Roadtrip with RVshare Detroit to Elizabeth City

A Detroit to Elizabeth City RV road trip is great for exploring the Midwest and traveling down toward the Atlantic Ocean. You can start by visiting Dearborn, a top tourist attraction famous for its association with Henry Ford, and the diverse ethnic communities in Detroit. The scenic drive offers miles of open road with beautiful views and landscape changes as you approach the coast, offering some breathtaking sunsets and sunrises along the way. 

Nearby National Parks

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular parks in America. It receives a record 10 million visitors from all parts of the world a year. It is also recognized as a UNESCO heritage site because of an abundance of the natural diversity of plant and animal life. It is among the few parks where bears can live freely in the wild and has a number of impressive hiking trails so that you can immerse yourself in the wilderness. The thundering sound of mighty waterfalls and the cool water spray on your face, the enchanting beauty of the old-growth forests, and the open vistas with incredible views are certainly worth the drive to the park.

Nearby State Parks

Sterling State Park

Sterling State Park is the only Michigan state park on Lake Erie and would make a great first adventure on your road trip from Detroit to Elizabeth City. The park's 1,300 acres offer several recreational activities such as lakeside camping, lagoon fishing, and shoreline swimming. It also has six miles of trails that are well-suited to hiking and skiing during winter.

Cowans Gap State Park  

Cowans Gap State Park is a 1,085-acre park adjacent to a 42-acre lake. The park is in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, and is only 20 minutes from I-76. A dense state forest surrounds it. The park has many outdoor activities that can entertain you such as swimming, boat and pier fishing, and hiking. If your Detroit to Elizabeth City road trip falls during winter, the park offers ice fishing and ice skating. The park has hiking trails, or you can explore the trails on horseback.

Dismal Swamp State Park

Dismal Swamp State Park is only 22 minutes away from Elizabeth City. The park's major feature is the 2,000-foot boardwalk that allows visitors to explore the beauty of the Great Dismal Swamp. It also has six miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This serene North Carolina park offers spectacular birdwatching opportunities.

Along the Way

Toledo Museum of Art

The Toledo Museum of Art is a haven for art lovers from all walks of life. It has an unrivaled collection of art pieces from all over the world. As a creative hub, it conducts an art education program for people of all ages. The museum is an excellent inclusion to your Detroit to Elizabeth City road trip where you can spend a few hours simply enjoying good art. 

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

The monument and shrine are dedicated to the lyricist of the national anthem, Francis Scott Key. If you ever want to feel the tug of patriotism, visit the monument. Take a tour, and listen to the guides passionately recount the valiant efforts of the soldiers in the heat of battle and the gallantry of an imprisoned man spotting the star-spangled banner and writing the poem that today is known all over the world. 

Nauticus  

Nauticus is described as the home of the wondrous Iowa-class battleship USS Wisconsin, but it is more than that. It is a maritime discovery center that uses the battleship and the bay to educate the young and old alike about the maritime environment. Guided tours around the center are very informative and insightful. Tourists get the chance to tour the USS Wisconsin and learn of its distinguished war history.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Toledo, Ohio

One of Toledo's major tourist attractions is the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium. The aquarium is home to over 3,000 sea creatures. The zoo exhibits include the Kingdom of the Apes and Cheetah Valley and is perfect for tourists with younger children. The botanical garden is another excellent place to explore. It sits on 60 acres and has various species of flora. If you want to experience a genuinely aromatic experience, visit the herb garden and feel the air fill with scintillating aromas of all types.

Toledo East/ Stony Ridge KOA Journey is a calm, clean camping site in Toledo. It has many great amenities and a well-stocked camp store for all your travel needs. There are also several dump stations nearby. 

Baltimore, Maryland

A visit to Baltimore will warm your heart, and you may find yourself spending more time than you had planned in this quirky burg that is appropriately nicknamed "Charm City." If aquatic life strikes your fancy, then you can head on over to the National Aquarium and spend time viewing over 20,000 sea creatures. The USS Constellation is another crowd puller. Many tourists throng the inner harbor to explore this remarkable relic. Commissioned in 1854, the ship has fought the slave trade, two world wars, and a host of many other battles. It is especially popular with younger people drawn by the sailor's rustic appeal in the 19th century. The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum is another great site for lovers of literature. The literary genius's home is full of well-preserved knick-knacks from the author's time of residing there in the early 1830s.

Bayshore Campgrounds sits directly across the bay and is one of the more popular places to camp because it is easily accessible and offers proximity to many tourist attractions. The campground offers a dump station as well as full hookups, which means that you can treat your RV as your home. Their recreational facilities include a basketball court, spacious children's playground, and the evenings are perfect for an intimate walk on the beach as you enjoy the spectacular sunset views. 

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is famous for its military history. Many people associate the city with the Naval Station Norfolk, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy Fleet. The city is jam-packed with fun things to see and do and is the perfect break from your Detroit to Elizabeth City road trip. For the art enthusiast, the Chrysler Art Museum is full of beautiful pieces and rare antiquities. Its glass collection is one of a kind, and even visitors who are not as enthusiastic about art are blown away by the beauty of this museum. You can also explore the Norfolk Botanical Garden and enjoy the over 60 themed gardens or tour the Virginia Zoo.

Colonies RV and Travel Park is a notable campsite in Norfolk located on the army base. After touring the sites in the city, you will likely want to add an extra day to your Detroit to Elizabeth City road trip itinerary to soak in the sights and sounds. The campground has a camp store so that you can replenish your supplies. You can also find a dump station nearby.

Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake is the last city on your Detroit to Elizabeth City RV road trip before arriving at your destination. There are some fantastic attractions to explore in the city as you stretch your limbs in preparation for the last leg. The city offers a refreshing break from the humdrum of the interstate, and you can stroll through the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and take in the sights and scenes.

Davis Lakes RV Park and Campground is one of the top-rated RV parks and campgrounds in the area. Travelers love Davis Lakes RV Park because of the three lakes that border it: One is for swimming, and the other two are for fishing. The campground's amenities include a spacious playground, a pet walking trail, bathhouses, and a number of other fun things. Should you be lucky enough to hook something while you're out on the lake, they also have a fish cleaning house. There are several dump stations nearby.

Find Adventure from Detroit to Elizabeth City

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Detroit to Elizabeth City, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Detroit or Elizabeth City.