Between work and school, responsibilities and distractions, family time is increasingly precious. If it seems like whenever you're free to spend time with your grandkid, they're busy finishing a school project, dashing off to soccer practice, or heading out with their friends, you're not alone. In the blink of an eye, childhood will end, and your grandkid will become a grand-adult. A family vacation is the perfect opportunity to slow down time and spend time together.
In this article, we'll dive into the health benefits of traveling with your children and grandchildren, cover the delights of intergenerational RV trips and disconnecting from technology, and break out some different tips and ideas for vacations — plus park passes that save grandparents money and how to pace a multigenerational RV trip so nobody burns out.
Multigenerational RV trips at a glance
- It's a growing trend: in a 2025 survey, 71% of grandparents said they'd recently taken a trip with more than two generations.
- Plan it together: let every generation pick a must-do stop, and agree on the budget before anyone books.
- Pace it gently: many RVers follow the "3-3-3" guideline — about 300 miles a day, arrive by 3 p.m., stay 3 nights.
- Grandparents 62+ save: the Senior Pass costs $80 for life or $20 a year and covers park entry for everyone in the vehicle.
- Fourth graders get the family free to federal lands and waters through August 31, 2027.
Multi-Generational Travel Is On The Rise
More and more families are realizing the value of togetherness, and multigenerational travel keeps growing. The 2025 Family Travel Survey from the Family Travel Association and NYU's Tisch Center of Hospitality polled 1,596 parents and grandparents: 71% of grandparents said they'd recently taken a multigenerational trip, and 57% of parents planned to travel with grandparents and kids, up from 55% in 2023. Among grandparents on those trips, 75% said travel helps them bond with their grandchildren.
Plus, spending time with your grandchildren may be good for your health. A 2026 study in Psychology and Aging of 2,887 grandparents over 50 found that grandparents who helped care for their grandkids scored higher on memory and verbal-fluency tests than those who didn't. It shows a link, not proof of cause, and the researchers say more work is needed. Many grandparents also find that time with grandkids gives them a sense of purpose and connection, and a chance to share what they know.
Reasons to Take an Intergenerational RV Trip
Picture a family like the Johnsons heading out on an RV road trip together one summer. The family included Grandpa Joe, Grandma Mary, their daughter Sarah, her husband Tom, and their two kids, Emily and Jack. Grandpa Joe sparked the idea, nostalgically remembering his childhood road trips and wanting to create similar memories with his grandchildren.
The journey began in their hometown, with a route planned to explore national parks, historical landmarks, and charming small towns. They packed the RV with camping essentials and a few home comforts, and the family set off with excitement and a sense of curiosity.
As they traveled together, several benefits of the intergenerational trip became apparent:
- Time on the road strengthened their family bonds: With no distractions from work or school, the family had time to talk, play games, and share stories. Grandpa Joe recounted tales from his youth, giving the children a deeper understanding of their family history. Sarah and Tom enjoyed reconnecting with each other and their parents, strengthening their familial ties.
- They learned from each other: Grandma Mary taught the kids how to build a campfire, while Grandpa Joe shared practical skills about navigation and cooking. Emily and Jack, in turn, taught their grandparents about new technologies and social media.
- They created lifelong memories: The shared experiences, from hiking in the Grand Canyon to visiting historical sites in colonial towns, created lasting memories. The family took countless photos and videos, but the most cherished moments were the spontaneous ones—like singing songs around the campfire or spotting a herd of deer at dawn.
- They experienced personal growth: Each family member grew in their own way. Grandpa Joe felt a renewed sense of purpose and joy in sharing his experiences. The kids learned resilience and adaptability, coping with the unpredictability of the journey. Sarah and Tom found a deeper appreciation for their parents' and children's roles.
By the end of the trip, the Johnson family returned home with a newfound closeness and countless stories to tell. The intergenerational RV trip was more than just a vacation—it was an opportunity to reconnect, learn, and grow together. The journey reminded them of the importance of family and the joy of sharing experiences across generations, and the trip became a cherished family tradition, with plans for future adventures already in the works. Renters we talk to say the small, unplanned moments are the ones the kids still bring up years later.
Reduce Tech Time and Increase In-Person Time
Screens are part of our everyday lives: You use them for email and reading, kids use them for school and social media, we use them to connect with strangers and loved ones, we use them to read the news and this blog. Undoubtedly, if you live far away from your grandchildren, technology has helped you foster relationships.
