Top 10 Off the Beaten Path RV Stops You Need to Know Of
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You’re ready to hit the road for an adventure, but you don’t want to do the same old thing everyone else does. Maybe you’ve been on a lot of RV trips, and you need to find a new place to explore because you’ve already hit all the famous spots.
If so, then these top 10 off-the-beaten-path RV stops are for you. Being the RVer of your group to introduce people to new RV places is a lot of fun and allows you to contribute to your on-the-road community.
Here are ten spots most of your RV friends probably haven’t been, and you might not have even heard of them. There is plenty of nature and interesting sights to see around these areas, so get ready to put your explorer hat on.
Why Visit These 10 Off the Beaten Path RV Stops?
When you go to places that aren’t extremely popular, you’re much more likely to find reasonable rates and fewer lines at the places you visit. You’ll likely have unique experiences and be able to create memories with your family you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. Since these people are often less expensive, you’ll be able to have more fun for your dollar, and you’ll likely find there are a lot of free activities around.
1. Lake Tawakoni in Texas
Lake Tawakoni is an over 37,000-acre reservoir that is only around 48 miles east of Dallas, Texas. There are multiple options for RVers that want to spend some time here, and it’s a pretty serene area.
If you want to keep your experience there pretty basic and enjoy nature, you can park your RV at Lake Tawakoni State Park, in Willis, Texas. There are some full hookup sites, but they also have only water and electric sites available, as well as primitive sites that can accommodate large groups of people. If your friends don’t have RVs but want to camp, this is a perfect spot for a big get-together.
There’s plenty of great fishing on Lake Tawakoni. You can find striped and hybrid striped bass, white bass, catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass in the lake. If you don’t have fishing gear, you can borrow it from the headquarters to use in the park.
If you want to stay in a little more of a fancy setting, you can check out the Texas Lone Star Market & RV Resort in Quinlan, Texas. There is water, showers, and laundry as well as the convenience store, and you’re not far from lake fishing if you still want to enjoy it.
Another beautiful place to stay where you’ll be right on the lake is Lake Tawakoni RV Campground. Depending on the time you visit, you may get to see the beautiful trees in the park in their most beautiful state. They also have a clubhouse at the RV park along with places to fish, play mini-golf, BBQ, play basketball, a nice spot for your dogs, showers, boat ramps, horseshoes, volleyball, and more.
2. Acton, California
When you’re looking for off the beaten path, this is the perfect place for you. It’s a tiny area not far from the Antelope Valley and only a couple of hours from Los Angeles. There’s a nice park not far from the RV parks in the area and a beautiful view of the mountains. You might even see movie crews catching some shots, so keep an eye out. It’s also known for its gorgeous rainbows.
If you plan on shopping in Acton, there is a small store there but expect to pay for the convenience of shopping close by. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive about thirty minutes to go to a bigger city to get supplies.
Soledad Camping & RV Resort is a nice little gem in Acton but doesn’t expect to get much phone or internet signal. If you’re there to unwind and unplug, then this is a great place, but you can get internet at the clubhouse. Right outside the clubhouse is the beautiful pool with great views of the mountains.
There is another RV park in Acton called Californian RV Resort, but it doesn’t have as many trees if you’re trying to stay out of the sun. It does have a nice pool, though, and it looks like it is well run.
Even though you’re off the beaten path in Acton, there are plenty of things for you to do if you’re willing to drive a little bit. Of course, you could go to Los Angeles and see everything there, but there is more to the area than just Hollywood.
The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is beautiful if you hit it at the right time. The reserve is in Lancaster, California, and you can see many of the beautiful California state flowers.
While you’re in Acton, make sure to pop over to the Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Area. You’ll be able to set foot on areas where many of your favorite movies are filmed if you’re a movie buff.
3. Arley, Alabama
Unless you’re purposefully going here, you’d probably never accidentally find it. The town of Arley only has a few hundred people, but they’re a happy bunch. If you want to get in the slower pace of life and enjoy the beautiful water and other scenery, then head to Hidden Cove RV Resort.
Hidden Cove RV Resorts sits right on Lewis Smith Lake, and you can fish or boat to your heart’s content. Right over the water, you’ll be able to see big beautiful lakehouses and plenty of boats flitting about. There is a playground, clubhouse, boat dock, and boat ramp, so there is plenty to do there.
If you want to venture out and find some things to do, there are some pretty neat places nearby—and some a little further out.
