ST. GEORGE — Offering pristine views of the Milky Way and situated on the doorstep of a national park, two Southern Utah locations are ranked in the 2024 Best Places to RV in America.

Presented by The Dyrt app and State Farm, the annual contest named the Dark Sky RV Park & Campground in Kanab as No. 3 and Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground in Bryce Canyon City as No. 10 in the United States. These app users’ favorite locations are based on ratings and reviews from those who travel in recreational vehicles in The Dyrt’s community of campers.

The Dyrt app CEO, Kevin Long told St. George News that interest in RV camping grows yearly. To find the best RV parks and resorts in America, The Dyrt teamed with State Farm to identify unique locations, such as Dark Sky sanctuaries, national park villages, sprawling resorts and vineyards.

“We create this list based on our millions of user reviews and the ratings from campers all over the United States,” Long said, adding that the criteria they look for are scenic beauty, amenities, proximity to destinations and cleanliness. “And this year, out of the top 10 list, there were actually two campgrounds in Utah, and it’s the only state in the country with two sites that made the top 10 list.”

Long said the Dark Sky RV Park & Campground in Kanab ranked high due to its expansive 40-acre park and stunning vistas.

“They’re huge, and they’re spacious. People often think about RV parks, ‘Now we’re packed in like sardines in a parking lot.’ And that’s just not always the case,” Long said. “This is a really good example. The Dark Sky RV Park campground has unbelievable views. You’re going to get sunrises and sunsets and stars at night.”

The RV area consists of basic sites and westward-facing luxury sites with full hookups, rustic bungalows and a private bathhouse for those looking to indulge in a more glamorous version of camping. 

“What’s also amazing with all their sites (is) there are only 19 of them in this entire campground, and they’re 75 feet apart from each other,” Long said. “So on every single site, you have that massive amount of privacy.”

The Dark Sky RV Park and Campground offers expansive views of the Red Cliffs, Vermillion Cliffs and Kaibab Plateau. Long said visitors can explore the area on foot or rent electric bicycles.

In addition to having restaurants and shops, Kanab provides access to the Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon, the Coyote Buttes and the Grand Staircase-Escalante region, Long said.

Britt Roth, owner of the Dark Sky RV Park and Campground, told St. George News that it was a “leap of faith” to move from Austin, Texas, to the Kanab area. The couple had already been full-time RVers for a year and a half when they discovered the area.

Roth said her family, which includes her husband Jeff, two children and grandparents, “fell in love” with the Kanab area.

“Through our travels, we really never found anything that felt like what we created,” she said. “So we basically went home. We sold our homes and almost everything we owned and piled our money together. We bought the 40 acres here and built the kind of RV park of our dreams from the ground up.”

She added that Southern Utah’s attractions are not just the national parks but also the promise of dark skies.

“Many people have never seen the Milky Way or the dark skies,” she said. “That was our inspiration … . We’re in such a unique place that we’re only 3 miles east of the center of Kanab, which is such a cute little town.”

A Dyrt’s camper, Mindy B., left this review on the app: “It was a wonderful surprise to pull into Dark Sky RV Campgrounds. It’s a unique experience! Full water, power, and dump are at each site. They have a beautiful property surrounded by gorgeous Utah mountains. Thursday nights, they have a social, offering wine, beer, food and a great overall experience.”

Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground also ranked on the Best Places to RV list. This scenic spot is the closest RV park to Bryce Canyon National Park and is located next to the historic Ruby’s Inn, a half mile from the park’s entrance. The RV park features 250 RV sites and accommodations, including hotels, cabins and tent sites.

Travelers can enjoy the shuttle service that transports guests between Ruby’s and some of the national park’s most popular destinations. A camp store is also on-site, allowing campers to stock up before exploring the wilderness.

Whitney Roberts, the Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground supervisor, told St. George News they were “honored and overjoyed” to be included on the list.

“We constantly work hard year-round, even though the campground is closed during the winter months because of the snow, trying to make an enjoyable experience for every single visitor that steps into our little store,” Roberts said. “We would like to thank all that have visited and continue to visit one of Utah’s not-so-hidden gems and trust us with making their visit memorable!”

Another perk of the campground is a pool, where visitors can relax, listen to live country music, go on horse or all-terrain vehicle rides, attend a rodeo or enjoy other entertainment.

Another Dyrt camper, Bas V., left this review on the app: “Great place, friendly people! This campground has everything: a general store, pool, and much more. It’s like a little village with everything within walking distance. The bus toward Bryce National Park stops at Ruby’s Inn; great!”

In a news release, the Dyrt founder Sarah Smith said, “It’s amazing to see longtime RV travelers and a new generation of RVers come together around the campfire. It just goes to show that the quintessential American camping vehicle has an enduring magic.”

The Dyrt’s Best Places to RV in 2024:

1. Anchor Down RV Resort in Tennessee.
2. Roadrunner Travelers RV Park in Texas.
3. Dark Sky RV Park & Campground in Utah.
4. Colter Bay RV Park at Colter Bay Village in Wyoming.
5. Tom Sawyer’s RV Park in Arkansas.
6. Lake Pleasant RV Park in Washington.
7. Landry Vineyards Grape Escape RV Sites in Louisiana.
8. The Views RV Park & Campground in Colorado.
9. Lake George RV Park in New York.
10. Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground in Utah.

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