Best Fourth of July Destinations

by | Jun 30, 2017 | RV Travel Destinations

 

Wanting to pack up the RV and go somewhere adventurous this weekend? With the 4th of July right around the corner, we decided to put together a list of the top 10 cities you should visit to celebrate Independence Day this year! Each of these cities is unique and celebrates tradition in their own way so this list is bound to contain a city with a new celebration waiting for you to experience it!

 

Nashville Tennessee July Fourth Celebration

10. Nashville, Tennessee

If you’re looking for a family friendly event that is centered around music, you should head over to Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville celebrates our country’s independence in a unique way! Each year on the 4th of July, the city holds what they call “Music City July 4th Celebration.” This event includes everything from family fun and activities to concerts. It is designed to be a family friendly country music festival with activities during the day and artists playing at night before the fireworks show. When the fireworks are launched, the Nashville Symphony plays along. This year, they have two stages for concerts with artists that include Chris Young and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. If you want a full schedule of the events you can visit their website.

 

If you choose to attend this celebration, we suggest parking your RV at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort right in Nashville! This park has the ability to accommodate just about every RVer with 233 pull-through sites that range in electric hookups. This site is designed for all kinds of family fun and offers and experience both adults and kids will love! For this Fourth of July, they are even holding an RV site decorating contest! So, pack up all of your patriotic decorations and head over to Nashville for an Independence Day weekend you and your family will never forget!

 

Niagara Falls with Fireworks

9. Niagara Falls, New York

What better place to spend a summer night then by the water? This year, celebrate 4th of July at one of the most famous natural water attractions in America, Niagara Falls! While the firework show may only last around 10 minutes, the falls will be illuminated with patriotic spotlights until 2am. There are plenty of fun activities to do during the day as well as a concert that starts at 8pm. Be sure to find your way to your viewing spot early though, because the location fills up easily. If you want a less crowded, more spectacular show, the Falls also does fireworks multiple nights a week throughout summer months.

 

If you choose this destination as your Independence Day getaway, we suggest staying at Niagara Falls Grand Island KOA which is only a short drive from both Niagara Falls and Buffalo. You can schedule activities and tours directly through the campground and the site itself also holds plenty of events on the property for you to participate in! This festive KOA holds site decorating contests as well, so be sure to pack your best red, white and blue decorations. They offer pull-through sites that vary between 30amp and 50amp. On the property, you will have access to a fishing pond, pool, recreation hall, laundry room and game room. This campground is sure to leave you with a great experience and an unforgettable trip!

 

Twin Rocks in Rockaway Beach, Oregon

8. Rockaway Beach, Oregon

If you’re looking for a quiet but still lively getaway this 4th of July, head up to the northern west coast to experience the unique celebration of Rockaway Beach. While this event may attract a large number of people, the city itself has a laid back, peaceful atmosphere. On the 4th, the festivities begin downtown with a parade, bake sale, and Dachshund races. After the activities downtown come to an end, everyone is encouraged to head out onto the beach to enjoy the fireworks show at 10pm. The show is spectacular and attracts around 10,000 people each year. If you don’t want the fun to end, bring along your portable grill and join the cookout on the neighboring Wayside Beach after the show!

 

The quiet and peaceful part of the trip is where you can park your RV! The Old Mill RV Park and Event Center is the perfect place to experience the laid-back lifestyle of these small coastal towns. At only 10 minutes away from the Rockaway Beach celebration, the location of this campground is unbeatable. The cost is only $39.13 per night per RV and offers full hookups in some of their sites. The park is located right on the water so you can enjoy a view of the historic Tillamook Bay. On site, they offer activities that include volleyball, a playground, and horseshoes.

