RV and van life
Enjoy the national parks in your home away from home.
Whether you’re traveling with family and friends or enjoying a quiet solo trip, visiting the national parks by van or RV is a fun way to experience America’s wonders. Enjoy campsites with a view, spend time in nature, and carry everything you need to be comfortable in the outdoors.
Explore the road less traveled
Mapped out a multi week road trip? Or just going where the road takes you? Traveling on wheels is a flexible way to see the national parks, but there are a few things to know.
Check size and clearance
RVs, vans, and trailers come in a variety of sizes. Be sure to know how big your rig is so you can choose campsites accordingly. Some roads in national parks may be off-limits due to clearance restrictions.
Follow the rules
Store food properly, know how and where to dispose of grey water and black water, and abide by all rules regarding electrical and water hookups. Know laws and regulations around boondocking.
Be respectful
Many campgrounds designed to host RVers are large enough to accommodate hundreds of guests, so be sure to adhere to quiet hours. Be prepared to "pack it in and pack it out" if you are staying in a more remote site.
Tune it up
Before hitting the road, be sure to do an overall maintenance check. Having spare tires, jacks, extra car fluids, and other items needed for general repair is a good idea.
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Where will you park it?
Check out our top destinations for RVers and van lifers.
Great Basin National Park
As one of the most remote national parks in the United States, Great Basin offers incredible camping with views of the surrounding snowcapped peaks. Wheeler Peak Campground is the highest of its kind in the National Park System
Bandelier National Monument
There's plenty to see and do at this New Mexico hidden gem, and the Juniper Family Campground is a great jumping-off point for the 70 miles of trails here.
Padre Island National Seashore
Enjoy life by the seaside at Bird Island Basin Campground or Malaquite Beach Campground. If you’re planning to drive down island, be sure to bring a separate vehicle to do so, as RVs and vans are too heavy for the shifting sands.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Explore canyons, spend a day on the water, and marvel at the dark skies at this remote park on the border of Wyoming and Montana. A multitude of camping options are available. Just be sure to check the campsite size, as some are suitable only for smaller vehicles.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Venture to this remote park and camp in the Pinesprings Campground. For perfect views of the night sky, be sure you set up early and shut down your lights after sunset.
Where to go
Explore parks for rv and van life
Legend
- Partner Park
- Gateway City