Yet even if you see your kids on the reg, it might often be behind screens. Sometimes it's nice to get away from the glowing rectangles to interact in real life. In Outdoorsy's Generations in the Wild survey, families told us RV trips help cut down tech time, along with the usual distractions, creating time for deeper connections.
Types of Intergenerational Trips
Camping as a whole fam is the most obvious way to take a trip, but here are a few other alternatives for spending time together in the outdoors:
- Sweep your grandkids away for an RV trip right after school gets out for the summer—or anytime in summer. Plan stops together, from beaches to hiking trails to museums.
- Reunite with your adult kids over a camping experience. Remember when you used to go when they were just wee little kids? Create new memories together.
- Invite the whole extended family for an RV family reunion. You might need to book a group campsite depending on how many members are in your fam.
- Get three generations all on one trip for an unforgettable time. The grandparents, the kids, and the grandkids can cook, learn, and camp together.
Pro tip: Use Outdoorsy's refer-a-friend feature to make RV rentals more affordable for all generations.
Tips for Successful Intergenerational Trips
Multi-generational trips are a fantastic way to vacation. The best trips happen when you take deliberate steps to make them the best they can be.
Here are some proven ways to do that:
Involve Kids in Trip Planning
Engaging kids in the planning process gets them excited in advance and ensures that the trip includes activities that interest them. Let the kiddos choose some of the destinations, activities, or even meals. This involvement makes them feel valued and increases their enthusiasm for the trip. We've seen kids who picked one stop themselves become the most patient passengers on the drive there.
You could even plan to create roadschooling light by incorporating some elements of homeschooling over the road. Sure, the kids are out of school, but trip planning is a great way to engage their minds with historical stops and fascinating destinations along your path. Our guide to RVing with kids has more ideas for the youngest travelers.
Grandparents Giving Parents a Break
Grandparents can take the lead in planning and organizing parts of the trip, giving parents a much-needed break. This dynamic not only eases the burden on parents but also allows grandparents to spend more quality time with their grandchildren.
While it might be tempting for parents to plan the trip, remember that the time spent on planning can become an important part of memory-making. When grandkids and grandparents go together from start to finish, it has lasting impacts for all.
And since time spent caring for grandkids has been linked to sharper memory in grandparents, why not add on as much as you can?
Check National and State Parks Off Your Bucket List – Together
National and state parks are perfect destinations for intergenerational trips. They offer a mix of educational opportunities, outdoor activities, and stunning scenery. Plan visits to parks that have been on your family's bucket list, creating shared memories and experiences that will be cherished for years to come.
Outdoorsy also put together guides to RV rentals near national parks so you can see all the best RV rentals and campgrounds near these national gems. State parks have their own passes, too; see our rundown of the best state park passes for camping.
Book popular parks early, and check current conditions before you lock in a route. At the Grand Canyon's South Rim, for example, Trailer Village RV Park is closed due to a water shortage, and Mather Campground has no hookups but takes reservations up to six months in advance. Our guide covers when to reserve your national park campground.
Pack Activities
Pack a variety of activities to keep everyone entertained during downtime. Board games, card games, and outdoor sports equipment are great options. These activities encourage interaction and help create lasting memories. We've seen a simple deck of cards outlast every screen in the RV on a rainy afternoon.
Here are some of the best travel games around.
Popular Add-ons
Consider bringing along popular add-ons to enhance the trip. For outdoor adventuring, the hosts of our RV rentals offer an array of exciting add-ons. We're talking bikes, boats, beach gear, and much, much more. You can easily add these to your RV rental so they're ready when you roll on your trip.
Intergenerational Bonding Activities
Trips that span family history create lasting bonds between the generations. That said, there are some deliberate steps you can take to build these bonds. Here are some of the most popular ways to do this:
Storytelling
Intergenerational trips should be packed with time around the campfire that inspires the sharing of family memories and history. While much of this happens naturally, why not inspire it with some pre-planning?
Legacy journals are tools that can guide grandparents in sharing stories of their lives with younger generations. When the questions get grandparents thinking deeply about memories, you may be surprised to hear stories you haven't even heard of! In our experience, a single question read aloud at the campfire can fill a whole evening.
