The Best Places in North America for an RV Road Trip

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) or motorhomes can be a fantastic way to discover North America; unlike travelling by rail or air, you have the freedom to go wherever you want. On top of this, you have far more options for where you can sleep, getting closer to nature and being less restricted than with a hotel.

But where is the best place to go for a road trip? By exploring numerous RV-friendly factors, we have been able to identify which states in the USA and Canadian provinces are the best to visit. 

The best states in the USA for RV road trips  

The United States is renowned for its extensive highway system that spans the 50 states, enabling people to travel from city to city through stunning scenery and a diverse array of cultural areas. But where is the best state to visit for a road trip in an RV?

Texas is the best state for an RV road trip

1. Texas, RV roadtrip score of 9.8/10:

Texas is the best state for an RV road trip. The Lone Star State combines scenic drives and major city stop-offs with the country’s longest highway network – over 518,000 miles, nearly four times the US average. One of these roads is a large stretch of Route 66, enjoy the Mother Road as it winds its way through the north of the state on its way to California. 

Affordable fuel prices (£2.07 per gallon) make it one of the most cost-effective states for long-distance travellers. At the same time, national parks such as Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains offer unforgettable routes for RV explorers. These parks also offer the advantage of several picturesque RV parks, which make it an even greater experience to explore them in an RV, staying in the park itself can give RV users the benefits of waking up in nature and enjoying the sounds and sights of the early morning. 

Specific things to do in Texas include exploring its cities and their unique attractions, from Houston’s Space Center to Austin’s live-music scene and San Antonio’s historic River Walk.

2. Iowa, RV roadtrip score of 8.45/10:

The brand synonymous with RVs, Winnebago, was founded in the Iowa town of the same name, which has cemented the state’s love of RVs throughout the years. In Iowa, the landlocked Midwestern state, there are plenty of things to do on a road trip. Iowa’s affordable fuel prices (£2.17 per gallon) and extensive road network make it a strong choice for road trippers seeking variety without breaking the budget.

There are over 185,000 miles of highway to explore, much more than the country’s average of around 132,000. You can travel along the Great River Road for a time as it skirts Iowa’s eastern border, but if you plow deeper into the state, you will find even more joy, including the Maquoketa Caves State Park and Loess Hills.  

If you are a movie buff, there are plenty of famous films shot in Iowa. You can take a trip to the Baseball stadium from Field of Dreams, or visit the Bridges of Madison County. 

3. Wisconsin, RV roadtrip score of 8.33/10:

The third-highest scoring state for an RV road trip is Wisconsin, with a score of 8.33. There are around 186,000 miles of highway in Wisconsin, which is one of the highest amounts in the country. Additionally, there are 15.2 campsites and 8.5 RV parks per 100,000 people.

Amongst the things to do in Wisconsin on a road trip are to visit the jaw-dropping Devil’s Lake State Park, or drive along the Great River Road following the Mississippi. Outside of nature, there are interesting towns like La Crosse, Milwaukee, and Green Bay, which is home to the NFL team, The Green Bay Packers. 

Wyoming has the most RV parks and campgrounds per 100,000 people

Wyoming is one of the most spacious states in America, which may explain its abundance of RV facilities. It offers 29.3 RV parks per 100,000 people – more than four times the US average of 6.5 – and 119 campgrounds per 100,000 people, well above the national average of 19.

Oklahoma has the cheapest average fuel price

The Rolling Stones famously sang that ‘Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty’, and 61 years later, the gas stations in the state will undoubtedly be a sight for motorists to behold, as the average gas price is just £2.00 per gallon. Combined with its 185,000-mile road network, it’s a practical choice for long-distance journeys.

Texas has the longest highways in the US

Aside from Alaska, Texas is the largest US state by land area, and its large population and major cities necessitate a substantial road network. With over half a million miles of roads, it easily surpasses the US average and offers endless variety for cross-state travellers.

California is the most popular US road trip state on Instagram

California is the most popular US road-trip state on Instagram, with over 250,000 tagged posts – more than 150,000 ahead of Texas. Its iconic Pacific Coast Highway and national parks make it the country’s most photographed and shared road-trip destination.

The best Canadian provinces for RV travel

Canada’s sweeping highways and vast wilderness landscapes make it an ideal destination for RV exploration. From mountain passes to coastal drives, these provinces offer the best mix of scenic variety and accessibility. Because a lot of the stunning Canadian provinces have similar results to each other across all factors, the overall scores are slightly lower than in the US, but that does not mean Canadian provinces are less suitable for an amazing RV road trip!

British Columbia is the best Canadian province for an RV trip

1. British Columbia, RV roadtrip score of 6.55/10:

British Columbia is one of the most stunning places in the world. Containing gigantic mountains, vast lakes, unique wildlife, and endless pollution-free skies, this beautiful wilderness is a road tripper’s dream.  In this state, you can pass through many people’s bucket-list destinations, such as the Canadian Rockies, Whistler, and the Pacific Rim National Park. 

