Southeast: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi and Florida

Most RVers think Destin or Panama City for a Memorial Day beach trip. The crowds reflect that popularity. Gulf Islands National Seashore stretches across barrier islands from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Pensacola Beach, Florida, and offers something increasingly rare on the Gulf Coast: undeveloped shoreline managed by the National Park Service.

Davis Bayou Campground (Mississippi District)

This is the only NPS campground in the Mississippi section, located in Ocean Springs.

• 51 sites with water and electric hookups (30 amp)
• Maximum RV length: 45 feet
• Dump station on site
• Cost: $24 per night with hookups
• Reservable on recreation.gov six months in advance

The campground sits under a live oak canopy with Spanish moss. It's not beachfront, but the beach at Davis Bayou is a five-minute drive. Ocean Springs' walkable downtown has restaurants and galleries within two miles.

Water temperature in the Mississippi Sound hits the mid-70s by late May. Swimming, kayaking and fishing are all viable. The island ferries to Horn Island and Ship Island depart from Gulfport, about 25 minutes west.

Fort Pickens Campground (Florida District)

On the western tip of Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola.

• 200 sites, mix of electric hookup and tent-only
• Maximum RV length: Varies by loop; some sites fit 40+ feet
• Dump station available
• Cost: $20-40 per night depending on hookups
• Reservable six months out on recreation.gov

Fort Pickens puts you on the beach. Sugar-white sand, emerald water, a Civil War-era fort to explore and virtually no commercial development in sight. The downside: Memorial Day weekend sells out months in advance. Book your dates the moment the window opens.

Northeast: Acadia National Park, Maine

Memorial Day in Acadia is a gamble on weather and a near-certainty on beauty. Daytime highs average 58-65°F, and fog can roll in from the Atlantic with little notice. But the crowds that choke the Park Loop Road in July and August haven't arrived yet, and the park's combination of rocky coastline, granite mountains and dense forest hits differently without bumper-to-bumper traffic at every pullout.

Blackwoods Campground

Located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, about five miles south of Bar Harbor.

• 281 sites across multiple loops
• Maximum RV length: 35 feet (some sites limit to 20 feet; check individual site details on recreation.gov)
• No hookups. Dump station available.
• Cost: $30 per night
• Reservable on recreation.gov up to six months in advance

Blackwoods is a short walk from the ocean and provides direct access to several trailheads. Ocean Path, which runs 2 miles along the cliffs above Otter Cove to Otter Point, is one of the most photographed trails in the eastern US.

Smuggler's Den Campground (Private, Southwest Harbor)

If Blackwoods is full or you need hookups, Smuggler's Den sits about 10 minutes from the park's western district.

• Full hookups (30/50 amp) available
• Pull-through sites for larger rigs
• Pool, camp store and laundry
• Rates: $50-85 per night for Memorial Day weekend

The "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island (the western half) has fewer crowds and excellent access to trails like Beech Mountain, which offers a fire tower summit with 360-degree views across Somes Sound and the Atlantic.

What to Do Over the Weekend

Thursday or Friday arrival gets you settled before the Saturday rush. Spend day one driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road (opens to two-way traffic in shoulder season). Stop at Thunder Hole during incoming tide for the best water effects, Jordan Pond House for popovers (a century-old tradition), and Cadillac Mountain summit for a 1,530-foot panorama.

Day two, hike Precipice Trail if it's open (peregrine falcon nesting closures start in mid-May, so check the park website). If Precipice is closed, Beehive Trail offers similar ladder-and-rung exposure with open views. Bar Island is accessible by foot across a gravel bar at low tide from downtown Bar Harbor, a 15-minute walk each way.

Lobster season is already underway by Memorial Day. Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard or Beal's in Southwest Harbor offer dock-to-plate lobster at prices 20-30 percent lower than the Bar Harbor tourist restaurants.

Midwest: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Northern Michigan in late May occupies a strange and beautiful window: the cherry blossoms in Traverse City may still be blooming, Lake Michigan water is too cold for comfortable swimming (52-58°F), and the summer vacation crowd hasn't descended on the Leelanau Peninsula yet. The dunes, however, are fully accessible and spectacular.

Platte River Campground

Operated by the NPS on the southern end of the lakeshore.

• 149 sites across three loops
• Maximum RV length: Varies by site, up to 36 feet on some pull-throughs
• No hookups. Dump station available.
• Cost: $24-30 per night
• Reservable on recreation.gov

Platte River campground sits along the river of the same name, which empties into Lake Michigan at Platte Bay. The river is warm enough for tubing by mid-June, but Memorial Day is typically too early. Instead, use this as a base for dune climbing and scenic drives.

