The Top RV Parks and Attractions in the United States

1. What is an RV Park?
2. What are the different types of RV parking?
3. Reserving a Spot at an RV Park
4. What should I look for in an RV park?
5. The Shady Dell RV Park in Brisbee, Arizona
6. Zion River Resort in Virgin, Utah
7. Yosemite Pines RV Park in Yosemite, California
8. River’s Edge RV Park in Fairbanks, Alaska
9. Boyd’s Key West Campground in Key West, Florida
10. Durango RV Resort in Red Bluff, California
11. Horse Thief Lake Campground in Hill City, South Dakota
12. Grand Canyon Railway RV Park in Williams, Arizona
13. If Something Happens Along The Way

Every year people take to their RVs (recreational vehicles) and set course for adventures unknown. Driving with the family and looking for new places to explore is how some spend their summer months. Other families may have a planned out trip that takes them to destinations and attractions they decide to visit. No matter how the RV family decides to plan their trip, the one thing they have in common is that they will more than likely spend the night in an RV park during the trip.

What is an RV Park?

An RV park is where those who are driving recreational vehicles can park or camp for the night or a longer time. These parks often offer electrical services and a full sewer hookup. These are not like typical campsites for a tent, and they have the space and the hookups for RVs large and small.

RV parks are a special kind of campsite that accommodates the larger recreational vehicles and offers the various services they need to function fully. Things like electric and sewer hookups help to make camping accommodations a lot more luxurious than hanging out in a tent. Thousands of people visit RV parks across the country every year, either in passing or staying for an extended period.

What are the different types of RV parking?

The two most popular types of parking for an RV at a park are pull-through sites and back-in sites. There are price differences to the type of parking you choose from the RV park. Being educated about pull-through and back-in sites can make for a smoother experience.

The first step to understanding the pull-through and back-in sites at an RV park is to understand what they offer. Seasoned RV owners already know what each of these parking styles offers, but the new RV owners may not be so lucky.

• Back-In RV Sites
  • Back-in RV sites are cheaper and often smaller spots for RV parking. There are only one entrance and exit for these spots, so to use the amenities like electric and sewer hookups, you have to back into the spot. The size of the site will vary from park to park, but most of the back-in sites are smaller in size. Some of these sites may have accommodations for larger fifth-wheels and other RVs that don’t fit in traditional back-in spots.
• Pull-Through RV Sites
  • Pull-through RV sites are designed to be easier to get in and out of. As the name suggests, drivers can enter or exit from either direction of the spot. This makes it easier for the utility hook up, but these spots are also more expensive than traditional back-in spots. These spots are best for those RVs that are massive and hard to back up out of a tight spot.

Reserving a Spot at an RV Park

Not all RV parks require reservations for their sites. The ones who do not take reservations are often the first-come, first-served varieties, which means the sites are claimed in the order in which the RVs reach them. If you are using a site that will require a reservation, you need to make sure you get the information on their policies regarding checking in and checking out.

It is a lot like making a reservation at a hotel. They will expect you to check-in by a specific time and check out by another time. If the policies are not adhered to, there could be fees. The same applies to RV parks and their sites.

Some RV park sites have a limited number of spots available and require reservations to know when they are at capacity. Most of these RV parks offer amenities like electricity, sewer services, wireless internet, and high-definition television. There are even some who entertain the entire family.

What should I look for in an RV park?

When planning a trip and looking for RV parks along the route you take, it is essential to look for a few different things. The policies of the RV park or campground will be a great place to start. You will need to make sure that you and your family can adhere to the posted rules of the RV community you plan on using.

Depending on the type of trip you are taking in your RV, you will want to figure out where you are parking your RV when you aren’t driving it. Most people will go to campgrounds or RV parks that are explicitly made for this purpose. There are even those who rent spots indefinitely and live in their RVs at these parks.

When looking for the right place to stay along your trip, you need to make sure what the RV park allows and does not allow. Some do not allow children and are considered “adult only”. Others do not allow pets. No matter what the situation, you want to make sure you follow the policies in the park you plan on staying at.

The Shady Dell RV Park in Brisbee, Arizona

Tucked into the corner of southern Arizona, The Shady Dell RV Park is more of a resort than your typical RV park. If you don’t have an RV, no worries, there are some there that are rentals and fully restored. This RV park is not a family-friendly type of RV park. They do not allow children unless they are 15 years of age or older. There are a limited number of parking spots for personal RVs available at The Shady Dell, so reserving your spot early is essential.

The attractions near The Shady Dell RV Park include the town of Bisbee and a few of the surrounding towns. These events are spread throughout the calendar year. When visiting The Shady Dell, take in the Copper Queen Mine Tour, Evergreen Cemetery, Historic Bisbee, and so many more attractions.

Zion River Resort in Virgin, Utah

The Zion River Resort is situated 13 miles from the southern entrance of Zion National Park. The resort is famous for tourists and snowbirds who are looking to put down permanent camp during winter. The RV resort offers full hookups, grills, concrete parking pads, and free wi-fi. The resort also offers an onsite pool and sauna for those staying at the park.

