Grand Rapids, Michigan

Every RV renter has different needs and wants. In order to select the most appropriate Grand Rapids RV rental on RVshare, you need to know how RVs are classified. The most important distinction regarding recreational vehicles is whether they are self-powered. RVs that have their own motors are known as motorcoaches. Those that do not are called towable RVs. In order to rent the latter, you’ll need a vehicle with the requisite capacity to tow the particular trailer you want. 

Drivable motorcoaches are further subdivided into Class C, B, and A vehicles. Class Bs are the smallest of the three. They look like large vans, and this makes them easier to maneuver. However, they don’t have much space for passengers or amenities. At the other end of the spectrum, Class A motorhome rentals in Grand Rapids offer spacious living quarters with room to sleep up to 10 people. Some motorhomes are practically houses on wheels with luxurious, state-of-the-art amenities. As a trade-off, their size makes them a bit tougher to drive and park. Class C RVs are said to have the best of both worlds since they are more compact and easier to handle than Class As, and they have more conveniences and more room than Class B campervans.

Towable RVs, also called travel trailers, come in various shapes and sizes from smaller foldable trailers to spacious fifth wheelers. A pop-up camper rental in Grand Rapids will likely have fewer amenities than other rentals, but a midsize car may have enough capacity to tow it. You’ll need a larger SUV, van or truck to pull a travel trailer, and fifth-wheel trailers need a heavy-duty pickup truck with a certain type of hitch in the truck bed. For bringing along items such as ATVs and mountain bikes, you’ll want to rent what’s known as a toy hauler.

RV Campgrounds Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

Your RV rental in Grand Rapids will enable you to experience the great outdoors in some wonderful RV campgrounds, such as Steamboat Park or Conestoga Grand River Campground, which are both on the shores of the Grand River, and Eastpointe RV Resort near Lake Michigan. 

If you’re bringing four-legged family members, many campgrounds allow pets, and some have pet walk areas and dog parks. Activities for families are abundant and may include things like go-karts, hayrides, merry-go-rounds, and miniature golf. Outdoor pools are common amenities, and some Grand Rapids RV parks, such as Indian Valley Campground, even have indoor heated pools.   

US National & State Parks Nearby Grand Rapids

Michigan’s only national park is Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior near the state’s borders with Minnesota and Canada. Although this park has breathtaking wooded scenery; enchanting lighthouses; and counts wolves, moose, and beavers among its inhabitants, it’s a nine-and-a-half-hour drive from Grand Rapids, and no RV camping is allowed. In fact, no vehicles of any kind are permitted on the island. Alternatively, you can visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is a more doable four-and-a-half-hour drive away. At this Ohio national park, you can bike or hike along a mule path once used for towing barges on the Erie Canal or ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train.

Only about two and a half hours from Grand Rapids is Sleeping Bear Dunes. While technically not a national park, this national seashore is managed by the National Park Service. You can climb sand dunes, hike, bike, kayak or go on a scenic drive complete with overlooks and covered bridges. RV campgrounds near Sleeping Bear Dunes feature both more rustic sites and spots with full hook-ups. 

RV Storage Facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan

RV storage facilities in Grand Rapids offer enclosed storage units as well as paved and gravel outdoor spaces. Michigan’s harsh winters can take a toll on RVs. Accumulated snow and ice can lead to structural damage to the vehicle’s exterior. For this reason, even if you have space in your driveway to store your vehicle when you’re not using it, it’s worth considering indoor storage. If you opt for a facility where your RV will be outside, there’s still the benefit of the added security measures you don’t have at home. Fencing topped with barbed wire, gates with computerized access and cameras that are monitored 24 hours will let you sleep soundly without worrying about your vehicle suffering theft or vandalism.

Dumpstations Near Grand Rapids

While vacationing in an RV, you are going to need to find somewhere to dump the gray and black water that accumulates in your tanks. Luckily, you can do so at: 

• KOA – River Pines Campground in Allendale
• Double R Ranch Resort & Golf in Belding
• Grattan Raceway in Belding
• Duke Creek Campground in Cedar Springs
• Camp Michiana in Hastings
• Sewage Treatment Plant in Hastings
• Drew’s Country Camping in Holland
• East Lake Camping in Hopkins
• Miller Lake Campground in Hopkins
• Dutch Treat Camping & Recreation in Zeeland

It’s Almost Independence Day, Take Your Family on an RV Trip!

With a camper rental in Grand Rapids this 4th of July, you can take a vacation to a spot like the harbor town of South Haven. Camp at Van Buren State Park or an RV park like Kal-Haven Outpost. Enjoy boating, fishing, and windsurfing on Lake Michigan. Cap the trip off watching the Independence Day Parade and taking in the fireworks show the city puts on annually at the Light up the Lake Festival. 

Popular Tourist Attractions for an RV Rental Grand Rapids, Michigan

One of Grand Rapids’ most popular attractions is the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Visit and tour gardens filled with exotic plants. Rotating outdoor exhibits let you appreciate sculptures by artists such as Rodin and Degas. Learn about the 38th president of the US, Gerald R. Ford, who was raised in Grand Rapids, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The city has several other museums, including one devoted to children.

Sports and Entertainment Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

Those interested in catching a game can choose from several minor league teams. The Grand Rapids Griffins are the primary affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. The Detroit Tigers have a Class A affiliate team, the West Michigan Whitecaps, who play in Grand Rapids’ Comstock Park. Broadway Grand Rapids presents national touring productions of Broadway shows at the DeVos Performance Hall.

Highways in or Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

Two interstate highways, 96 and 196, connect Grand Rapids with other parts of the state. Highway 131 bisects the city in a north-south direction, and Highway 45 serves as the principal route west towards Lake Michigan.