The Best East Coast RV Road Trips
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Susan and I live in MD and we have taken some great East Coast road trips. So we came up with our list of the best East Coast RV Road trips!
The East Coast is a lot larger than it looks on a map and it’s positively covered with things to do and places to see. An RV road trip on the East Coast will be an epic journey you won’t soon forget.
The East Coast has a diverse group of attractions and locations to check out. So if you are a new RVer, that is a great place to start.
However, if you are going to properly explore the East Coast, you need to plan out your road trip beforehand. The East Coast is heavily populated, so you have to book early or you will miss out on the best campgrounds.
Here we will look at some of the best RV road trips on the East Coast.
1. Maine to Florida RV East Coast Road Trip
If you really want to see everything on the East Coast, the best thing you can do is start in Maine and start making your way south.
Along the way, you can stop at some interesting attractions and destinations. You will pass through a bunch of states and see all the most popular historical attractions by taking this route.
Every state from North to South has lots to offer, however, these are a few stops we highly recommend.
Maine
Since you will be starting out in Maine, you might as well see some of the sites before you start going south. No trip to Maine is complete without visiting Acadia National Park. Susan and I visited Acadia National Park in 2019 and it was magnificent!
It is home to some of the most stunning granite cliffs, lush forest hiking trails, and tranquil New England beaches in the country. You can head over to the Blackwoods Campground at Otter Creek which offers historical walking tours and cruises.
Cadillac Mountain casts a shadow over the campground, offering the opportunity to climb for an unforgettable panoramic view of the bay.
Although Maine has some larger and more famous cities, Portland is the place most RVs recommend to visit. It has a buzzing art, music, and food scene which makes it a must-see destination to start your east coast road trip.
Massachusetts
If you are checking out the East Coast, there will be a theme of checking out some of the oldest and most historically rich areas in the United States. As a result, it would be criminal not to check out the birthplace of America – Boston.
Here you can check out some of the remnants of the American Revolution. You can take a walk down the Freedom Trail to experience the 16 most significant sites in the city.
As you pass through Massachusetts, you should consider checking out Cape Cod. It has some of the most immaculate beaches in all of the United States. There is warm water for swimming at Nantucket Sound and sky-high sand dunes on the Outer Cape.
Susan and I also visited Martha’s Vineyard which required us to load our RV onto a ferry boat to get there! The ferry costs around $250 but it was totally worth it!
We stayed at Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground and we wrote a blog article about our trip there called Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground Review. We hope you will check out this article too!
Maryland
As you continue to make your way south, you will pass through our home state, Maryland. Maryland is smaller, but it still has many things to do. You can stay at the Hilton Patapsco Valley State Park, which provides guests with RV sites close to many hiking trails.
Before you leave Maryland, you should head over to Assateague Island National Seashore. It is a hidden gem along the east coast where you can take a wildlife tour and watch as 300 wild horses wander the marshes.
Check out our YouTube video below about our trip to Assateague!
South Carolina
When you get to South Carolina one of the first places you should go is Congaree National Park. Here you will see the largest and most well-preserved bottomland hardwood forest in North America. You can canoe along the immaculate waterways and take in all the wildlife.
Once finished there, you can proceed to Charleston and immerse yourself in the era of horse-drawn carriages. You will enjoy tours of the Confederate Museum and the Waterfront Park.
We just visited Charleston in November of 2022 and it was an amazing town. We toured the city on a bus, and the driver gave us a great tour of the city. There are tons of tour services available and you can tour the city by bus, boat, horse-drawn carriage or there are walking tours too!
We stayed at Oak Plantation Campground, which is one of the closest campgrounds to Charleston. Another great place to stay near Charleston is James Island County Park. It is just outside the city and has 159 sites for guests.
Georgia
Once you reach Georgia, your journey down the East Coast will be nearly complete. However, nearing the finish line doesn’t imply you should cease enjoying the sights.
Savannah is one of the best cities to visit in Georgia because of its stunning architecture and pristine landscaped parks. You can go on a tour of the historic district, and even go on a pub crawl.
We also visited the waterfront in Savannah and enjoyed checking out all of the shops and some restaurants too! Here’s a pic of the waterfront area.
