biking park that delights riders of all skill levels while preserving a few touches of the North Pole.

Sunlight shining through trees behind a triangular house decorated with Christmas items.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village

When the old theme park tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains came up for sale in 2014, mountain biking couple Bill and Michelle Johnson jumped at the chance to develop their dream bike park. They envisioned a place with enough variety for a whole family, from toddlers to grandparents.

“We have a pump track for the little ones, entry and medium level trails, and even expert-level tracks that keep pro riders coming back,” Bill Johnson said in a statement. “The park is designed much like a ski resort, although we do not have a lift service. Everyone can ride together to the top, but a scaled network of trails for all levels can bring you down, back to the village, at a central location to regroup. We’re constantly improving and adjusting trails, with expansion continuing to change the experience every season.”

A family of bikers.
The park offers trails for riders of all skill levels. / Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village

SkyPark offers group and private lessons for ages three and up, plus an onsite bike shop. Buy a bike from SkyPark’s Bike Swap, and you’ll get a credit for a day of riding at the park. Families can camp at the campground next door or bring their RV. 

Metal RVs in a mountainside campsite.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village

The original Santa’s Village opened in 1955, before Disneyland. It went through a bankruptcy and a couple of owners and iterations before closing in 1998.

“Bill and I used to come here when we were younger, back when Santa’s Village was closed, and make bike paths through the trees,” Michelle Johnson said. “In 2014, long after we were married and had gained significant experience in the real estate world, we saw the old Santa’s Village property come up on the market and it was like the universe was giving us a chance to share this magical place with the world. Now everyone gets to experience the park we’ve spent years perfecting.”

A parent and child biking through a forest.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village

SkyPark at Santa’s Village is part of a larger trend of using traditional ski areas for mountain biking during the off-season. “We’re proud to be a part of that mindset shift,” Bill Johnson said. “These mountains need to be experienced and mountain biking is such a great way to do it year-round. It’s good for the local community as well, to have something year-round again. Plus, we’ve brought the famous Santa’s Village theme park back to life for new generations, and that’s really special.”

What to pack when rafting the Grand Canyon

Don’t forget these essentials.

The Grand Canyon is a harsh environment, especially in summer when temperatures surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And if you spend a week rafting there, it will feel even more extreme as you switch between hot air and cold water. Add camping into the mix, and you’ll definitely start missing the comforts of home.

I recently spent a week on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Wilderness River Adventures. The company provides an excellent packing list, but some of us followed it more closely than others. I talked to my raftmates about what they were glad they’d brought with them — and what they were sorry to have left out of their dry bags.