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In case you haven't heard, RVs are cool again. Their resurgence in popular culture may be in part due to the pandemic, but even with international travel opening up again, Americans are choosing to spend summer 2022 in a dreamy campervan checking out the gorgeous scenery this country has to offer.
So where's the best spot to park your beast this summer?
StorageCafe has come out with a list of the most popular RV destinations, as reported by Travel + Leisure, and the top city is a small one in the Ozarks: Branson, Missouri. In fact, the top three destinations are all mountain towns, proving this is a popular choice... and two of them have Dolly Parton and Titanic connections (more throwbacks to go with your RV).
Branson is a mountain resort with springs and caves for nature rambles, as well as nearby theaters, museums, entertainment centers, retail shopping. For experiences, there's also Dolly Parton's Stampede, an equestrian-themed dinner theater, and a Titanic Museum Attraction with 400 pre-discovery artifacts. There are 25 well-priced campsites, and more than 80 percent feature pull-through parking.
The second place winner, Hot Springs, Arkansas, is another mountain town, offering 16 campsites in the Ouachita Mountains — and it’s only a short drive south of Branson. Hit the top two in one visit! Hot Springs boasts, as its name promises, hot water springs still used in modern spas. And there are also theme parks, film and music festivals and a zoo. Groceries are a great deal in Hot Springs (with an index figure of 95.7 compared to 100 nationwide) for the meals you’ll be making in the RV.
Coming in third is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: yet another mountain town, only 20 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s also close to Dollywood and another Titanic Museum attraction, the ‘sister ship’ to the one in Branson. The RV campsites here won for cost, access to retail and providing cable TV and WiFi. Plus, great for muggy summers, more than 80 percent of the 16 campsites have a swimming pool.
Overall, the top 10 locations on the list have around 18 campsites on average and provide water and electricity. Most also have sewerage hookups and allow pets. To create the list, StorageCafe worked with data from CampgroundViews to analyze campsite costs and key features, as well as destination information like air quality, internet speed, grocery store prices and retail access.
The rest of the list?
4. Zephyrhills, Florida
5. Grants Pass, Oregon
6. Rockport, Texas
7. Gulf Shores, Alabama
8. South Fork, Colorado
9. Houston, Texas
10. Fort Myers, Florida
11. Tucson, Arizona
12. Yuma, Arizona,
13. Tyler, Texas
14. San Antonio, Texas
15. Foley, Alabama
16. Mission, Texas
17. Redding, California
18. Naples, Florida
19. Brownsville, Texas
20. Austin, Texas