Summer is all about going on road trips with your friends or family to discover new places. You undoubtedly appreciate adventure during this time as an RV owner. After you’ve decided to go on a major trip, you’ll need to figure out where you want to travel. The United States boasts many wonderful wilderness areas easily accessible by RV.
You can explore Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, North Carolin, Tenessee national parks, and the Great Smokey Mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina Border. These destinations offer breath-taking nature views packed with many campgrounds with all amenities for off-grid living.
It can be tough to plan your journey, but we’ve covered you. Make sure you and your RV are set for your trip with these RV Vacation recommendations for the best summer destinations to enjoy the sun safely.
Drive to Alaska When The Summer Season Starts
Driving to Alaska will be one of the longer RV excursions you can take, regardless of where you’re coming from, but the vistas will be well worth it.
Coming from most parts of the United States, you’ll most likely drive through British Columbia, the Yukon, and eastern Alaska. You won’t find a better vista of the surrounding mountains and valleys anywhere else in the United States.
Spend some time in Anchorage, where you may learn about Alaskan native traditions, go on a flight tour, or visit one of the state’s wonderful national parks. Between May and September is the greatest time to come. Here are Alaska’s National Park needs to consider visiting for van life camping:
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Katmai National Park
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
- Denali National Park
However, if you want to save more money on your camping trip, you can explore areas outside camping grounds, but you have to be careful and know the state rules about this, especially if staying on private land.
South Dakota and Its Must-See Summer Wonders
Mt. Rushmore is a must-see in South Dakota, but it shouldn’t be your only destination. The Black Hills National Park is a must-see for everyone who wants to see magnificent rock formations and panoramic views.
Bear Country USA, a seasonal drive-through wildlife park with bears, wolves, elk, and other North American creatures, is also worth visiting. Between May and October, most of South Dakota experiences pleasant weather.
When you arrive in South Dakota, visit the Black Hills National Park and consider exploring the Three Forks Campground, Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground, and Big Pine Campground.
Northwestern Wyoming and Its Gorgeous Mountain Sunsets
The Yellowstone National Park and The Tetons are only 40 miles apart, and you can see a lot of beauty in a short amount of time. It encompasses northwestern Wyoming and is contiguous with Yellowstone National Park to the north.
Both parks have a wide range of scenery. Yellowstone’s geyser basin offers a succession of stunning technicolor hot springs, while Grand Teton National Park features some of the most striking mountain vistas in the country.
To make touring both places worthwhile, we recommend purchasing an annual national park pass. Between mid-May and late September is the optimum time to explore both parks.
Here are campgrounds in the two parks you can go to on your next summer escapade, Signal Mountain Campground, Colter Bay Village Campground, and Upper Teton View in the Grand Teton National Park. While the Indian Creek Campground, Norris Campground, and Canyon in Yellowstone National Park.
Maine: A Famous Summer Destination
Maine is proud of Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is known as the highlight attraction of the North Atlantic Coast with its northern splendor.
The park safeguards various habitats and the Atlantic’s highest rocky headlands. The best time to visit the park is from late spring to early fall, though be prepared for crowds during the summer.
The van can go 27 miles over old highways, 158 miles on hiking trails, and 45 miles on carriage routes for speed limits.
Some RV camping grounds in the park are Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort, Narrows Too Camping Resort, and Blackwoods Campground, which you should not miss.
Vermont and New Hampshire Notable Summer Coolers
In the northeast, there are numerous locations to visit. Vermont and New Hampshire have some of the most stunning scenery.
Visit Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest and, of course, New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The months of Memorial Day to Mid-October are ideal for visiting this area. Don’t forget to visit some of Vermont’s notable breweries during your RV trip, such as The Alchemist Stowe.
Some of the RV campgrounds in Green Mountain National Forest include Chittenden Brook Campground, Gifford Woods State Park, and Country Village Campgrounds.
Montana and Its Summer Sceneries
The scenery of Glacier National Park in Montana is considered the most beautiful in the United States. Driving along Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald, and Logan Pass is necessary.
Glacier National Park is a fantastic RV destination, but the summer season is short due to the park’s remote location. The months of July and August are ideal for visiting Glacier.
The days are sunny and pleasant, but the nights can be cool, with temperatures dropping into the 40s. Make a reservation for an RV park up to a year ahead of time. Glacier National Park Van Life Campgrounds include Many Glacier Campground, Avalanche Creek, and Fish Creek Campground.
Western North Carolina and Eastern Tenessee Popular Summer Jewel
The Great Smoky Mountains Park stretches the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tenessee. This list will not be complete without this national park since it is known for the diversity of its plant life and the grandeur of its ancient mountains.
You’ll never be bored on a Van life journey to this national park. Hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, seeing waterfalls, and more are all available. Summer and October are the finest times to visit the park. Autumn is known for its spectacular autumn foliage.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Van Life Campgrounds include Elkmont Campground, Camp Leconte, and Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort.
Of course, in visiting these campgrounds, an annoying thing that can ruin your mood during your summer camping is mosquito bites. I have written some tips you can read here to keep them out of your RV and have an enjoyable stay.
Conclusion
Van life road trip is a once-in-a-lifetime summer vacation no matter where you go. As you can see, there are a lot of wonderful RV vacation spots to visit this summer. Remember to stock up on essential RV supplies before heading out, especially if you plan to go to a hot-weather location under the sun.
