Spending the holidays in an RV is an open invitation to do whatever your heart desires. During the winter holidays, the options really are endless! Why not get the whole family on board and start a new stress-free holiday tradition! Load up the presents, candy canes, and twinkly lights, here are some road trip ideas for your winter holidays in an RV.
Visiting Family
Driveway Surfing: All the joy of visiting your family with the comfort of your own space to retreat to. Consequently, save money on hotels or hopping from guest room to guest room. Instead, enjoy the convenience of your RV while you driveway hop through the winter holidays.
Photo Credit: xanterra
An Adventurous Holiday
Meet the whole family at the Grand Canyon. Escape the hustle and bustle of 1000s of tourists and the sweltering heat of Arizona’s summers. The whole family can stay at the year-round RV Park. Skip the stress of hosting the family and make memories that last a lifetime.
Christmas Spirit-Filled Holiday
Get in the holiday spirit with a month and a half of holiday cheer at Stone Mountain Christmas Festival! Enjoy holiday train rides, daily Christmas parades, nightly fireworks, and millions of dazzling lights!
A Sunny Holiday
Escape the holiday hustle and bustle and spend the days on the white sandy beaches of Pensacola Beach, Florida. With many RV Parks to choose from, enjoy miles of crystal clear empty beaches and getting a tan during Christmas Holidays!
Photo Credit: travelyosemite.com
A Peaceful Holiday
Sink into the peace and quiet of the season at Yosemite National Park. Sparkling snowflakes fall silently in this gorgeous National Park. Skip the crowds and enjoy a variety of winter activities. Spend some quality time in nature this holiday season.
Photo Credit: Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, Brian Munoz
A Bright Christmas
Leavenworth, Washington, a quaint Bavarian town that becomes a village of lights for Christmas. Experience over half a million lights in this magical Christmas display. Also, don’t miss the carolers, Santa, and a full Christmas festival the first three weekends of December.
The convenience of spending the holidays in an RV means endless possibilities. You can visit the family, start a new family tradition, choose a destination or maybe do them all! However you are hoping to spend your holidays, make memories that will last a lifetime, and have a happy, stress-free holiday in an RV.
Once you rent a great RV rental for us then you are ready to start your Washington to Oregon loop road trip.
You’ve rented your RV but you can’t start your RV rental road trip in Seattle without a great cup of coffee. Here’s a list of some of the best coffee shops in Seattle.
Space Needle. From the observation wheel, you can see the Cascade Mountains and even Mt. Rainier.
Seattle Great Wheel. Get a view of the city from the 175 ft Ferris wheel at Pier 57.Photo Credit: image.dynamixse.com
Museum of Pop Culture. This museum includes items from icons like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan
Pike Place Market. This iconic market features 200+ vendors and street performers.
Seattle Aquarium. Watch the sea otters play and touch sea anemones.
Museum of Flight. An air and space museum with a NASA flight simulator.
Discovery Park. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city at Seattle’s largest public park. Follow miles of hiking trails through forests, meadows, and beaches to views of the Sound.
Mt Rainier National Park RV Rental Road Trip:
The first stop on our RV rental road trip is Mt Rainier National Park. Mt Rainier is the highest mountain in the Cascade Mountain Range and has the most glaciated area in the continental United States making it a must-see. From Seattle, you can take WA-161, which will join WA-7 and then, turn onto US-12 E.
This area has too many wonderful RV campsites to choose from both outside and inside the park. A few notable options ideal for RV’s are The Arboretum, where you can have the unique experience of camping on a Christmas tree farm or for another remote and quiet option Bumps & Bruzas Riverfront is a very simple property on the Carbon River with no hookup and only 7 sites making it the perfect place to relax and unplug (Max 40 ft RVs).
Mt St. Helens RV Rental Road Trip:
Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980 and devastated the landscape, but almost 40 years later it has been a true testament of nature’s resilience. Today you will experience a vibrant thriving ecosystem.
