Making the Most of Your RV This Summer

For many, that second home is a RV. The beauty of that big investment is that whatever your destination, you’re basically traveling with all the comforts of home. Pick a spot on the map and just go. No need to worry about airfares, hotel accommodations or limiting what you can bring along with you. RV ownership hit an all-time high in 2021, driven in part by the pandemic and the need for social distancing. According to GoRVing.com, an estimated 11.2 million households owned an RV in 2021. The road trip was back and better than ever and RVs have never been more popular.

But for some, the allure of the open road may be losing its attraction, even if the RV itself is not. Long road trips can be tiresome, and the high cost of gas right now probably isn’t helping.

But there’s still a way to head out of town and enjoy your RV and the outdoors this summer—without the long RV trip. Renting what’s known in the RVing world as a “seasonal” or “annual” site at your favorite campground or RV resort allows you to park your RV conveniently on site and have it waiting for you to drive up in your smaller, gas-efficient (or possibly hybrid or electric) vehicle.

There are plenty of benefits to seasonal and annual sites. There’s no major packing and unpacking when it comes to a quick getaway. Having your RV set on your own annual/seasonal site means your getaway necessities are waiting for you. Plus, with your RV already set where you want to spend time, think of the savings in RV storage costs. No need to put your rig back into that costly storage facility or taking up space at home after each trip.

The abundance of amenities at these campground locations are more than any one second home location can boast as well – pools, spas, sports courts, hiking trails, and more. There’s also the familiarity and camaraderie among fellow seasonal site holders, providing that community feel. Choose to spend time with them or give a friendly nod as you pull up and drive away each time! It’s all good.

There are plenty of locations around the country that offer annual and seasonal sites, and many in locations just far enough from the city to feel like an escape, yet close enough that it makes sense from both a gas and time perspective. A few of our favorites:

In the Pacific Northwest, Mt. Hood Village in Welches, Oregon is about 45 minutes east of Portland. The campground is the perfect home base from which to explore the Mt. Hood National Forest or head up to Timberline Lodge and enjoy the only location in the US offering year-round skiing and snowboarding. Back at the campground, enjoy amenities like the swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center and on-site restaurant.

In the country’s heartland, options include Yukon Trails RV & Camping Resort in Wisconsin and O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Park in Illinois. Located in Amboy, which is about 90 miles from Chicago, O’Connell’s is the perfect summer getaway if you like to kick back and relax. With fishing lakes, a beach, biking and hiking trails and onsite amenities including mini-golf, horseshoes, volleyball and basketball courts, there’s a whole lot to do here when you feel like doing nothing! Yukon Trails can be found just outside the famous Wisconsin Dells (Lyndon Station) where all kinds of water park fun can be found along with the natural wonders of the area like Devils Lake and Mirror Lake State Parks. Wisconsin supper clubs are a fun option for dining.

Lake Conroe RV Resort in Willis, Texas is a water lover’s dream come true. Leave your annual or seasonal site to hang out in the resort-style swimming pool complete with colorful cabanas, spend the day at the beach relaxing at the lake and soaking in the sun, or enjoy a day on the water, whether you bring your own boat and launch it from the resort or rent one at the property. When you’re ready for some off-site adventure, make the short drive to The Woodlands to experience the area’s shopping and dining venues.

East Coast getaways offering the perfect annual or seasonal site include Bethpage Camp-Resort set along the shores of the Rappahannock River in Urbanna, Virginia, and Lake George Escape, set among the unapparelled beauty of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. There’s never a shortage of activity at Bethpage Camp-Resort, which features a water park, river access, boat rentals, bike rentals, mini golf, fishing, and so much more. Even your furry friends will enjoy themselves at the dog park. In the Adirondacks, Lake George Escape puts you in the center of the fun, where the outdoors is your playground and anything is on the agenda, with opportunities for whitewater rafting to hiking, biking and water sports either onsite or nearby.

If 2021 was the year of the RV road trip, make 2022 the year you get the most of your RV by not taking it on the road and instead experience the benefits of an annual/seasonal site. 

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