Summer is in full swing and one of the best ways to stay cool is with a tall handcrafted brew. What better way to enjoy a frosty cold one than while camping? Of course, nearly every RVer can store a few beers in a fridge or cooler, but how about actually traveling to the source?
Tasting craft beer is a great way to get to know a new area. Photo by rodrigosenag
The CraftBeer.com website recently featured an article and map where craft beer fans can take what they call a beercation. The article features dozens of craft brewing companies around the country that allow visitors to spend the night.
Some of the locations include sleeping in an old barn, cabin, or in beer-centric Airbnbs. There is one campground on the list, but it doesn’t accept RVs. That’s where we come in. Here’s a list of five RV parks (with all the amenities) that are just a few steps or a few miles away from some of the best breweries in the nation.
1. Devils Backbone Camp, Virginia
The best location on this list might be the Devils Backbone Brewery. They not only have some of the top-rated beers on the East Coast, but they also have their own campground.
Photo by Devils Backbone Brewing Company
The brewery is located in Roseland, Virginia and features both a brewery and a brewpub as well as a distillery. The campground is located about five miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.
The campground has 71 acres with 25 full RV hookup sites, 22 non-electric sites, and 24 primitive tent sites. In addition to a forested hideaway, the park also has a bathhouse with showers and a dump station. The nearby Summit features the brewpub and several restaurants as well as an outdoor stage with live music.
2. Eagle Ridge Campground, Wisconsin
The best bang for your buck might just be in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. This land of lakes makes some of the best traditional and craft brews in the nation and there are two to choose from in this town.
Eagle Ridge Campground is about five minutes from both Brewster Brothers Brewing Company and the popular Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.
Photo by Edgar Colomba
Leinenkugel’s is known for its very summery Summer Shandy and Canoe Paddler. Brewster Brothers is partners with and in the same location as the Chippewa River Distillery.
The Eagle Ridge Campground offers 95 full-service and full hookup RV sites for only $38 per night. There is even a launch area and dock on the Chippewa River.
3. Rutledge Lake Resort, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina has been ranked second for the number of craft breweries in the city (Portland, Maine is first) per population. That means there’s a pretty good bet you can find a good brewery within a few miles of any location in this southern city.
Photo by Rutledge Lake Resort
Rutledge Lake Resort is just a few miles from the new Sierra Nevada Brewing Company East Coast branch and the Blue Ghost Brewing Company. The RV park has lakeside sites with full hookups, fire rings, and can accommodate up to 40-foot motorhomes. The resort also allows leashed pets and catch-and-release fishing.
4. Manor RV Park, Colorado
There are as many breweries in Colorado to choose from as there are mountains to climb. One of the lesser-known (but up-and-coming) breweries is Rock Cut Brewing Company in Estes Park.
Photo by Manor RV Park
Rock Cut features a nice range of lagers, stouts, and a vanilla porter. They are also very close to Manor RV Park, part of the Trout Haven Resorts in Estes Park.
The RV park is just a few miles from Rocky Mountain National Park and has been around since the 1970s. The park has 110 paved sites, a clubhouse, playground, and free WiFi. The park even has outdoor movie nights in the summer.
5. Boise Riverside RV Park, Idaho
Another up-and-coming craft brewing area is Boise, Idaho. Not only does the state of Idaho boast over 60 craft breweries, but this small city has about 20 of them.
Photo by Charles Knowles
Crooked Fence Brewing Company is just one and it’s about 15 minutes away from the Boise Riverside RV Park. The RV park has both pull-through and back-in sites, full hookup sites, and tent sites. Rates start at around $36 per night. In addition, the park is pet-friendly and is right next to the Boise River with access to the water.
You didn’t mention Bend, Oregon. Bend has over 23 craft breweries, including Deschutes Brewery and 10 Barrel, known around the country for some of the best craft ales in the country. Although there are only a couple of RV campgrounds inside the city, there are numerous State and private campgrounds in the general vicinity with amazing views of the cascade mountains.
St Vrain State Park outside of Longmont CO. Close to Left Hand Brewery in Longmont. I loved this brewery, because they specialized in darker beers.
Please amend to say “Cooperstown Family Campground”.
Ommegang brewery in Cooperstown NY has the best Abby Ale and a bunch of other outstanding Belgium style beers.
We stayed at a place called the “Family Campground” is was a nice place with full hookup and easily accommodated or 40’ coach pulling our toad (do not use your GPS to get to the campground, use the instructions provided on their website.) Best of all it’s close to Ommegang and the baseball hall of fame.