The wild left wild
National Preserves for RV Travelers
Where to point an RV for country kept deliberately wild — what each National Park Service preserve and reserve protects, the backcountry and the water, and where to base a rig nearby. Facts are sourced from official NPS pages.
Preserve backcountry, roads, and hunting seasons open and close through the year — confirm on the official preserve page before you go.
- 7
- Field guides
- 7
- States covered
- 7
- Official sources cited
The wild country
Every preserve in the guide
Texas
Big Thicket
Texas
Big Thicket National Preserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
Big Thicket safeguards a convergence of ecosystems, from swamps to pine forests, where abundant wildlife thrives. Spread across multiple units, the preserve invites slow RV travel, linking trailheads and waterways for hiking and paddling. With over 30 miles of trails, it’s a place to witness the rich intersection of diverse habitats in Texas.
Read the field guideAlabama
Little River Canyon
Alabama
Little River Canyon National Preserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
A preserve in Alabama where the Little River runs atop Lookout Mountain for most of its length, cutting through forested uplands and exposing canyon rims, bluffs, pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs. The river’s unique mountaintop course creates a deeply vertical landscape dotted with waterfalls and sheer walls, all set within a lush wooded setting that feels far removed from the lowlands below.
Read the field guideNew Mexico
Valles Caldera
New Mexico
Valles Caldera National Preserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
A vast volcanic caldera about 14 miles across, Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico captivates with immense mountain meadows, meandering streams, and abundant wildlife. Day-use activities include hiking, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives. The preserve's open landscapes beckon visitors to explore a unique volcanic terrain.
Read the field guideFlorida
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
Florida
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
A sprawling coastal preserve in Florida protecting vast salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks. Explore trails that wind through maritime forests, paddle calm waterways alive with wading birds, and discover traces of 6,000 years of human habitation. Whether birdwatching, fishing, or simply soaking in the quiet beauty, this preserve offers RVers an easily accessible immersion into one of the Atlantic’s last wild wetland frontiers.
Read the field guideKansas
Tallgrass Prairie
Kansas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve provides a rare window into the tallgrass ecosystem that once covered vast portions of North America. Located in the Kansas Flint Hills, the preserve features a visitor center, scenic hiking trails, and sweeping vistas of native grasses and wildflowers. It's a day-use destination where quiet exploration reveals the beauty and resilience of the prairie.
Read the field guideIdaho
City of Rocks National Reserve
Idaho
City of Rocks National Reserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
Granite formations and spires define this reserve, set in a quiet high-desert landscape. Outdoor lovers enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and camping amid dramatic scenery and fascinating geology. The remote atmosphere invites day visits or peaceful overnight stays under expansive skies.
Read the field guideWashington
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Washington
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve: An RV Traveler's Guide
On Whidbey Island in Washington, this NPS reserve blends history with coastal beauty. You’ll find a patchwork of farms, scenic trails along coastal bluffs, and views of the Salish Sea. The landscape remains an active farming community, and visitors can stroll beaches, spot eagles, and see historic structures. It’s a serene day-trip destination that embodies the rural character of the Salish Sea region.
Read the field guide
Room to get lost right
Preserve country, state by state
National preserves protect the big, roadless remainder — braided rivers, swamp, tundra, and forest that a park alone couldn't hold. Pick a state to see RV rentals and what else is along the road.
Planning a trip into country that stayed wild?