D.H. Day Campground

On the northern end of the lakeshore near Glen Arbor.

• 88 sites in a hardwood forest setting
• Maximum RV length: 31 feet
• No hookups, no dump station
• Cost: $22 per night
• Walk-in sites and reservable sites both available

D.H. Day has a particular charm: it's rustic, shaded by maple and beech trees and within walking distance of Glen Haven's historic village. The campground fills by Friday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend, so arrive Thursday or reserve ahead.

The Dune Climb and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

The main Dune Climb parking lot is the starting point for a 3.5-mile round-trip trek across open sand to the Lake Michigan shoreline. It's more demanding than it looks. The sand is soft, the slope is steep and the distance deceives you. Bring water and allow two hours minimum.

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a 7.4-mile one-way loop road through beech-maple forest with dramatic bluff overlooks. The most famous viewpoint, Stop 9, perches 450 feet above Glen Lake and Lake Michigan simultaneously. Large RVs can navigate this road, but a few curves are tight. Anything over 35 feet should scout conditions before committing.

West: Zion National Park, Utah

Zion in late May means warm days (80s), cool nights (50s) and full water flow in the Virgin River from snowmelt. The Narrows, Zion's signature slot canyon hike, is typically not fully accessible until late June due to high water, but the Riverside Walk (2-mile paved trail along the Virgin River) and Angel's Landing are both open.

Watchman Campground

Located at the park's south entrance near Springdale.

• 164 sites, electric hookups available on some sites (no water/sewer)
• Maximum RV length: 40 feet on select sites
• Dump station nearby at the park's maintenance area
• Cost: $25-30 per night
• Reservable on recreation.gov six months out

Watchman is the only reservable campground in Zion. South Campground, also at the south entrance, is first-come-first-served and rarely has openings on Memorial Day weekend. Book Watchman the moment your window opens.

Springdale and the Shuttle System

Private vehicles cannot drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive from early April through November. The mandatory shuttle departs from the Visitor Center every 5-10 minutes during peak season. Camping at Watchman puts you within walking distance of the first shuttle stop, eliminating the parking struggle that frustrates day visitors.

Springdale, just outside the park entrance, has restaurants, gear shops and a pedestrian-friendly layout. Oscar's Cafe serves breakfast that justifies a 30-minute wait. Bit & Spur for dinner has been reliable for 25 years.

Hiking Over the Weekend

Angel's Landing: 5.4 miles round trip, 1,488 feet of elevation gain. The chain-assisted final half mile along a knife-edge ridge is one of America's most iconic trail segments. Since 2022, the final section requires a permit obtained through a lottery on recreation.gov. Enter the seasonal lottery (applications open in January) or try the day-before lottery for remaining spots.

Observation Point via East Mesa Trail: This route avoids the strenuous canyon-floor approach and instead accesses Observation Point from the east side via a relatively flat 7.4-mile round-trip trail. Drive to the East Mesa trailhead on Kolob Terrace Road. The payoff is a viewpoint 2,000 feet above the canyon floor, looking directly down on Angel's Landing.

Emerald Pools: Lower Emerald Pool (1.2 miles round trip) is accessible for all fitness levels. Upper Emerald Pool adds another mile with moderate climbing and a seasonal waterfall.

Pacific Northwest: Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic's three distinct ecosystems, temperate rainforest, alpine wilderness and rugged Pacific coastline, make it one of the most diverse parks in the system. Memorial Day weekend is early enough that snow still covers Hurricane Ridge Road above 5,000 feet in some years, but the rainforest valleys and coastal sections are fully accessible.

Kalaloch Campground

On the Pacific coast, about 35 miles south of Forks.

• 170 sites, many with ocean views from the bluff
• Maximum RV length: 35 feet (no hookups)
• Dump station available
• Cost: $22 per night
• Mix of reservable and first-come-first-served sites

Kalaloch sits on a bluff above the beach. Several sites in the A loop offer direct views of the Pacific through the Sitka spruce canopy. Sunset here, with sea stacks silhouetted against the horizon, is worth the drive alone.

Beach 4 (a 10-minute drive south) has tide pools accessible at low tide with anemones, sea stars and crabs. Check tide tables and arrive an hour before low tide for the best window.

Hoh Rain Forest Campground

About an hour's drive inland from Kalaloch via US-101 and Hoh River Road.

