As the seasons change and we move into the quieter half of the year, we often have more time to reflect and take stock. Which is nice! Really, it is. But when the holiday lights are stored away and the cold creeps into our bones, even the most winter-obsessed of us can start to feel a little cooped up.
And that is why planning ahead is important. Just as gardeners plant seeds and are bolstered by the promise of what is to come, so too can RVers make plans for what is ahead. Whether you arrange a short winter getaway in the mountains or the desert or work out the finer details of a family reunion at a camp resort, that plan is how we’re able to look forward to the good times ahead.
In a chaotic and stressful world, plans are our reprieve—the daydreams that get us through. Because when we’re planning, we’re invested in tomorrow. In the road ahead and the time we get to spend together. And when we’re packing up—when we’re camping—we realize what it is we really need. The essentials! What you can fit in the available space of the RV?
When we’re camping, we’re getting back to the basics. We’re retreating from the din of society and finding safe haven in the great outdoors and the campgrounds offering tucked-away corners, epic adventures, stunning scenery, and even luxury RV resorts.
Whether you’re planning for your cross-country RV trip, snowbird escape, hiking adventure with Fido, or next summer’s trip to a camp resort, the Campspot Outdoor Almanac provides information for plotting out the ultimate road trips and retreats—no matter the season.
Readers can access top destinations for camping in 2023 along with inspiration for top road trips and scenic drives, recommendations for road trips for each season, helpful statistics and data about national and state parks that are trending, and demographic information about road travelers.
Some top insights from travelers planning trips include:
- Budget-friendly trips: Continued increased interest in shorter road trips is expected in 2023 as travelers discover their home states and local region
- Average road trip route distance: 1,223 miles with a 20.5 hour driving duration
- Top national parks: Grand Canyon, Arches, and Zion
- Percentage of campers who are traveling as a couple: 67 percent
- Top camping destinations: Moab (Utah), Sedona (Arizona), Florida Keys
The latest camping trends
Types of campers:
- RV (61 percent)
- Tent (19 percent)
- Glamper (12 percent)
- Cabin (4 percent)
- Car Camper (3 percent)
- Boondocker/dispersed (1 percent)
Camping and work-life balance:
- 43 percent of campers take 2-4 weeks off from work annually
- 36 percent of campers take 4-6 camping trips annually, 19 percent take 7-10 annually
- 18 percent go camping for major winter holidays and 23 percent are interested in doing so
Top 2023 camping goals:
- Travel to new places to camp (69 percent)
- Go camping more often (53 percent)
- Explore more national and state parks (47 percent)
- Spend more time in nature (37 percent)
- Spend more time outside with family (30 percent)
Top regions campers are most excited to visit in 2023:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Colorado
- Utah
- Alaska
- Yosemite National Park
Top states campers are most interested in visiting in 2023:
- Colorado
- Montana
- Tennessee
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Wyoming
- California
- Michigan
- Oregon
- Utah
Top destinations for RVers:
- Grand Canyon
- Las Vegas
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, Florida
- Yosemite National Park
- Ginnie Springs, Florida
- Zion National Park
- Daytona International Speedway
- Campland on the Bay in San Diego
- Okeechobee, Florida
- Moab
Road trips and scenic drives
Road trip trends:
- 37 percent are willing to travel any distance on a road trip if they have time while 26 percent prefer trips that are 6 to 10 hours in length
- After private campgrounds, public lands and hotels were the next most popular accommodation types for road trips
How far do roadtrippers travel?
- Average route distance: 1,223 miles
- Average driving duration: 20.5 hours
Top national parks where travelers planned road trips:
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- White Sands National Park
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Yellowstone National Park
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Hot Springs National Park
- Badlands National Park
- Crater Lake National Park
Top state parks where travelers planned road trips:
- South Yuba River State Park, California
- Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Kentucky
- Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina
- Watkins Glen State Park, New York
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
- Niagara Falls State Park, New York
- Letchworth State Park, New York
- Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Florida
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois
- Custer State Park, South Dakota
A road trip for every season
Take inspiration from these road trips and scenic drives to plan your 2023 adventures.
Spring
New Orleans, LA, to Fredericksburg, TX
Distance: 469 miles
With pit stops in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Beaumont, Houston, and Austin, this route is a Cajun food-lover’s dream. Be sure to drive the Willow City Loop just north of Fredericksburg for wildflowers galore.
Where to stay:
- Sun Outdoors New Orleans North Shore, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
- The Retreat RV and Camping Resort, Huffman, Texas
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Texas
Summer
An epic drive filled with stunning vistas of the Appalachian Highlands, this route is known as America’s Favorite Drive for a reason.
Where to stay:
- Montebello Camping and Fishing Resort, Montebello, Virginia
- Halesford Harbor Resort, Moneta, Virginia
- Catawba Falls Campground, North Carolina
Fall
Covered Bridge Tour in Indiana
Distance: 35+ miles
Indiana has 31 covered bridges that are super quaint and historic. According to locals, Sim Smith Bridge is even haunted.
Where to stay:
- Turkey Run Canoe and Camping, Bloomingdale
- Peaceful Water Campground, Bloomingdale
- Hawthorn Park, Terry Haute
Winter
Florida East Coast
Distance: 470 miles
Whether you start in the northern or southern part of the state, a drive along the east coast is a perfect way to say goodbye to the winter blues.
Where to stay:
- Ocean Groove RV Resort, St. Augustine
- Indian River RV Park, Titusville
- Sun Outdoors Key Largo, Key Largo
Worth Pondering…
Road trips have beginnings and ends but it’s what’s in between that counts.