10 Spring RV Destinations from Coast to Coast

10 Spring RV Destinations from Coast to Coast
Ideas for great places to start off the RVing season!
By: Jessie & Ashley Segura

With winter behind us, many RVers are setting their sites on beautiful destinations to visit in their rolling home. By the first day of spring, the roads in many places are clear of wintery conditions and aren’t nearly as crowded as the summer months! That’s why spring is our favorite season to explore by RV and, although it may take some additional precautions this year, it is a great time to plan a trip. 

Wondering where to go first? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spring destinations and iconic must-sees for the RVing community. Whether you want to explore the west coast or east, prefer spring flowers over beaches, or want to just hop in your Winnebago and go for a long ride, there is something for everyone on this list. 

We’ve also included some campground options with ratings from Google Reviews (points given are out of five) to help you make a decision on where to stay along the way.

[Editor’s Note: This list was compiled during the author’s pre-COVID travels. Be sure to check with tourism boards, national parks, campgrounds, and other places you plan to visit before planning your trip to make yourself aware of any restrictions or recent updates. This GoLife article lists some helpful resources and also shares tips for pandemic RV travel.]

Top Spring RV Destinations

1. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Though it may still be a bit chilly with temperatures in the 40s to 60s, Mount Rainer in Washington is a must-visit in the spring simply to see all of the beautiful flowers bloom. This is one of those places that is just filled with magic, and springtime is when it truly shines. It’s a great time of the year to go on a hike (or three), fish in the many rivers and lakes, or take a long beautiful drive through the park.

^{Photo By Eli & Kelly Pyke.}

Camping inside of the national park isn’t an option for all size RVs, but thankfully, there are dozens of campgrounds surrounding the park that can accommodate any size coach. Plus, most of the campgrounds outside of the park are surrounded by big, beautiful trees or neighboring lakes. Since you’re already in the area, a visit to the bright turquoise Diablo Lake is a must!

Check out a family focused RV trip to Mount Rainier here.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Tower Rock U-Fish RV Park in Randle, WA (4.9 rating)
• Mount Rainier National Park Campgrounds (reviews vary, but all are highly rated)

2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The Grand Canyon should be on everyone’s RVing destination list! We’ve visited in both the summer and winter. Although they’re both stunning times to visit, the summers can be extremely hot and dry, and the winters are incredibly cold (and come with snowstorms!). Spring and fall are when you’ll really be able to most enjoy exploring the Grand Canyon and all of its activities like hiking, rafting, kayaking, and so much more.

We’re not the only ones who think spring is a great time, though. You’ll want to book reservations for RV parks at least 3-6 months in advance, if not more. There are only a few campgrounds that can fit motorhomes and only one that can fit RVs larger than 30 feet – so, slim picking is putting it lightly.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Trailer Village RV Park, Grand Canyon Village, AZ (4.2 rating)
• Mather Campground (NPS), Grand Canyon Village, AZ (4.6 rating)

3. Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is one of Arizona’s many gems and a wonderful stop to add if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon.

About an hour and a half away from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff offers a bit more greenery, cooler weather, and an extra cute mountain town. In the wintertime, Flagstaff is known for its snow-themed activities, but once spring comes around, there’s even more fun for the whole family.

^{Photo by Jon & Nadia Bajuelo.}

Plan 1-2 weeks to give yourself plenty of time to explore both Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. (More tips on RVing in Flagstaff here!)

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Black Barts RV Park in Flagstaff, AZ (4.1 rating)
• Flagstaff KOA in Flagstaff, AZ (4.0 rating)

4. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Colorado

Have you seen photos of people “surfing” sand dunes on Instagram, yet? A lot of those photos were taken at the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. Another national park on our list and for good reason.

This park has great RV campgrounds nearby and is right in the middle of several other national parks, making it a good stop along a longer road trip through Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. 

