The Best Campgrounds Near Rail Trails & Bike Trails

There are hundreds of thousands of miles of scenic bike trails across the country and many of them are located near some of the best campgrounds. From paved trails to rural rail trails, the opportunities to go road biking, fat biking, mountain biking, and electric biking are endless. 

Whether you want to have access to nearby cities by trail or simply want to get some exercise in the great outdoors while camping, we narrowed down five of the best campgrounds located near rail trails and bike trails — all of which are Good Sam Parks. Save 10% with your Good Sam Club Membership when you stay at any of these campgrounds! 

Susanville RV Park — Susanville, California

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Discover the windy path of the Bizz Johnson National Recreational Trail in northeastern California. The 25.4-mile scenic rail trail takes you from Susanville to Westwood with much of the trail winding along Susan River Canyon. 

Susanville RV Park is nestled near downtown Susanville just 2-miles from the Bizz Johnson Trailhead. You’ll find plenty of space at this Good Sam campground with 101 full hookup sites and 45 big rig pull-through sites. It’s pet-friendly with bathrooms, showers, laundry, a fitness center, and WiFi. 

The nearby Bizz Johnson trail is unique because you not only get a view of the mountains, but it takes you across bridges, trestles, and even tunnels giving you a better look at the history of the Central Pacific Railroad. If you visit in October, be sure to check out the Rails to Trails Festival at the Historic Railroad Depot in Susanville.

More Good Sam Campgrounds Nearby

Eagle Lake RV Park Days End RV Park

The Portal RV Resort — Moab, Utah

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Explore Moab’s iconic national parks, desert, and canyons on two wheels through Lions Park and Bike Path. 

Portal RV Resort is a luxury RV resort with stunning views of the Moab Rim. The resort is located just a mile from Lions Park and Bike Path Trailhead. It’s also near downtown Moab and just 5 minutes from Arches National Park. It’s a true luxury resort with a heated pool and a hot tub, pickleball court, an enclosed off-leash dog park, a conference center, and a gym. 

Lions Park includes a 2.5-mile-long path along the banks of the Colorado River. The path leads to a bridge that connects to a network of trails taking you to Arches and Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse State Park. Adventure-loving mountain and fat bikers can ride the dirt and slick rock trails including the 11.3-mile Sovereign Trail.

RVers who plan to bike can ride down Rubicon Trail, go across the street, and get on a bike that leads straight to Lions Park and Bike Path Trailhead.

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Shady Acres RV Park Spanish Trail RV Park 

Paradise Lake Family Campground — Spout Spring, Virginia

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The 31-mile High Bridge Trail is as “rail trail” as it gets. Cycle across one of the highest bridges at a height of 125 feet and a length of 2400 feet long. The bridge stands above the Appomattox River with an idyllic view of rural Virginia.

Paradise Lake Family Campground in Spout Spring is a 20-minute car ride from the start of the High Bridge Trail in Pamplin. There are 93 campsites with either full or partial hookups. When you’re not busy biking the High Bridge Trail, you’ll want to check out the beach at Paradise Lake, go fishing or take a dip in the swimming pool. 

If you’re a history buff, you’ll appreciate nearby Appomattox. During the Civil War, the High Bridge was nearly destroyed by Union and Confederate soldiers to prevent the other side from crossing the river. There are several museums and historic attractions in Appomattox.

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Lynchburg RV Parkview RV Park

Atlantic Oaks — Cape Cod, Massachusetts

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Camp near the ocean while staying active and enjoying the salty air by bike. The Cape Cod Rail Trail gives cyclists the opportunity to experience quaint seaside villages, kettle ponds, beaches, lighthouses, and forests up close and personal. 

Atlantic Oaks is located at the center of Cape Cod with a direct connection to the Cape Cod Rail Trail and just 1.5 miles to bay beaches. There are 100 campsites with full hookups including cable TV, restrooms, free showers, WiFi, a dog park, and a playground.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a smooth, paved trail that stretches 25 miles — ideal for families and bikers of all skill levels. The trail passes through Nickerson State Park as well as the towns of Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham (where Atlantic Oaks is located), and Wellfleet.

If you don’t have room for a bike while traveling with your RV, check out the bike shops that are located directly on the trail, or consider an RV bike rack so you can take your bike with you everywhere.

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Old Chatham Road RV Campground Shady Knoll Campground

Old Barn Resort — Preston, Minnesota

Image: Jenny Anderson

An abandoned railroad construction led to the development of 60 miles of paved trails along the Root River, now known as the Root River State Trail in the bluffs of southeastern Minnesota.

The Old Barn Resort connects directly to the Root River Trail and is tucked along the limestone bluffs and the Root River. There are 276 campsites with full and partial hookups as well as the option to tent camp. This family-friendly resort is a one-stop-shop with a restaurant and bar onsite, an indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course, and direct access to the Root River for fishing or tubing as well as opportunities to hike and bike on the Root River Trail.

There are many historic towns situated along the route that make perfect stops for bikers who want to check out the local cuisine, fly fishing outfitters, river tubing, canoe and kayak outfitters, and quaint shops. The Root River Trail runs through the towns of Chatfield, Fountain, Preston (where the Old Barn Resort is located), Harmony, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford Village, Rushford, and Houston.

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Money Creek Haven Big River Resort Image: Jenny Anderson

Remember: with a Good Sam Membership, you can save 10 percent at these Good Sam parks and campgrounds, plus over 2,000 more! 

What (and where) are some of your favorite campgrounds near rail trails and bike trails? Tell us in the comments below.