The Top 13 RV Trips for Empty Nesters

The kids are out of the house, and now you can do anything you want. So what do you do? In our opinion, the best first move you can make is to plan an empty nester RV adventure. 

Having the ability to travel 100% kid-free is a very freeing feeling for sure. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities and allows you to focus on the things you enjoy most rather than having to compromise in order to keep the kids happy every step of the way. 

But where do you start? In this article we will discuss our favorite empty nester travel ideas—including some easy road trips—as well as some general tips for kid-free travel. 

Why Travel as an Empty Nester? Health Benefits of Travel

Before we go further, let’s take a minute to discuss why you should hop in an RV and travel. There are actually a number of reasons you should hit the road once the kids move out. That said, the number one reason we recommend it is for your health. 

The health benefits of travel are numerous and include reduced stress and increased happiness. Traveling via RV is even healthier because it encourages you to cook your own healthy foods, escape into nature, and unplug from the busyness of the world for a while. 

Empty Nester Travel Tips

Now that you know why you should travel as an empty nester (as if anybody needs an excuse), let’s discuss some of our top tips for traveling once the kids move out. Use these suggestions to help ensure your empty nest travels are as awesome as possible. 

Travel while School is in Session

Now that you don’t have to worry about the kids’ school schedules anymore, you are finally free to travel whenever you see fit—and in fact you can now take advantage of the school season. Use this opportunity to travel when school is in session in order to avoid crowds and visit places when the weather is ideal. 

Go Small

Traveling in a giant RV can be a pain. It makes finding campsites and parking spots more difficult and can be harder to drive through tight places. When you’re traveling with kids, the big RV is kinda necessary. That said, as an empty nester you can comfortably go with a much smaller RV, something we highly recommend doing. 

Keep It Relaxed

Traveling sans kids (and without school and sports schedules to consider) can be much more laid-back. Go ahead and lean into that, making sure to explore at your own pace and avoid all the stress and rushing that tends to come along with traveling with kids and teens. 

Try Voluntourism

Want to make your travels mean something? You might try volunteering as you travel. This is something that is difficult to do with kids in tow, but can be totally fun on adults-only adventures. It allows you to really connect with the places you visit and make new friends while you’re at it. 

Weave People into Your Travel Plans

Speaking of friends, traveling is a great way to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. Why not use your empty nester travels as a way to visit friends and family and make new connections all over the country?

Focus on Your Bucket List

Finally, you will absolutely want to focus on your own bucket list and allow that to sway your travels. After all, you’ve spent a lot of years making sure everyone else was happy and taken care of, and now it’s your time to do the things that bring you the most joy. 

Empty Nester Travel Ideas

By now you are pretty well prepared to hit the road sans kids. But where will you go? Below are some of our favorite road trip adventures for empty nesters. 

New England Tour

At the top of our list of travel ideas for empty nesters is a New England tour. We love all of the amazing history and beautiful places found in the New England area. While it is fun to visit these places with kids—roadschooling for the win!—it can be much more fun to visit without them. Doing so really allows you to soak in all of the educational aspects of such a trip without hearing complaints about how “boring” it all is. 

We recommend checking out: 

• The Freedom Trail in Boston, MA
• The Gilded Mansions in Newport, RI
• Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT
• Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA
• Cape Cod National Seashore in MA
• The food in Burlington, VT
• Mt. Washington in Coös County, NH
• Acadia National Park in ME

Southwest Tour

Another beautiful area? The desert southwest. Again, we love visiting this area with kids, but many find it is even more fun when they don’t have to listen to complaints of being hot, tired, or bored. Additionally, some of the hikes in this area can be more difficult and are better suited to adults who are actually enthusiastic about tackling them. 

On this tour we recommend seeing: 

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Antelope Canyon
• Horseshoe Bend
• Monument Valley
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park

Pacific Northwest Tour

In our opinion, the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful part of the United States. It’s so pretty it truly feels magical. It is the ideal place to go exploring with your spouse, reconnect with nature, and rediscover who you are outside of being a parent. On top of that, the area has some of the best coffee you’ll find anywhere!

Stops we recommend making include:

• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
• North Cascades National Park 
• Crater Lake National Park
• Mount Rainier National Park
• Seattle WA
• Portland, OR
• Olympic National Park
• Mount St. Helens

Texas Hill Country Tour

Finally, there is the option of driving through Texas hill country. This is yet another gorgeous part of the country that is full of awesome state parks, amazing swimming holes, and charming small towns. To top it all off, if you visit in the springtime you will be greeted by the beautiful Texas bluebonnets that grow in abundance in the area. 

