Nothing brings two people together like being on a big RVing road trip and discovering America’s most beautiful attractions as a couple.
Luckily, the U.S. is home to thousands of miles of scenic roadways with numerous national parks, beaches, and mountain vistas along the way.
For the ultimate bonding experience, gather your favorite road trip snacks, sync your playlists, and embark on one of these romantic road trips for couples, a list compiled by Travel+Leisure with many of our own travel links. May romance be rekindled with these suggestions.
New England Route: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont
Start in Acadia National Park, where 47,000 acres of hiking, biking, and wildlife await. Then, head to Camden, Maine — described as the “Jewel of the Maine Coast.” Here, you can shop downtown, picnic at the beach, and check out some impressive lighthouses. Speaking of lighthouses, next up is Portland, where “grey flannel and plaid flannel coexist companionably,” just like you and your significant other.
During your visit, check out the breweries, art galleries, and more. Next, head west through New Hampshire and finally, pay a visit to Waterbury, Vermont, where you can tour the Ben & Jerry’s factory and share a pint of their One Love ice cream.
- 13 Favorite National Parks for RV Camping (By REAL RVers)
- 75 Favorite US Boondocking Destinations (by State)
- Exploring Down East Maine and Its Amazing Coastline (from 2016)
Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo
Start your journey in Los Angeles and spend a day exploring iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Sign before taking Highway 101 up to Ventura.
Have fun doing stuff like surfing or riding the ferry to Santa Cruz Island, one of California’s Channel Islands, to hike and explore.
From Ventura, RVers can hug the coastline up to Santa Barbara, where you can check out the Funk Zone and its urban wine trail.
Take Route 154 through the winding mountains and vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. Make a detour to the quaint Danish town of Solvang and enjoy authentic European pastries like homemade ebelskivers. On your way back to Highway 101, stop at OstrichLand to see and perhaps buy the most enormous eggs you’ve ever seen.
From here, you’ll travel up through Los Alamos and the Santa Maria Valley vineyards, passing through the shoreside city of Pismo Beach, and finally ending your trip in San Luis Obispo for a variety of outdoor adventures and diverse culinary experiences.
- The 21 Best Campgrounds in California by Region
- 11 Best RV Campgrounds for Beach Camping in California
- Five Top California National Parks for your Bucket List
America’s Northwestern National Parks
Begin your journey at Yellowstone National Park, which RV Lifestyle Fellow Travelers will know is a favorite destination of ours. Following Yellowstone, stop at Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, with its majestic mountain landscape, stunning alpine lakes, and vast grassy plains.
Next up on the itinerary is Arches National Park, with its 18-mile scenic drive and over 2,000 distinctively named arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch.
Last on the list is Canyonlands National Park, which includes three major areas for all adventure levels: the less accessible, back-country Needles region; the isolated, off-road Maze section; and easily reachable Island of the Sky, with a paved scenic drive featuring views of buttes, fins, and water-carved canyons.
- Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Our Favorite Hike
- 3 Beautiful Boondocking Sites Outside Yellowstone
- 4 Best Campgrounds Near Yellowstone Lake
- Many Blog Posts on Yellowstone Here
The Kancamagus Highway: New Hampshire
This 34.5-mile scenic drive along Route 112 in northern New Hampshire is best known for its spectacular fall foliage, but it’s an idyllic adventure any time of year, especially when the snow blankets the ground and transforms the mountainside into a winter wonderland.
On this journey, travelers have the opportunity to explore the breathtaking White Mountain National Forest, Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge.
The Kanc, as it’s affectionately known by locals, takes you up to an elevation of just under 3,000 feet. Its highest point brings you to Kancamagus Pass on the flank of Mount Kancamagus near Lincoln, New Hampshire.
Start your trip in Conway and stop at the Saco Ranger Station just west of town to pick up a map and plan your points of interest. Key attractions include the Albany Covered Bridge, built back in 1858, and picturesque Sabbaday Falls.
Historic Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica
It was John Steinbeck who named Route 66 “the Mother Road” and for countless tens of thousands from roughly 1926 through the early ’60s, it was THE way west, a 2,000-plus mile journey through eight states.
An ultimate American road trip experience; you really need about three weeks to do it right. For more details, check out this full report we did on the route several years ago.
Oregon’s Scenic Coast
When driving up Route 101 along the Oregon coast, your first stop will be the scenic Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. That's where 12 miles of lush forest come up to untouched beaches, massive jagged rocks, and clear, blue water.
Visit Arch Rock Picnic Area and Natural Bridges before making a stop at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Next up, drive the Three Capes Scenic Loop and admire Haystack Rock, an impressive 235-foot sea stack on Cannon Beach.
