According to a 2024 Campspot study, road trips are the number one childhood memory campers want to relive, across all generations. The study goes on to show that 75% of those surveyed plan to incorporate a road trip into their 2025 travel plans. How you define a road trip is really up to you and technically there is no minimum/maximum when it comes to hours, miles or days. Go for a short trip (3-4 hours one way) or a long one spending multiple days or weeks traversing America. Wherever you go, make sure you plan to camp with Thousand Trails.
California PCH – San Diego to LA:
This is just under two hours and a great way to hit our campgrounds in San Diego and Los Angeles. In San Diego, plan a stay at Thousand Trails Pio Pico or Oceanside RV Resort. When you’re done doing Southern California things, head north to Los Angeles and enjoy the glitz and glamor while you stay at Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon. Plan your trip to make a stop along the way at either Dana Point or Huntington Beach. In Dana Point, stretch your legs with a shoreline stroll at Dana Strands Beach. Want to stop for a meal – consider Duke’s in Huntington Beach. Consistently rated a top spot to eat here, enjoy the Hawaiian-themed atmosphere and food at this eatery named for the “father of modern surfing” Duke Kahanamoku (tip – make a reservation ahead of time.)
Oregon Coast
Perfectly situated campgrounds on the Oregon Coast will provide the perfect road trip from north to south, or vice versa! Ready, set, go – Thousand Trails Seaside, Pacific City, Whalers Rest and South Jetty, north to south respectively. Or reverse it – after all, you’re in the driver’s seat. Seaside has Haystack Rock and the lovely oceanfront promenade, while Pacific City is a great place for hiking at Sitka Sledge State Natural Area with 3.5 miles of looping trails, a historic lighthouse is promised when you stay at Whalers Rest which is nearby the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the tallest on the Oregon coast and is open to the public and South Jetty has the Sea Lion Caves and another lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse, which is one of the most photographed of the Oregon lighthouses..
New York to Maine
Spend some time in New England by starting a camping road trip at any of our Lake George campgrounds and then heading toward the coast with a stop at Tuxbury Pond RV Campground and then on to Bar Harbor and your choice of three Bar Harbor campgrounds. At just about 450 miles in total, a great middle point to stop for a night or two is Tuxbury Pond. In Lake George, enjoy the outdoor activities that include all the water sports and hiking trails. Tuxbury Pond is great for a trip to the beaches or a ride into Boston and then Bar Harbor rounds out the outdoor activity aspect with all that is offered in Acadia National Park.
Miami to Key West
Another short hop, but plenty of places to stay along the way to make this an extended vacation with some road trip time. Start with a camp stay at Encore Miami Everglades and then book a stay for your first Keys stop at Encore Sunshine Key which offers so much to do onsite like paddle boarding and snorkeling, it is a destination in itself. Then drive the Overseas Highway down to Key West and bum around a bit with the six-toed cats and all the Hemingway lore. Island hop and then head over Encore Fiesta Key for a different camping option before heading back north or explore more of Florida campgrounds (but you can plan that road trip!)
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