One popular way our readers reach those winter RV camping destinations is by taking advantage [...]]]>

Did you know that planning a winter RV trip to one of America’s warm-weather hot spots doesn’t even require owning an RV? The convenience of RV rentals, available nationwide, lets winter-weary folks plan their dream trips to sunny places.

One popular way our readers reach those winter RV camping destinations is by taking advantage of our Fly/Drive Program to make picking up their RV rental at select locations simple. You can, for example, fly away from frigid temperatures in Boston, depart your plane at Orlando International Airport and take advantage of a pre-arranged transfer to El Monte RV Rentals Orlando, less than twenty miles away.

Another smart strategy for planning the perfect winter RV getaway is to plan your trip to a sunny spot around area campsites available. We encourage readers to use our Campground Reservations tool to learn which campgrounds in their desired location are highly-rated by other campers and then make their reservations.

Need a tip for saving even more money while planning your winter RV trip to one of America’s hot spots? Take advantage of El Monte RV specials on RV rental rates. At this writing, for instance, we’re offering a Valentine’s Day special for trips that include February 14.

Now, where to go to find the maximum fun in the sun this winter? Here are five winter hot spots to consider for this winter’s RV camping vacation:

1. Miami, Florida, home to beautiful beaches, stunning architecture and the immense inland “sea of grass” known as the Everglades.
2. Phoenix, Arizona, surrounded by scenic state parks and national forests and filled with interesting attractions like Old Tucson Studios and Camelback Mountain hiking trails.
3. San Diego, CA is a classic winter destination for RV campers hoping for sun and sand. San Diego County’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in America, so be sure to pack the sunscreen and beach gear!
4. Los Angeles, California is centrally located for plenty of outdoor winter fun. Enjoy the mild winter temperatures enjoying outdoor spots highlighted in LA Hiker, a great Los Angeles outdoors blog.
5. Houston, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico is right next door to Galveston Island National Seashore. It also makes a fine starting point for deep sea fishing adventures. You’ll also discover many affordable Houston attractions such as visiting the Battleship Texas or Space Center Houston.

Don’t sit and sulk about grey winter weather! Tell your favorite RV camping buddy it’s time to schedule some time off and head for the land of sunshine. Plan an RV camping trip soon to one of America’s winter hot spots and put those winter blues to rest for good.

Here’s a great trip idea – combine the luxury and comfort of Virginia RV [...]]]>

You may know that the wooded hills around Richmond, Virginia are splendidly scenic and overflowing with historic treasures. But did you know, RV campers, that they’re also the birthplace of numerous notable wines, just waiting to tempt your taste buds?

Here’s a great trip idea – combine the luxury and comfort of Virginia RV camping with the luscious flavors to be found along the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail. Intrigued? We thought you might be, and so we’ve gathered great information for making this your best RV camping trip yet. Here’s just a sip of the pleasures that await on your camping trip along the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail…

Wonderful wineries populate the area within an hour’s drive northwest of Richmond. Start your tour at James River Cellars, between Richmond and Ashland on Route 1. This picturesque oasis offers more than a dozen vintages, including specially-bottled ‘Civil War Wines.’ They also host the April Fools Wine Festival, where all four Heart of Virginia Wine Trail wineries are celebrated the first weekend of April each year.

Having then spent the night in one of the region’s highly-rated RV campgrounds, move on the next day toward Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylvania. It’s only about an hour’s drive from Richmond and a beautiful way to spend a morning. With gently rolling hills all around, this small vineyard offers both red and white wines handcrafted to delight oenophiles of all kinds.

You’ll also have the chance to cruise the shoreline at Lake Anna, a bright blue recreational haven in the heart of the state. There’s a campground here if you’re ready to call it a day, or you can keep moving toward our next destination.

Cooper Vineyards in Louisa, VA is an excellent spot to enjoy tasting and purchasing such delights as their Viognier 2010 in elegant new tasting rooms. Award-winning vintages and beautiful surroundings make this a favorite stop for RV travelers who appreciate fine wines.

We’re coming to the end of our RV wine-tasting journey in the heart of Virginia, but not before we make a stop at Grayhaven Winery in Gum Spring, VA. Gorgeously scenic, this vineyard has been in operation for nearly thirty years. An impressive selection of estate-grown wines can be savored by travelers shopping for just the right vintage to take home.

If you enjoy fine wine and RV camping is your preferred mode of travel, central Virginia is the place for your next camping vacation. And it’s more affordable than you might imagine to visit these vineyards by RV.