Then, consider a visit to Ecola State Park before holding a nighttime bonfire at Cannon Beach.
End your journey in Seaside and enjoy its historic arcade, old-fashioned carousel, bumper cars, and indoor miniature golf.
- 8 Best RV Campgrounds in Oregon By Location
- RV Trip Ideas: Your Ultimate RV Lifestyle Destinations Guide!
The Overseas Highway: Miami to the Florida Keys
The Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West offers a drive like no other. Suspended over water nearly the entire time, this 113-mile roadway crosses 42 bridges from Miami to the southernmost point of the U.S. (You’ll be closer to Cuba than you are to Miami.)
You’ll first hit Key Largo, home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. You can enjoy a view of the reef from a glass-bottom boat tour or get a closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling at this underwater playground.
Next up is Marathon, where you’ll find the 1000-acre Curry Hammock State Park and the Dolphin Research Center.
Then, you’ll hit the Seven Mile Bridge — a pure, green-blue ocean drive — before arriving at Big Pine Key.
Now, you’re only 45 minutes north of Key West, but you’ll want to stop at Mangrove Mama’s, a landmark restaurant on Sugarloaf Key that serves fresh local seafood.
End in Key West at Mallory Square, just in time for the most romantic event of the evening: Sunset Celebration.
- 5 Best Key West RV Parks & Things to Do Nearby
- 11 Best Dog Friendly Beaches Key West (& FL) Has to Offer
- 5 Great Things to Do in Key West, Florida
What About the Florida Keys?
Do you want to hit Key West, the Everglades National Park, and all the other great things the Keys have to offer? Well, we have just the thing for you. Jennifer and I love traveling to the Keys, so we've created a complete 7-Day RV Adventure Guide: Florida Keys. This downloadable guide includes a suggested itinerary and a list of the best RV parks along the way.
We also have a 7-Day RV Adventure Guide to Florida's Atlantic Coast and Florida's Gulf Coast. If you're interested in all three, you should check out our Florida RV Travel Guide Bundle.
Montana’s Glacier Country
Mountain biking, hiking, and some of the world’s best skiing are just a few of the offerings in Big Sky Country. Begin your road trip in Missoula, Montana’s cultural hub and home to the University of Montana.
Spend some time exploring one of the nearby natural hot springs or visiting River City Brews Rafting Tours for a guided trip down the river with stops at local breweries, cideries, and taprooms.
After that, make the drive up to Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, with over 200 square miles of water for sailing, fly-fishing, and waterskiing. For remarkable views of Flathead Lake, spend the night at Mountain Lake Lodge in Bigfork.
Continue another 32 miles north to Whitefish, which offers prime hiking and skiing opportunities. Here, you can also enjoy a coffee-roasting tour by Montana Coffee Traders.
Cap things off at Glacier National Park for some majestic mountain and lakeside scenery. We love Glacier National Park, as you can tell in the video below!
Utah’s Scenic Byway 12
Scenic Byway 12 in Utah presents 120-plus miles of designated “All-American Road.” At its summit of 9,000 feet, you can appreciate sweeping vistas of the Henry Mountains,Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and the shimmering red rocks of Capitol Reef National Park.
Begin your drive in Panguitch and explore the scenery of Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Next, take in the views at Kodachrome Basin State Park. The stars in the light-pollution-free Utah sky are undeniably romantic.
Make a point to visit the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park and grab an espresso and pastry at Kiva Koffeehouse. And before concluding your journey, spend an afternoon exploring Capitol Reef National Park.
- Best Time to Visit Utah National Parks
- Caves in Utah – Exploring 11 Coolest Caverns & Caves
- 4 Arches National Park Campgrounds & More (Southern Utah)
- Many blog posts about Utah are HERE
Pacific Coast Highway: San Luis Obispo to San Francisco
Start in San Luis Obispo, heading up Highway 1 through the seaside town of Morro Bay. Be sure to check out the majestic Morro Rock, and stop for vegan and vegetarian fare at Shine Cafe or a latte at dog-friendly Top Dog Coffee Bar.
Farther up the coast is Ragged Point, where you can catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring Big Sur coastline. Spend the night at Ragged Point Inn and Resort and hike down Ragged Point Trail for unparalleled views of the sea and a hidden waterfall.
Enjoy the atmosphere of this laid-back, two-lane highway and make stops at McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach, where the sand turns purple after the rain.
Leaving Big Sur, you’ll hit Monterey County, where you can walk along Cannery Row and check out its historic antique shops, or share an ice cream at the very first Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop opened outside of San Francisco.
