By the time Easter rolls around the calendar, campers are itching to get back into their RVs. We feel your excitement. It’s been a long winter and we are ready for a road trip, too. A spring camping getaway is the perfect cure for those winter blues.
Whether you have a motorhome, fifth wheel or pop-up camper, March and April are amazing times to go on a spring camping getaway. While nature is emerging from its winter slumber and the weather is warming up, the summertime crowds are nowhere to be found — leaving you plenty of room to explore your destination of choice.
So, get your RV out of storage and bags and totes out of the garage or basement. Have a fantastic kick-off to the season with these spring camping getaways perfectly suited for your next adventure.
Tahquamenon Falls
These copper-colored falls in northern Michigan draw thousands of visitors each year to Paradise (yes, that’s really the name of the town) and are truly the showpiece of Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan’s second largest state park at 48,000 acres.
The Upper Falls are magnificent, measuring over 200 feet across the top with a 50 foot drop and a burnished chestnut color that comes from tannins leached from the area’s cedar, spruce and hemlock in nearby swamps.
While some waterfalls can be challenging to reach, that’s not the case here. The path to the Upper Falls is paved, accessible from the nearby parking lot and manageable for most people to navigate. Mature trees provide a shaded walk to the falls, where anticipation builds as you get closer and can hear the sound of the roaring water through the lush landscape.
There are several steps leading to the viewing platform, but they aren’t steep and they are well worth the effort to take your family’s picture with the falls in the background.
For a pleasant outing, be sure to take in the view of the Lower Falls and the other trails within the park, too. Camping is available year round. Learn more at by visiting the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website.
Chattanooga
If you prefer warmer temperatures with no threat of late-season snows (sorry, Tahquamenon Falls), then head to Tennessee for your spring camping getaway.
Rich with wildlife and stunning mountain views, Chattanooga is an amazing place to camp among nature and history. You could spend days exploring here and never get bored. Even the sounds around the campfire at night exude Southern charm.
There are numerous campgrounds in the Chattanooga area, including around Lookout Mountain, located along the Tennessee-Georgia border. If you venture up to the top you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views that span for miles. If you prefer not to drive your RV up a mountain, you can always park at the St. Elmo Station and ride the Incline Railway.
History buffs will appreciate the Civil War monuments and cannons dotting the trail in Point Park on Lookout Mountain. They are picturesque among the bright blue sky and serve as a reminder that Lookout Mountain was the site of the Battle Above the Clouds, widely considered a turning point in the Civil War.
Chattanooga itself is bright, vibrant and full of fun. Connecting the arts district and downtown area across the Tennessee River is the Walnut Street Bridge. It is one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges and a fun walk with your family, strollers included.
On the downtown side are ice cream shops offering creamy scoops of everyone’s favorite treat. Order a cone and take it to nearby Coolidge Park, which features plenty of seating as well as a restored antique carousel and interactive splash fountain for kids to enjoy on warm afternoons.
South Dakota
For the quintessential American road trip, nothing beats a camping adventure to Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore, both in the welcoming state of South Dakota. Camping here is a rite of passage for many American families who recall fond memories of prairie dogs and buffalo herds decades later.
There is so much to see and do that you will want to spend a full week here if not more, so plan your spring camping getaway accordingly. Set up camp at a centrally located campground and then explore a different town each day. You’ll love purchasing kitschy souvenirs at Wall Drug, seeing Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane’s tombstones in Deadwood, panning for gold at a mine, taking a scenic drive through Spearfish Canyon, and watching wildlife in Custer State Park.
TIP: When navigating the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park, pack a few bags of carrots. There is a friendly pack of burros that tend to stop traffic much to the delight of tourists. Just be sure to safely pull off to the side of the road before you hop out of the camper to visit and watch them munch on the veggies.
Niagara Falls
Another iconic destination popular with many RVers is Niagara Falls. Whether you choose to view them from the American side, the Canadian side or both, you can’t go wrong with a spring camping getaway here.
You’ll find plentiful parking and lots of nearby campgrounds to choose from. There are picnic areas to enjoy lunch and fantastic views from the sidewalks that run parallel to the falls.
Learn more about the falls and their history at local museums, like the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center. If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you can experience the falls up close by scheduling a boat tour. The iconic Maid of the Mist is the oldest and most well-known. Military history enthusiasts will want to take the short drive up river to Old Fort Niagara for its historical exhibits and collections, musket demonstrations, and self-guided tours.
The whole family can explore the trails at Niagara Falls State Park on the American side. There are many more entertainment options on the Canadian side. At the end of the day, enjoy the light show as hundreds of LED lights illuminate the falls and create a view to remember.
Ready, set, go …
These spring camping getaways are the perfect way to indulge your excitement for adventure, curb your curiosity, and soothe your soul. Whatever destination you choose to travel to this spring, bring your sense of wonder and a good book – it’s time to hit the road!