Head over to Haleyville, Alabama, and you’ll get to experience a very cool land bridge. Natural Bridge Park only costs a few bucks to get into, and you’ll get a nice hike out of things, so make sure to wear good shoes. It’s not too strenuous, but it does take some work and steady footing to get there.
If you want to take a little bit further of a day trip, you can head to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. This museum is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and can keep you busy for hours. With so many neat exhibits, you’re sure to come back with a phone full of social media-worthy photos.
4. Cottonwood, Arizona
Everyone goes to Sedona, Arizona but not far away is a little town called Cottonwood. There an RV park there and there are plenty of spots around if you feel like you want to dry camp. Verde Valley RV Camping has a lot of great places to camp, but since it’s down low, you aren’t going to have good cell service in most of the places.
The beautiful desert and mountain scenery are enough to make you want to stay in this location for a long time. When you camp here, you’re right on the Verde River with the Red Rocks to your north, the Mingus Mountains on your west, and the Hackberry Mountains to the south of you. And if you’re a wine lover, you’ll be excited to know that your temporary home is right next to the gorgeous Alcantara Vineyards.
In Cottonwood, you’ll find quaint little shops and plenty of great gifts for the people you left at home. Once you’re done shopping, you can go kayaking on the Verde River, or maybe you’d rather take one of the many trails around the area. Be careful when you’re out at night because the wild pigs aren’t exactly friendly.
Keep in mind that this RV resort is very active and they have a lot of events and games. You’d be surprised how many pool sharks there and how serious their tournaments get.
If you decide you do want to do some of the more famous things, you can take a Pink Jeep tour of Sedona or ride the Verde Canyon Railroad.
5. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
If you haven’t experienced Dutch PA then you’re missing out on a whole other world. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time when you visit some of these places and taste the delicious food.
Your RV destination in Lancaster is none other than the Circle M which is on a beautiful plot of land. It’s a western-themed RV park and has a long list of amenities and local attractions for your enjoyment.
At Circle M, you can fish, play shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and more. If you have friends that want to visit but don’t have an RV, they have some cute yurts that make for a unique experience.
You might decide that you want to really get into the Amish culture. You have the chance to do that by booking an authentic Amish farm experience. You can milk cows, ask questions about the culture, and much more.
If you want to explore the beauty of the area, you can hop on a scooter at Strausburg Scooters. You get a guide and they take you to look at all the 19th century covered bridges.
There are a lot of great family fun attractions you can check out. You can get some delicious ice cream at the Turkey Hill Experience or you might decide to go to Dutch Wonderland which is a cool amusement park for families.
6. Wauchula, Florida
A small town of about 5,000 people, Wauchula, Flordia doesn’t have a lot of traffic, but it does have some pretty cool places around it. And when you stay at Peace River RV Park, you’re already at one of the cool places.
The park has a lot of trees which is helpful when the hottest parts of the year hit. There is also a path down near Peace River where you can get in and wade around to find shark teeth and other neat finds. Yes, there are alligators in the river, but if there are a lot of people, they don’t want to bother you.
You won’t find a lot of fancy spots in Wauchula, but you will find lots of pretty scenery and long winding roads. You may also choose to kayak the Peace River and enjoy watching the alligator sunbathe.
Just a twenty-minute drive from Wauchula, you’ll find Solomon’s castle. It’s a 12,000 square foot castle that is three stories high, made of aluminum to look like the Alamo and 16th-century galleon. The big surprise is that one man built it all—and if you go, you can learn his story.
If you want to go to hot spots like Tampa, they are only about an hour away. However, most people decide to kick their feet up and relax instead of venturing out too far. If you do decide to venture out, you’ll enjoy a pretty ride down to the coast.
7. East Stroudsburg, PA
The gorgeous Pocono Mountains are calling but you might not have heard about this little slice of heaven. Timothy Lake South and to a lesser extent, Timothy Lake North are great spots to park the RV when you’re ready for mountain beauty.
Timothy Lake North isn’t as well taken care of as Timothy Lake South, but if you want to be away from the hustle and bustle then that’s the perfect spot for you.
At Timothy Lake South, you’ll find a beautiful swimming pool, a playground, horseshoes, and a clubhouse. It’s not uncommon to get an invite to a fun get-together or event to have some structured fun.
At Timothy Lake North, there is a little country store but it’s closed at certain times, so make sure to check the hours and make sure it isn’t closed during the weekend. Either campground gives you a great location to enjoy and you might choose one or the other depending on your needs.
