Exciting Natural Events to Plan Your RV Travels Around This Year

Exciting Natural Events to Plan Your RV Travels Around This Year
From meteor showers to wildlife viewing opportunities!

By: Brooke Baum

Whether you're an avid stargazer, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply love witnessing the wonders of this world, there are a variety of spectacular natural events that are worth planning your RV travels around each year. Make your next RV trip an even more unforgettable journey by adding a few of these exciting experiences to your route.

Flower Blooms & Foliage Worth Traveling For!

One of the highlights of spring is getting to enjoy all the flowers popping up! While this is something you can see across the U.S., there are some places that are known for offering an especially spectacular viewing opportunity. Of course, fall is an ideal time to enjoy the bright autumn colors of trees in many destinations across the country as well.

Here are some colorful places to keep in mind when planning your travels:

1. California Poppy Bloom 

Southern California’s wildflower regions often bloom with bright orange poppies in late March or early April; however, the experience varies widely each year depending on multiple factors. Destinations like Antelope Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are known to have particularly great blooms. Find out what is expected in 2025.

2. Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Bloom

The nation’s capital is home to iconic cherry blossoms, which typically bloom in late March to early April. There are even themed events that take place each year to celebrate! Learn more.

3. Pacific Northwest Tulip Bloom

With peak bloom usually around mid-April, viewing tulips in the PNW makes for a great RV trip. Skagit Valley in Washington and Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Oregon are top choices for great photo opportunities!

4. Texas Bluebonnet Bloom

Texas' state flower, the bluebonnet, usually has peak bloom in April—creating stunning blue fields across the state. The Texas Hill Country and the area around Austin are most popular for enjoying the bluebonnets. Learn more about what is expected in 2025.

5. Great Smoky Mountains Rhododendron Bloom

If you are looking for a later bloom, the Great Smoky Mountains usually see a bloom of rhododendrons in June, creating stunning views of pink and white flowers—especially at higher elevations. Learn more.

6. Fall Foliage

The vibrant autumn colors in forests across the U.S. and Canada usually reach their peak in October. Stowe, Vermont, is a very popular hot spot for “leaf peepers” and likely the most famous destination in the U.S. for an autumn trip. However, Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are other go-to destinations further south. Plus, don’t forget there are beautiful fall foliage options to enjoy in Canada and in the western U.S. as well. For example, Colorado is known for its bright yellow aspens!

Celestial Events to Plan Your RV Trips Around

You don’t have to travel with a telescope in your storage bay to enjoy the major celestial events that take place each year! Most just involve being at the right place at the right time (and having good luck with the weather). However, you will want to be sure to book your campground ahead of time, if planning to be in a peak viewing area, or beat the crowds by boondocking early in an ideal location.

Here are some celestial events to keep in mind:

1. Solar Eclipse

While seeing a total solar eclipse in North America is not possible every year, witnessing a partial solar eclipse is! In 2025, the next partial solar eclipse will be visible primarily in the Northeast on March 29 in the early morning hours. Learn more.

Note: Don’t forget to have protective eyewear when viewing a solar eclipse (partial or total!) since looking directly at it can cause damage to your eyes.

2. Supermoon

A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky. The next super full moon will take place on November 5, 2025. Learn more.

3. Lunar Eclipse

The next total lunar eclipse visible in North America will be March 3-4, 2026, with best visibility in the western regions of the U.S. and Canada. Learn more.

4. Meteor Shower

In 2025, the Geminids meteor shower is set to give one of the best shows of the year because the moon is not expected to interfere with visibility. On the peak viewing evening of December 11, viewers in dark sky areas can expect to see up to 120 meteors per hour! The Perseid Meteor Shower is another popular meteor shower; however, the moon is expected to negatively impact visibility during its August 12, 2025, peak. Learn more.

Dark sky places in North America include Big Bend National Park in Texas, Acadia National Park in Maine, Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, and Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. 

Wildlife Viewing & Other Natural Events to Add to Your Route

Pack your binoculars and a sense of adventure for these wildlife experiences …

1. Monarch Butterfly Migration

Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the U.S. to Mexico each year for the winter, and California is a hot spot to see them during migration as well as overwintering (where they congregate in clusters in a warmer area to avoid freezing temperatures up north). Peak season to witness overwintering is between November and January. Learn more.

For travelers wanting to follow the monarchs all the way to their destination in Central Mexico, this article shares how one couple drove their Winnebago Revel through Mexico and beyond!

2. Fireflies

Near Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is a famous display of synchronous fireflies that light up in perfect harmony. The event draws large crowds each year and usually takes place from late May through mid-June. Learn more about visiting in 2025.

3. Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

While Alaska and Canada are known for their colorful aurora borealis displays, it is also possible to view this phenomenon from the northern states. Even places like Oregon, Wyoming, and Iowa can sometimes catch a glimpse! It is challenging to predict this natural wonder very far ahead of time, but NOAA maintains this resource with current information.

4. Sandhill Crane Migration

For avid bird watchers, the Sandhill Crane Migration is likely already on your list. For those not in the know, this is the annual migration of more than half a million sandhill cranes. The Platte River in Nebraska is a key stopover for these birds in spring (March to April) and is an amazing sight to behold. Learn more.

5. Grizzly Bear Hyperphagia (Intense Feeding)

During late summer and early fall, the grizzly bears in Alaska begin a feeding frenzy on salmon to build up their fat reserves for hibernation. Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska has even created an annual competition to celebrate the bears that gain the most weight during this time! While this is an exciting time to view grizzly bears, it is important to always keep a safe distance and talk to a local ranger about what precautions to take.

Learn more about exploring Alaska in an RV.

Finding RV Camping During Popular Natural Events

While some of these events will surely draw in crowds, many can be experienced in solitude with a little prior research and good timing! Boondocking in more remote places or using Harvest Hosts to find a lesser-known RV camping spot nearby can be a great way to avoid squeezing into a packed campground or park.

However, many national parks and state parks may have special programs to enhance the experience, so that is worth looking into. (Learn more about RV camping at national parks.) If planning to stay at a campground, be sure to find out the best area to be based in for the event and book early. 

Read more tips for planning your RV trips, including go-to apps, in this article.

Which natural events are you looking forward to experiencing during your RV travels this year? Are there any others not listed here that you would recommend? Please share in the comments!