Cook Together/Plan Meals Together
Meal times are perfect for family bonding. Plan and cook meals together, sharing family recipes and trying new dishes. Stock up on campfire and s'more supplies for evenings spent around the fire, telling stories and enjoying each other's company.
Here are some of our favorite campfire recipes, no-bake recipes, fresh-fish recipes, and other all-American camping recipes.
Hiking, Biking, and Exploring
Nature is a connector. It connects us with elemental things just as much as it bonds us to each other. That's why hiking and biking are important ingredients for intergenerational RV trips.
Think about ways you can build these activities into the trip. Better yet, ask grandma and grandpa to pick some outdoorsy activities they think would be fun for everyone.
To get you started, here are our favorite summer hiking trails, the best RV getaways for biking, and our complete guide to family-friendly fishing.
Create Traditions
Grandpa's ghost stories by the campfire, that RV cooktop meal you always make together, movie nights under the stars, are the kinds of things that make for lasting traditions.
Traditions don't have to happen by chance. You can inspire them by creating moments everyone wants to make happen again.
Check out this fun history of American camping traditions.
Artistic Pursuits
This is a tried-and-true way to bond generations. There's no one-size-fits-all approach here because every family has different artistic inclinations, but getting everyone creating together is a surefire way to build bonds.
Get started with these crafting while camping ideas for kids of all ages.
Can grandparents get a discount at national parks?
Yes. U.S. citizens and permanent residents 62 and older can buy a Senior Pass: $80 for a lifetime pass or $20 for an annual pass. It covers entrance and day-use fees at federal recreation sites for the passholder and everyone riding in the same private, noncommercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee sites, so one pass gets the whole RV into a national park. The passholder can also get a discount on some camping fees.
Two more passes are worth checking before you go:
- Access Pass: free for U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a permanent disability, with documentation. It works like the Senior Pass for entry and may cut some camping fees by 50%.
- Every Kid Outdoors: U.S. fourth graders and their families get free access to more than 2,000 federal lands and waters. The pass year runs September 1 to August 31, so this school year's pass is good through August 31, 2027. Kids complete a short online activity and print a voucher.
Coming from outside the U.S.? Since January 1, 2026, nonresidents 16 and older pay a $100 fee on top of regular entry at 11 popular parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion, unless they hold an annual pass.
How do you plan a multigenerational RV trip that works for every age?
Start with the drive. Many RVers follow the 3-3-3 rule for pacing RV travel days: drive no more than about 300 miles a day, arrive by 3 p.m., and stay at least 3 nights. That leaves time for naps, playgrounds, and setting up camp in daylight.
Then think about sleeping and access:
- Give grandparents a real bed and easy steps in and out, rather than a convertible dinette or a cab-over bunk.
- Give kids their own bunks so bedtimes don't collide with grown-up time.
- Book a site with electric hookups if anyone uses a CPAP or other medical device overnight.
- Traveling in two RVs? Ask the campground for side-by-side sites before you book. Our guide to Class A, B, and C RVs can help you size each rig.
Last, talk about money early. Agree on the budget and who pays for what (campsites, fuel, groceries) before anyone books, so nobody is left doing math at the gas pump. We've heard from plenty of families that a five-minute budget talk at home saves a tense conversation on the road.
Boost Mental Wellness: For All Generations
Nature has a proven power to heal. Being in it reduces anxiety, creates mental clarity, boosts creativity, and more. Combine that with what researchers are learning about the positive effects of grandparents spending time with grandkids, and these sorts of trips are potent.
RVing trips that bring parents, grandparents, kids, and grandkids together create moments in time that are free from the usual distractions and pressures of life. These moments become powerful experiences that provide lasting mental health benefits for all.
Intergenerational RV trips set the stage for bonding moments that reverberate through time. Make the call today to get Grandpa and Grandma in on the trip planning. And when you need a few RVs for the trip, Outdoorsy's RV rentals have you covered. We've watched first-time multigenerational groups come back and book the same trip for the next summer.
About this guide
Originally written by Outdoorsy author Amelia Arvesen. Updated in November 2026 by Outdoorsy Editorial. The facts in this guide were checked against official and primary sources, linked throughout. Pass prices and campground status can change, so check the NPS website before you go.