When it comes to things to do around East Stroudsburg, there is so much to do. If you like nature then you’re in the perfect place since it’s not too far from Resica Falls where you can enjoy some gorgeous views of the waterfall. If you want to see nature from above, you can always choose to head over to the sky diving center for some extreme fun.
Some other unique things that we can’t pass up are the Pocono’s TreeVentures, the Jinyin Temple, and the Pocono’s Snake and Animal Farm.
8. Whitney, Texas
When you visit Whitney, Texas, you’ll soon find that the biggest attraction is Lake Whitney. This beautiful water is a flood control reservoir on the Brazos River. It has over 200 miles of shoreline, which means plenty of places to throw a line in the water.
Lake Whitney RV Campground will make you feel right at home with their wide selection of RV campsites. You can choose a spot in the shade or get as close to the family center as you can. Whatever the case, you’ll have a great spot to enjoy the beautiful area.
There are many hiking, swimming, boating, and horseback riding opportunities. In fact, horseback riding is one of the most popular reasons people come to Whitney, Texas. Some of the equestrian trails have views of Lake Whitney that will take your breath away.
Lake Whitney State Park is a great place to visit when you come. You can fish for largemouth, striped and white bass, or bring home a coveted blue catfish. There are also ranger programs if you’re interested in getting involved.
Enjoy a scenic drive through some of the most beautiful countries you’ve come across. You can take things slow and with so many opportunities, don’t forget to put your fishing poles in the back.
9. Gladys, Virginia
You’ll go through some winding roads and start to think you must have taken the wrong time. Just when you’re about to give up—that’s when you’ll arrive at this quiet little place. The campground is called Lynchburg RV Resort, but make sure you only go between May to October, or otherwise, they are closed.
The campground has a very laid-back feel to it and you can enjoy many hours with your fishing line in the water. There are also great bike trails, beach volleyball, hiking, horseshoes, mini-golf, and more. They often have organized fun like movie nights and other get-togethers.
If you’re ready to venture out into the world again, there are some cool things to see and do that aren’t too far away. For instance, you can visit the Avoca Museum and Historical Society or go taste some delicious wine and food at Sans Soucy Vineyards. The beauty of this Virginia can be enough to keep you entertained, but the attractions are a bonus.
10. Langston, Alabama
Langston, Alabama is another small town with less than 300 people. One thing it does have is plenty of places for RVers to hang their hat and have a good time. One of those resorts is Mountain Lakes Resort & RV Park.
The thing everyone loves about this RV resort is its great position on Lake Guntersville. When you’re there, you’re on the eastern shore of the beautiful lake. You have a great view across the lake and can enjoy the sun rising over the hills at your back. If you hate backing into RV spots then this is the park for you because all of the spots are pull-throughs.
For people that enjoy fishing, you can pick one of the fishing piers of boat docks. If you like swimming, you can do that too because there is an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool. There is plenty to do for the kids with the kids’ recreation room, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits.
If you don’t get enough of the lake here, you can easily drive around and find other spots that you like. And if you want to eat at one of the best places to eat in the south then head to Top O’ the River and eat some delicious catfish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What should I look for in an RV Park or Resort?
Answer: Make sure it has all of the things you need for a good trip. Not everyone has the same definition of a good trip, so figure out what you need. Do you need a firepit, WiFi access, or a lake or beachfront spot? Make sure to ask all of the questions before booking a spot. Especially find out if they have 30 amp or 50 amp service depending on what your RV needs.
Question: Is there a secret to getting the best RV spots?
Answer: The sooner you can book, the better because RVers usually come prepared. However, if you can’t get the spot you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to ask if there was a last-minute cancellation. Oftentimes, if you’re willing to pay an upcharge, you might be able to snag a pretty amazing spot.
Question: Is it worth paying for the WiFi?
Answer: If you have to work then you might need WiFi from the RV park. Sometimes the WiFi going through the park doesn’t cut it and you’ll have to go to the clubhouse—if they have one. If it’s a must-have for you, make sure to ask this question before you book the spot.
Getting Ready for Your RV Adventure
Now you have plenty of new ideas and great off-the-beaten-path RV stops. Each RV trip allows you to enjoy a whole new type of adventure and you’ll likely meet the most interesting people of your life. Ask a friend to tag along or look up groups that put together caravans and you can make some friends—and strangers—on a great trip to some neat locations.
