Spring Midwest Road Trip Ideas
TL;DR: Explore the Midwest this spring with Harvest Hosts, offering unique stays from Indianapolis to Chicago, including vibrant cities, serene farms, and engaging distilleries, perfect for every RVer's adventure.
Hitting the road in your RV is always an exciting experience. As the weather warms up around North America, many RVers are planning their spring road trip or have already taken theirs. For those on the East and West coasts, it can be an easy choice to go to the beach or to the mountains. But what about traveling to the Midwest? Many folks on road trips treat this area as just a place to pass through on the way to their final destination. What if the Midwest could be your destination? Check out Harvest Hosts' list of great Midwest road trip ideas for the springtime.Recommendations include:
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
- Black Hills, South Dakota
- St Louis, Missouri
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Holland, Michigan
- Chicago, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is a great stop during a spring road trip, for spring break, or even for a weekend getaway. This small city is full of culture, history, and things to do, making it an ideal first destination on a Midwest road trip.
What to Do
For family adventures, consider checking out The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for some hands-on learning. This is the largest children’s museum in the country and continues to add new exhibits and areas. The Indianapolis Zoo typically has a springtime celebration called xZOOberance and has tons of fun animal exhibits. There are tons of other world-class museums located in Indianapolis as well, with options to suit almost any interest.
Consider getting outside this spring and heading to White River State Park to try out zip lining through the treetops. Be sure to also walk or bike the Indianapolis Cultural Trail to view all eight downtown cultural districts.
Where to Stay
South Grove Golf Course - Indianapolis, IN
South Grove is a charming golf course built in 1902. It’s regularly home to some of the city’s amateur golf tournaments. This Harvest Hosts location offers four pet-friendly sites for RVs of any size.
In addition to this golf course, there are numerous farms, wineries, and breweries within a forty mile radius of Indianapolis. Not enough options? Consider adding Boondockers Welcome for thousands more overnight stays across North America. Want to see more? Find all RV Camping in Indiana on Harvest Hosts.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
Known for the Mall of America in its suburbs, visitors that come to Minneapolis and St. Paul know to expect a good time.
What to Do
As stated above, Mall of America, the mega mall, is just a short drive from the Minneapolis’ city center. This impressive mall has its own indoor theme park, an aquarium, the LEGO store, and over five hundred other shops. Within the Twin Cities there are also fifty-five museums to suit nearly any interest. Be sure to get outside and explore here too, as there are many parks, lakes, rivers, and other outdoor attractions to choose from.
Where to Stay
Skaalvenn Distillery - Minneapolis, MN
Skaalvenn Distillery creates classic spirits inspired by Norwegian vikings, adding a modern twist. They produce and offer vodka, rum, bourbon, and aquavit. Be sure to check out their gorgeous cocktail lounge to sample some of their drinks. This Harvest Hosts location offers three pet-friendly sites for RV of any size.
Bee Sage Farm - Rogers, MN
“Where people, animals and plants thrive in harmony” is the motto at Bee Sage Farm. Here, they believe in a holistic approach to health and that the physical, mental, and spiritual health are all connected. They produce a variety of salves, candles, tinctures, and more for sale in this shop. They also offer two pet-friendly sites for RVs under thirty feet in length.
Black Hills, South Dakota
The Black Hills, sometimes called The Badlands, are a small mountain range in western South Dakota that extend into Wyoming.
What to Do
Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park call this area home, along with Mount Rushmore. Those three attractions alone make this area worth visiting. There are also numerous parks, national monuments, and other important places to stop within the Black Hills.
Where to Stay
Dry Creek Farm & Ranch - Caputa, SD
At Dry Creek Farm, they believe that good food begins with good soil. They take extra care to ensure their soil and grass are the best for their cattle, thus producing the best quality meats. This Harvest Hosts location offers four pet-friendly sites for RVs of any size.
Belle Valley Ancient Grains - Newell, SD
Belle Valley Farm is a certified organic farm that produces a variety of whole grains and freshly-milled flours. They specialize in ancient grains such as spelt, einkorn, flax, and more. What a treat to be able to purchase fresh flour to take home with you or on future trips. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs of any size.
Bear Butte Gardens - Sturgis, SD
Bear Butte Gardens is a USDA organic certified farm and market stand. They offer a wide variety of produce, meats, canned goods, and more. They also feature products from forty-five other local gardeners. Please note that pets are not allowed at this Harvest Hosts location due to working livestock guard dogs on-site. This Harvest Hosts location offers one site for RVs under twenty feet in length.
St. Louis, Missouri
Home of the renowned landmark and newer national park, The Gateway Arch, St. Louis is full of adventures and sights to see. This mames for yet another excellent stop, a vacation destination, or a weekend getaway opportunity.
What to Do
For those seeking some thrills, St. Louis is home to a Six Flags amusement park and a few adventure parks. St. Louis Union Station was once a train station that has since been converted into an attraction, featuring a ferris wheel, an aquarium, and more. For some hands-on fun, consider visiting The Magic House or The City Museum.
Where to Stay
O'Brien Tire & Service Center, Inc. - Granite City, IL
O’Brien Tire & Service Center is the oldest auto repair on Route 66 that’s still open today. This can be a great overnight stop, offering a safe place to spend the night and have your RV serviced too. Be sure to call ahead to schedule your services, whether those include a tire rotation, a tire replacement, an oil change, and or any other standard mechanical service. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs up to forty-four feet in length.