First, click here to purchase the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail Passport that gives you access to tours and tastings at all four wineries. Next, contact us to find out how easily you can secure an economical Virginia RV rental. Finally, visit VirginiaRVCampgrounds.com to select the places you’d like to call home along the way.

Richmond, Virginia’s excellent accommodations for campers combine with the rich wine growing heritage of the surrounding region to make RV camping along the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail a deliciously good time. Isn’t it time to start making your reservations?

Looking to squeeze a lifetime of Americana, culture, and fun into one week? South-central Kentucky boasts more enviable destinations than most comparable geographic areas in the country. From underground rivers to Civil War battlefields, waterfalls to America’s most iconic automobile, Kentucky offers enough attractions to fill months of travel [...]]]>

Tour of Mammoth Cave

Looking to squeeze a lifetime of Americana, culture, and fun into one week? South-central Kentucky boasts more enviable destinations than most comparable geographic areas in the country. From underground rivers to Civil War battlefields, waterfalls to America’s most iconic automobile, Kentucky offers enough attractions to fill months of travel (or, just relax by a sprawling lake in the rolling hills).

Anchored by the City of Bowling Green and Mammoth Cave National Park, the south-central region has long drawn vacationers who marvel at the state’s most famous natural wonder (after the horses, of course!). But many continue on their way, before getting a chance, to fully experience this rich region.

Each of the stops on this perfect Kentucky itinerary are destinations themselves — don’t hesitate to spend a few days at any one stop. Or, squeeze all of these into a week. Either way, you’ll be amazed at what the bluegrass state has to offer!

If you’re motoring in from the north, east, or south, make your first stop Cumberland Falls State Park. Just a stone’s throw off of I-75, but tucked into the vast wilderness of Daniel Boone State Forest, the falls stretch 125 feet wide and drop 68 vertical feet — they’re easily the largest in Kentucky. Cumberland Falls is most notable, however, for being one of the only places in the world to see a “moonbow,” a rainbow phenomenon that occurs at night when moonlight refracts off of the waterfall’s mist.

The cool, crisp air of late fall is the best time to witness the moonbow phenomenon. Plan your trip around a full moon and enjoy it for nights on end!

In close vicinity to the falls, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park is both a great place to camp (full hook-ups) and worth a visit itself. Highlights of the 1300-acre park include McHargue’s Mill, a working reproduction of a settlement-era grinding mill, and the seven-building Mountain Life Museum, full of relics from the pioneering days when Kentucky was still the ‘wild west.’

Heading west, just over an hour away is the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. The park is a place for quiet reflection — it’s the site of the bloodiest Civil War battle in the state. 7,600 men were wounded or killed in October 1862 (If you can, visit for the annual reenactments). Perryville was the Confederacy’s failed last attempt to take control of Kentucky, and is one of the least-altered battlefields in the nation, offering nearly the same view that soldiers saw when marching onto the field 150 years ago.

Just down the road is a site worthy of quick stopover — the Georgian mansion where the famous American songwriter Stephen Foster penned “My Old Kentucky Home.” Whistle the state song while touring the home and formal gardens at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which also features a 39-site campground.

It’s time for an obvious highlight of the trip — Mammoth Cave National Park. Consider two days here; one to explore the subterranean wonderland, and one to enjoy the above-ground world away from the crowds. The 6.6-mile out-and-back Turnhole Bend Trail is a favorite of hiking buffs, passing over serene, isolated bluffs and through Kentucky’s last remaining old-growths forests.

When you’re ready to put Mammoth in your rearview, scoot on down to Bowling Green. If you’ve still got the urge to spelunk, Lost River Cave offers an experience unlike any other you’ll find; a cave tour by boat! The sensation of floating down an underground river is a family adventure not to be missed.

After your watery tour, stop into the National Corvette Museum and watch dad drool over the factory where every Corvette is made. Finish this well-rounded day at Bowling Green’s iconic Great American Donut Shop, where you’ll find locals ready to tout their hometown favorite guilty-pleasure ahead of any national chain’s offerings.

For RVers needing to restock, the country’s first Camping World is in Bowling Green. Stop by and pay homage to the best way to travel and see the country, and pick up a few supplies.

Back on the road, return east to finish your south-central Kentucky circuit at one of two gorgeous lakes in the midlands. Green River Lake’s rock shoals feature 1,331 acres of remote public land along Green River Lake State Park, and plenty of room to explore one of the state’s prettiest places, with a full-service 157-site campground. There’s a marina, mini golf, and 28 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Just to the south, the immense Lake Cumberland stretches out over 52,000 acres of water, with 1,225 miles of shoreline. Lake Cumberland State Resort Park is an RV campground on steroids, offering every amenity from rental fishing boats to disc golf to horseshoe riding. An entire week spent just at Lake Cumberland offers enough to entertain the family without end.