Grab a board and ride the dunes in the springtime as desert flowers begin to blossom and the weather is perfect for playing on the sand.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Sand Dunes Swimming Pool & RV Park in Hooper, CO (4.7 rating)
• Zapata Falls Campground (BLM) in Mosca, CO (4.6 rating)

5. Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Utah

Zion and Bryce Canyon should be on everyone’s list! But, don’t plan on driving your motorhome into the parks unless you have a nice compact RV. Otherwise, there’s plenty of options with full-hookups to give you a comfortable stay in-between the two amazing national parks.

Both Zion and Bryce Canyon are extremely popular. So, like the Grand Canyon, you should plan on booking 3-6 months in advance.

Occasionally, you’ll get lucky and find last-minute bookings available though, so it’s best to always call the campground and test your luck. We’ve been lucky enough to score campgrounds here with one-month notice before.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort in Springdale, UT (4.2 rating)
• Zion River Resort in Virgin, UT (4.5 rating)

6. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Spring is such a great time to see the Tetons. The wildlife comes out to play with plenty of bison and moose on the move. It’s also a great time to give sightseeing a try and look for wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears … from a safe distance, of course.

^{Photo by Eli & Kelly Pyke.}

Near Jackson Hole and south of Yellowstone, you have plenty of fun day trips to take from Grand Teton National Park, as well.

Read more about visiting Grand Teton in an RV in this article by the Pyke family.

Campground Nearby:

• Colter Bay RV Park in Moran, WY (4.2 rating)

7. San Antonio, Texas

A river city in Texas is of course on the list of spring RV destinations. Texas is a state of humidity, but in springtime offers the perfect way to go play in the water or enjoy a lovely evening stroll along the San Antonio boardwalk.

Take a river kayaking tour or enjoy many of the other activities San Antonio has to offer.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Traveler's World RV Resort in San Antonio, TX (4.4 rating)
• Green Lake RV Resort in San Antonio, TX (4.5 rating)

8. Williamsburg, Virginia

Have a passion for American history and want to dive deeper into our nation’s culture? Then hop in your Winnebago and head to Williamsburg for a spring getaway. Some RV parks offer a complimentary shuttle to make it easy to explore Colonial Williamsburg and see sites like Jamestown, Yorktown, and Water Country.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• American Heritage RV Park in Williamsburg, VA (4.4 rating)
• Williamsburg / Busch Gardens Area KOA (4.3 rating)

9. Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee

This must-see national park borders North Carolina and Tennessee and is known for its wildflowers that bloom all year long, but especially in springtime.

^{Our Brave beneath the trees at a campground nearby.}

Hike on part of the Appalachian Trail while exploring this park and find yourself discovering waterfalls, fishing new rivers, and crossing streams. It’s a great place for an outdoorsy family or couple looking for a breath of fresh air, and plenty of wildflowers along the way.

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park in Gatlinburg, TN (4.8 rating)
• Smoky Mountain Premier RV Resort in Cosby, TN (4.7 rating)

10. Orlando, Florida

All winter long, RV parks in Florida are usually sold out and filled with snowbirds flocking to warmer weather. But come springtime, availability starts to open back up making it a great time to visit places like Orlando, the many beautiful beaches in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, or even a drive to Key West. Since Orlando is a great stopping point, we’ll share recommendations for campgrounds there, but this GoLife article has more tips for visiting the Keys in an RV!

Campgrounds Nearby:

• Orlando SE / Lake Whippoorwill KOA Holiday (4.6 rating)
• Orlando Lakefront RV & Tiny Home Community (4.5 rating)

Even More Spring RVing Options!

Since it was difficult to only chose a few, here are some more honorable mentions we recommend visiting this spring:

• Mount Rushmore, SD: From the history to the greenery and the beautiful RV parks surrounding the area, the Black Hills in Keystone, SD, makes for a great spring RV stop.
• Myrtle Beach, SC: The beach isn’t just for the summer months. Head to Myrtle Beach with your Winnebago and dig those toes in the sand for a relaxing weekend getaway.
• Lake Tahoe, NV: Tahoe should be on every RVers list and makes for a great all-year destination, but is especially beautiful as the sun shines on the spring days.
• Glacier National Park, MT: Like Tahoe, Glacier is stunning all year long, but spring is the best time to take a bike ride through Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road.