 

Fireworks in Downtown Atlanta

7. Atlanta, Georgia

Looking for a 4th of July experience like none other? The festivities at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta are considered to make up one of the best celebrations in the country to attend. The events begin with a 10-kilometer race down Peachtree Road which is considered to be the country’s longest road race. Over 60,000 people participate and the number of spectators can reach up to 150,000. At 9:45pm, both Centennial Olympic Park and SunTrust Park begin their fireworks shows. While watching the fireworks, you can enjoy either the food and fun at Centennial or a Braves game at SunTrust. Wherever in Atlanta you choose to watch the show from, you are guaranteed a spectacular sight that illuminates the entire summer sky!

 

For a nice escape from the city, park your RV at Stone Mountain Park Family Campground. Just a short drive outside of the city, this campground offers everything you need. They have a large number of sites with a variety of hookup options. The campground is positioned on a lake and even has a designated fishing area for guests. This park is filled with endless outdoor opportunities that everyone in the family can enjoy! Here, you can take a hike to the top of Stone Mountain or enjoy the attractions and shows.

 

Fireworks over Navy Pier and Lake Michigan.

6. Chicago, Illinois

If you’re looking to experience a spectacular fireworks show this Independence Day, we suggest visiting the Navy Pier in Chicago. This 15-minute show is synced to music and unfolds over Lake Michigan with nearly 4 million people lining the shores to watch. Enjoy the show from the shore or sign the family up for a Seadog Fireworks Cruise to view the display from the water. However, the best view of the fireworks show is from the 200-foot Ferris Wheel which costs only $15 per person. During the day, enjoy the food and music at the Freedom Fest that takes place on the roof of the pier! With all of the activities, this is a great destination for families with children.

 

Although an hour outside of the city, the Leisure Lake Membership Resort is the best place to stay in the area. This park is a family-friendly campground for RVers. The property is owned by members and it is their desire to meet your every need. On site, you can find a 24-acre stocked fishing lake, a 2-acre swimming lake, a pool, a convenience store and free Wi-Fi for guests! There are 265 campsites with 210 of them being full hookup and a select few offering a pull-through. The entire property is big rig friendly and offers 6 lakeside RV sites. There are playgrounds, minigolf holes, paddle and row boats, sports courts, and much more!

 

People at Pier 39 Celebration

5. San Francisco, California

If you want to celebrate Independence Day by the water but the Navy Pier sounds a little too crowded for you, we suggest driving your RV to San Francisco where you can experience Pier 39’s 4th of July celebration. During the daytime, this San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is decked out with activities for people of all ages. Around 9:30pm, when the sun goes down, the fireworks show begins. If you are looking for an unmatched fireworks sight, double your show by choosing a viewing spot where you can see the fireworks from the Municipal Pier as well as those from Pier 39. You are guaranteed to enjoy the 30-minute spectacle here in one of the most famous cities to spend Independence Day in!

 

Why limit your 4th of July celebration to just one day? At San Francisco North / Petaluma Koa, you can enjoy an entire week full of festivities that include a bike parade, watermelon eating contest, site decorating and so much more! At the campground, you can find a pool with cabanas, a jumping pillow, a rock wall, horseshoes, a petting zoo, bike rentals, hay wagon rides, a dog park and even a driving range. This KOA is dedicated to helping you have the best experience possible and offers pull through sites with full electric hookups. Just minutes away from popular San Francisco destinations, the location of this campground is the perfect mix of secluded and convenient.

 

Downtown Building in Flagstaff Prepares for Parade

4. Flagstaff, Arizona

If you’re looking for a place that has endless events to celebrate Independence weekend, head over to Flagstaff, Arizona. Multiple art festivals are taking place during the day Saturday through Monday, with events for kids, like a screenings of Moana and The Sandlot, taking place in the evening. On Monday night, they kick off the fireworks with a family event that includes food, drinks and activities. The city rings in the official Independence Day with a parade through Historic Downtown Flagstaff at 9am, and the celebration comes to a close with a show featuring the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. Parking for the event is $10, but the event itself is free. Come out and enjoy the fun this Fourth!

