The 10 best US national parks for RV campers

Looking to get closer to nature and linger longer in one of the 63 US national parks? RV camping is the perfect way to experience these majestic places from a comfortable base, immersing yourself in natural beauty from sunrise to sunset and beyond – there's great stargazing! National park campsites foster a fun sense of community among RV campers, who share everything from vehicle advice and travel tips to barbecue recipes and s’mores around a campfire.

The 10 national parks highlighted in this guide are already top destinations for the scenery, but they also offer quality RV campsites (the number of slots available are provided below but not all are specific to RV campers) as well as wide, paved roadways within viewing distance of key attractions. Most – but notably not all – of the US national parks use Recreation.gov for campsite reservations (the listings here provide the individual park's portals). Each park has its own quirks about the timing and process for making reservations, so check the rules and regulations for your destination prior to booking. And always check the status of the roads and available services at any national park you plan to visit before you set off.

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1. Denali National Park, Alaska

Number of RV campsites: 3 campsites; 227 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Reserve Denali
The most scenic RV route through the park: The only RV route in Denali National Park is the first 15 miles of Denali Park Rd, although RV campers at the Teklanika River Campground can continue another 14 miles to the campsite on a gravel road. Both segments of the road provide spectacular sweeping views of Denali’s mountainous landscape.

2. Arches National Park, Utah

Number of RV campsites: 1 campground; 51 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Arches at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: Arches National Park’s Main Park Rd traces 18 miles from the entrance to Devils Garden Campground on a nicely paved roadway, with multiple pullout stops with views of the park’s epic rock arches. After your visit here, you can add stops in Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion National Parks for an epic Utah RV road trip.

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3. Everglades National Park, Florida

Number of RV campsites: 2 campgrounds; 382 spots (173 for RVs)
How to reserve your RV spot: Flamingo Adventures
The most scenic RV route through the park: Take your time with plenty of pulloffs to appreciate the rich biodiversity inside Everglades National Park. The well-maintained 40-mile road from the Eastern Homestead Entrance to the Flamingo Visitor Center has vibrant birdlife (and lurking gators) in the lush green wetlands of the Everglades.

4. Glacier National Park, Montana

Number of RV campsites: 6 campsites; 816 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Glacier at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: Although Glacier National Park’s famed Going-to-the-Sun Rd is closed to vehicles more than 20ft long, RV drivers can still get great sightseeing along Hwy 2 at the edge of the park. Head to the eastern side along Many Glacier Rd to see (as you might guess) many glaciers.

5. Acadia National Park, Maine

Number of RV campsites: 3 campsites; 561 spots (160 for RVs)
How to reserve your RV spot: Acadia at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: The 27 miles of Park Loop Rd unveils a spectacular vista of mountains, ocean, lakes and forests, with plenty of trailheads. Acadia National Park does become quite crowded in summer, so consider a fall visit to avoid the heaviest traffic and also do some prime New England leaf-peeping.

6. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Number of RV campsites: 4 campsites; 574 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Grand Canyon at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: The 23 miles of Desert View Dr east of Grand Canyon Village offers stunning views of the canyon, multiple pullout points for photos and short trails through Grand Canyon National Park itself. There's even RV parking at the Desert View Services area at the East Entrance of the park, and Trailer Village operates RV sites nearby.

7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Number of RV campsites: 8 campsites; 290 spots (48 for RVs)
How to reserve your RV spot: Great Smokies at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: Newfound Gap Rd traverses 31 miles of hilly terrain between Tennessee and North Carolina inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The thick forests change from southern hardwoods to northern pines dramatically along the road.

8. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Number of RV campsites: 8 campsites; 494 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Joshua Tree at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: Driving the park north to south on Park Blvd from the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park will give you roadside views of plenty of the park’s eponymous trees as well as notable landmarks like Skull Rock and Jumbo Rock. As you continue south on Pinto Basin Rd, watch as the landscape and flora transform from the Mojave to the Colorado desert ecosystems.

9. Yellowstone National Park, Montana and Wyoming

Number of RV campsites: 11 campsites; 2028 spots (310 for RVs)
How to reserve your RV spot: Yellowstone at Recreation.gov and Yellowstone National Park Lodges
The most scenic RV route through the park: Grand Loop Rd is Yellowstone National Park’s classic route, passing key attractions like Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The 140-mile route can easily take a full day to drive, so its best to tackle in bite-size chunks, like the Lower Loop past Old Faithful and otherworldly hydrothermal highlights.

10. Yosemite National Park, California

Number of RV campsites: 10 campsites; 1220 spots
How to reserve your RV spot: Yosemite at Recreation.gov
The most scenic RV route through the park: Escape the traffic of Yosemite Valley to drive Tioga Rd, which bisects Yosemite National Park from west to east. It offers 46 miles of Yosemite’s greatest hits, including mountains, streams, forests, lakes, meadows and a view overlooking Half Dome, with plenty of turnoffs to stop for photos.

Top tips for RV camping in US national parks

• Make reservations as far in advance as possible. National park RV campgrounds can become fully booked within minutes of the sites being released, particularly for the summer high season and holiday weekends.

• For your RV campsite, research the length restrictions and available hookups for water, electricity and sewage dumps. You don’t want an unpleasant surprise after a late-night arrival at a remote campground. 

• If you’re not able to secure an RV campsite within a national park, be aware that many commercial RV campsites operate just outside the boundaries of most national parks. Reservations at commercial campgrounds will be easier to make, and these campgrounds often provide many more services than those within park limits.

• Bringing bicycles or a towed car with your RV can greatly expand your options for exploring a national park, particularly in areas with limited RV access. Also, consider leaving your RV in the campground and using park shuttle services when available.