"You wave at the boat, someone waves back. It's the same with RVs; you're in the club," says Goss RV Owner Jer Goss.
With many Americans traveling closer to home, Goss, whose father founded Goss RV in 2003, says interest in RV travel is at an all-time high. Between May 1 and June 1, inquiries were up 450 percent from the same period last year. He’s also spending an hour, versus the typical 15 minutes, on the phone with clients discussing RV models and possible itineraries. Increasingly those inquiries are turning into bookings.
Related: RV Rental Bookings Skyrocket Ahead of Summer Travel Season
"Besides the appeal of having your own confined space, avoiding air travel and crowds, you control the atmosphere and get to hit the road and see the next site. There's such freedom," says Goss.
The company's fleet of over 150 luxury RVs feel like five-star hotels on wheels and rent for $15,000 to $40,000 a week. A $2 million Prevost Marathon has a "salon," gourmet kitchen, flatscreen televisions, and a master suite with a king bed. The company doesn't just rent RVs; it creates luxury experiences that might include private drivers, helicopter tours, and stays at high-end RV resorts.
"When most people think of RV parks, they think of a KOA. They don't realize that these places exist," says Goss.
Related: Dutch Company Designs Mobile Camper That Pops Up Into a Two-Story House
The top motorcoach inns have all the amenities of a typical resort, from personal trainers to heated pools, and are situated in stunning natural settings. Here are the country’s top luxury RV resorts from a desert oasis in Palm Springs to a resort on a crystalline bay in the Florida Keys.
Hearthside Grove
Two brothers with backgrounds in hospitality and campground management created this luxury RV resort near Lake Michigan. Just outside the idyllic town of Petoskey, Hearthside Grove is a verdant oasis of water and trees; many RV lots feature babbling brooks and brick patios with fireplaces. The most luxurious lots have large craftsman bungalows with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, modern kitchens and spacious bedrooms; lot 226 has a gleamy white kitchen and a loft. If you prefer to stay in your RV, other premium lots have pergolas with outdoor kitchens and firepits. Often referred to as the Four Seasons of motorcoach resorts, guests have access to the exclusive Ciderpress Club with a pool, theater, stone fireplaces and cooking classes with local chefs. Premium Lots from $125
Motorcoach Country Club
Located on a human made lagoon with two miles of navigable waterways, Palm Springs' Motorcoach Country Club looks like a mirage. Beneath towering palm trees, 400 RV lots, all with concrete parking pads, come at different levels and price points. The most lavish have casitas with state-of-the-art kitchens, spa bathrooms, private boat docks, and infinity-edge swimming pools perfect for taking in fiery desert sunsets. The 80-acre resort is bursting with amenities including a nine-hole golf course designed by professional golfer Kerry Johnston, tennis courts, a clubhouse and a fitness center. Motorcoach Country Club also has a keen focus on wellness; personal training and fascial stretch therapy can be arranged. Platinum Lots from $212
CreekFire Motor Ranch
The chance to explore historic Savannah, Georgia draws travelers to this RV resort 20 minutes from downtown. Once road trippers park their RV, they may find it difficult to leave. The lakefront property has boat rentals, a pickleball court and a pool with cabanas. Adding to the "summer camp" vibe are a host of activities for the whole family like rock painting and live music. CreekFire's 105 RV sites have fire pits and picnic tables, but for more privacy, consider renting one of seven cabins with 400-square-foot master bedrooms, loft sleeping areas, rooftop terraces and lake views. CreekFire, which is adding 100 more sites and a gym, has a lakefront restaurant with a patio serving a juicy burger and blackberry gelato. Cabins from $141 a night, two-night minimum
Zion River Resort
Situated on the sparkling Virgin River in the shadow of Zion National Park's steep red cliffs, few RV parks can boast the stunning scenery of Zion River Resort RV Park and Campground. Standard RV sites have full utility hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, cable TV and internet access, and a tree for shade. If you'd like a break from your RV, there's also a two-bedroom suite with a walk-in closet, office and French doors leading to a covered patio. Zion National Park, currently open for day use, is a short shuttle ride, but the resort offers plenty to guests occupied like a swimming pool and jacuzzi, a grill restaurant serving excellent sandwiches and a mining sluice where kids and adults can search for gemstones, and learn about Utah's mining history. Two-bedroom suite from $195 a night, two-night minimum
Bluewater Key RV Resort
At this tropical paradise in the Florida Keys, expansive lots, averaging 35 feet wide and 80 feet deep, have tiki huts kitted out with stainless steel appliances, flatscreen TVs and lush tropical landscaping. Bay-Front sites and most Canal sites have private boat docks while a new Community Lot has 25 boat slips available for rent. The calm waters of Saddlebunch Bay are great for snorkeling, swimming and boating. Each Bluewater Key RV site is unique. Look to Platinum lots for considered design features; lot 48 has custom cabinetry, an outdoor sink with a built-in wine cooler and a seaside hammock. All Bluewater Key guests have access to resort amenities such as a dog park and a fresh-water swimming pool. Platinum sites from $143, three night minimum
River Run
River Run, open since 2019, offers prime access to Colorado's best hiking, biking, fishing and boating. It's in a valley below Arapahoe National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park and situated along the Colorado River's headwaters. Nearby Grand Lake is Colorado's largest body of water. River Run feels like a mountain village with two restaurants, a zero-entry pool, three jacuzzis, bocce ball courts and yoga. RV guests can expect generously sized sites with full hookup service and room for slide-outs. (Slide-outs increase the size of an RV's indoor space essentially making it a mansion on wheels). Mountain cottages and glamping yurts are also available. Unlike many luxury RV resorts, River Run is equally appealing in the winter when guests can ski and snowboard at nearby Winter Park Resort and snowmobile, ice fish, and cross-country ski. Mountain cottages from $259, two-night minimum
Polson Motorcoach Resort
At Polson Motorcoach Resort, oversized lots on a terraced hillside immerse guests in the beauty of Big Sky country. The 61 lots have been planned to maximize surrounding views of clear Flathead Lake and the Mission Mountain range; outdoor living spaces have gas fire pits, bbq's and landscaped yards. The region has boating, rafting, fishing, hiking and golf; Glacier National Park and the National Bison Range, a 19,000-acre nature preserve home to 400 bison, are about an hour away. Polson Motorcoach Resort has concierge services, daily newspaper delivery, and stunning stargazing. While there isn't a restaurant on-site, guests are spoiled for choice in nearby Bigfork. Platinum sites from $225
