RVing as a family is an excellent way to make memories everyone will treasure! But looking for family friendly RV parks requires a little consideration and planning. Families have different needs than other RVers.
We’ve put together a list of the best family friendly RV parks. We looked at whether these parks had things for the whole family to do, like pools, playgrounds, planned activities, or bicycle and boating rentals. Families also appreciate on-site conveniences like laundry facilities, camp stores, and snack shops.
Here are a few family friendly RV parks across the country:
- Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort
- Flying Flags Resort and Campground
- Fun Valley Family Resort
- Lakedale Resort
- Riley Creek Campground
- Treasure Beach RV Park and Campground
- Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
- Camping on the Gulf
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Camp Resort of the Alabama Gulf Coast
- Mystic KOA Holiday
If you’re looking for family friendly RV parks, consider the following while you’re doing your research:
- Kid Friendly Facilities
- On-Site and Nearby Activities
- Hookup Options
- WiFi and Cell Service
- Other Amenities
- Safety Considerations
Top Family Friendly RV Parks
Campgrounds like Jellystone Parks and KOA campgrounds are consistently family friendly options, but there are plenty of other choices as well! Here are a few of the best family friendly RV parks.
Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort – Mt. Shasta City, California
This family resort channels summer camp vibes, with campsites close enough to walk to the lake. A marine provides fishing gear and boat rentals, and kids will love the lake Splash Zone. A general store serves up ice cream and has any last-minute camping supplies you need.
Flying Flags Resort and Campground – Buellton, California
This large resort in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley has a pool and plenty of firepits. Families can visit an ostrich refuge, the beach, the charming nearby Danish village of Solvang, or local hiking trails. Parents will enjoy the local wineries as well.
Fun Valley Family Resort – South Fork, Colorado
Activities like fly fishing, tubing, paddle boating, and mini golf let families spend quality time together in the Rocky Mountains. And, of course, there’s plenty of hiking to take in the local scenery. The resort also has a gift shop, a grocery store, a restaurant, and a laundromat so you have conveniences close at hand.
Lakedale Resort – Friday Harbor, Washington
This San Juan Island resort has plenty of activities on land and water, from hiking to biking to swimming and paddleboarding. An Activity Tent leads tie-dyeing and other crafts, and there’s an area with giant chess, bocce ball, and horseshoes.
Riley Creek Campground – Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska
Riley Creek Campground at Denali National Park may not quite be a glamping resort, but it does have conveniences like laundry facilities and a shower house. It’s near a tour bus you can ride to see much of the park, and kids will love looking for moose, bears, and other wildlife. Gold panning at the visitor center brings Alaska’s past to life. And the campground is close to where rangers lead talks at night so kids can learn even more about The Last Frontier. Your amenities may be fewer than at luxury family resorts, but the memories will remain forever.
Treasure Beach RV Park and Campground – Selbyville, Delaware
Several pools, a splash pad, a jumping pillow, a playground, and other outdoor activities make this campground a great spot to relax and vacation with family. There are also fishing and crabbing piers, a boat ramp, and a catch & release stocked lake.
Clay’s Resort Jellystone Park Camp-Resort – North Lawrence, Ohio
Clay’s Resort has a swimming lake, a pool, and a water playground for kids to enjoy. There’s also a mini golf course, a playground, a jumping pad, and planned activities for the entire family. The park is a half-hour drive from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and just a short drive from Cleveland.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort – Bostic, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountain Coaster and the interactive water park make this campground an exciting destination for kids! The water park has 165-foot long water slides, plus smaller slides for younger kids and water blasters, water cannons, and a hydrostorm bucket that drenches those who stand under it. The campground also has a mini golf course, a playground, and planned family activities.
Camping on the Gulf – Miramar Beach, Florida
Kids can enjoy several pools, one with a water slide, while camping at Miramar Beach. The close proximity to the beach makes a day at the shore easy for families. Parents will also appreciate nearby conveniences like a store, snack shop, bathhouses, and laundry facilities. There are planned activities for the entire family in the Activity Center.
