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Contact Us!**Article written by Patrick Buchanan of RV Life. Original article found here.
Drop in on any great RVing forum like IRV2.com and you’ll find plenty of chatter about what qualifies as a campground to be an RV resort. If you happen to land on the Tiffin Owners Forum, you’ll also see a lot of Tiffinites talking about their trip to Red Bay, Alabama. That’s home of Tiffin Motorhomes. Whether they arrive for regular maintenance, repars, or upgrades, most RVers don’t want to head straight home afterward. As a Tiffin Phaeton owner myself, I thought it would be fun to combine both thoughts and provide a list of luxury RV Resorts that are within a day’s drive of Red Bay.
Like many, I have pretty strong feelings about what qualifies as an RV Resort. Using the filtering tools built into RV LIFE Trip Wizard, by minimum starting criteria was as follows:
As stated, the campground should have a minimum rating of 4 stars in RV LIFE Trip Wizard, or an 8.4 rating or higher on RV LIFE Campgrounds. The location must have paved roads, and the pads must also be paved, concrete, decorative paver stones, or a combination of all three. That rules out dirt and gravel roads.
When researching these locations, they needed to have at least some additional resort amenities, in addition to those criteria above. RVers are all a bit different as to what features matter the most for them. For us, a pool and pickleball court are not as important as clean, paved pathways and great internet. The detailed reviews found in RV LIFE Wizard and RV LIFE Campgrounds also had to have plenty of great pictures and recent reviews, too. This makes sure I’m still on track, and lets me explore the campground a bit virtually, before committing to it.
I also used Trip Wizard’s built-in Driving Radius to set my driving limits. Knowing that in a day I generally average 58 mph, I set the advanced driving radius for six hours. Understand that this simply sets a visible guideline, but does not limit my travel. In actuality, a six-hour driving day usually means seven or even eight hours on the road, accounting for breaks, fuel, lunch, etc. This is definitely my max time behind the wheel. In fact, I usually opt for much less. Nevertheless, it’s a distance most RVers are willing to go for the right reward: a luxury RV Resort.
With the stringent criteria I had set, I found a few outliers that were suitable, but not surprising, most of these ended up near or on the gulf coast. Let’s be clear, there are plenty of great RV resorts around. And if the criteria had been two days, the “I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” about all the campgrounds we might find.
This newer RV Resort sits adjacent to Twin Creeks Marina. Twin Creeks is a true waterfront RV Resort on Tim Fords Lake, about an hour south of Nashville. Having a quick access to a marina is a nice benefit, and the RV pads and property are just beautiful.
“At the Twin Creeks RV Resort, you’ll find 30 premium waterfront & waterview RV sites, a Trading Post with laundry, a bath house, and clean bathrooms. You’ll have access to everything Twin Creeks Marina has to offer.” – Twin Creeks RV Resort
The folks at Elm Hill RV Resort cram an awful lot of RV resort into this small peninsula. It starts by meeting my no dirt/no gravel drive or pads criteria. Watersports are a given, as it sits right on the lake and provides its own private beach. A pool awaits those that prefer chlorinated water, as does the playground and shuffleboard area. Boat rental via the adjacent marina means you can enjoy this RV resort from outside the ropes, too. The 50-amp full hookups, cable TV, and Wi-Fi ensure the time you spend inside your RV is just as enjoyable.
Fairhope Landing RV Resort is a brand-new pet-friendly resort that features huge, new 20-by-60-foot pads for your RV with access to high-speed internet and a 48-channel TV lineup at each site. The full hookups all emit from a lighted pedestal at each pad. Amenities include a luxury clubhouse, laundry facilities, pool, fire pit, and an ADA-certified individual bathroom and shower facilities.
Located just a few miles away, also in Fairhope, is Fairhope Motorcoach Resort. Sometimes us motorcoach owners like to indulge in exclusivity, and the Fairhope Motorcoach Resort does just that. Indulge in huge RV pads with a nice patio or casita, or pull up next to a full-fledged cottage. There are ownership and rental options available at this high-end resort. And, while not loaded with additional amenities much beyond a pool, 50-amp full-hookups, and Wi-Fi, the resort more than makes up for it with the exclusive and elegant micro-community feel.
When it’s time to entertain the kids or grandkids, staying cooped up in the motorhome just isn’t going to work. Splash RV Resort and Water park has the cure. Not only does this RV resort offer a nice waterpark, it meets our other criteria as well. And it really leans into that resort feel. On-site golf cart rentals can get you to the water park or heated pools, miniature golf, fitness center, pickleball courts, and more. The 280 full-size concrete RV pads feature full hookups, are beautifully paved and landscaped, and are big-rig friendly, with accommodations and amenities specifically for larger RVs. You can visit the dog park, community fire pits, and an on-site Tiki bar, depending on your needs and preferences.
