Getting Ready for Spring Break: Top RV Destinations to Book Now

Spring break is coming up fast, and that means it’s time to start thinking about where you’ll go. Considering the fact that spring is the perfect time for RVing, it only makes sense to pull the RV out of storage and make this one of your first camping trips of the year. But where will you go?

In this article I will discuss the best places my family has ever visited during the spring. These spots offer awesome weather, fun things to do, and RV accommodations that allow you to stay in complete comfort. 

Moab, Utah

One of my absolute favorite towns to visit when I’m craving beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation, Moab is a wonderful spring destination. While the summer temperatures in this area are way too hot for outdoor adventures in my opinion, spring temperatures are comparatively mild, sunny, and pretty much perfect for all of the outside fun the area has to offer. 

The top attractions near Moab are definitely Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both of which are well worth visiting. Additionally, you can choose to enjoy off-roading, rock climbing, hiking, and other fun in the great outdoors. 

While you’re in town, I highly recommend checking out the free outdoor music performances that happen often, as well as enjoying the outdoor skating rink, which offers a perfect view as you roll in circles. 

Top RV Park

Usually we boondock when visiting Moab in the spring. There are tons of free dry camping opportunities just outside of town, making this a great option for those who are equipped to boondock. 

That said, those who prefer not to boondock should book a spot at Portal RV Resort. This RV park offers full hookups, a pool, and an excellent location near everything the town has to offer. 

Florida Keys, Florida

The Florida Keys are among my favorite places to go for warm weather and relaxation, and spring break is the perfect time for enjoying warm temperatures while beating the heat of summer. 

Some of my favorite things to do in the Keys include swimming at Bahia Honda State Park, kayaking in Curry Hammock State Park, and snorkeling in John Pennkamp State park. The History of Diving Museum is a fascinating place for anyone with an interest in history or diving, and Sunset Raw Grille & Raw Bar is the perfect place to get a bite to eat and enjoy a beautiful view of the sunset. Be sure to stay after your meal to enjoy the patio pool!

If you get a chance, I also highly recommend making your way all the way down to Key West to enjoy a history lesson and watch cruise ships come and go at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. After, head to Truman Waterfront Park to let the kids run off some energy and then to nearby Mallory Square to enjoy the sunset festivities. 

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Our favorite places to stay in the Keys are Sunshine Key Resort and Fiesta Key Resort. Both are Encore parks and are part of the Trails Collection, so if you have a Thousand Trails Membership with the Trails Collection add-on, you can stay for just $20 a night. That said, these are wonderful resorts that are totally worth paying full price for. 

Both parks include an excellent pool setup, great playgrounds for the kids, and clean bathhouses. Both are also near plenty to see and do. That said, Sunshine Key is a bit more central. 

South Padre Island, Texas

Currently, my family is hanging out for a bit in South Padre Island and we are absolutely loving it. That said, I think this place would be even better in the slightly warmer weather that comes along with spring break. 

The island is full of things to see and do. We especially enjoyed Sea Turtles Inc, where we met several rescued turtles and learned about the great work the rescue is doing. We also enjoyed walking the Laguna Madre Nature Trail. Other things to do on South Padre Island include sea life watching tours and even a seasonal waterpark. Of course, the beach is the biggest draw. 

If you do happen to run out of things to do in South Padre, you can always head to nearby Brownsville over on the mainland and see the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, which was very well put together and interesting. This town also has a children’s museum and a few other attractions. 

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The park we are currently in is Isla Blanca Park and it is wonderful. The park is run by the county, and though the nightly cost is high, it is much less expensive than the surrounding parks. 

The sites have full hookups, the bathhouses are clean, there are two large pavilions with tables, and best of all, the park sits right on the beach. This means we can walk right to the sand and water and start having a great time. 

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee/North Carolina

We’ve visited the Smoky Mountains a few times now, and we thoroughly enjoy it each and every time. Spring is a wonderful time to visit this area because the wildflowers are in bloom and the cold winter weather has been replaced by warmer temperatures and sunshine. 

Wondering what to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Hike, of course! Our favorite trails lead to waterfalls and/or historic sites, and there are plenty that do just that. We especially enjoy Fighting Creek Nature Trail to Cataract Falls, which is super easy, even for little kids. 

Other things to do in the park include exploring the visitor center exhibits, swimming in the river at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (this will be REALLY cold in the spring), paddling the river, and wildlife watching. Cades Cove is a great scenic drive and provides plenty of opportunities for hiking and seeing local animals. 

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Our favorite place to stay when visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Douglas Dam. This park boasts two campgrounds, both of which offer nice river views and plenty of lovely greenery. Each site offers water and electric hookups, and there are bathhouses with hot showers. 

This isn’t the most luxurious RV campground in the area but it is super affordable, meaning we can stay longer when we visit, which is always a bonus. 