Point Labaddie Brewery - Labaddie, MO
Owner Rob began home-brewing beer in 2004 and slowly began acquiring equipment and techniques to improve his brews over time. In 2012, he took some classes to advance his brewing education and opened his own brewery in 2015. Today, Point Labaddie Brewery produces a variety of beers, whiskey, and wine, while also regularly featuring food trucks. This Harvest Hosts location offers four pet-friendly sites for RVs under forty feet in length.
St. Charles County Veterans Museum - O’Fallon, MO
Opened in 2019, this museum opened to honor local veterans from St. Charles County, while still recognizing all veterans nationwide. The museum is full of galleries and displays, with uniforms, artwork, and memorabilia. The best way to support this free museum is by donation and purchases from their gift shop. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs under forty-four feet in length.
Kansas City, Missouri
Located just along the border of Missouri and Kansas, this city is famous for its jazz history and barbecue. This makes for another excellent place to stay on any midwestern road trip.
What to Do
This city is filled with impressive and interesting museums, such as the National WWI Museum and Memorial, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Arabia Steamboat Museum, just to name a few. There are also ample shopping and dining opportunities, as well as family-friendly fun at places such as the Kansas City Zoo and the Sea Life Aquarium.
Where to Stay
Brewery Emperial - Kansas City, MO
Brewery Emperial strives to produce the highest quality products that are also locally-sourced, using the freshest seasonal ingredients to keep their menu high-quality. They currently produce a variety of ales, lagers, and food options. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs up to twenty feet in length.
Crane Brewing Company - Raytown, MO
Crane Brewing is a microbrewery that is founded, owned, and operated by beer lovers. Co-founders Michael and Chris met through homebrewing and knew they had to open a brewery together. The brewery produces a variety of ales and beers, specializing in sours. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs up to thirty-five feet in length.
Happy Valley Farm - De Soto, KS
Happy Valley Farm is a working farm that offers a farmstand year round. During peak seasons, they offer U-Pick berries and other seasonal crops. The farmstand also offers a variety of fresh produce, honey, syrups, eggs, snacks, salves, and more. This Harvest Hosts location offers four pet-friendly sites for RVs up to thirty-five feet in length.
Holland, Michigan
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this charming Dutch-inspired town has so much to offer and lives up to its unique name.
What to Do
One of this city’s main attractions =is the annual Holland Tulip Time Festival. Here, visitors can enjoy millions of blooming tulips in the springtime. Be sure to snap a photo of the DeZwaan Windmill, the only authentic working Dutch windmill in the United States. You can also visit The Holland Museum to learn about the immigration of the Dutch to the area, the history of the town, the beginning of Tulip Time Festival, and more.
Where to Stay
Shady Side Farm - Holland, MI
These first-generation organic farmers have been tending to this land since 1992. Here, they produce a variety of dried beans and cornmeal, along with beef and lamb products. This Harvest Hosts location offers two spots for RVs of any size.
Blendon Pines Alpaca Ranch - Hudsonville, MI
Owned and operated by Lynn Scholten, this small operation is home to over thirty alpacas, along with goats, pigs, and chickens. Lynn's on-site shop is constantly growing with items for sale, such as alpaca socks, hats, stuffed animals, and other gifts. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs of any size.
Farmhaus Cider Co. - Hudsonville, MI
John began brewing hard cider in college as a fun hobby, but after becoming obsessed with the process, knew he had to open his own cidery. He renovated a family-owned barn in the woods which became his business, Farmhaus Cider Co. Many followers and awards later, Farmhaus produces a variety of hard ciders, with several seasonal choices as well. This Harvest Hosts location offers one pet-friendly site for RVs under thirty-five feet in length.
Want to see more? Find more locations for RV camping in Michigan and start planning your next adventure.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is a bustling city known for its deep dish pizza and almost endless list of things to do. No Midwestern road trip is complete without a stop here, and there is so much to see and do while visiting.
What to Do
While in Chicago, be sure to get outside and enjoy some of their many parks and the Navy Pier. There’s also an architecture river cruise to sit back and enjoy the sights. Chicago also has many museums, of course, such as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History, or the Art Institute of Chicago.
Where to Stay
Lost Marsh Golf Course - Hammond, IN
Just outside of Chicago and across the state border in Indiana lies this hidden gem of a golf course. This unique greens offers a mix of links and parkland style, challenging even the most experienced players. This Harvest Hosts location offers two pet-friendly sites for RVs under thirty feet in length.
DuPage Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars #2164 - Wheaton, IL
For those that don’t know the history, VFWs across the United States were formed by veterans for veterans. The acronym stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars, often referring toi posting locations where vets come together to create a community space, while also securing rights and benefits for themselves and others. The DuPage VFW opens its doors and parking lot to visitors and even features some food items. This Harvest Hosts location offers three pet-friendly sites for RVs of any size. Find more RV camping in Illinois.
No matter where you decide to make your spring RV destination, we hope you have a blast. If you live in the Midwest or are traveling there, be sure to check out some of these stops and Harvest Hosts locations to make the most of your trip. You’ll be so glad you did!
