I took my camper van across 48 US states. These are my 10 favorites

15.04.2024 - 18:03 / lonelyplanet.com

Hitting the road in a camper van is one of the most intimate – and exciting – ways to experience the USA.

Which is why I set off on a two-year road trip with my husband and dog in 2017. We camped in 48 states, hiked countless national parks, ate in local towns and drove from coast to coast in our 1996 retro camper van. 

As our trip unfolded, we learned that certain states suited us van campers better than others. The states of the Southwest, for example, contain a wide diversity of landscapes within their free public lands. The East Coast amazed us with stunning fall colors and historic towns we had previously only seen in books.

While every state added something unique to our adventure, a few really stood out. Having now crossed the entire continental United States, we’re delighted to share the 10 best US states that are perfect for your next camper or RV trip.

Where to find the best US national parks for RV campers this summer

Pine forests and craggy coasts  

Driving into Maine from its northwest side brings tall pine trees, skinny roads and no cell phone service for miles. This was the stuff of a novel by famous Mainer Stephen King – and to us West Coast folks, it was the unfamiliar territory that made the trip that much more exciting. In northern Maine, the entire landscape smells like Christmas trees. (We learned from a fellow camper that balsam fir collected from Maine provides the largest supply of Christmas wreaths in the country.) Heading toward the coast, we reached Acadia National Park, where the mountains meet the ocean. We were happy to find that this is one of the most dog-friendly parks in the USA, which meant we got to bring our travel companion along many of the trails.

The 10 best parks in Maine to hike, snowshoe or swim

Forget the city, and head upstate

Putting New York State on our top-10 list was a tough call, since it shares so many things we loved about Vermont and New Hampshire as well, like incredible fall foliage. Yet New York makes the cut thanks to its surprising (to us) range of geography. From Eternal Flame Falls in the state’s far west to wineries in the Finger Lakes and watchtower hikes high in the the Adirondacks, we barely had enough time to check off everything on our must-visit list. And that’s not to mention the more well-known Lake Placid Olympic sites, Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park. What’s more the hiking trails all over the state really impressed us. Now that we’ve sampled a bit of all the state has to offer, it’s at the top of our itinerary for future road trips.

6 Hudson Valley road trips for every type of traveler

The Great Smoky Mountains are especially beautiful in fall

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited one in the whole