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Where To Travel For St. Patrick’s Day

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

March is here and that means St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re like most RVers, you’re probably itching to get your rig out on the road and this fun holiday is the perfect excuse to do just that.

After all, if you’re going to celebrate Irish heritage, you might as well do it right, and this is best done by traveling to the US cities that know how to put together an amazing St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Wondering which cities these might be? No worries. We’ve done all the research for you by finding the very best places to head for green water, a good beer, Irish music and dancing, and an absolutely incredible time.

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Chicago, Illinois

Chicago boasts one of the most unique St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Every year on March 17th, the city dyes the Chicago River a vivid green, giving the whole place a festive glow.

St. Patrick's Day
Image source: Pixabay

Pub crawls are hugely popular on this special day. The downtown parade is the largest in the country and fun for the whole family. Various neighborhoods host festivals on and near St. Patrick’s Day as well, giving you an opportunity to check out local dancers and musicians.

Of course, the traveling performances by big-name dance troupes and music groups are also worth seeing, and there are often many of them coming through the city on or around St. Patrick’s Day.

Where to stay: If you plan to visit Chicago, it’s important to note that your RV should not be driven into the city. Instead, we recommend staying in the nearby Indiana Dunes State Park. This park provides reasonable rates and is located about an hour outside of the city.

Boston, Massachusetts

Considering the fact that Boston has the biggest Irish population of all the US cities, it comes as no surprise that their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are worth seeing.

Local pubs and breweries host celebrations for weeks leading up to the holiday, and the parade in this city is nearly as large as the one in Chicago.

On top of that, this St. Patrick’s Day parade is actually the oldest in the country, dating way back to 1762!  Local musicians and dancers can be spotted at many of the numerous events that take place across the city, and everyone gets in on the Irish fun of the day.

St. Patrick's Day
Black Rose Irish Pub in Boston

Where to stay: Again, you will not want to drive your RV into the city. Some tunnels into the city prohibit propane and the low overpasses and parking garages will not accommodate RVs. The camping at nearby Winter Island Park located in Salem is a great option. The park is lovely, there are plenty of Boston and Salem attractions less than an hour away, and the rates are great!

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Of course, Philadelphia had to be on this list. This city has the second largest Irish population of all the cities in America, and it shows.

The city hosts a large parade featuring all kinds of floats, Irish dancers, Irish musicians, and much more. Beside this fantastic event, there are also plenty of local festivals and celebrations in the days leading up to and just after the holiday.

Phillie Phanatic at the St. Patrick's Day parade. Photo via Flickr
Phillie Phanatic at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo via Flickr

The Leprechaun Run provides a unique way to celebrate while also getting in shape and supporting the Special Olympics, and many local libraries and museums host kid-friendly parties where you and your family can have fun together.

Where to stay: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA is an excellent choice for anyone visiting Philadelphia. This park is well maintained and located just 30 minutes outside of the city. While the rates are a bit high, we find the cost worthwhile based on location and amenities offered.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo may not be the first place that comes to mind when deciding where to go for St. Patrick’s Day, but this city is actually full of Irish fun during March. The Old Neighborhood Parade was the city’s original and is full of tradition.

Meanwhile, the downtown parade is quite large and well worth seeing as well. Fortunately, the events are on different days, so you can see both.

Other great things to do include dance and music performances, a special St. Paddy’s Day run, Irish dinners, and more.

St. Patrick's Day
Branches of Niagara Campground & Resort

Where to stay: While it is still a relatively big city, Buffalo is the smallest on our list. For this reason, parking your RV a bit closer to the action is a whole lot easier. We recommend the Branches of Niagara Campground and Resort, which is located just 15 minutes outside of the city and offers beautiful views and wonderful amenities.

New York City

Finally, we must mention New York City itself. This is a great place to celebrate almost any holiday and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. The big parade is, of course, well worth seeing, as is the Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade held earlier in the month.

Another awesome event to attend is the Irish Arts Center’s Open Day. During this day you can enjoy performances by Irish step dancers and musicians, and try your hand at step dancing or playing the tin whistle. Finally, we must mention the many amazing pub crawls that happen throughout the city.

St. Patrick’s Day
O’Lunney’s Times Square Pub

Where to stay: Believe it or not, you can actually park your RV in Brooklyn at Floyd Bennett Field. That said, there are no hookups available and this location is only recommended for those with smaller rigs. Big rigs and those who prefer water and electric sites should head to Liberty Harbor RV Park, which is just a ferry ride away from all the action.




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