10 Bucket List Destinations Every RVer Should Visit
The RV lifestyle offers us amazing opportunities to visit some of the most spectacular destinations throughout the US and Canada. Many RVers have a long bucket list of fantastic routes and destinations they want to see. There are so many wonderful places for RVers to explore throughout North America, our own bucket list just keeps growing. In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 bucket list destinations you’ll want to add to your own itinerary. You’ll find everything from theme parks to natural wonders that will leave you in awe. We’ll include nearby places to camp, too.
1. Walt Disney World, Orlando Florida
Disney has created a destination resort that is pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on anybody’s face, young or old. Walt Disney World is one of the largest destination resorts in the world. It’s made up of four separate theme parks that cover a massive area of 43 square miles. That’s 25,000 acres, packed with activities, rides and all kinds of attractions. It’s really an amazing place to visit. Whether you love all things Disney, or just want a fabulous, family-oriented experience, you’ll want to put Disney World on your bucket list. Disney World boasts a convenient, well-appointed campground at its Fort Wilderness Resort, but there are also good RV parks nearby that are close enough to allow convenient access to DIsney World amenities.
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2. The Graceland Complex, Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland is all about the late, great, Elvis Presley, an American icon who was perhaps the single greatest influence on the music and pop culture of the 20th century. The Graceland mansion that the King of Rock and Roll built for his family and where he raised his children is just part of a larger complex.
While tours of the mansion are perhaps the most popular activity at Graceland, there’s another part of the Graceland Complex that’s worth exploring. Elvis Presley’s Memphis is a 200,000-square-foot museum where you can see how Elvis was influenced by the local culture of Memphis. In the museum, you’ll find artifacts and costumes the King wore for his stage performances. Both the Graceland Mansion and Elvis Presley’s Memphis should definitely be on your bucket list, especially if you have an interest in music. Graceland has its own well-appointed RV park, where you can stay while you find out about all things related to Elvis.
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Graceland RV Park & Campground
3. Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a string of tiny islands that collectively are a must-see destination for RVers. With more than 40 keys and 110 miles of highway, the Florida Keys are one of the most scenic destinations in the US for RVers. The Florida Keys are a beach lover’s wonderland. They’re also a great place to view many species of birds and animals you won’t find anywhere else. Coral reefs and mangroves make the keys a habitat for fish, crustaceans, and other sea creatures. If you’re into nature, the Florida Keys are definitely a collective bucket-list destination you won’t want to miss.
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4. Grand Teton National Park
Scenic Grand Teton National Park encompasses the Teton mountain range in Northwest Wyoming, including the 4,000-meter Grand Teton Peak. The park’s jaw-dropping beauty make is a popular destination for hikers, mountain climbers, and anyone into outdoor activities with a spectacular mountain backdrop. A $35 entrance fee is good for a week and doesn’t require a reservation. (Note: Entry to Grand Teton NP and other national parks and federal recreational lands across the US is available at no cost to veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families who obtain an America the Beautiful lifetime pass. Free entry to Wyoming state parks is available to veterans and disabled patrons; always check ahead before visiting.)
Grand Teton offers eight campgrounds, with campsites available by reservation only.
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5. The Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
The absolutely stunning Icefields Parkway connects Lake Louise and Jasper, Alberta, via a well-maintained two-lane highway through the Canadian Rockies. True to its name, the Icefields Parkway offers vistas of the Icefields as well as the impressive mountain range that surrounds them. If this drive isn’t already on your list of bucket list destinations, it should definitely be. Numerous moderately priced campgrounds are available along the way. Snow can be expected at any time of year and extreme weather is quite common in winter.
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6. Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vancouver Island is a 285-mile long island off the coast of British Columbia. BC’s charming capital city, Victoria, is located at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island and is accessible via either the Washington State Ferries from Anacortes or via BC Ferries from Tswaassen. That being said, Victoria is a gateway to many other destinations on Vancouver Island.
On the west coast, the popular Pacific Rim National Park offers miles and miles of natural beaches and plenty of beachfront camping. However, for a truly West coast experience, it’s well worth traveling up island to Cape Scott Provincial Park at the North tip. There is also a lot to see and do along the way there. Much of the journey is along a scenic, well-maintained forest-lined highway You’ll find many campgrounds and RV parks along the way. Rathtrevor Beach Park makes a nice beachfront camping destination about halfway along the easy drive to Cape Scott. Another possibility is wonderful Seal Bay RV Park near the small town of Courtenay, BC.
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7. Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, BC
If you are destined for British Columbia, it’s well worth hopping on a ferry from Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii, otherwise known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. With its lush rainforests, ancient First Nations Totem Poles, and abundant wildlife, Haida Gwaii offers an epic west coast experience that you’ll never forget.
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8. Alcan Highway, Alaska
The Alaskan Canadian Highway is a 1,387-mile route that connects Dawson Creek and Delta Junction, Alaska. The highway traverses amazing wilderness and passes through the Canadian territory of Yukon along the way. Although it goes over an easy-to-drive paved road, the Alcan route is for adventurous RVers who are well-prepared for an expedition that’s out of cell phone range.
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9. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Although this park is intensely popular, it still gets on our list of must-see bucket list destinations for RVers because well, it’s just so epic. There is no other place like the Grand Canyon for ancient rock formations and sheer expansiveness. In spite of its popularity (and crowds to go along with it), it’s worth having a look at.
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10. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas
Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas is the last but definitely not the least on our bucket list destinations. The art installation was built in 1974 and consists of 10 1950s Cadillacs, gaudily graffitied and buried hood first into the Texas soil, angled to catch the sun. The cars are positioned in ascending order of their age along with the evolving size of their tail fins. The Cadillac Ranch made our list not just because it’s still a poignant metaphor. This place is just a really cool art installation that any RVer with an interest in art will want to see.
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