10 Best Travel Guides for RVers
If you’re planning to hit the road, you should hit these books first! These are the best travel guides for RVers…
They say for one to travel, all they have to do is open a book. You can discover incredible places, both real and imaginary, by dipping into a book and letting it take you to new places in your mind and in the world.
If you're looking for resources to improve your travels, these books will become a big part of your travel kit. Or you can read all our travel guides on our blog!
We’ve put together a list of must-have travel books for RVers. This list includes incredibly helpful atlases and guides for any RVer or road traveler.
1. GUIDE TO NATIONAL PARKS OF THE UNITED STATES
National parks are perhaps the biggest inspiration for people to jump in an RV and hit the road. There is no better way to see the vast variety of gorgeous landscapes our country has to offer than by visiting its national parks.
This best-selling guide was created by the leader of all things natural: National Geographic. With that of authority behind it, you know it’s very well-researched with enticing photos to get you excited.
It has over 300 photos and 80 colorful maps of the 59 national parks in the United States. Its useful content includes travel planning tips, itineraries, professional insights into the parks, and more.
It’s truly a must-have for every RVer, both new and veteran.
2. 50 STATES 5000 IDEAS
This is another National Geographic guide that’s definitely worth buying. If you love serendipitous travel, and wish to stumble upon and embrace unexpecting things, this book is excellent for creating a loose or even detailed itinerary that feels spontaneous.
It outlines where to go, when to go, what to see, and what to do. Its suggestions include everything from dude ranches to out-of-the-way museums, beaches to national parks, dinosaur trails to the oldest street in NYC, and more.
It definitely has something for everyone in each state.
3. WHERE SHOULD WE CAMP NEXT?
This camping guide is for people who are planning a “family-friendly budget-conscious summer camping trip.” It features more than 300 of the best camping and glamping spots in all 50 U.S. states.
Whether you like to camp or glamp, this is a useful resource for finding amazing campgrounds and unique accommodations.
4. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ROAD ATLAS
Every RVer needs a quality atlas. Yes, our electronic devices and GPS systems are incredibly helpful for finding our way. However, devices and GPS fail. Phone signals fail, and batteries die.
That is why every responsible RVers should own a road atlas, and this is the one we recommend. To no surprise as to why we like it, it’s created by National Geographic.
This atlas, of course, includes detailed maps, but it also has guidebook-like recommendations. That’s why we recommend this road atlas more than any other.
Well, this and one other really great atlas…
5. RAND MCNALLY LARGE SCALE ROAD ATLAS
Rand McNally is known for mapping, navigation, and road travel so it’s no surprise they’re on this list. They have quite a few resources available for RVers, but we like this large-scale road atlas.
The maps of every U.S. state in this atlas are 35% larger than the standard atlas version. So, it’s perfect for older travelers or road-weary eyes.
It also includes over 350 detailed city inset and national park maps. This one features: “Rand McNally presents The National Parks by Decade, a review of park history that begins more than a century ago, with the first wild and wonderful place to achieve park status—Yellowstone.”
6. CASINO CAMPING
It’s no secret that a lot of RVers like to gamble. So, this is an excellent resource for those who want to shape their travel plans around slot machines and table games.
But, this is actually also a great resource for boondockers or anyone looking for a free or cheap place to park overnight. This guide outlines RV-friendly casinos throughout America.
Each casino description includes:
- Contact information
- Description
- Gaming, food & entertainment
- Lodging & RV parking information
- Driving directions
7. OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Off the Beaten Path spotlights over 1,000 of the United States’ most overlooked must- see destinations. In a state-by-state A-to-Z format, this budget-friendly vacation planner reveals the best-kept secret spots. . . . Revel in nature, science, art, and culture, and encounter the unexpected as you explore undiscovered gems.
8. THE MOST SCENIC DRIVES IN AMERICA
We have an earlier edition of this book and love it for planning our RV and camping trips. Lots of maps, easy to read text, and photos.
The index is a visual map showing scenic drives by state and region with page listings to read about each scenic drive.
9. RV CAMPING IN STATE PARKS
Not all state parks with campgrounds have good facilities for RV travelers. This recently updated guide book provides information on more than 1,730 state parks, forests, and recreation areas in 49 states that offer accommodations for RVers.
It includes details like location, directions, GPS coordinates, and contact information. Also provided is the number and type of hookups, season of operation, RV length limit, and availability of showers, dump station, Wi-Fi, and more. Reviewers gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
10. GUIDE TO SCENIC HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS
You might expect a National Geographic book will be well illustrated. There are some 375 photos and 280 detailed maps covering 300 scenic drives in 50 states. As a guide book it is well-organized and because it is a National Geographic publication its’ recommendations of places to visit carry much credence.
The guides below cover some of the important facets of RV and Motorhome vacationing, as well a scenic USA travel in general (by car, bus, train or plane).
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Planning an RV trip can be very time-consuming so that’s why we’ve done the research for you.
If you don't feel like committing to reading a book, you can always read our travel guides on our blog!
See You On The Road!