 

If you’re looking for somewhere in the area to park your RV, we suggest Black Barts RV Park. The park is only a short drive from the city and events. This spacious RV campground is covered with pine trees to provide shade for you and your RV. On site, you can find a general store, dumpsters and a laundromat. The campground offers 175 roomy sites that each have a full hookup. If requested, you can stay in a pull through site as well. This park is pet friendly so you can bring along your furry friends as well! Take them for a walk on the designated dog walking paths, and they will feel right at home!

 

Fireworks over South Lake Tahoe

3. South Lake Tahoe, California

Rated in the top five of best firework displays by the American Pyrotechnic Association, South Tahoe Lake is the place to be this Independence Day! The show, known as Lights on the Lake, can be seen from just about anywhere in the city and is definitely a display you won’t want to miss. While the view from on the lake is the most spectacular, the show is still breathtaking from the shore! We suggest arriving early to Lakeview Commons and El Dorado Beach to get one of the best shore-side views of the show. You can even tune your radio to a specified station to experience a synchronized music playlist with the fireworks.

 

To get the full experience of the city, we suggest staying across the lake at the South Lake Tahoe Campground by the Lake. This campground provides an escape from the busyness of life and offers a variety of sites with only a few hookups and pull throughs. Wi-Fi is available but limited, so if you want to go unplugged, this is a great destination for you! When the fireworks show is about to start on the lake, all you have to do is walk across the street to the El Dorado Beach to get one of the best views around! This campground is also pet friendly, so be sure to bring your pups along for the ride too – just be careful they don’t get too scared of the fireworks!

 

Mount Rushmore

2. Keystone, South Dakota

Celebrate your freedom this year by spending Independence Day at a historic location! Drive out to Mount Rushmore to experience a day full of fun and education. The park celebrates the holiday on July 3rd this year, so be sure to get there a day early! The events start in the morning with showcases from a professional flute player and a professional hoop dancer. In the afternoon, there will be four professional actors portraying the four presidents depicted in the mountainside. During the evening, multiple United States Air Force bands will perform and the park will recognize the military and sing the Lakota Flag Song. What better way to learn about our freedom than through the Founding Fathers of our nation!

 

At less than 5 minutes away from the monument, Kemp’s Kamp is the perfect place to stay on your historical Independence Day trip! This family owned campground is affordable and in a beautiful, wooded area. The park features a pool, hot showers, Wi-Fi and elevated fire pits. The RV sites are easy pull through, offer full hookups, satellite TV, and can even be creek side if requested! The property is full of nice views and nature experiences. The location of this park not only puts you close to Mount Rushmore, but other South Dakota landmarks as well, so you can experience multiple different activities on your Fourth of July vacation!

 

Fireworks over Washington Monument

1. Washington, D.C.

We decided to save the best for last and end our list with Washington, D.C. After all, what better place is there to celebrate our country’s freedom than our nation’s capital? With endless opportunities of events to attend, there is sure to be a fun experience for everyone! Visit any of the museums to learn about our nation’s history or line the sidewalks of Constitution Avenue in the morning to view the National Independence Day Parade that features everything from floats to the drum corps. Head over to the National Mall and listen to A Capitol Fourth concert that showcases a start-studded line up each year. Stay on the mall and get an up-close view of the fireworks show, or head outside the city to Cardozo High School to have access to a panoramic view of the fireworks all over Washington, D.C.

 

Being the closest RV park and campground to Washington, D.C., Cherry Hill Park provides a great location with an outstanding property. If you want to forget about the trouble of driving while your RV is parked, the campground offers transportation into the city, while working with your vacation schedule! They offer 400 sites with the majority being full hookup RV sites. Here, you will find 2 pools, 2 laundry rooms, a full 18 hole minigolf course, a game room, an arcade, a hot tub, a sauna, and so much more! This park is pet friendly and offers a dog walking service so you can leave your furry friends at the site during the day!

 

Wherever you decide to spend your 4th of July this year, we hope it is filled with lots of fun, friends and family! Leave a comment down below to share your favorite Independence Day destinations!

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