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Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts is a must-visit part of the United States for history buffs. One of the original thirteen colonies, you can visit many historic sites from U.S. history within a short drive of each other. Popular historic destinations include the Paul Revere House, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the USS Constitution. You can also visit Salem, the JFK Presidential Library & Museum, the Saugus Iron Works, and many more historic destinations.
There are many campgrounds to park your RV, including the Pinewood Lodge Campground in Plymouth, the Spacious Skies Minuteman Campground, and the Circle CG Farm Campground.
Philadelphia, PA
As the birthplace of the United States of America, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is rich in historical destinations. You can immerse yourself in early American history, from Independence Hall to the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross Museum, and more. Outside of Philly, you can visit historic sites like Valley Forge, where the Continental Army lived and trained, or Washington Crossing Historic Park where George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River.
There are a variety of campgrounds around the Philadelphia area, including the Philadelphia South / Clarksboro KOA, the West Chester KOA, and the Four Seasons Family Campground in Pilesgrove, New Jersey.
Washington, DC
Every history buff should visit the nation’s capital at least once. Must-visit historic destinations include the U.S. Capitol building, the Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, the Old Post Office Pavillion, President Lincoln’s Cottage, Oak Hill Cemetery and numerous memorials to war veterans and former presidents. Head to Baltimore to visit the Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum, the Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, or historic ships on Baltimore Harbor.
There are plenty of RV-friendly campgrounds near Washington, DC, including Cherry Hill Park, Camp Meade RV Park, the Washington DC/Capitol KOA, and the Adventure Bound Campground.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is an important part of U.S. history. Visit the Atlanta Historical Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and the Margaret Mitchell House. For a light-hearted, thirst-quenching bit of history, check out the World of Coca-Cola Museum.
Consider parking your camper at the Atlanta Marietta RV Resort or the Atlanta South RV Resort.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans has a rich, important history. While many visitors head there for food and festivities, there are a variety of historic destinations to visit, including walking tours of the Garden District and the French Quarter. You can also visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the Chalmette Battlefield, and the Backstreet Cultural Museum.
Check out RV-friendly camping at Jude Travel Park of New Orleans or Pontchartrain Landing.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is known for its strong musical history and mouth-watering barbeque. However, Memphis also offers important insights and educational opportunities to learn about the civil rights movement in the U.S. You can visit the National Civil Rights Museum, The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange, or learn about the underground railroad at the Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum. Music lovers will enjoy visiting Sun Studio, the W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum, The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and of course Graceland.
You can park your RV at EZ DAZE RV Park or Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort Memphis.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City are must-visit destinations for RVers and history buffs. Mackinac Island is unique in that no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. Visitors arrive via ferry or plane and can use public transportation in the form of horse-drawn taxis. While on Mackinac Island, visit Mackinac Island State Park, Colonial Michilimackinac, Fort Mackinac, the Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, and the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. You can also visit the nearby Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Historic Mill Creek, and the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum.
Since motorized vehicles are prohibited in Mackinac Island, you can camp at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, Mackinaw City / Mackinac Island KOA Journey, or the Tee Pee Camps.
Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota
A symbol of freedom and democracy, Mt. Rushmore is a tribute to American presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. In addition to the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, you can visit Badlands National Park, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. Head to nearby Deadwood, South Dakota, to see the Mount Moriah Cemetery, the 1880 Train, and the Black Hills Mining Museum. Visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame and Fort Meade in nearby Sturgis.
Check out Rushmore View RV Park, Kemp’s Kamp, and Wolf Camp Keystone for RV camping sites.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is historically and environmentally important. As the first national park, Yellowstone has many locations in the National Register of Historic Places, including the Lake Hotel, Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Yellowstone Lake, and the town of Cinnabar, Montana. Check out the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, South Pass City, Fort Casper, and Independence Rock.
You can park your RV at Gardiner’s Yellowstone RV Park, Buffalo Crossing RV Park, or Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn. Because of the wildlife in the area (aka bears), make sure you review all of the rules and best practices about the type of RV that you can use as well as food storage safety.
Route 66, Chicago to Los Angeles
Known as The Mother Road, Route 66 is an iconic route for history buffs. The original Route 66 wound through small-town America and was the primary route from Chicago to Los Angeles until the building of the interstate system gave drivers a faster, more efficient route. Today, the road has regained popularity, and you can still drive much of the original road or see some iconic destinations.
Some of these iconic, historic attractions include the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum in Pontiac, Illinois, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, and the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Stop by the town of Seligman, Arizona, and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, and take a detour off the historic highway to visit the Grand Canyon. You can end your trip (or start, depending on whether you go west to east or east to west) at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
With 2,448 miles of road to cover, there are endless options for places to park your RV. Check out Desert View RV Resort in Needles, California, Oasis RV Resort & Cottages in Amarillo, Texas, or the Pheasant Acres RV Park in St. James, Missouri.