• 72 sites in old-growth Sitka spruce and Western red cedar forest
• Maximum RV length: 21 feet (this campground is genuinely tight)
• No hookups, no dump station
• Cost: $20 per night
• First-come-first-served only

If your rig fits, Hoh is extraordinary. Annual rainfall exceeds 140 inches, creating a green cathedral of moss-draped trees. The Hall of Mosses Trail (0.8 miles) and Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles) loop through some of the most photogenic forest on the continent.

For larger rigs, base at Kalaloch and day-trip to Hoh. The drive takes about an hour each way, and the road accommodates large vehicles until the campground itself.

Memorial Day Strategy for Olympic

Olympic's size works in your favor. While Hurricane Ridge crowds spike on clear days, the coast and rainforest sections absorb visitors across dozens of miles without feeling packed. Split your weekend: two nights at Kalaloch with a day trip to Hoh and Ruby Beach, then one night at a private campground near Port Angeles if you want to attempt Hurricane Ridge.

Southwest: Big Bend National Park, Texas

This one requires commitment. Big Bend sits in far west Texas, at least five hours from the nearest major city (El Paso or San Antonio). But Memorial Day weekend at Big Bend has a particular magic: the Chisos Mountains cool enough for comfortable hiking while the desert floor blooms with prickly pear cactus flowers and lechuguilla stalks.

Rio Grande Village RV Campground

The only campground in Big Bend with hookups.

• 25 full-hookup sites (water, electric, sewer)
• Maximum RV length: Varies, some sites accommodate 40+ feet
• Cost: $35 per night
• Reservable on recreation.gov

Rio Grande Village sits at 1,850 feet elevation along the Rio Grande. Late May temperatures reach 100°F during the day. Morning and evening activity is the strategy: hike before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. The hot spring (105°F) at the end of a short trail near the campground is best experienced at dawn.

Chisos Basin Campground

Inside the Chisos Mountains at 5,400 feet elevation.

• 60 sites, no hookups
• Maximum RV length: 24 feet (the road into the basin includes tight switchbacks and a steep grade)
• Cost: $16 per night

If your rig fits, Chisos Basin is the premier Big Bend camping experience. Temperatures run 15-20 degrees cooler than the desert floor. The Window Trail (5.6 miles round trip) ends at a pour-off with a framed desert panorama. The Emory Peak Trail (10.5 miles round trip) summits at 7,832 feet for views into Mexico.

Mountain West: Moab, Utah

Moab sits at the junction of two national parks (Arches and Canyonlands), the Colorado River and some of the most otherworldly desert scenery in the western hemisphere. Memorial Day weekend is the last comfortable window before summer temperatures push past 100°F.

Slickrock Campground (BLM)

Located about 5 miles east of town off Sand Flats Road.

• 79 sites spread across a slickrock and juniper landscape
• No hookups. Vault toilets.
• Maximum RV length: 33 feet (road access is paved but narrow)
• Cost: $20 per night
• Reservable on recreation.gov

The campground sits on the edge of the Slickrock Bike Trail and offers unobstructed views of the La Sal Mountains. Sites are spaced well apart, carved into natural sandstone terraces.

Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway (Private)

Full-service RV park on the north end of Moab with 30/50 amp hookups, pull-throughs up to 65 feet, pool, hot tub and views of sandstone cliffs.

• Rates: $65-110 per night for Memorial Day weekend
• Book by March for holiday availability

What to Do

Arches National Park: The 36-mile scenic drive passes Windows Section, Double Arch and terminates at Devils Garden trailhead, where Landscape Arch (the longest natural arch in North America at 306 feet span) is a 1.6-mile walk from the parking area. Timed entry reservations are required from April through October; secure yours on recreation.gov before the trip.

Dead Horse Point State Park: Often called the "other Grand Canyon," the overlook sits 2,000 feet above a gooseneck bend in the Colorado River. The visitor center parking lot accommodates RVs. Sunset here rivals anything in the national parks system.

Colorado River: Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from several outfitters on the river highway (Route 128) north of town. The flat-water section upstream from town is family-friendly and surrounded by red rock canyon walls that catch late-afternoon light spectacularly.

Booking Strategy for Memorial Day

Regardless of destination, Memorial Day weekend campground competition follows a predictable pattern:

Six months out: NPS reservable campgrounds open. Set calendar alerts for your target parks. Log into recreation.gov before the 10 a.m. Eastern release time. Have your dates and site preferences already selected.

Three months out: Private campgrounds near popular parks still have availability but premium sites (pull-throughs, waterfront) are going fast.

One month out: Last-minute cancellations create openings at NPS campgrounds. Check recreation.gov daily for your target parks. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings tend to see the most cancellation activity.

