Guest Author - Evanne Schmarder

There’s nothing more thrilling than experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of a big city. The pace is quickened and life’s vibrancy and variety is abundant. But taking the RV through the maze of trafficked streets? I don’t think so. Well guess what, you can have it all. Enjoy the best of both worlds by choosing a campground or RV park just outside the city with nearby public transportation. This option allows you to mix your camping getaway with the city lights sans the hassle of dealing with one way streets, sky-high parking rates (if you can find a spot) all for a very reasonable cost (chances are it’ll be cheaper than fuel). You’ll also find these parks easier to get to, quieter than being “in the city” and as safe as any other RV park you might visit.

Several cities on many “must-see” lists have excellent public transportation systems. We’ve taken advantage of city buses and trains in Washington, DC, St. Louis, MO, San Francisco, CA and more. Once you’ve chosen the city you’d like to visit begin researching campgrounds in a Trailer Life or Woodall’s Directory – if there is convenient transportation to the city they’ll usually mention it in their ad, use Google and a few good search words like “camping near washington dc” and take advantage of sites like RVParkReviews.com. Remember, it’s always a good idea to cross-reference info found online with a directory that provides park ratings. When you’ve whittled down the possibilities call the parks and ask about transportation to the city. They should be able to tell you the closest transit location, all about ride tickets and popular destinations or at least direct you to the proper transit website or toll-free number.

If you’re interested in the DC area I’d recommend Cherry Hill Park located in College Park, MD. This RV park is the closest to DC with a city bus stopping at the park delivering you to the Metro stop just minutes away. No fuss, no muss. This park is also a resort offering a hot tub, sauna, pools, free nightly movies, mini-golf and more.

Always wanted to visit the Jefferson Memorial – better known as the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the city’s free Art Museum, Zoo, Science Center and Missouri History Museum or taking a turn on a mighty Mississippi Paddlewheel? Book your RV adventure at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, IL. This campground offers sites up to 70 feet long and a buy 1 get 1 free breakfast in the casino restaurant your first morning.

The City by the Bay is a delight to explore but a nightmare to drive. Just 25-ish miles south is the sweet town of Redwood City. Stay at Trailer Villa RV Park (not much more than a parking lot with water, power and sewer) and a short 5 minute drive will deliver you to the CalTrain station where you can park underground for $2/day and ride to San Francisco in style for about 8 bucks roundtrip.

Plenty of other cities offer this convenience, too – Seattle, Portland (OR), Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and more. Do some investigating, make your plan, park your rig and get your ticket to ride. Hey, camper, don’t forget your camera!!!