Then, embark on the scenic 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach for more incredible coastal views. Bonus points if you can hit Santa Cruz and its sturdy redwood forests as well as Half Moon Bay’s tide pools before reaching your final destination.
Finally, upon arriving in San Francisco, check out the romantic views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the adjacent Marin Headlands.
- The 21 Best Campgrounds in California by Region
- 11 Best RV Campgrounds for Beach Camping in California
Looking for exciting RV trip ideas and travel suggestions?
We've written a library of RV Travel books that lay out guided RV explorations of scenic areas of the US that we'’ve explored and think would make an excellent RV trip for you.
In each location, we provide a suggested route and itinerary (7 stops in each guide, one for each day of a week trip!) as well as links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, local tips, and interesting things to do at each location.
You can hit everything in seven days, do a whirlwind weekend tour, or you can take your time and explore the area over a 2+ week period.
Planning an RV trip can be very time-consuming so that’s why we’ve done the research for you! Just take our guides and use them. We’re sure you’ll have an RV trip for the ages! Instant download. CLICK HERE for information on our RV Travel Guides
Nothing is more romantic than riding bikes together…
We recommend you go Lectric for your RV Lifestyle
You know we love our RAD Power bikes – and have featured them for years, but we recently tested out and LOVE our new Lectric foldable ebikes. Being able to fold them up allowed us to put them in our Wonder rear garage area for a recent RV Lifestyle Gathering. You can check out our experience with them right here on our YouTube Channel.
Mike and Jennifer's Favorite Places in Florida – all 3 ebooks!
We RVers may wander far and wide but it’s true for most of us that we end up with some favorite “Go-To” places – places that draw us back again and again.
Florida is one of those places for us. And we know it is for many RVers looking to get away and explore during the winter.
That's why we've created three guides, covering Florida's Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Keys.
Each of these guides is a seven-day guided exploration of one of the coasts. And each stop is a curated view of the best things that we’ve enjoyed on this trip and want you to experience.
Altogether these guides are over 300 pages of content!
FAQ's about Florida Gulf Coast beaches of interest to RVers
What is the weather like along Florida's Gulf Coast?
The weather along Florida's Gulf Coast can vary depending on the time of year and the specific location. In general, the area experiences hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters.
The Panhandle region can be quite cool in January. It is seldom below freezing, but daytime highs are typically in the 50s. It warms up about 10 degrees each month.
You can also generally add about 10 degrees for every 150 miles you travel south down the Florida peninsula.
By the time you hit Naples, daytime highs in January are in the comfortable 70s.
Did Hurricane Ian destroy many beach campgrounds on the Gulf Coast?
While it severely damaged almost two dozen RV parks and campgrounds, about 8-10 campgrounds in the Naples-Ft. Myers area were completely destroyed. Most of the damaged campgrounds have been repaired and reopened.
Check with the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds if you have questions or concerns.
Are there any websites that can help me get a reservation for a Florida beach campground?
One of the best resources we can recommend is called Campnab. This service monitors parks for cancelations and sends you an alert when an opening matches your criteria. That said, it isn’t magic. The app doesn’t create availabilities.
The service works – but it is not free.
Campnab offers two ways to use the service. The first is individual pay-per-use scans. These watch for vacancies at a specific park for a specific date. These work well if you know exactly when and where you intend to camp. Pay-per-use scans cost $10 – $20, depending on how frequently you want them to check availability.
The second way to use the service is through a membership. These typically run monthly and are tailored to those who camp more frequently or are looking to maximize their chance of finding a site. Membership allows you to scan multiple parks and/or dates simultaneously. With memberships, you pay a monthly recurring fee ($10, $20, $30, or $50), depending on your needs.
Are there places in Florida where you can literally camp on the beach for free?
Not many. And they are very pricey. If you want to sleep directly on the sand in an RV, you'll have to stay at a developed commercial campground like Camp Gulf on the Emerald Coast or an RV resort like Big Pine Key Resort in the keys. Some state parks like the Gamble Rogers State Memorial Recreation Area in the Atlantic Coast or Bahia Honda State Park in the keys or Fort Desto State Park near St. Petersburg have beachside sites, too.
But are there free, unrestricted RV beach camping spots in Florida?
Sorry, none that I know of that would work for RVs.
There is unrestricted camping on wild beaches on a couple of islands, but you need a boat to get there, and it is for tent camping only. If you want to sleep directly on the sand, there is Anclote Key offshore Tarpon Springs, and Shell Key in Pinellas County. Another favorite is Keewaydin Island between Naples and Marco Island but that area remains pretty devasted from Hurricane Ian.
Leave a Reply