Week of: First-come-first-served campgrounds are your remaining option. Arrive Thursday by early afternoon for the best site selection. National forest campgrounds near major parks often have availability when the parks themselves are booked solid.

Great Lakes: Door County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Door County peninsula juts 70 miles into Lake Michigan, and Memorial Day weekend marks the start of its season. Cherry blossoms are typically still in bloom in late May (Door County's latitude delays the bloom compared to southern orchards), and the combination of Great Lakes coastline, small-town harbors and quiet state parks delivers a Midwestern alternative to the coastal destinations on this list.

Peninsula State Park

Located on the bay side of the peninsula near Fish Creek.

• 468 sites across multiple loops
• Maximum RV length: Varies by loop; some sites accommodate 45+ feet
• Electric hookups available on select sites (no water/sewer)
• Dump station on site
• Cost: $25-35 per night
• Reservable on wisconsin.goingtocamp.com up to 11 months out

Peninsula is Wisconsin's most popular state park, and for good reason. The campground sits on bluffs above Green Bay with forest trails, a beach, an 18-hole golf course and the Eagle Tower overlook (recently rebuilt) that provides panoramic views across the bay.

The 8-mile Sunset Bike Trail loops through the park and ranks among the best paved cycling paths in the Midwest. Bike rentals are available in Fish Creek, a 5-minute drive from the park entrance.

What to Do

Drive Highway 42 along the bay side and Highway 57 along the lake side for two very different perspectives. Bay-side towns (Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay) have a New England village character with white clapboard buildings and waterfront restaurants. Lake-side towns (Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport) are quieter with rocky beaches and lighthouses.

Washington Island, accessible by ferry from Northport (45-minute crossing, vehicles including small RVs up to 20 feet accepted), adds a remote dimension. The island has fewer than 800 year-round residents, a lavender farm, a stavkirke (Norwegian-style wooden church) and some of the clearest water in Lake Michigan.

Fish boils are Door County's signature dining experience. White Gull Inn in Fish Creek runs boils year-round (Master boiler tending an outdoor cauldron of Lake Michigan whitefish, potatoes and onions, climaxing with a kerosene-fueled "boil over" that draws cheers from 100 spectators). Reservations are essential for Memorial Day weekend.

RV Considerations for a Long Weekend Trip

A three-day weekend puts a premium on setup efficiency. Rigs that deploy quickly and break down quickly give you more time at the destination and less time wrestling with leveling and hookups.

Travel trailers and Class C motorhomes hit a practical balance for holiday weekends: enough living space for comfort, small enough to fit most NPS campground sites and simple enough to set up in 30 minutes or less. If you're towing, practice your backing at home before attempting it under the watchful eyes of 20 campground neighbors on a busy Friday evening.

Fresh water capacity matters at NPS campgrounds without hookups. A 40-gallon tank gives a couple roughly three days of comfortable use with conservative habits. Families with kids should plan for higher consumption and either bring supplemental jugs or scout the campground's water fill stations early.

Considering an RV upgrade or your first rig before the holiday rush? Visiting a local dealer lets you walk through options and get real answers about tow ratings, tank capacities and floorplan tradeoffs. Find a dealer near you to explore what fits your travel plans.

Making the Most of a Three-Day Weekend

The constraint of a three-day holiday forces a particular discipline. Here's how to maximize the experience without burning out.

Thursday departure wins every time. Leaving Thursday after work (or better, Thursday morning) gives you an extra evening at your destination and avoids the Friday afternoon exodus from every major metro. The difference between arriving at a campground Thursday at 6 p.m. versus Friday at 4 p.m. is the difference between a relaxed setup and a frantic scramble for your reserved site in fading daylight.

Pre-stage your rig. Load groceries, fill fresh water, check tire pressure and complete your pre-trip checklist on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning should be hitch-and-go, not a two-hour preparation session that delays departure until noon.

Pick one big activity per day. Trying to hit three national park highlights and two restaurants and a scenic drive in a single day produces exhaustion, not memories. Identify the single best experience for each day and build buffer time around it.

Keep your return drive under five hours. Monday traffic heading home from holiday destinations follows a predictable surge between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Depart before noon or plan a destination close enough that the drive doesn't consume your final day.

Cook at camp, eat out once. Grocery prep before departure saves both money and time. Bring pre-marinated proteins, pre-chopped vegetables and simple recipes that work on a camp stove or grill. Save the restaurant meal for one memorable dinner rather than three mediocre ones.

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Memorial Day weekend rewards the planners. Book early, arrive Thursday and spend less time on logistics so you can spend more time doing what you actually came for.