If you visit Savannah, you should stay at Creekfire RV Resort, where we stayed. Creekfire RV Resort is a relaxed campground with scenic walking trails, fishing areas, and an outdoor pool to help you stay cool in the humid Georgian weather. Plus the restaurant overlooking the lake is really good!
Above is a picture of our campsite at Creekside RV Resort in Savannah!
Florida
Upon arriving in Florida, your trip isn’t quite finished – you still need to explore the Sunshine State.
A great way to cap off your East Coast trip is to visit the oldest town in the United States, St. Augustine. The Spanish colonized it, and it features impressive colonial architecture, along with a diverse array of historical sites to visit.
You can take a tour of the Castillo de San Marcos, or tour the Lightner Museum. Alternatively, if you want to relax you can head over to Daytona Beach. You’ll love enjoying the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
As you move your way down the East Coast, you will have been primarily traveling on the I-95. Since it ends in Miami, that is a great place to end your trip. You can spend your final nights at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo before heading back home.
If you still have a little money in your pocket (okay, a lot of money), head over to the Bluewater Key RV Resort, where you can live like a king or queen for a few hours or so. It’s located between Big Pine and Key West and, if you’re familiar with island hopping by now, you won’t miss it.
The Bluewater Key RV Resort is just like spending a day lounging under the tropical sun in the Caribbean. The water is crystal clear, aquamarine, and a fantastic way to cool off. If you’re from up north, you’ll need it.
Susan and I spend most of our time at Thousand Trails Orlando (TTO) when we visit Florida because we are Thousand Trails members. But you don’t need to be a member to stay at one of the best Thousand Trails campgrounds in the country.
TTO is about an hour away from Disney World and there is every store and restaurant imaginable within the area.
We have also done quite a bit of camping in the Florida panhandle, and we highly recommend checking out this part of Florida. The Gulf beaches are amazing. We have stayed all along the gulf from Port St. Joe to Destin. It’s a gorgeous area!
2. New England RV East Coast Road Trip
Susan and I visited New England in the autumn of 2019. It was an awesome trip and we were there during peak leaf season!
There are many regions in the United States that can accommodate amazing road trips. However, New England is something very different from any other area in the country. New England is what we consider the must-do East Coast RV road trip.
It encompasses six states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. As a result, if you’re not interested in traveling the entire East Coast, it offers a great destination for a quick two-week road trip.
Boston, Cape Cod, and Maine
We will quickly look at these areas because we touched on them when we were discussing the Maine to Florida road trip. That being said, you should visit all these wonderful locations while journeying through New England.
Boston is one of the oldest and most historically rich cities in the country. You will get to visit many historical sites related to the Revolutionary War. Cape Cod is one of the premier beach destinations on the east coast. Its arm-shaped peninsula gains renown for its stunning sandy beaches, dunes, and enjoyable coastal towns.
When you head to Maine, you should check out Portland and Acadia National Park. Portland is a historic coastal city and a former fishing port. It is now a vibrant and modern city with many historic sites for travelers to check out.
And you must visit Bar Harbor too! It is an iconic destination along the seashore of Maine!
Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England. It is situated on Mount Desert Island and stands as one of the United States’ most popular parks. If you want to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain and get the perfect shot of the sunrise, you need to secure a permit.
Burlington, Vermont
You will head to Vermont after you have finished relaxing in Cape Cod for a few days. You should be refreshed after lying on the beaches of Cape Cod, so you will be ready for a more intense trip through Vermont.
Furthermore, you will want to travel down Route 100 through the Green Mountains and towards Burlington.
Burlington is on the shore of Lake Champlain and is backed by the Green Mountains. So, you can enjoy water-based activities on the lake before heading off for a few hikes through the mountains.
White Mountains, New Hampshire
Once you pass through Vermont, the next logical destination is New Hampshire. Here you will find the White Mountains, an expanse of granite summits, rugged ranges, wide alleys, wild rivers, and deep forests.
There is lots of wilderness to enjoy in New England and the East Coast, but almost nothing compares to the White Mountains.
You will want to drive on the Kancamagus Highway before visiting Franconia Notch State Park. After leaving the park, you can head to the summit of Mount Washington. This is one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
Additionally, you can explore the mountains in one long day, but you might have a better experience if you split it up into two days.
