The Best Stops Along the East Coast
With Escape Campervan depots in New York City and Orlando, you’re perfectly set up for this east coast adventure. Like many Interstates in the US, I-95 will take you the most direct (read: fastest), least attractive route possible. Make sure you tap the brakes on occasion and check out some of these side trips most people are sure to miss. We’ll start our East Coast Tour itinerary at the New York City Camper Van Rental Location and head south.Recommended Stops
Best BBQ
Once you’ve crossed into North Carolina heading south, you’ve entered southern barbeque country. You’ll encounter many different variations and differing preparation techniques, including the type of meat used (pork, beef, chicken), tomato-based (or not), quantity of vinegar (or not), mustard-based or ketchup, dry or wet-rub, slow cooked or seared, wood-smoked or charcoal, etc, etc, etc. Which is best? We’ll let your own taste buds be the ultimate judge. That said, make sure you stop off at least once a day over the next couple hundred miles and become a connoisseur of this regionally delicious cuisine. A few of our favorites:- Fayetteville, North Carolina — Fuller’s Old Fashioned Barbeque
- Latta, South Carolina — Shuler’s BBQ
- Ormond, Florida — Daytona Pig Stand
Best Drive
Google “Outer Banks + Hwy 12” in North Carolina and you’ll find a highway you simply have to drive. You can thank us later.Best Surf
Outer Banks of North Carolina. Check surfline.com for the latest updates. Once you’ve wound your way through the “Old South,” you’re certain to get culture shock once you head into Florida. Here are a couple of the best drives in America that shouldn’t be missed.Everglades National Park
The largest subtropical wilderness area in North America, this place makes the top of many Escapee to do lists. The park protects the largest habitat in the world of rare and endangered species like the manatee, the Florida panther, and the American crocodile. We’ve still yet to see a panther, but we have high hopes for a sighting one day.Best Drive
Make sure you head east/west on I-73 for a few miles west of the Everglades National Park. Known as Alligator Alley, this is a world-class drive by any standard.Florida Keys
1700 islands create the archipelago, and 42 bridges connect them along this 113-mile (181 km) part of US Highway 1. The epic trip starts just south of Miami and dead ends at the world famous community of Key West. Take your time along this stretch of the road trip because it doesn’t get any better than this!Best Bar
You’ll never run short of drinking options in the Keys. One of the best-known—both good and bad—is No Name Bar on No Name Key. Check it out and chuck a buck on the ceiling for us.Best Camping
- Bahia Honda State Park at mile 37 has 80 campsites and RV hookups.
- Boyd’s Key West Campground near the end of the road (on Stock Island) is another favorite for Escapees.
- KOA’s are always a good fallback if you’re just looking for a place to crash for the night. There are plenty of them in the Keys.