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – Bay Lake, Florida
You could make an entire vacation of the Fort Wilderness Resort, without even riding the attractions Disney is known for! The resort has archery, horseback riding, canoeing, a waterslide, and campfire singalongs led by Disney characters. Movie and fireworks nights provide a fun way to end a day together.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Camp Resort of the Alabama Gulf Coast – Baldwin County, Alabama
This Jellystone Park resort has the family activities and events people expect from the brand. Families can fish in the on-site pond, splash in the pool, or hike the grounds. Each summer weekend has a theme with fun events, and there are often crafts kids can do as well. The park is just a short drive from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores if you want a beach day as well.
Mystic KOA Holiday – North Stonington, Connecticut
Kids can learn about New England’s maritime history at this camp, which has reproduction colonial-style buildings. You’ll be situated near many of the areas’s historic sites, so families can combine fun and learning in one vacation. There are also plenty of nature trails and the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center where kids can learn more about local wildlife. The KOA campground has a jumping pillow, hayrides, mini golf, and planned activities for the family.
What to Look For in Family Friendly RV Parks
Camping with kids can be a challenge, but it’s also a wonderful way to bond and to make lifelong memories! When you’re looking for family friendly RV parks, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind to make your trip smoother.
Kid Friendly Facilities
First and foremost, you will want to make sure your family is welcome in any park you are considering. There are some RV parks that are intended for seniors, and they state that specifically on their website. Make sure the campground you choose is for all ages, look for pictures of families on their website, and see if they have amenities and activities for children.
On-Site and Nearby Activities
Many campgrounds, especially family friendly RV parks like Jellystone and KOA campgrounds, have planned activities including campfires, craft times, or themed weekends. These are fun ways to enjoy time as a family, without having to spend too much time planning things yourself! Take advantage of these activities. Often, they’re free for park guests, or have a nominal supplies fee.
Also, see if there are nearby sites and attractions your family can visit. Historic sites and national parks can help kids to learn even more about subjects they’ve covered in school. Beach days can provide fun in the sun for the whole family. And amusement parks can be a wonderful way to spend the day together.
Hookup Options
Check whether your campground has the water, sewer, and electric hookups that you need to be comfortable. Some families are perfectly happy using pit toilets and not showering during their camping trips. Others may want water and sewer hookups so you can use your RV bathroom (especially with potty-training kids who may not feel comfortable using unfamiliar facilities).
Even those campsites that do have electric hookups won’t always include both 30- and 50-amp service. Check on this beforehand and be sure to carry adapters in case you ever need to plug into a pole that doesn’t fit your RV.
WiFi and Cell Service
It’s true that many of us go camping to get away from electronics. But WiFi and cell service can be useful for families. If you have a rainy afternoon, or everyone wants to pile onto the couch to unwind with a movie at the end of the day, you may find this service helpful. Also, if you’re working from the road or roadschooling, connectivity is a must.
Other Amenities
Along with hookups and WiFi, there are some other amenities your family may appreciate while you’re on the road. Perks like showers and laundry can be especially helpful if you’re traveling with a bigger family, or plan to be on the road for longer periods of time. Other amenities are simply helpful for letting kids run off steam or enjoy themselves when you’re not out exploring the area.
Some common amenities that you may want to check for include:
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Playground
- Swimming pool
- Sports areas
- Beach access
- Boating and fishing opportunities
- Camp store
- Propane refills
- Organized activities
- Onsite restaurant
- Dump station (if they don’t have full-hookup sites)
Safety Considerations
When you travel with children, especially small children, safety is probably first and foremost in your mind! Some things to consider when booking a campground include whether the pool area is fenced in and has a lifeguard on-duty. You may want to check whether your campsite is near a busy road, especially if your kids like to ride bikes around camp.
It’s helpful to see if the playground area or other kid-friendly spaces are gated, and whether paths are well-lit at night.
Know if there is a campground host, and where they’re located in case of an emergency. You’ll also want to know if there’s a campground medic, and it doesn’t hurt to look up the closest hospital or urgent care, just in case you need it.
Finally, travel with a first aid kit to treat common illnesses like headaches, low-grade fevers, and stomachaches along with small cuts and injuries.
Hopefully, these family friendly RV parks have inspired you to take a fun road trip with your own family! If you need an RV to take your trip in, check out RVshare with our wide variety of rigs to suit every family.
