Fun Family RV Road Trips to Take in the Midwest
If you’re tired of flying, we don’t blame you. Between long lines, delays, missing luggage, and rogue passengers, the airline experience of yesteryear is long gone. When you only get to spend a few weeks out of the year enjoying your well earned rest and relaxation, the last thing you should have to concern yourself with is whether a third party is going to be able to fulfill their end of the bargain by getting you there safely, and with all of the possessions you started with.
Luckily, flying isn’t the only option. In the past several years, more and more Americans have been turning to RV ownership in an effort to take back control of their free time. Beyond avoiding the pitfalls of air travel, RVs provide the freedom to choose exactly what you want out of a trip. There’s no need to stick to a rigid schedule and detours are not only welcome, but encouraged. That’s not even mentioning the growing, wonderfully diverse community of fellow RV enthusiasts you can meet along the way, and all of the hidden gems they’re willing to mark down on your map.
If you happen to be in the Midwest and you’re looking for your next spot to visit, allow us to jumpstart your brainstorming process with five suggestions of our own, and the highest rated RV parks nearby.
1. Alliance, NE (Places to Visit: Carhenge, Alliance Knight Museum, Chimney Rock)
What to do: Did you know that America has its very own Stonehenge? Did you know it’s actually better than the original? Carhenge is Nebraska’s response to Europe’s famous stone monument. A local favorite, the unique slice of Americana art is open from dusk until dawn, with a seasonal gift shop on-site.
After you visit Carhenge, venture into town and check out the Alliance Knight Museum. Inside, you’ll get to learn about the pioneer experience in the midwest. Check out the authentic pioneer memorabilia, native american artifacts, and learn about how the advent of the railroad led to significant change in the region. Beyond the rich course on local history, the museum is also home to a famously broad range of genealogy research.
If staying inside isn’t what you’re looking to do, travel 40 minutes southwest and check out Chimney Rock State Park. Combining incredible hiking trails with spectacular views, Chimney Rock State Park offers a wealth of fun activities to do, and a beautiful location to do them in.
Where to Stay: Chimney Rock Pioneer Crossing | Bayard, NE (4.6/5 on Google)
2. Winona, MN (Places to Visit: Prairie Moon Nursery, Broken Paddle Guided Kayak Tours)
What to do: Winona, MN is the perfect choice for those who can’t decide between an adventure into the city or an intimate exploration of the vast Minnesota wilderness. Offering equal parts urban sprawl and old world charm, Winona has a variety of fun and engaging activities to choose from.
Your first stop should be at Prairie Moon Nursery, home of the largest native plant collection available for retail sales in the United States. If you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to sign up for one of their guided prairie tours. Prairie Moon prides itself on their collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape around us, and you will truly feel at one with nature while you are there.
For those seeking something more adventurous, Broken Paddle Guided Kayak Tours offers an exceptionally serene journey through the floodplain forest of the Mississippi River. With a focus on providing an intimate perspective of the rich and diverse life that thrives in the hidden backwaters of the Mississippi, you can take in the view of bald eagles, migratory birds, deep forest canopy, and a plethora of unique mammals.
Where to Stay: Prairie Island Campground | Winona, MN (4.4/5 on Google)
3. Eskridge, KS (Places to Visit: Lake Wabaunsee, Symphony in the Flint Hills)
What to Do: Nestled along the Native Stone Scenic Byway, Eskridge, KS prides itself on being coined the “Gateway to the Flint Hills”, and who can blame them? Take in the beauty of the plains and the vast walls of limestone that pepper the hillsides. Enjoy easy living by the water at Lake Wabaunsee, a 235 acre, spring-fed gem in the heart of the Flint Hills. Enjoy all of the usual activities that can be found on the lake, and rest easy knowing RV parking/camping is available on site.
If you’re able to make your way out during Summer, find your way to Wade Pasture, just outside of Eskridge, for the Symphony in the Flint Hills. The Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event is an annual gathering on the prairie celebrating music, art, and the ecology of the Flint Hills that moves to a different site each year. Take part in what will be the 18th Annual Event, and learn more about what you can do to help sustain the strength of the last stand of tall grass prairie. If the timing doesn’t line up, don’t fret, as a variety of events are offered throughout the year.
Where to Stay: Mill Creek Campground | Paxico, KS (4.7/5 on Google)
4. Hill City, SD (Places to Visit: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, National Presidential Wax Museum)
What to Do: Considered the heart of the Black Hills, Hill City, SD will plant you firmly in the center of beautiful scenic views and old western history. Explore over 3,600 miles of open roads and another 650 miles of designated trails for all types of Off Highway Vehicles. Bring your own ATV/OHV or rent one from a local provider.
23 minutes outside of town, Custer State Park awaits, with 71,000 acres to explore. Breathe in the granite peaks, rolling plains, clear mountain waters, and open ranges that made the area famous. Custer State Park is home to abundant wildlife and adventure; camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or relaxing, there’s something here for everyone.
If it’s a slower pace you’re looking for, enjoy a guided horseback tour along the world class George S. Mickelson Trail. History buffs should note that they can visit both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse in the same day, with a brief 30-minute drive in between.
Also located just minutes away from Mount Rushmore is the National Presidential Wax Museum. Meet over 100 lifelike wax figures, including all 46 U.S. presidents, all depicted in stunning visual recreations of iconic moments in U.S. presidential history. If you’ve already visited, then you already know: Once you’re in Hill City, it’s nearly impossible to leave.
Where to Stay: Mount Rushmore Resort & Lodge at Palmer Gulch | Hill City, SD (4.5/5 on Google)
5. Baraboo, WI (Places to Visit: Circus World Museum, Devil’s Lake State Park, Parfrey’s Glen)
What to Do: Some people refer to Baraboo, WI as Circus City due to the fact that the Ringling Brothers called the town their home. Others refer to it as Gem City due to an old-time feud between Residents of Baraboo and the county board. No matter what you want to refer to it as, Baraboo will welcome you with open arms and a variety of activities to partake in.
Check out Circus World, a Wisconsin Historic Site that served as the Ringling Brothers winter quarter home. Open seven days a week, Circus World provides a wild and wacky, family-fun experience. Watch elephants, jugglers, and acrobats as they hold a happy hoedown with horses, unicycles, dogs, llamas & clowns. Take charge of a self-guided tour of the grounds, exploring seven massive buildings that bring to life the fascinating heritage of the more than 100 circuses that made their home in Wisconsin.
Head outside and venture nine miles south to enjoy Devil’s Lake State Park. Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Devil’s Lake State Park offers 30 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnic areas, swimming beaches, year-round naturalist programs, and above all, magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs that overlook a 360-acre lake. Be sure to visit Palfrey’s Glen, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-designated State Natural Area. The glen is a deep gorge cut through the sandstone of the south flank of the Baraboo Hills.
Where to Stay: Fox Hill RV Resort | Baraboo, WI (4.5/5 on Google)
With a little bit of online sleuthing, it’s easy to find the lesser-known beauty and hidden gems that are buried throughout the midwest. Having an RV makes it possible to venture to locations otherwise improbable from a logistics standpoint. With the freedom to choose, and the flexibility to change course at a moments notice, the only thing RV owners need to determine is where to start first.