3. Hidden Gems For Your RV East Coast Road Trip
Whichever route you take across the East Coast in your RV, there are bound to be things you miss. There are things that are very commonly missed by travelers because they do not even know they exist. Here are a few hidden gems on the east coast.
Ruby Falls and Rock City, Georgia, and Tennessee
If you are passing through Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, you might as well head over to Ruby Falls and Rock City. The view from the top of the mountains is worth the trip alone because, on a clear day, you can see seven states from one stop.
However, Ruby Falls is the real attraction. You can go underground and see the glowing rocks after purchasing a combo ticket.
Spacious Skies Belle Ridge, Tennessee
If you want to head a little farther north of Ruby Falls and climb the Cumberland Plateau, there’s a new RV park known as Spacious Skies Belle Ridge. The owners carved it out of a little slice of heaven in Monterey, Tennessee and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
There are multiple hiking trails with a variety of waterfalls and caves you can explore without guides. That’s right, you just hike down to the cave, following the generously supplied maps and color codes on the trails, put your spelunking hat on, and head right in.
Many of the spaces close to the caves and beneath the sparkling waterfalls have picnic tables and charcoal grills. The sites are full hook-up with a natural spring to swim in within walking distance.
There’s also cable and WiFi service. You’ll have to spend multiple days to see all the waterfalls and explore all of the trails, which include ATV trails (for those rocking toy haulers).
The Georgia Guidestones, Georgia
The Georgia Guidestones are located along the northern Georgia – South Carolina border. It will take you a little off the beaten path, but it is worth going out of your way to check out.
This monument was erected in 1980 and is known as “American Stonehenge.” They have a mysterious and intriguing history that is interesting to learn about when you are there.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
When you are traveling the East Coast in your RV, you should head over to the longest cave system in the world. Despite being larger than any other cave system, Mammoth Cave does not get as much attention or visitors as other, more famous caves.
If you want to enter the cave, you will need to take a tour that is not covered by your National Parks Annual Pass. Additionally, tours can get sold out during the peak parts of the summer. So, you may want to reserve a spot ahead of time.
The cave is beautiful and all we will say is that if you are claustrophobic or scared of the dark, this might not be for you.
Mount Mitchell, North Carolina
Although you might not immediately think of mountains when you think of the Carolinas, North Carolina is home to the tallest peak east of the Mississippi. Mount Mitchell sits 6684 feet tall and is a popular destination among hikers.
The hike can be done in three to six hours depending on your fitness level. Regardless, it will take up your whole day and will make for an epic adventure.
Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama
The final unknown place you should check out on your East Coast road trip is Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama. The cavern is located in the northeastern corner of Alabama, and it is one of the oldest known sites where humans took shelter.
Take a minute to think about what life was like for people 10,000 years ago. Well, you will not need to imagine it if you check out Russell Cave National Monument.
While you are in the area, you can head a few miles down the road to the Trail of Tears. There are also a few nearby forts and battle sites in the area that you can explore if you are interested.
Prepare for an Amazing RV East Coast Road Trip of the United States
After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to prepare for your first RV trip along the east coast. We know there is a lot of information to absorb, but it should all be helpful as you move forward.
It might not seem like a large area since you will probably just be traveling in a straight line, but the East Coast is massive. It will take a long time to get from Maine to Florida, and even if you are not going across the entire east coast, you will be covering a lot of ground.
As a result, you are going to want to plan out your trip beforehand. Figure out where you want to stay and what attractions you want to visit. This way you can spend your trip enjoying the scenery instead of worrying about planning as you go.
Thinking about an East Coast RV trip but you’re modest RV isn’t up to the task? How about renting a motorhome and cruising in style while taking in all these amazing places.
An RV rental can be perfect for trips like this where you want a modern, reliable RV with roadside assistance if needed. Whatever RV you choose to do it in an RV road trip on the East Coast should be on every RVer’s list.
Related Reading:
1. Best RV Toll Pass for Travelling Through Multiple States
2. 10 Best RV Parks In South Florida
3. 5 Must-Have RV Road Trip Essentials
4. 8 Best National Parks on the East Coast
5. 21 Best RV Campgrounds on the Beach | East Coast Guide
Source: https://rvblogger.com/blog/best-east-coast-rv-road-trips/