Stops to make on your tour of Texas hill country include: 

• Colorado Bend State Park
• Longhorn Cavern State Park
• Krause Springs
• Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery
• Pedernales Falls State Park
• Hamilton Pool Preserve
• Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
• Jester King Brewery
• The wineries of Fredericksburg

Easy RV Trips for First-Timers

What if you’ve never been on an RV trip before? Going on your first RV trip can be a bit overwhelming, meaning an entire tour may not be the best pick. These suggestions are ideal for those who are going on a first-time road trip and want to do something super simple to get their feet wet. 

Spend Time at a Winery

Believe it or not, you can park an RV at many wineries, meaning all you have to do is get the RV to the winery* and then sit back and enjoy your visit.

(Pro tip: Renting and having the RV delivered is the easiest way to get it somewhere on a first trip.)

Some wineries that allow RV camping include: 

• Heritage Oak Winery — Acampo, California
• Cava Robles RV Resort — Paso Robles, California
• Crow Vineyard and Winery — Kennedyville, Maryland
• Y Knot Winery — Glenns Ferry, Idaho
• Mountain Cove Vineyards — Lovingston, Virginia
• Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery — Fort Pierce, Florida
• Palisade Basecamp — Palisade, Colorado
• 4R Ranch Vineyards and Winery — Muenster, Texas

Enjoy an Amusement Park Campground

Sure, the kids might have moved out, but that doesn’t mean you have to grow up. If amusement parks are still your thing, you can totally visit one on an empty nester trip. In fact, many amusement parks even have their own RV parks attached, making this a super easy first-ever RV trip option.

Some amusement parks with campgrounds include:

• Walt Disney World Resort in FL
• Silverwood Theme Park in ID
• Beech Bend Park in KY
• Knoebels in PA
• Cedar Point in OH
• Lake Compounce in CT
• Lion Country Safari in FL

Stop In at a State Park

A state park is another good option. You should be able to find some excellent state park options near your home no matter where you live. You can park the RV in the state park and then enjoy the outdoor activities the park has to offer. Obviously, this is a superb first RV camping trip idea, and it’s great for empty nesters who are looking for a relaxing way to reconnect with nature. 

Visit a National Park

Want something a bit more grand than a state park? Why not go RV camping at a national park? Not every national park offers camping on park grounds, but many do. These are excellent places for a first time RV getaway, as you can park the rig on park grounds and spend all of your time exploring what the park has to offer, having a brilliant time without ever moving the RV again. 

Stay at a Hot Springs RV Park

Finally, we have to mention the option of visiting a hot springs RV park. There are several of these scattered all across the US and they are the perfect spot for a relaxing and easy RV trip. To top it all off, many of these springs are adults-only, making them ideal for empty nesters. 

Some great hot springs RV parks include: 

• Crystal Crane Hot Springs in Oregon
• Valley View hot Springs in Colorado
• Feather River Hot Springs in California
• Grande Hot Springs in Oregon
• Challis Hot Springs in Idaho
• Joyful Journey Hot Spring in Colorado
• Belknap Hot Springs in Oregon
• Sun Duc Hot Springs Resort in Washington

Awesome Cities for Empty-Nesters

Hoping for some suggestions of specific cities that are ideal for empty nesters? Below are our top 4 favorites. 

Savannah, Georgia

The perfect spot to stroll the streets, admire gorgeous historic homes, and eat some good food, we think Savannah, GA is an ideal empty nester vacation destination. We love the history behind this city and that there are plenty of RV camping options nearby. 

St. Augustine, Florida

Another great one for those who appreciate quaint historic towns is St. Augustine, Florida. Once again, you won’t have to drive far to find great RV camping (try Anastasia State Park) and you’ll have the many cute museums that line the streets for entertainment. We highly recommend a visit to the Castillo De San Marcos while you’re there!

Moab, Utah

Do you have an adventurous spirit? Moab, UT might be the place for you. This adorable little town offers all kinds of fun community events such as free concerts and community skating nights. It is located right outside of Arches National Park and is surrounded by fantastic hiking trails, off-roading opportunities, and rock climbing locations. There are RV parks and dry camping options nearby, so finding a place to park is a cinch. 

Santa Fe, NM

Want to head west but prefer an artsy vibe over an adventurous one? Santa Fe, NM is your place! This is an absolutely wonderful little town that is chock-full of art studios and galleries, as well as cute coffee shops and boutiques selling locally made wares. You’ll find plenty of yummy food in this town as well as a good selection of RV camping opportunities. 

There you have it, some of the very best RV trips to take as an empty nester. Of course, you will need an RV. That’s where our rental RVs come into play. Pick out the perfect empty nester rig and get ready for a new chapter of your life!