Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Jess
Putting together an entire Thanksgiving meal can be exhausting. This year, why not break away from tradition and find a campground where you can relax instead of sweating it out in the kitchen? Today we present the best RV parks for celebrating Thanksgiving.
These RV parks offer activities, outdoor recreation, and tasty food to help you enjoy and remember your holiday. Dive right in!
Is December a popular time of year for camping?
While spring and summer are usually considered “camping season”, many people prefer the cool fall days to enjoy the outdoors. The months of September through November are still popular camping months due to the pleasant temperatures and beautiful fall colors.
Campers also head out to support their favorite football teams and host cookouts. We love camping in late fall because the campgrounds are less crowded and prices are usually cheaper.
Why take a Thanksgiving road trip?
Many people enjoy baking casseroles and stirring pots on the stove on Thanksgiving. They welcome a dozen or more family members, enjoy a five-course meal, watch NFL football on the big screen, and rejoice when they see their loved ones again. Often all this takes place in a house made of wood and bricks.
However, some campers prefer to get away for the holidays and escape the steamy kitchen. They don’t want the hassle of preparing a big meal or the stress of making sure everything is perfect.
You don’t want to clean the house for guests or worry about whether an uncle will say something rude to a cousin. Extended family gatherings are not always pleasant and cordial.
Other campers prefer to enjoy the scenic beauty of November. It may be the last time they go camping this year, so they take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday and the extra days off from work and school.
The 8 best RV sites for Thanksgiving celebrations
We’ve got a great list for you if you’re looking for an RV park with fun Thanksgiving activities. Some of these eight RV parks cook the entire meal, while others offer the main course and encourage campers to bring a side dish or dessert.
Other campgrounds host parties, children’s activities, and other events to make the holiday special. Let’s dive in!
1. Grand Canyon National Park’s Trailer Village
Website: https://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/trailer-village-rv-park
Address: 100 Trailer Village Road, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Nightly rate: $79
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: While the campground itself doesn’t offer Thanksgiving dinner, the Yavapai Dining Hall at Grand Canyon has a Thanksgiving buffet every year. It costs $35 per adult and $19.95 per child and includes turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, green beans, candied yams, pumpkin pie and more.
All the traditional dishes are served here. And what better way to spend the holiday than with a view of one of the natural wonders of the world?
2. Yosemite National Park – several campsites
Website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Address: Yosemite National Park
Nightly rate: $10 to $36
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: Yosemite National Park has ten campgrounds that can accommodate RVs. But like the Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon, the campgrounds aren’t the reason to visit. The Ahwahnee Dining Room serves a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet. It costs $109.31 per adult and $54.65 per child.
You can also spend Thanksgiving in one of the most beautiful places in the country. Enjoy a hike in Yosemite during the day and indulge in a delicious Thanksgiving dinner that you don’t have to prepare!
3. Cumberland Mountain State Park
Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cumberland-mountain
Address: 24 Office Dr., Crossville, TN 38555
Nightly rate: $10 to $40
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: Cumberland Mountain State Park is known for its extensive recreational offerings. Visitors can paddle, boat, bike, golf, hike, fish and bird watch year-round. For Thanksgiving, the on-site restaurant Homestead Harvest serves a tasty meal from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
It costs $28 per adult and $14 per child and includes turkey, ham, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, banana pudding, and all the traditional Thanksgiving fare. The restaurant also has a special place for family photos.
4th South Padre Island KOA Vacation
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/south-padre/
Address: 1 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Nightly rate: $80 to $95
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: This RV park in southeast Texas hosts a Thanksgiving celebration and offers turkey and ham, while campers bring other dishes to share. This potluck is a great opportunity to meet other travelers and enjoy dishes from around the country as campers bring their own dishes.
Plus, you can enjoy the beaches and sunshine of the Gulf Coast and enjoy all the amenities like a swimming pool, hot tub, playground, and basketball court. If Texas isn’t the best location for you, many KOAs offer a Thanksgiving potluck, so you can choose a KOA near the destination you want to visit in November.
Don’t forget: If you’re cooking this Thanksgiving, consider making one of these dishes that you can make in your RV!
5. outdoor sun San Diego Bay
Website: https://www.sunoutdoors.com/california/sun-outdoors-san-diego-bay
Address: 825 E. St., Chula Vista, CA 91910
Nightly rate: from $119
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: This park, formerly called Chula Vista RV Resort, is now operated by Sun Outdoors. But it still hosts a Thanksgiving celebration and potluck for its guests. This oasis outside of San Diego is a great place to spend the holiday.
Rent a cabana by the pool, sip a drink, watch the sunset over the bay, or laugh while the kids play on the wading pool. You can also explore the Sweetwater Marsh Nature Reserve on foot or by bike and discover the coastal habitats.
6 Top of the Hill RV Resort
Website: https://www.topofthehillrvresort.com/
Address: 12 Green Cedar Road, Boerne, TX 78006
Nightly rate: $65
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: Join the Texans at Top of the Hill RV Resort as they host their annual “Turkey In A Trash Can” event on Thanksgiving. Never heard of such a thing? The owners of the resort actually roast the turkeys over an open fire in trash cans!
It’s a potluck event where campers bring their favorite dishes. If you’re looking for a unique experience, you’ll love camping at Top of the Hill RV Resort in November.
7th Carolina Adventure World
Website: https://carolinaadventureworld.com/
Address: 1515 Arrowhead Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180
Nightly rate: $30 to $50
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: This outdoor playground in South Carolina is on our list of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving for a different reason than the others. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Carolina Adventure World hosts its monthly Night Ride. If you’re an ATVer, this is the place to be in November.
One hundred miles of trails stay open so you can explore the night air and enjoy the starry skies. Bring your own ATV or rent one on-site. CAW also hosts a Christmas food drive in November to support the local community. So this unique park is one of our favorites this holiday season!
Don’t forget: Is your motorhome decorated for the Christmas season? If you have yet to decorate it, you’ll love these RV Christmas decorations!
8th Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Tabor City
Website: https://taborcityjellystone.com/
Address: 626 Richard Wright Road, Tabor City, NC 28463
Nightly rate: $62 to $105
Why this is one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving: This Jellystone Park, formerly known as Daddy Joe’s, is hosting a “Thankful and Grateful Weekend” with tons of activities for the whole family. For kids, there will be fall crafts, sack races, bean bag toss games, and more. There will also be a fishing tournament and a scavenger hunt.
Plus, the four-person sites offer the perfect opportunity to camp with family or friends over the holiday weekend. Like KOAs, many Jellystone Parks also offer Thanksgiving-themed activities and potlucks for guests. So find a location near you if North Carolina isn’t an option for you.
Celebrate the holiday at one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving!
If you’re looking to get away from your extended family and socialize with other RVers on Thanksgiving, these RV parks offer the amenities, activities, and meals to make your vacation memorable.
Or if you want to bring family members together from across the country, these campgrounds are the perfect place to get together with loved ones you may only see once a year.
The national parks are of unparalleled beauty, and there’s plenty to do in the other places to enjoy the outdoors too. So if you’re worried about getting too fat for the holidays, head out to work off that second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy and go camping at one of the best RV parks for Thanksgiving!
Which place caught your attention?