Discover the newly opened Tropic Hideaway RV Resort, a luxurious 190-lot oasis just minutes from Alabama’s beautiful beaches. This resort offers an array of top-notch amenities, including a fitness center, pickleball courts, a modern clubhouse, a swimming pool, a dog park, laundry facilities, and golf-cart rentals. Each of the extra-wide campsites provides full hookups and reliable Wi-Fi, with options for premium locations, back-in, or pull-through sites.
Tropic Hideaway fosters a sense of community with its tropical atmosphere and shared amenities, such as a convenience store and 24-hour services for propane, ice, showers, and laundry. Whether you’re relaxing in the stylish clubhouse or exploring the nearby beaches, Tropic Hideaway RV Resort promises a memorable and luxurious RV experience.
Sun Outdoors Orange Beach RV Resort offers guests a refreshing escape with a touch of Southern charm, catering to both families and snowbirds with a variety of short-term and extended-stay options. Enjoy world-class amenities such as a fully equipped business center, nature trails for hiking and biking, and a range of planned activities and social events throughout the year. The newly renovated resort features a restaurant, arcade, general store, state-of-the-art playground, and a new pool with a splash pad.
Sun Outdoors Orange Beach is just minutes from Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches and attractions. It boasts the unique advantage of direct access to Gulf State Park. Beautifully landscaped RV sites provide 30- or 50-amp service, propane fire pits, picnic tables, and paved pads for the ultimate outdoor experience. With amenities like a scenic backcountry walking trail, fitness center, and refreshing pool, this resort promises a memorable camping vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama.
As we mentioned before, sometimes us motorcoach owners just want a motorcoach resort. Terry Cove Motorcoach Resort is a Class-A Only RV resort located in Orange Beach, just a mile and a half from the beach. Whether an owner or a guest, you’ll enjoy immaculate grounds with wide brick paver streets, two pools, a clubhouse, and miles of trails nearby.
Bring your bicycles, walking shoes, and golf carts to explore beautiful Orange Beach for yourself. Terry Cove offers both pull-through lots and back-in lots, all the same size and all featuring great outdoor living space with the 12-by-18-foot screened gazebo.
Sticking with both the motorcoach and Orange Beach themes, Heritage Motorcoach Resort & Marina is one of the Gulf Coast’s premier luxury motorcoach resorts. In one of the most beautiful settings you’ll experience in your RV, Heritage is a luxury RV resort with its own private marina connected to the Gulf of Mexico via Bayou St. John. Some 79 luxury motorcoach resort sites surround beautifully landscaped and maintained grounds. Heritage doesn’t use the term “Resort” lightly either, featuring all of the expected amenities we laid out in our earlier criteria, and taking it all very much to the next level. The coach houses located on each site can be and have been fully equipped with bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, or whatever the owner desires.
When you really want to be right on the water, Santa Rosa RV Resort is the perfect place to go. Located in Navarre, Florida, Santa Rosa features a heated waterfront pool, a fenced-in dog park, and free Wi-Fi. Its 300-foot-long fishing pier is the perfect place to cast a line (no license needed!), or to catch a glimpse of dolphins gliding by. The huge covered outdoor gathering area is a great place to hang out and enjoy the sounds of the surf. Some 24 of Santa Rosa’s 88 sights are right on the waterfront, and all sites feature full hookups with cable TV. When you aren’t using the clubhouse or laundry room, you can walk the 1,000-foot-long private white-sand beach.
Destin West RV Resort is all about the beach, the bay, and the RVing lifestyle. RVers can bask in the sun, sand, and all the important RV resort amenities. You’ll enjoy fantastic views, as Destin West sits directly on the bay and right across the street from the Gulf of Mexico. Guests also enjoy full access to all amenities at the gulf front Island Hotel, including the famous grotto waterfall and pool (with a bar inside), beach access, beach bar, restaurants, activities and more. The RV sites themselves feature all the expected amenities, and the RV park offers a 24-hour credit-card-only laundry and bath house, internet, a community bonfire, and necessary supplies at the camp office.
For the real road warrior, Sun Outdoors Panama City Beach awaits you. At a healthy 401 miles from Red Bay, this beautiful resort offers spacious RV sites with full hookups that can accommodate any recreational vehicle, from travel trailers to Class A motorhomes. RV sites at Sun Outdoors Panama City Beach also feature concrete pads and outdoor seating areas.
While you’re there you can enjoy two outdoor heated pools or the hot tub. Enjoy secure pet areas, an on-site store, and a clubhouse. Wi-Fi, cable TV, laundry facilities and a restroom and shower building round out the expected features. The sports pavilion hosts a wide variety of games and activities like, pickleball, cornhole, horseshoes, volleyball, shuffleboard and more.
Whether you are a Tiffin owner or not, these RV resorts are worthy destinations for anyone looking for campgrounds that go up to 11. Or, perhaps they simply tap your curiosity for something new. These and all other campgrounds, RV resorts, state parks, city parks, national parks, Corp of Engineer parks, and BLM land can be found on RV LIFE Campgrounds.