Big Bend National Park, Texas

We just finished up a stint in Big Bend National Park, and man, it surprised me with the beauty and solitude it had to offer. The weather was great while we were there in January, but got chilly shortly after we left. Spring break would definitely be a better bet for relatively good weather. 

I highly recommend hiking in Chisos Basin and exploring the canyons in the park (we played in Boquilla Canyon, but I hear that Santa Elena Canyon is even better). We adored hiking to (and soaking in) the natural hot spring next to the Rio Grande River, and we also had a fun time using our passports to cross over into Mexico for an amazing meal in the tiny town of Boquilla Del Carmen. 

Another thing we did that was super fun? The ranger talks. We actually went to a couple of talks, but our favorite was the “star party.” During this event we learned about the constellations and got to look through several telescopes at various planets. 

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We stayed at the in-park Rio Grande Village Campground and would gladly recommend it to anyone else. The fee to stay was very affordable, and though there were no hookups at the sites, there was potable water, a dump station, a bathroom with flush toilets, a utility/dish sink, and pay showers at the camp store, which itself stocked fuel, propane, some foods, and other gear. 

If you need full hookups, Rio Grande Village RV Campground is right across the way, but we had our solar panel and generator and did just fine. 

St. Louis, Missouri

As far as cities go, Saint Louis is in my top 5, and honestly I’d visit any time of year. That said, the spring weather in St. Louis is mild, making it perfect for camping and outdoor activities. 

One of my favorite things about St. Louis is the huge number of free attractions found there. Admission to the Saint Louis Zoo is totally free, and it isn’t a dinky little zoo either. And not only is it plenty large, in some ways it’s one of the best zoos I’ve seen.

The Saint Louis Science Center is also fantastic and totally free to the public. Additionally, there is a free art museum and a free history museum, and the city’s iconic Gateway Arch is free to check out as long as you don’t plan to ride to the top. 

If you don’t mind spending a little bit of money, I highly recommend visiting the City Museum, which is easily one of the most unique attractions we’ve ever seen. The Magic House Children’s Museum is also pretty fantastic and worth a visit. 

Top RV Park

We love staying at Horseshoe Bend State Park when we visit St. Louis, because it is a cheap place to dry camp while we go see the sights. Unfortunately, it’s a seasonal campground and isn’t open during spring break.

Instead, try the St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA Holiday. This campground has all the frills you could want, including planned activities, a pool, a laundry room, and of course, full-hookup sites. 

Washington, D.C.

Another city that’s perfect during spring? Washington, D.C. The weather is lovely during this time of year, and if your spring break happens to coincide with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, you’ll be treated to some amazing sights and smells. 

Besides checking out the cherry trees, you’ll also want to take advantage of the free admission to all of the incredible Smithsonian museums. We especially love the Museum of American History, the Natural History Museum, and the Air and Space Museum. 

Other things to do include seeing the many landmarks, memorials, and monuments scattered across the city, as well as touring government buildings. Just know you’ll have to book many tours in advance. 

Top RV Park

We like to stay in the Greenbelt Park Campground when visiting D.C. This park is run by the NPS and sits just outside of the city right by a train station, making it easy to see the sights. The campsites do not offer hookups, but there are restrooms with flush toilets and showers available to campers. Additionally, there are some hiking trails in the park.

Don’t want to dry camp? Cherry Hill Park is also located just outside the city. It offers full hookups and easy access to public transportation into D.C.

Tucson, Arizona

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t even expect to love Tucson as much as I did. We visited during the spring and boondocked right outside of the city, and it was an absolutely perfect experience in terms of weather and things to see and do. 

The number one thing to do is, of course, Saguaro National Park, and we spent three days exploring the park. The visitor centers were wonderful and unique, the scenic drives were gorgeous, and there were plenty of easy trails for our family to follow, so we could immerse ourselves in the beauty of this natural area. 

We also really enjoyed exploring the city itself. The botanical gardens are beautiful and well worth seeing, and Reid Park Zoo is lovely as well.

Our favorite thing though was actually just outside the city: a super fun pizza place called Organ Stop Pizza, where diners can enjoy pizza and the music of an enormous pipe organ simultaneously. Puppets were involved, as were song requests, and fun was had by all. 

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As mentioned before, we boondocked during our time in Tucson. There is actually tons of free dry camping available right outside of the city, but it is relatively crowded, almost like a little community. Depending on your camping style, you may or may not enjoy this. 

Another option is to head over to Catalina State Park Campground. This place offers spacious sites, full hookups, and access to incredible hiking trails. It’s a great homebase for anyone looking to explore Tucson for a few days. 

As you can see, there are all kinds of amazing places to explore in an RV over spring break. Be sure to book your campsite now and start planning your adventure!