This report not only lists 10 of the best family-friendly resorts in America, but it will also explore some relevant questions concerning your best choice for an RV. In order to ‘steer’ you in the right direction (pun intended), we’ll answer the following 5 questions:
- What are the advantages of towing a camper over driving an RV?
- What is easier to tow: a travel trailer or a fifth wheel?
- What upgrades should I consider before hooking up a trailer?
- Where are the best places to park a trailer for an all-around family vacation?
- How long is too long for a family vacation?
What are the advantages of towing a camper over driving an RV?
Let’s look at camper trailers vs motorhomes. We’ll consider the pros and cons of each. By doing so, you’ll be better able to choose which one is right for you.
Camper Trailers Most travel trailers typically range anywhere from 12 feet to 35 feet in length. Towing is either bumper pull or 5th wheel.
By and large, travel trailers are less expensive than motorhomes. Prices range between $20,000 and $30,000.
Camper trailers aren’t as streamlined as a motorhome and therefore stay in the slower lanes.
Maintenance and repairs are a lot less with a travel trailer.
Motorhomes Most motorhomes range between 25 feet and 45 feet in length. Gas engines are in the front while diesel engines are in the back.
Motorhomes cost a lot more than travel trailers. Prices start at $50,000.
A motorhome can travel at highway speeds without a problem.
If a motorhome costs about $2,000 a year for repairs and maintenance, a travel trailer would run about half that of a motorhome.
Which is easier to tow: a travel trailer or a fifth wheel?
Both travel trailers and 5th wheel trailers are designed for outdoor enthusiasts. This means you’re free to explore country backroads without your RV holding you back. Also, compared to the price of a motorhome, travel trailers and 5th wheels are the way to go.
Driveability
Except for a few small travel trailers, 5th wheels have more driveability. They’re easier to maneuver and, in some cases, even safer to tow. Why? It has to do with where the hitch point is located. Fifth-wheel hitches – located closer to the center of the truck bed – provide a better turning radius and weight distribution, reducing sway while you drive.
A travel trailer’s low hitch point means the wind will throw you around a bit more, and your turning radius will be larger than a fifth wheel.
What upgrades should I consider before hooking up a trailer?
Before you hook up a trailer to your tow vehicle, make sure your truck or SUV is properly equipped with things like:
- Proper tires that have good tread.
- Proper mirrors
- An adequate hitch
- Suspension helper springs
Towing any trailer, especially a travel trailer, is risky if you aren’t properly prepared. Having a suspension that can handle the extra weight is imperative if you wish to reduce the risk and maintain maximum safety.
The type of rubber helper spring you choose should be able to fix roll and sway, suspension sag, and absorb road shock.
The only suspension upgrade that does all three is the easy-to-install rubber helper spring, Timbren SES.
Where are the best places to park a trailer for an all-around family vacation?
There are over 22,000 campgrounds in the United States. If you live in the U.S., you are close to some of the best campgrounds and RV parks. To give you some idea of what’s available, here are 10 locations that promise a perfect family vacation.
Islander Resort – Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Located on the shores of Lake Havasu, Islander Resort is a great choice for families who love to spend their days in or on the water. You can fish (with a license) and launch your boat from the docks, and there are several places nearby that rent paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, and jet skis.
Winding River Resort – Grand Lake, Colorado
One of the best family campgrounds and lodging resorts located on the Colorado River, Winding River Resort borders both Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest. Formerly a logging camp dating back to the late 1800s, the campground resort is an ideal setting for camping, hiking, and trail riding with your kids.
Tall Pines Campground and River Adventures – Bainbridge, New York
At Tall Pines Campground, the spacious RV sites include all the amenities necessary for modern camping comforts. When it’s time to leave the campsite, you can canoe, kayak, tube, and fish in the Unadilla and Susquehanna Rivers, or just hop in for a swim. On Fridays, Chippy’s Hippie Pizza Delivery will deliver your dinner in a pink 1969 VW Bug. And kids will love listening for the bell from Chippy’s Ice Cream Cart.