As British Columbia is sparsely populated, camping in an RV is the best way to explore its vastness, as there are more campgrounds here than anywhere else in Canada, 39.3 per 100,000 people. It is also home to the longest total road length, 11,000 miles of well-maintained highways zigzagging throughout the landscape.

2. Alberta, RV roadtrip score of 6.03/10:

Alberta is another stunning province for a road trip; just like British Columbia, it has something for everyone. There are amazing hikes, lakes, and ski slopes in the Banff National Park, which is just one of the stunning vistas in the province. On top of this, there is the Waterton Lakes, the Columbia Icefield, and the Canadian Badlands, which are all worth a visit for the adventurous roadtripper.  There are also some of the largest cities in Canada, including Alberta’s capital of Edmonton, as well as Calgary.

The gas price in Alberta is the cheapest in Canada (£2.54 per gallon), making it a more affordable state to fill up an RV. An Alberta road trip was also very popular on Instagram, with almost 7,000 hashtag mentions.  

3. Nova Scotia, RV roadtrip score of 5.01/10:

Nova Scotia is a maritime province located just off the coast of New Brunswick. It’s famous for its diverse marine wildlife, which includes whales, seals, dolphins, and other marine animals. Other activities to consider include visiting Halifax , where you can explore the historic waterfront or visit the Maritime Museum, which tells the story of the role the town played in the Titanic disaster. 

While Nova Scotia is smaller than many other Canadian provinces, it is still best to get around in an RV. With 11.5 RV parks per 100,000 residents, Nova Scotia combines compact size with easy access to nature and culture, making it perfect for shorter road trips.

Prince Edward Island has the most RV parks per 100,000 people

Prince Edward Island is the smallest Canadian province by both population and area, but it is very popular with van tourists due to its coastal beauty and chilled-out lifestyle. As a result, Prince Edward Island has the highest park density in Canada, with 20.1 RV parks per 100,000 people. From these camp sites, you can drive out to stunning areas of Prince Edward Island, such as crossing the Confederation Bridge, and visiting the historic settlement of Charlottetown, which is full of historic houses and gardens. 

British Columbia has the most campgrounds per 100,000 people

British Columbia has vast and beautiful national parks, which are popular with visitors, but they lack settlements. As one of the most rural provinces, British Columbia’s abundance of outdoor space explains its high concentration of campgrounds (39.3 per 100,000 people) – nearly twice the national average.

Alberta has the cheapest average fuel price

The national average fuel cost across Canada is £2.90 per gallon, but in Alberta, drivers pay just £2.54, making it one of the most affordable provinces for long journeys. One of the most picturesque drives in Alberta is the Icefields Parkway, a 232km stretch of road between Banff and Jasper National Parks, known for its stunning snowy scenery, vibrant wildlife, and gorgeous glaciers.

British Columbia has the longest highways

British Columbia has by far the longest total road network in Canada at 11,242 miles. Travelling from Vancouver in the south to Terry Lake near the northern border covers more than 1,200 miles, showing the province’s vast scale.

Ontario is the most popular road trip state on Instagram

By far the most popular Canadian province for an RV road trip on social media is Ontario. More than 10,000 posts have been tagged with RV and Ontario-related hashtags – four times the national average. Its mix of cities, lakes, and national parks makes it one of the country’s most shareable destinations.

Methodology

Journeyscape is a travel company that offers customers authentic and extraordinary journeys across the US and Canada. We specialise in showing tourists parts of the world that are off the beaten path, allowing them to experience the authentic culture, landscape, and wildlife of North America.

RV road trips allow people to explore the country away from the busy metropolitan areas and forge their own path, aligning perfectly with our vision. So, we created an RV road trip report using the following data:

• RV parks: We used Campendium to find the number of RV parks per US state and Canadian province.  We then normalised this data by calculating the number of RV parks per 100,000 people.

• Campgrounds: We used Campendium once again to find the number of campgrounds per US state and Canadian province. We then normalised this data by calculating the number of campgrounds per 100,000 people.

• Fuel cost: For US fuel costs, we used gas prices to get the average cost of regular gas per gallon. For Canada, we used Gas Buddy to get the average regular gas price per litre.
• Road infrastructure: We used the FHWA to determine the road density (in miles) per US state. We used Transport Canada data to determine the total road density (in kilometres) per province. We then multiplied this by 1.6 to work out the road density in miles.

• Social media popularity: We used Instagram to find the number of posts with the hashtag ‘[STATE/PROVINCE]roadtrip’.

Currencies were converted using Xe.com.

All data was collected in October 2025 and is correct as of then. All information was compiled by Journeyscape.