Photo Credit: Wiki Media
Spend the night at Seaquest State Park, a 505-acre park that is connected to the Mount St. Helens Visitors Centre by a pedestrian tunnel. The visitors center is an attraction of its own where you can learn about the historical significance of the landscape and the resilience of surrounding ecosystems through talks, exhibits, and films. The campsite also has a boardwalk around the wetlands where you can enjoy stunning volcano views.
There are a variety of different hikes to enjoy here for all skill levels. Here is a link to 16 of the best trails to explore. If you are especially ambitious and organized you can buy a permit to hike to the summit which goes on sale each February. It can be a challenging hike with some scree, bouldering, ash, and possible snow, so come prepared for the weather.
Mt Hood RV Rental Road Trip:
The next stop of our RV rental road trip is Mt Hood. Stay at Trillium Lake Campground, located at the base of Mt Hood, in the beautiful Mount Hood National Forest. This campground offers unparalleled views of the summit. There is a very friendly atmosphere and it is a great spot for swimming, hiking, biking, or non-motorized boating.
The Trillium Lake loop trail circles the alpine lake and presents astounding views of the mountain.
Things to do around Mount Hood Territory-
Lake Oswego Farmers Market. Every Saturday during the summer months you will find approximately 80 different vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, jewelry, coffee, etc, alongside live music.
Blue Sky Rafting. Get your thrills rafting a half-day down the East Fork of Hood River.
Timberline Lodge. This National Historic Landmark is the hub of activity for hikers and skiers
Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum. Exhibits include the evolution of skiing on Mt. Hood, and early pioneers and the exploration of Mt. Hood.
Take the northern section of Mount Hood Scenic Loop, a spectacular drive that connects Mt Hood, Hood River, and Portland through quiet villages and some amazing waterfalls. This route will take you past The Bridge of the Gods and Multnomah Falls, a 611-ft roaring waterfall.
Trade-in your hiking shoes for a little taste of city life when you drive south-west for 1.5 hours into Portland Oregon.
Portland Oregon RV Rental Road Trip:
Ranking among the top restaurants per capita in the US, you will find no shortages of places to eat in Portland. Here is a fantastic list of the 38 essential restaurants in Portland ranging from fine dining to food trucks and street food.
Photo Credit: WheretoWillie.com
Some notable activities in Portland for your RV rental road trip-
Visit Washington State Park. In the 410-acre park, you can visit an arboretum, Japanese gardens, a children’s museum, and a zoo.
Explore an Urban Forest Reserve. West of downtown Portland is one of the largest urban forest reserves in the U.S. This park has 70 miles of walking trails and overlooks the scenic Willamette River.
Visit the “Portland Penny”. The coin from the historic coin toss that decided Portlands name is on display at the Oregon Historical Museum.
Take a trip to The World Forestry Center. Change the way you look at trees and learn about environmental sustainability. Take a virtual tour of Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa to learn how people are dependant on their forests all over the world.
Experience the Portland Art Museum. This museum is the seventh oldest in the country and its collections include Native American artifacts and English silver.
Explore the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This museum offers more than 200 interactive exhibits including a chance to tour a submarine that was in active service between 1959 and 1990.
Pacific Coast:
No RV rental road trip would be complete without a drive up the Pacific Coast. From Portland, drive west until Tillamook where you can connect to highway 101. From here follow highway 101 north and enjoy the scenic highway and all the picturesque coastal views.
As you continue north you will pass through some great winding roads in Oswald State Park.
Why not learn to surf on your RV rental road trip. You will pass by some great beaches to learn to surf on your way up the coast. Indian Beach at Ecola State Park. Leave highway 101 and enter Cannon Beach at the north exit. You will see signs for Ecola State Park. When you get to the park, you will see signs for Indian Beach. Cannon Beach is an easy place to get to surfing spots for all skill levels. Leave Highway 101 and enter the town of Cannon Beach from the north or south exit
Here is some more information about where to take lessons or find more advanced waves.