Across the entire state, Kentucky offers an endless bounty of history, nature, and family fun. Even in the 300-mile loop of the state’s mid-south described in this post, there are more attractions than room to write about!

Make Bowling Green the base for your next RV adventure, and see how far just a few miles can take you in Kentucky.

Picture credits: The picture of the Mammoth Cave Tour is by Daniel Schwen and is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

How to Get There You’ll find this outdoor wonderland about [...]]]>

North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast lures RV camping fans year round. Croatan National Forest, in particular, showcases the rivers, beaches and forests of the state’s central shore. Roll along with us as we entice you to set up camp in this coastal RV camping paradise.

How to Get There
You’ll find this outdoor wonderland about three hours north of Myrtle Beach, SC. Follow US-17 north from Myrtle Beach along the coast, through Wilmington, Surf City and Jacksonville, NC. The highway wraps around the national forest to the north and west, where two main roads lead into the forest. The confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, on the forest’s northeast boundary at New Bern, NC, is an awesome landmark from which to navigate your journey into Croatan National Forest.

Croatan National Forest Campgrounds
An excellent guide to Croatan National Forest Campgrounds lets RV travelers know that all types of motorhome camping experiences await. Whether you choose to camp along the Neuse River or on the eastern shore at Cedar Point campground, coastal beauty will be your constant companion. There’s truly no better way to enjoy Croatan National Forest than with a stay at one of its campgrounds.

Croatan National Forest Trails
And yet another reason motorhome campers are drawn to this North Carolina paradise can be found by exploring its trails. Its most famous hiking path is the Neusiok Trail from Pine Cliff Recreation Area to Oyster Point. Get ready to experience white sand beaches, coastal pine forests and the mysteries of blackwater swampland along this twenty mile hike.

Two other favorite hikes among campers are the Cedar Point Tideland Trail and Flanners Beach Trail. No matter where you hike, keep your eyes open for the forest’s abundant coastal mammals and reptiles.

Croatan National Forest by Water
While camping in Croatan National Forest, there’s no way to miss the significance of its proximity to area waterways. The Atlantic Ocean is, of course, magnificent for swimming, surf fishing and sea kayaking, and the national forest’s white sand beaches couldn’t be more picturesque. Bogue Sound, part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, forms the forest’s southern boundary. Cedar Point Campground is located here and offers RV campers in Croatan National Forest the perfect place to relax on the shore.

Some travelers to Coastal North Carolina, however, prefer to explore its rivers. The mighty Neuse River flows into the Atlantic along the national forest’s eastern edge, offering endless fishing, canoeing, swimming and boating opportunities for RV campers. A half dozen small lakes add even more outdoor adventure for those who love nothing better than an afternoon fishing in the shade of loblolly pines.

Bringing someone along on your RV camping trip to Croatan National Forest who enjoys historic river cities? For a very special adventure, take the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Branch Ferry across the Neuse River from Pine Cliff Recreation Area to the town of Minnesott Branch. You’ll find this historic resort town a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. Another spot they’ll enjoy is New Bern, NC, where living history museums, trolley tours through historic neighborhoods and dolphin-watching on the Neuse River are among the town’s favorite attractions.

Don’t miss the chance to hike the trails, relax on the white sand beaches, traverse forest waterways and, most of all, get to know the unique joys of coastal forest RV camping. Croatan National Forest, a gem of a place on North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast, is a destined to become a favorite with your RV camping family.

Picture credits: The sign for the Croatan National Forest is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Here’s a quick guide to Laughlin to help you start planning your trip. As [...]]]>

Suffering from winter doldrums? An RV camping and casino vacation in Laughlin, Nevada is the cure! This town on the Arizona/Nevada border is custom-made for winter camping fun, thanks to its thrilling casinos, beautiful riverside setting and comfortable RV campgrounds.

Here’s a quick guide to Laughlin to help you start planning your trip. As you plan, let us know if an RV rental is in the picture; our Las Vegas El Monte RV Rentals office is just ninety miles from Laughlin!