Splash RV Resort and Waterpark – Milton, Florida
With paved RV sites, cottages, and Conestoga Wagons for families who want to glamp it up, Splash RV Resort and Waterpark is located near Navarre Beach in Milton, Florida. With more than 60 acres, this is one of those big family campgrounds with so much to do that you may never want to leave. Put on your bathing suit and float down the lazy river, swim in one of the resort pools, or relax at the spa.
Austin Lake RV Park and Cabins – Toronto, Ohio
Family-owned and operated Austin Lakes RV Park and Cabins is situated on a huge manmade lake with plenty of open space for hiking, biking, and relaxing. Water sports and swimming are favorite activities at the resort’s 80-acre lake, sandy beach, an inflatable obstacle course. Paddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks, and bumper boats are also readily available. Stocked spring-fed ponds are great for fishing, and a kid-friendly creek flows through the park offering hours of fun.
Newport Dunes RV Resort and Marina – Newport Beach, California
Newport Dunes RV Resort and Marina offers roomy RV accommodations, charming cottages, a 442-slip marina, boat launch ramp, bike, and watercraft rentals, a waveless beach, and a swimming lagoon. Your RV site can be right by the water surrounded by palm trees and nestled up to a sandy beach. Watch the kids splash in the lagoon, take part in one of the many watersports offered, or bring a blanket and watch a movie on the beach.
Pineland Camping Park – Arkdale, Wisconsin
About two hours north of Madison, Pineland Camping Park is home to Pinezilla, the world’s largest inflatable waterslide at 42 feet high and 175 feet long. But that’s not the only thing that makes it one of the country’s best campgrounds. Pineland is filled with unusual attractions, including a giant chess set, jumping pillow, and a bazooka ball shootout game.
Beaver Lake Campground – Custer, South Dakota
An 81-site campground located roughly 50 minutes from Rapid City, Beaver Lake Campground has a pool and a 360-foot-long water slide that will keep kids busy all day long. Its RV sites are grassy, very large, and can be sunny or located under the pine trees, and you’ll have plenty of space for your camp chairs while you relax around the firepit. Tent campers will find ample tent sites, and those looking for more amenities will enjoy the deluxe or basic cabins.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Mammoth Cave – Cave City, Kentucky
Just a few miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Mammoth Cave is one of the country’s best campgrounds for relaxation and fun with friends and family. Whether you want tent sites, RV sites, or to try out the camping lifestyle in one of the park model cabins, the campground makes a great base for activities like exploring Mammoth Cave, kayaking in the Green, or Nolin Rivers, and soaring with nearby ziplines and canopy tours.
Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA – Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
The Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA is one of central Pennsylvania’s best family campgrounds. The RV sites are gravel, and many have a patio with a fire pit, Adirondack chairs, a charcoal grill, and a glider for relaxing. This campground is close enough to spend some time at Hersheypark or visit Amish Country. History buffs can go to Gettysburg, make a day trip to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, or see the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
How long is too long for a family vacation?
You have planned the perfect vacation. It begins with excitement and happy relaxation. But your family vacation has lasted too long when the routine starts to set in, your spouse is beginning to get on your nerves, your kids are starting to complain, and you begin to wish you were heading home.
No one wants a vacation that becomes stressful. So, to avoid such a disaster you might want to think about taking a week off. That means 2 days of travel and 5 days settled into the RV park of your choice. Research shows that after day 8, the positive vibes and wellness benefits you and your family enjoyed all week start to taper off.
With proper research and consideration, you can strategically offer your family the best vacation possible. There are ways to maximize peace and avoid stress. One way to avoid stress and promote peace is to prepare your RV for safe and comfortable travel. The best upgrade for your suspension is an easy-to-install Timbren SES kit.
For more information on suspension helper springs, visit Timbren.com.
