A photo of red white and blue fireworks

Trip Planning

Go RVing to These 2024 July 4th Campground Activities

Celebrate July 4th by enjoying everything these campgrounds have to offer.

Some RV enthusiasts build history tours around their Fourth of July celebrations, using nearby campgrounds as base camps for their Independence Day activities. RV enthusiasts visiting Washington D.C., for example,  can stay at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland, the closest campground to the capitol, and use it as their base camp for visiting museums and historical sites as well as the Independence Day festivities.

Visitors to Washington D.C. can begin their July 4th festivities at 11:45 a.m. by watching the annual National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 7th Streets. Later in the day, visitors can head to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building to attend a free concert with multiple genres of music, from military bands to classical musical orchestras and celebrity pop and rock artists. The fireworks begin around 9 a.m. and can be seen from many locations, from the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial, as well as from the other side of the Potomac River in neighboring Arlington.

Many campgrounds and RV parks are close to major July 4th celebrations, such as Liberty Harbor RV Park, which is just minutes from New York City, where RVers can enjoy everything from a visit to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty to spending the day at Coney Island USA as they await Macy’s famed fireworks display. Some even take a dinner cruise and watch the fireworks from New York Harbor.

Across the country, Houston, Texas is planning six hours of Independence Day festivities for its annual Freedom Over Texas event, which includes local, regional, and nationally known entertainers and a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale.

RVers visiting the Houston area have numerous camping options, including relatively new RV parks such as Medical Center RV Resort, which is close to downtown, as well as parks on the periphery of Houston. This includes Katy Lake RV Resort as well as parks that are close to other popular attractions in the Houston area, such as Space Center RV Park, which is just minutes away from Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, and a Smithsonian Affiliate. 

Of course, many campgrounds are strategically located near launch points for major fireworks displays. Most independently owned and operated campgrounds and RV parks also organize special activities for families and children to celebrate our nation’s independence. Here’s a sampling of what’s planned at campgrounds across the country over July 4th weekend:

 

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Photo courtesy of Willcox Cochise KOA Holiday

 

Anchorage Ship Creek RV Park in Anchorage: This campground is just minutes away from downtown Anchorage, which hosts July 4th activities, including a parade and fireworks.

Pleasant Harbor RV Park in Peoria: This park celebrates Independence Day early with an annual fireworks display on July 3rd. Other activities over July 4th weekend include inflatable waterslides and bounce houses, food trucks and a live concert.

Campland on the Bay in San Diego: There will be live music all week long in celebration of Independence Day as well as organized activities and watercraft rentals. Fireworks can be seen in the evening from Sea World.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach: July 4th activities at this resort include live music with evening fireworks provided by the city of Newport Beach. Newport Dunes also offers watercraft rentals, which can be used on its protected bay.


 

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Photo courtesy of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina

 

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Bloomington: Independence Day activities at this park include crafts, tournaments, bingo, and music. This includes the annual red, white and blue tie-dye and dance with Yogi Bear and friends and the annual fireworks that are set off at Lake Monroe, just a few minutes away.

Waterloo / Lost Island KOA Resort in Waterloo: Activities at this campground on July 4th include a bubble slip-n-slide on a hill, a lighting of the flag at 9 p.m., and a movie under the stars. Friday’s activities include the park’s first-ever triathlon. The movie, “Captain America,” will be shown under the stars beginning at dusk on Friday night. Saturday’s activities include blow-up bounce houses in late afternoon with fireworks over the lake in the evening. There will be a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

 

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Madison: This park celebrates America’s independence with red, white, and blue crafts, get-wet water games and rides, and a red, white and blue golf cart parade. The park also has its own fireworks show.

 

Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort in Foxboro: Fourth of July weekend activities at this campground include 3 versus 3 basketball tournaments for players ages 6-12, 13-17, and over 18. There will also be a slip-n-slide activity and a snowball fight with participants organized into age groups. Other activities include patriotic face painting and glitter tattoos for campers of all ages.

Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham: Patriotic crafts, cornhole, pickleball, and a golf cart parade are just some of the camper favorites planned for July 4th weekend. There will also be live music and the park’s annual fireworks show, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 7th.

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Carsonville: Activities at this park for the week of July 4th include pool parties and crafts. Campers can decorate their golf carts and bikes and join Yogi Bear in the park’s annual 4th of July parade. There will also be an Independence Day campsite decorating contest.
 

Kymer's Camping Resort in Branchville: July 4th weekend activities at this campground include arts and crafts, cornhole, pickleball, disc golf tournaments, a golf cart parade, and a tropical bird show.

Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville: July 4th weekend activities at this campground include live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as face painting. This park will also have a live auction and a Chinese auction over July 4th weekend to raise money for Camp Good Days and Special Times, a Mendon, New York-based nonprofit organization that offers free camps, special activities, and other services for children suffering from cancer.  
 

Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort in Upper Black Eddy: July 4th weekend activities include red, white and blue tie-dye; a corn hole tournament; and other fundraising activities to benefit Shriner's Hospitals for Children, and a DJ dance.

Peaceful Valley Campground in West Sunbury: July 4th weekend activities at this campground include a scavenger hunt, duck races, bingo, and chainsaw art by Bill Schaudt Wood Creations. Campers are also encouraged to decorate their golf carts for the holiday and parade through the park. Fireworks will be on Saturday night.

Pine Cradle Lake Family Campground in Rome Township: Campers who celebrate Independence Day at this campground can decorate their golf carts and bikes for a parade around the park’s 18-acre lake. Campers can also catch a turtle to participate in the park’s annual turtle race, which is one of several competitive events planned for Independence Day weekend. Fireworks are planned for Saturday night, weather permitting.

Crossville / I-40 KOA in Crossville: Independence Day activities at this campground include t-shirt tie-dying, a bike/pet parade, water gun wars, wagon rides, an incredible fireworks and music show, and a few surprises.

Great Escapes RV Resort in Bryan: This park’s Independence week activities include patriotic-themed activities, including a scavenger hunt, potato sack race, a costume contest, golf cart and site decorating contests, and family games, all with Bisquit, the park’s corgi mascot.

 

Cozy Acres Campground in Powhatan: Independence Day activities include a golf cart parade, candy bingo, a corn hole tournament, an ice cream social, and karaoke, with fireworks on the night of the 4th.

Misty Mountain Camp Resort in Greenwood: Campers who spend Independence Day at this park can participate in a red, white and blue campsite and cabin decorating contest to win free camping. There will also be live music, Karaoke, an ice cream social, wagon rides, and games of corn hole and horseshoes. 

Arrowhead Lake Campground in Montello: This campground celebrates July 4th weekend with a red, white and blue tie-dye activity, a patriotic golf cart and bike parade, a lip sync battle, rock ’n roll bingo, a 3-on-3 volleyball tournament, and a glow parade.

Sherwood Forest Campground in the Wisconsin Dells: Campers are encouraged to decorate their bikes and golf carts for a 4th of July parade around the campground. Campers can walk to the fireworks display downtown at dusk.

 

 

 

Jeff Crider

Author

Jeff Crider, President and CEO of Crider Public Relations, has been involved in covering the campground industry for over 25 years. Jeff has worked as a freelance writer for publications such as RV Business, Motor Home Magazine, Trailer Life, Highways and other Affinity Group Inc. publications since 1995. He has also successfully pitched many of the nation's top tier media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Financial Times, Reuters, The Associated Press and National Public Radio. In addition to writing, Jeff is also a talented photographer and humanitarian.