Rving to New York City: Family Guide

New York City with Kids: An RVers Roadtrip Guide

Would you ever take your RV to New York City?

Technically, we did not tow our RV into Manhattan—and I am very thankful for that—but we did bring it as close as we reasonably could.

We stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, which put us just a short train ride away from New York City. It gave us the best of both worlds: easy access to Manhattan during the day and our own beds, kitchen, bathroom, and familiar space waiting for us at night.

But before the adventure even began, we learned an important campground lesson.

Always Double-Check Your Campground Charges

When we arrived at the campground, the total we were asked to pay was higher than the price we had booked online, by $100!

We were able to address it, and I am not sharing this to throw the campground under the bus however, we were not the only ones who have experienced this, and I think if you plan to stay here its important to address with them that you won't be having a price increase between the time you book and the time you arrive when you have already paid 1/2 the total as a non-refundable deposit. 

It was a good reminder to always:

• Screenshot the rate shown when you book

• Save your reservation confirmation

• Review taxes, fees, and add-ons

• Double-check the total before paying

• Ask questions if the amount does not match

When you are traveling frequently, it can be easy to check in, hand over your card, and move on with your day. Taking an extra minute to compare the final total with your original reservation could save you money and frustration.

Once we got everything worked out, we were ready to explore.

Staying in Jersey City Made Visiting New York Easy

One of our biggest concerns was figuring out how to explore New York City while traveling in a large RV.

Staying in Jersey City solved that problem.

Instead of trying to drive or park in Manhattan, we left our RV at the campground and walked 20 minutes to the PATH Train to get into the city. We were able to spend full days exploring and then return to our own home at night. 

For our family, that is one of the biggest benefits of RV travel.

We can experience busy cities, historic sites, national parks, and bucket-list attractions without constantly packing and unpacking suitcases. At the end of the day, we still come home to our own space.

Visiting the 9/11 Museum With Our Daughters

Our first major stop was the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

This visit was especially meaningful for Rob and me.

Rob had visited New York City before September 11, 2001. I visited shortly after the attacks with my church youth group as a mission trip. This was the first time either of us had returned since those earlier visits, and bringing our daughters with us made the experience feel even more significant.

The museum is incredibly powerful, but it is also heavy.

Walking through the exhibits brought back memories of where we were, what we saw on the news, and how much changed afterward. Sharing that history with our girls was not easy, but it felt important.

One of the reasons we love traveling with our children is that history becomes more than a page in a textbook.

They can stand where events happened, hear the stories, see the artifacts, and understand the human side of what they are learning.

This was one of those days that we will all remember.

One World Observatory Was the Perfect End to the Day

After the emotional weight of the museum, we ended our first day at One World Observatory.

It was absolutely incredible.

The experience begins before you even reach the top. During the elevator ride, you watch New York City transform around you as the skyline develops through hundreds of years of history.

Then comes the reveal.

When the city skyline appears in front of you, it is hard not to be impressed. The views are beautiful, and it gave us a completely different perspective of the city we had been walking through all day.

We highly recommend adding One World Observatory to your New York City itinerary, especially if it is your first visit. 

Finding a Little Piece of Naples in New York City

Between the 9/11 Museum and One World Observatory, we stopped for lunch at Kesté, a restaurant known for Neapolitan-style pizza.

This meal felt like more than just lunch.

We had recently visited Naples, Italy, during a trip to Europe. While we were there, we had planned to eat pizza near the place where pizza originated, but it began pouring rain after we did a Pompeii tour. Our plans did not work out quite the way we imagined, but this was fun to come full circle. 

Finding authentic Neapolitan-style pizza in New York City gave us another chance to share that experience together.

Travel has a funny way of connecting places and memories. Sitting in New York and eating pizza that reminded us of Italy made the world feel both enormous and surprisingly small. It also led us to connecting the stories of ancestors that came from European countries like Italy when we visited Ellis Island. 

Climbing Into the Crown of the Statue of Liberty

One of the biggest highlights of our entire trip was climbing into the crown of the Statue of Liberty.

This is one of those experiences that requires advance planning, but it was absolutely worth it.

The climb is narrow and physically demanding, especially toward the top, but standing inside the crown was such a memorable moment for our family.

We also spent time on Ellis Island, which added another layer of meaning to the day. Walking through the immigration museum and thinking about the millions of people who arrived in America through that very place made the experience incredibly moving.

For families learning about American history, immigration, or their own ancestry, Ellis Island is such a valuable stop.

Little Italy, Gelato, and Another Travel Memory

Of course, our trip would not have felt complete without visiting Little Italy.

We love Italy, Italian food, and any opportunity to revisit the places and flavors we have experienced during our travels.

While walking through Little Italy, we even found Dubai-style gelato similar to something we had tried in Sicily.

It was another unexpected full-circle moment.

One minute, we were walking through New York City. The next, we were talking about memories from Italy and comparing the flavors to what we had eaten overseas.

Those little connections are one of my favorite parts of traveling with our girls.

Times Square and Staying Aware in the City

We also took our daughters to Times Square.

There had been reports of unrest in parts of the city during our visit, but thankfully, we did not personally encounter any of it.

We genuinely felt safe during our time in Times Square, but we also stayed aware of our surroundings. In any major city or crowded tourist area, it is wise to keep your belongings secure, know where your children are, avoid distractions, and pay attention to what is happening around you.

Our approach was simple: enjoy the experience, but keep our heads on a swivel.

Times Square was bright, busy, loud, and exactly what our girls imagined New York City would feel like.

