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Putting together an entire Thanksgiving meal can be exhausting. This year, why not consider ditching tradition and finding a campground where you can relax rather than sweat in the kitchen? Today, we’ll share the best RV parks to celebrate Thanksgiving.
These RV parks offer activities, outdoor recreation, and a savory meal to make your holiday enjoyable and memorable. Let’s dive in!
Is November a Popular Time of Year for Camping?
Yes! While spring and summer are typically considered “camping season,” many people prefer the cool fall days to enjoy the outdoors. September through November are still popular months for camping because of the pleasant temperatures and beautiful fall colors.
RVers also hit the road to support their favorite football teams and host tailgate parties. We love camping later in the fall because campgrounds are less crowded, and rates are usually cheaper.
Why Take a Thanksgiving Road Trip?
Many people enjoy baking casseroles and stirring pots on the stove over the Thanksgiving holiday. They welcome a dozen or more family members, delight in a five-course meal, watch NFL football on the big screen, and relish catching up with loved ones. Often, all of this takes place in a sticks-and-bricks house.
However, some RVers choose to hit the road for the holiday and escape the steaming kitchen. They don’t want the hassle of preparing a large meal or the stress of ensuring everything is perfect.
They don’t want to clean the house for guests or worry about if an uncle will say something rude to a cousin. Extended family gatherings aren’t always pleasant and cordial.
Other RVers prefer to enjoy the scenic beauty of November. It might be the last time they’ll go camping for the year, so they take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday and extra days off from work and school.
The 8 Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving Festivities
We have a great list to share if you want an RV park with fun Thanksgiving activities. Some of these eight RV parks make the entire meal, while others provide the main course and invite campers to bring a side dish or dessert.
Other campgrounds host parties, kids’ activities, and other events to make the holiday special. Let’s dive in!
1. Grand Canyon National Park’s Trailer Village
Website: https://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/trailer-village-rv-park
Address: 100 Trailer Village Road, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Nightly Rate: $79
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: While the campground itself doesn’t offer a Thanksgiving meal, the Yavapai Dining Hall at the Grand Canyon hosts an annual Thanksgiving buffet. It costs $35 per adult and $19.95 per child and includes turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, green beans, candied yams, pumpkin pie, and more.
All of the traditional dishes are served here. And where is a better place to spend the holiday than gazing out at one of the world’s natural wonders?
2. Yosemite National Park – multiple campgrounds
Website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Address: Yosemite National Park
Nightly Rate: $10 to $36
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: Yosemite National Park has ten campgrounds that can accommodate RVs. But like Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon, it’s not the campgrounds that are the reason to visit. The Ahwahnee Dining Room serves a hearty Thanksgiving buffet. It costs $109.31 per adult and $54.65 per child.
Plus, you get to spend Thanksgiving in one of the most beautiful places in the country. Enjoy hiking Yosemite during the day and chow down on a delicious Thanksgiving dinner you don’t have to prepare!
3. Cumberland Mountain State Park
Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cumberland-mountain
Address: 24 Office Dr., Crossville, TN 38555
Nightly Rate: $10 to $40
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: Cumberland Mountain State Park is known for its ample outdoor recreation. Visitors enjoy paddling, boating, biking, golfing, hiking, fishing, and birding all year. For Thanksgiving, the Homestead Harvest onsite restaurant serves a savory meal from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
It costs $28 per adult and $14 per child and includes turkey, ham, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, banana pudding, and all the traditional dishes of Thanksgiving. The restaurant will also have a special place for family photos.
4. South Padre Island KOA Holiday
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/south-padre/
Address: 1 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597
Nightly Rate: $80 to $95
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: This RV park in southeastern Texas hosts a Thanksgiving Celebration and provides turkey and ham while campers bring other dishes. This potluck is a fun way to meet other travelers and enjoy cuisine from all over the country since RVers will bring their own special dishes.
Plus, you get to enjoy beaches and sunshine along the Gulf Coast and all amenities like a swimming pool, hot tub, playground, and basketball court. If Texas isn’t the best location for you, many KOAs offer a Thanksgiving potluck, so you can choose a KOA near the destination you want to visit this November.
Keep in Mind: If you are planning to cook this Thanksgiving, consider making one of these dishes you can actually cook in your RV!
5. Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay
Website: https://www.sunoutdoors.com/california/sun-outdoors-san-diego-bay
Address: 825 E. St., Chula Vista, CA 91910
Nightly Rate: starting at $119
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: Once called Chula Vista RV Resort, this park is now operated by Sun Outdoors. But it still hosts a potluck Thanksgiving celebration for its guests. This oasis outside San Diego is a great place to spend the holiday.
Rent a poolside cabana, sip a beverage, watch the sunset over the bay, or laugh while the kids dash around the splash pad. Plus, you can hit the Sweetwater Marsh Nature Reserve on foot or bike and explore the coastal habitats.
6. Top of the Hill RV Resort
Website: https://www.topofthehillrvresort.com/
Address: 12 Green Cedar Road, Boerne, TX 78006
Nightly Rate: $65
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: Join the Texans at Top of the Hill RV Resort for their annual “Turkey In A Trash Can” event this Thanksgiving. Never heard of such a thing? The resort owners actually cook the turkeys over an open fire in trash cans!
It’s a potluck event where campers bring their favorite dishes. If you want a unique experience, you’ll love camping at Top of the Hill RV Resort this November.
7. Carolina Adventure World
Website: https://carolinaadventureworld.com/
Address: 1515 Arrowhead Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180
Nightly Rate: $30 to $50
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: This outdoor playground in South Carolina makes our list of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving for a different reason than the rest. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, Carolina Adventure World hosts its monthly Night Ride. If you’re an ATVer, this is the place you want to be in November.
A hundred miles of trails stay open so you can explore the night air and enjoy the starry sky. Bring your own ATV or rent one there. CAW also hosts a Christmas Food Drive in November to support the local community. So, this unique park is one of our favorites for the holiday season!
Keep in Mind: Is your RV decorated for the holiday season? If you still need to decorate it, you’ll love these RV Christmas Decorations!
8. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Tabor City
Website: https://taborcityjellystone.com/
Address: 626 Richard Wright Road, Tabor City, NC 28463
Nightly Rate: $62 to $105
Why It’s One of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving: Formerly known as Daddy Joe’s, this Jellystone Park hosts a Thankful and Grateful Weekend with tons of activities for the whole family. Kids can enjoy fall crafts, sack races, bean bag toss games, and more. There’s also a fishing tournament and scavenger hunt.
Plus, the quad sites offer the perfect opportunity to camp with family or friends for the holiday weekend. Like the KOAs, many Jellystone Parks will offer Thanksgiving-themed activities and potlucks for guests, so find a location near you if North Carolina doesn’t work for you.
Celebrate the holiday at one of the Best RV Parks for Thanksgiving!
If you want to escape your extended family and join fellow RVers this Thanksgiving, these RV parks will provide the amenities, activities, and meals to make your holiday memorable.
Or, if you want to bring together family members from across the country, these campgrounds are perfect places to catch up with loved ones you might only see once a year.
The national parks offer unparalleled beauty, and the other locations offer plenty of things to do to enjoy nature. So, if you’re worried about packing on the pounds this holiday season, head to the trails to work off that second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy and enjoy camping at one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving!
Which location grabbed your attention?
