5 East Coast Travel Destinations Perfect For Luxury RVers
Luxury travel means different things to different people. To some, it’s completely unplugging and spending time in nature. To others, it’s something a little more upscale. When you’re taking a RV trip in a luxury travel trailer like a Bowlus, you can focus on the destination, knowing that no matter where you set up camp, you won’t be sacrificing anything. Montana, California, Colorado, Arizona, or even Utah may come to mind when you’re thinking about luxury RVing, but here are five great destinations in the Eastern US that are perfect for luxury RVing, no matter how you define luxury.
Newport, Rhode Island
Historic Newport is known for many things including its amazing music festival, beaches, lighthouses, and some of the most stunning mansions along the east coast. Best of all, it’s a great place to park your luxury RV for a spell so you take in all the area has to offer.
Melville Ponds Campground is located just five miles from Newport so it’s the perfect jumping off point for shopping, fine dining, and sightseeing. The campsites are shaded and level, have picnic tables, fire rings, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and many sites have full hookups. This RV park even offers seasonal campsites if you want to spend the summer. Other amenities include a dog park, camp store, fishing, and on-site hiking trails.
When you’re ready to explore the area, you’re just minutes from Newport, also known as the City by the Sea. Spend a lazy day on the beach or take a boat cruise on the Narragansett Bay and get a glimpse of the ten lighthouses dotting the coast. Or, take a stroll along the 3.5 mile Cliff Walk and soak in the ocean views.
From the Cliff Walk, you can also see some of the city’s most famous homes. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, America’s elite flocked to Newport and built some pretty amazing summer homes. More than a dozen of these mansions have been meticulously preserved, so you can soak in their architecture. Stepping back even further in time, historic Fort Adams has been guarding the entrance to Narragansett Bay since before the Revolutionary War. If you’re looking for the best sunset views in the area, the loop around the perimeter of the Fort offers views of the harbor, Newport Bridge, and the bay. For sports fans, you won’t want to miss the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Newport International Polo Series, or any of the area’s five golf and country clubs.
Newport is a foodie haven, so when you don’t feel like cooking at your campsite, you can hit the town. From fine dining to casual eateries, wineries, breweries, and of course, lobster shacks, you’ll find whatever you’re craving in Newport.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
To get an entirely different perspective on the island our first president first called home, try camping on Martha’s Vineyard, which is located just off Cape Cod. You’ll need to plan your trip before you go because there’s only one car ferry service that will bring your vehicle and RV over to the island – and it books up quickly, especially during the busy summer season.
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got a reservation at the island’s only campground, the aptly named Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground. While the ferry service can handle RVs of any size, the park only accepts rigs up to 40-feet, so longer Class A motorhomes shouldn’t make the trip. Your Bowlus will be a perfect fit in one of the wooded and shaded back-in campsites (there are no pull throughs). Each site at this luxury RV resort has a picnic table and fire ring. Other amenities include a playground, recreation room, camp store, laundry facilities, and Wi-Fi. One of the best ways to see the island is from a bike, and the campground offers bike rentals.
Whether traveling by bike or by car, there’s a lot to do on Martha’s Vineyard. You can soak up the sun on one of the island’s 19 pristine beaches, tackle the waves in a kayak, or hit the tennis court. During the summer there are weekly artisan festivals and a farmer’s market, you can stroll through the Mytoi Japanese Garden, head out on a fishing charter, or find inspiration in one of the island’s many art galleries. Edgartown is known for its boutique shopping, while Chilmark offers more rural activities such as the Native Earth Teaching Farm. And no trip to Martha’s Vineyard is complete without a tour of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s one-time home.
The island has some tremendous dining options – everything from casual cafes to high end restaurants. The farm-to-table movement is strong on the island, and the chefs often feature local seafood and other locally grown goods. You’ll also want to check out the island’s wineries.
Lake Lure, North Carolina
Lake Lure is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just a short drive from Asheville, North Carolina. The region is known for its breathtaking mountain views, sheer granite cliffs, and the Hickory Nut Gorge. Movie lovers may recognize Hickory Nut Falls from movies like Last of the Mohicans and Dirty Dancing. This stunning waterfall is over 400-feet tall, and there are several hikes that can position you to take the perfect selfie.
The region is home to Chimney Rock State Park, which offers outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and bouldering. If the beach is more your scene, head over to the lake. If you need to cool off, you can always zip down the waterslide or check out the many watersports options available. Lake Lure also has a challenging 9-hole public golf course with a clubhouse and two putting greens. In the fall you can enjoy fresh apples from local orchards.
If you’re looking for a place to park your luxury RV, Emberglow Outdoor Resort may be the perfect place to set up camp. With 72 acres in a private valley, the park offers premium RV camping sites with full hookups, a picnic table, and a fire ring. Some sites even come with an outdoor kitchen that has a sink, propane cooktop, and a stone fire pit. This luxury RV park doesn’t have a fitness center, but it does have onsite hiking and biking trails, a dog park, a community fire pit, free Wi-Fi, and a resort-style swimming pool.
Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee
If you love waterfalls, Fall Creek Falls State Park should be on your road trip bucket list. Situated atop the Cumberland Plateau, the park features cascades, gorges, lush virgin forests, and yes, waterfalls. There are also three miles of bike trails and more than 56 miles of hiking trails in the park. The Canopy Challenge Course has over 70 family friendly suspended obstacles and ziplines. If you’re looking for a less interactive way to see the park, you can take in the scenic vistas of Cane Creek Gorge along the Gorge Scenic Drive Motor Nature trail.
The park has one of the top public golf courses in the country, according to Golf Digest. You’ll weave your way through dense woodlands as you tackle 18 beautiful and challenging holes. You can practice your casting in the 345-acre Fall Creek Falls Lake, or take advantage of the kayak, canoe or paddle boat rentals. No motorboats are allowed on the lake.
There are five different camping areas in Fall Creek Falls State Park, with a little less than half offering full hookups. Most RV sites have picnic tables, and grills, as well as water and electricity connections. Wi-Fi is also available, and there are bathhouses for campers without their own facilities. The park also has a restaurant that is expected to reopen in late 2021 after extensive renovations.
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi
If you’re looking for a luxurious and relaxing trip to the Gulf Coast, you won’t want to miss Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is part of the National Park system. Stretching 160 miles from Cat Island Mississippi to the Okaloosa Area near Fort Walton, Florida, this unique destination offers salt marshes, historical landscapes, and of course access to the Gulf’s emerald waters and stunning white beaches.
There are two historic forts that will appeal to history buffs. Overlooking Florida’s Pensacola Bay stands the imposing Fort Barrancas, which saw action during the Civil War. It stands on the grounds of what is now Naval Air Station Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels. Just across the bay is Fort Pickens, which is also home to the largest campground in the park. Mississippi’s Davis Bayou is also popular with campers.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular ways to take in the area’s marine life, while birders love the region’s diverse ecology for the nearly 300 different species of birds it attracts. There are biking and hiking trails, as well as fishing. To make the most of your experience, you may want to check out Ranger led programs like the gator walk in the Davis Bayou area. Gulf Islands is also a great place to check out the night sky.