The Knicks had also won while we were there for the first time in over 50 years, so the city felt especially energetic (and dangerous all at the same time because of the violence.)

A Story We Will Never Forget From the Intrepid Museum

Our time in New York City has also given us some unexpected moments that reminded us why we travel in the first place.

While visiting the Intrepid Museum, we toured the USS Growler, a Cold War-era submarine docked along the Hudson River. While we were there, we met Bil Peters, who actually served aboard the USS Growler submarine. ( See photo)

Bil took the time to talk with our three daughters and share a story about one of his former shipmates, Bill.

Bill had recently lost the love of his life. When he returned to the submarine, he brought along a photograph of his wife and taped it up inside. Bil pointed out that photograph to our girls, where it remains for visitors to see.

It was such a simple moment, but it stopped all of us.

We spend so much time reminding our daughters that life is not about how much stuff we can collect. In the end, we cannot take any of it with us.

What remains are the people we loved, the places we experienced together, and the memories we made along the way.

That conversation inside a Cold War submarine captured the heart behind Peeples and Places better than we ever could. And next we head off to South Dakota where we plan to visit the Minute Man Missile to tie history all together for them!

This lifestyle allows us to visit incredible landmarks, but the moments that stay with us most are often the people we meet there. People like Bil, who take the time to share their lives, their history, and the stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Bil recently featured our family in his own newsletter and told us that he now enjoys sharing our story with people who visit the submarine. Knowing that our brief encounter meant something to him too made this memory even more special.

We walked into the Intrepid Museum expecting to learn about ships, aircraft, submarines, and the Cold War.

We walked away with another reminder that life is short, people matter, and the memories we make together are worth far more than anything we could ever own.

Watching the Sunset From DUMBO

Another favorite moment was watching the sun go down from DUMBO in Brooklyn.

DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” and the neighborhood offers some of the most iconic views of the Manhattan Bridge and New York skyline.

It was the perfect place to slow down after several busy days.

We watched the light change over the city, took photos, and enjoyed one of those simple travel moments that ends up becoming a favorite memory.

You do not always need another ticketed attraction or tightly scheduled activity.

Sometimes you just need a beautiful view and time together.

Our Favorite Things We Did in New York City

During our visit, some of our biggest highlights included:

• Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

• Going to the top of One World Observatory

• Eating Neapolitan-style pizza

• Climbing into the Statue of Liberty crown

• Exploring Ellis Island

• Walking through Little Italy

• Visiting Times Square

• Finding gelato that reminded us of Sicily

• Empire State Building
• Intrepid Museum 
• Watching the sunset from DUMBO

New York City can feel overwhelming, especially when you are visiting with children, but breaking it into neighborhoods and grouping nearby attractions made it much more manageable.

Tips for RVing Near New York City

If you are considering bringing your RV near New York City, here are a few things we learned.

Stay outside Manhattan

Trying to drive a large RV into Manhattan is unnecessary and would be stressful for most RVers. Staying in Jersey City allowed us to keep the RV nearby without dealing with Manhattan traffic and parking.

Use public transportation

The train made getting into the city much easier than driving. Before heading out, check your route, return schedule, and where you need to transfer. We chose to do the PATH Train into the city and from there we walked or used Ubers and Taxi's to avoid the subway given the recent increase in violence in the subway system. We didn't want to take any chances with our 3 daughters.

Best safety tips: 

• Act like a local (they don't interact with each other on the trains)
• Keep your valuables in front of you- like a cross body purse.
• Keep a personal safety alarm with you- since you can't take pepper spray into buildings.
• Be aware of your surroundings, hold your kids hands when its congested areas.

Book major attractions early

Popular experiences such as the Statue of Liberty crown can sell out far in advance. Decide which attractions are most important to your family and reserve those first. We booked the City Pass which includes a bunch of site seeing for much less.

Wear comfortable shoes

You will walk much more than you think. New York attractions may appear close together on a map, but the steps add up quickly.

Leave room in your schedule

The city can be unpredictable. Trains may take longer, crowds can slow you down, and kids may need more breaks than expected.

Save your campground confirmation

Screenshot the price you booked and compare it with the final amount charged when you arrive.

Why RV Travel Makes Trips Like This Possible

Taking an RV near New York City may sound intimidating, but for us, it made the trip easier.

We had our groceries, our own beds, extra clothing, familiar routines, and a quiet place to come back to after long days in the city.

RV life also gives us the ability to combine very different experiences into one trip.

We can visit a major city, explore a museum, learn about American history, eat food inspired by another country, watch a sunset from Brooklyn, and then continue down the road toward our next destination.

For families, RV travel creates incredible opportunities for hands-on education.

For retirees, it offers the freedom to explore America at your own pace.

For anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting national parks, historic landmarks, small towns, and major cities, an RV can make those dreams feel much more possible.

Final Thoughts

Would we take our RV near New York City again?

Absolutely.

Staying in Jersey City allowed us to experience New York without trying to navigate Manhattan with our rig. We could spend our days exploring one of the busiest cities in the world and still return to the comfort of our own home each night.

The trip gave our daughters opportunities to learn about history, immigration, resilience, architecture, culture, and food—all by experiencing those things in real life.

That is why we continue to believe RV travel is one of the best ways to explore America as a family.

Just remember to save your reservation confirmation and double-check the campground total when you arrive.

And if you are considering full-time RV life or possibly buying an RV, please check out our FREE GUIDES. Rob can also help you compare RVs, choose the right floor plan, and find an RV that fits the way you want to travel.