In the area of Zion River Resort, there are a lot of different activities for families to explore. Hiking and biking trails are some of the most popular points of interest with those visiting. There are gas stations and grocery stores within a few miles of the RV resort.

Yosemite Pines RV Park in Yosemite, California

Even though you can find RV camping sites available in Yosemite National Park, they do not offer any amenities and are described as primitive. They do not even have any hookup access for those staying at the park. If you want amenities for your campsite, Yosemite Pines RV Park is only 22 miles from the park and offers premium RV sites.

Besides spending time with your family and visiting the national park, you can also find family-friendly activities at the park as well. The resort has a petting farm with alpacas and a spot where kids can pan for gold. Even if you do not have an RV, you can still camp with cabins and camping sites for tents available at the Yosemite Pines RV Park.

River’s Edge RV Park in Fairbanks, Alaska

The River’s Edge RV Park has 190 spots available spread across the area for a peaceful vibe among the RV community. The park offers a variety of walking and biking trails to stretch your legs and get back to nature. The resort has a restaurant named Chena’s that will serve three meals a day.

The RV park is close enough to Fairbanks that all you have to do is hop on a shuttle to explore the nearby attractions. Close to River’s Edge, you will find the Riverboat Discovery cruise, the Trans Alaska Pipeline, Pioneer Park, and the downtown Fairbanks area.

Boyd’s Key West Campground in Key West, Florida

If you are looking for a campsite that has an oceanfront view, Boyd’s Key West Campground has many sites to offer. Boyd’s boasts their pool and beach areas as well as the conveniences of a bathroom, marina, and free wi-fi. Even though there are 250 spots available, they fill up quickly because of Boyd’s prime Key West location.

The campsites are located just a few miles from downtown Key West and are easily accessible by bus or taxi cab. Close to the campground, these are a few of the attractions you will find:

• Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
• Haunted Key West Tours
• Sailing Adventures (multiple companies available)
• Key West Aquarium
• Key West Golf Club
• The Key West Butterfly Nature Conservatory
• Dolphin Deli
• Dry Tortugas National Park

All of these are within five miles of Boyd’s Key West Campground.

Durango RV Resort in Red Bluff, California

The Durango RV Resort offers 174 high-end sites along the Sacramento River. All of the sites are equipped with Powerhouse Pedestals that provide electric, high-speed internet, and cable TV for the RVs camping. There is a pool available, a clubhouse, and outdoor fireplaces. You can pamper your furry friend with a run at the resorts 45-acre dog park that even offers a self-serve dog-washing station.

In the area of Durango RV Resort, many different activities are great for the entire family. These activities include:

• Red Bluff Farmer’s Market
• Whiskeytown Recreational Area
• Fishing
• Lassen National Park
• Shasta National Forest
• Golf
• Shopping

For those who are getting kid-free time, some places offer wine tastings, beer, and even casinos available for activities.

Horse Thief Lake Campground in Hill City, South Dakota

Horse Thief Lake is a family-owned campground that has a rustic charm and is located near so many of South Dakota’s natural wonders that can be explored. The campground has very few frills, but the area around it makes up for the lack of amenities at the campground. They offer fire rings at each site and a shop where necessities can be picked up. There is also a small heated pool on site.

The buffalo are free to roam near Custer State Park with wild mustang herds running through the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. If you want to see Mt. Rushmore, it is located 12 miles away from the campground. A short drive will also take you to Crazy Horse Mountain and the Mammoth site.

Grand Canyon Railway RV Park in Williams, Arizona

The Grand Canyon Railway RV Park is a part of the gateway to the Grand Canyon and offers an ideal place to unwind and relax. The park sits only two blocks from the famous Route 66 and downtown Williams.

The park offers three different types of RV spaces available for rental. These include pull-through, buddy spaces, and back-ins. All spaces include electric, sewer, and high-definition satellite television. You will also get to enjoy wireless internet access.

If Something Happens Along The Way

Accidents and the unfortunate can happen when you take a long trip. Even if you are driving across the country in a brand new RV, there is still a possibility that something can go wrong mechanically. If you find that you are in a place far from home and need to have your RV shipped back home, A-1 Auto Transport has the ability to ship an RV anywhere it needs to go.

In the same regard, if you have an RV that doesn’t run quite how you want it to and you purchase a permanent spot at an RV park or campground, A-1 Auto Transport can get your RV to the site where you plan on using it. Many people will use RV parks as a seasonal destination spot and purchase long-term site contracts with the owners of the parks. A-1 Auto Transport has delivered personal RVs to these places numerous times.

If you are on the road visiting some of these fascinating RV parks and resorts, and something happens to the driving capacity of your RV, call A-1 Auto Transport. Our shipping experts know how to prepare and ship and RV to get it back where it needs to go at a price that won’t break the bank.