Long Beach. Stop by in July to watch SandSations, the annual Long Beach sand sculpting competition.
Stretch your legs at Lewis & Clark National Park in Naselle where you can learn about the heritage of America’s first peoples and the exciting stories of the European explorers.
In Raymond Washington, the road turns northwest and the coastal views end and you begin to drive through beautiful pine groves. Continue northwest until Tacoma and finally north to Seattle where your Washington-Oregon Loop RV rental road trip is complete.
In addition to this article check out the articles below for more information.
Travel Washington Hot Springs Guide in an RV Rental
Why not take advantage of the low RV rental prices in the fall and winter and take the opportunity to visit the Hot Springs in Washington. Hot Springs are one of my favorite things. No one is ever in a rush and everyone is relaxed with no place to go. The healing powers of hot springs have been used for thousands of years. Hot springs boost circulation, reduce stress, promote sleep, reduce pain, and heal common skin ailments. Rent an RV and go on a road trip and stay at each of these hot springs or plant roots and spend your trip at only one.
Olympic Hot Springs
Olympic Hot Springs is a 5 miles round trip hike, so this is a good trip to do with the family. The path is wide and a gentle slope to the hot tubs. These are natural tubs, no man-made pools here. Pick a trail and find the pool that is perfect for you. The pools range from 85-105 degrees. Be forewarned that nudity is common, if you are uncomfortable just move to another pool.
Bonneville Hot Springs
Bonneville Hot Springs has a great restaurant, with a nice hot spring-fed pool. There is also a spa on location if you really want to pamper yourself. This is a big public pool with all the amenities, stay for a couple of days and enjoy.
Photo Credit: Bonneville Hot Springs Resort
Goldmyer Hot Springs
Goldmyer Hot Springs is a hidden gem in the Northwest, located about a 3-hour drive from Seattle. For this spring you will need a high clearance vehicle as the road can be a little rough. It is also a 4.5-mile hike into the springs. But once you get there it is like a little piece of heaven. These natural hot springs are located on private property and reservations are required as only 20 people a day are allowed into the springs. There is a caretakers cabin for you to check-in at.
Doe Bay Hot Springs
Doe Bay Hot Springs is located on Orca Island and has a beautiful view of the bay while soaking is the man-made hot springs. Clothing is optional so this may not be the right choice for you as there are only 3 pools available. Also, the Doe Bay Cafe and Doe Bay Garden Restaurant are getting a lot of attention from Foodies across the country as their reputation for fresh healthy cuisine gains more and more attention.
Sol Duc Hot Springs
Sol Duc Hot Springs located in Olympic National Park and has three man-made hot pools of varying temperatures and one freshwater cold pool. There are two RV campgrounds within a 20-minute walk of the Hot Springs.
https://www.olympicnationalparks.com
Scenic Hot Springs
Scenic Hot Springs is located on private land and requires written permission to access the springs. Permission can be received for a small fee and is limited to a maximum of 10 people per day. The trail leading up to the hot springs is about an hour hike and has a good incline the whole way up, so come prepared with good footwear and maybe even a pair of snowshoes depending on the weather.
Carson Hot Springs
Carson Hot Springs isn’t a fancy spa retreat however it is a quiet getaway from everyday life. For instance, you could spend an hour getting a spa treatment with a soak or spend the weekend escaping the hustle of everyday life. Carson Hot Springs is the perfect getaway. These rustic hot springs offer simplicity surrounding the sulfur-rich healing water. The hotel, that was completed in 1901 is still being used today along with the cabins and bathhouse.
This is the perfect time of year to rent an RV and take a tour of Washington hot springs. The weather is cold, the RV rental prices are low and the hot springs are hot. Visit our quote program now and start planning your next Washington hot springs RV rental trip.
For other road trip ideas, you can check out these links.