Laughlin NV – Camping and Casinos
One thing all Laughlin RV campgrounds have in common is an exciting setting. Laughlin KOA, for example, is right across the street from the fabulous Avi Casino and Resort, and camping guests share all the resort’s amenities. You’ll save money by camping in your RV while in Laughlin, and that means more fun at the casino’s Vegas-style gaming tables, slots and poker room.

Here’s another interesting choice for Laughlin RV camping – the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino offers more than seven hundred full-service RV campsites right next door to Laughlin’s original casino. Poker, slots, table games and non-stop entertainment make this venerable gaming center one of Laughlin’s favorites.

Did we mention that year-round pleasant weather is one of the top reasons millions of visitors come to Laughlin each year? Another reason is the surrounding beauty of the Mojave Desert, bisected by the vibrant blue of the Colorado River. Both natural wonders provide plenty of outdoor recreation – fishing, boating and hiking are great ways to get to know the area. The RV campground at the Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area is minutes from Laughlin gaming venues, and gives a front-row view of the river.

But let’s get back to Laughlin and the non-stop gaming excitement available to RV campers. One casino you’ll want to save time to visit is the Colorado Belle, a replica paddle-wheeler riverboat with six restaurants and hundreds of casino games. Another amazing place to play, right in the heart of Laughlin’s Riverwalk entertainment district, is the Aquarius Casino, where slots, table games and sports book gambling go on twenty-four hours a day.

These are just four of a dozen gaming venues that make up the heart of Laughlin, Nevada. For more information on the city that rose from the banks of the Colorado, click here. Don’t simply sit and dream about camping this winter…make your way by RV to Laughlin, Nevada, the city that entertains RVers day and night.

Tidal rivers, unspoiled beaches and a history rich with the contributions of many [...]]]>

You may know Georgia from its booming cities, magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains and dense pine forests, but have you taken the time to go RV camping to the South Georgia Coast? If not, you’re missing a fantastic year-round motorhome camping destination.

Tidal rivers, unspoiled beaches and a history rich with the contributions of many cultures have created a region unlike any other in the US. Here’s a short list of the places RV travelers will want to visit as they mosey down to Georgia’s southern coast.

Blythe Island Regional Park, located on the tidal South Brunswick River, is a nice place to become familiar with coastal Georgia. With full-hookups RV campsites, a marina that offers kayak and canoe rentals and easy access to both freshwater and tidewater fishing, Blythe Island offers the perfect introduction to the South Georgia Coast.

Cumberland Island National Seashore – Take the ferry out to Georgia’s coastal gem and discover the history, natural wonders and fascinating people of Cumberland Island. From the Dungeness Historic District to the island’s pristine beaches, Cumberland Island National Seashore will fascinate RV travelers. It’s definitely a “don’t miss” destination on your camping trip to Georgia’s Atlantic shore.

Jekyll Island State Park, jutting out into the Atlantic just north of Cumberland Island, is a place your family will come to treasure. Here’s why: RV campers are welcomed with a full-service campground and there are plenty of outdoor recreation possibilities. Bike the island or hike through verdant pine forests. Talk a walk on a windswept beach or visit the island’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center. All this and more is waiting to occupy the time you spend on Jekyll Island.

St. Mary’s River – This “blackwater” river with its roots in mighty Okefenokee Swamp and its toes in Cumberland Sound offers RV camping anglers lots of action. Fish for redfish, flounder and catfish on a secluded body of water for a uniquely coastal Georgia experience. Love to view a river’s shoreline from your canoe or kayak? Following the St. Mary’s River Paddling Trail (PDF) is the perfect way to watch for the deer, black bears and manatees that thrive in the surrounding marshes.

St. Simons Island, one of four “Golden Isles” within the Intracoastal Waterway, is rich with historic interest and natural beauty. The nineteenth century lighthouse, Fort Frederica National Monument and St. Simons Island’s uncluttered beaches make a stop here wonderfully fulfilling. It’s also a great place to find restaurants, shops and other local attractions.

Campgrounds near the South Georgia Shore
There are many well-run RV campgrounds up and down Georgia’s southern coast, making your journey here easy to plan. Here are two more ideas for lodging, in addition to the parks mentioned above:

1. Lake Harmony RV Park in Townsend, GA gives easy access to the Interstate while providing a lush, green setting for your South Georgia coastal vacation.
2. St. Mary’s/Jacksonville KOA is just south of the Georgia/Florida border, near the St. Mary’s River.

There’s a world of relaxation waiting for RV camping visitors to Georgia’s southern coast. Settle in to a less-frenzied pace and allow yourself to absorb the beauty of the Georgia shore. It’s a vacation world-weary travelers won’t soon forget.