Under the Gaydar | Summer Series: Wherever the Wind Blows

Jul 13, 2022

As the coronavirus panic winds down, it seems the stress of where to take your next adventure has started to pick up. If the thought of crowded spaces still gives you the heebie-jeebies, don't worry, you aren't alone. In fact, after years of isolation, there has been a major shift toward more meaningful travel and according to survey data from Airbnb, domestic car travel continues to draw the most interest with American consumers declaring their top travel priority is spending time with loved ones in comfortable, familiar, and secure settings.

Stuck wondering if there is a way to see the USA without ever stepping foot inside an airport or hotel? An RV road trip is a perfect way to avoid the unpredictability of international travel and germ-riddled public spaces. This means the South of France is out, America is in, and it's hide tide you shift into gear and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion full of under-the-radar gems.

Photo Credit: Miltiadis Fragkidis

Part 11: RV Road Trip

In the 1960s, California businessman Bob Damron began publishing pocket-sized travel guides to help members of the LGBTQ+ community find queer-friendly spaces around the country. From San Francisco to Birmingham, these guides steered people to safe spaces and filled the void in the gay travel sphere, giving queer folks the opportunity to discover what so many privileged, cisgendered Americans already found on the open road: freedom.

An integral part of American culture, road trips are the kind of all-American activity where core memories are formed, but freedom wasn’t always a given for members of the LGBTQ+ community, leading queer travelers to favor well-known gayborhoods that occupy liberal cities near the coastlines. As noted in a study conducted by misterB&B, modern queer travelers tend to favor destinations like New York and California, a fact that reinforces a coastal binary that excludes a majority of the nation as "flyover country". This summer, challenge that binary by leaving your coastal comfort zone to explore the unseen places you wouldn't ordinarily venture to.

Photo Credit: Vacationer

Whether it’s buying their own or using a rental service, camp company KOA claims that millennials are bringing back the RV life, throwing that old notion that RVing is strictly a retiree activity right out the window. For the queer traveler, the appeal of the open road and the liberty that usually comes from exploring the country unfortunately may mean getting stuck in states that are less than accepting of their lifestyles. Contrary to popular belief, America is filled with gay-friendly safe havens and in recent years, various campgrounds catered specifically to the LGBTQ+ community have started to pop up across the country along with many well-known camping spots developing reputations for their inclusive environments and safety measures. Queer travel websites such as ours will be your biggest asset on the road and resources like RainbowRV, the largest Gay and Lesbian RV database in North America, offers memberships, an event calendar, and camping forums to help you locate LGBTQ-friendly campsites.

The Ultimate Summer Stops for LGBTQ+ Roadtrippers

There's nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned road trip, so gather your loved ones and venture off the beaten path where you'll come to discover new sights, flavors, and experiences. Sure, a trek across the Pacific Coast Highway would fulfill those classic Americana road trip dreams, but make pit stops at those under-the-radar destinations along the way for a rewarding journey you'll never forget. From summertime bliss under the heat of the desert sun to unexpected queer-run gems hiding out in middle America, read on to learn about the best road trip routes to take this summer.

Gay Gems Along Route 66

As one of the most iconic roadways in the world, you may be surprised to learn that Route 66 is brimming with unexpected gems that appeal to the LGBTQ+ community. Start your voyage in Chicago, a city beloved for its summers, and enjoy the cool breeze of the windy city before heading to St. Louis for a boozy brunch at queer-owned MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse or live music at the famed queer-centric nightclub, Just John. Then, make your way over to the lively Club Majestic, Tulsa’s premiere dance club located in the heart of the Arts District, or try a seasonal tasting menu at the neighboring lesbian-owned FarmBar.

Photo Credit: Balkan Campers

Arizona Adventure

Searching for sunny summer days? Well then buckle up for some fun in the Arizona sun, a top-tier RV destination brimming with epic selfie moments thanks to scenic stops at the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon - head outside the park to Grand Canyon West if you are trying to escape the crowds. As it turns out, Arizona's least visited national park, Petrified Forest National Park, is actually one of the most spectacular spots in the entire state. You'll be blown away by boulder-sized red rocks and badlands lit up by the summer sun in tints of purple and green. Round out your desert days in Tucson, where you can spend your day communing with cacti in Saguaro National Park. Practically devoid of humans, the west district of the park is far less visited than the rest, so a hike at Wasson Peak is a great place to start the day and you can end it on a high note by enjoying an evening of drag trivia at IBT’S, Tucson's #1 Gay Bar and one of the best dance clubs in all of the Southwest.

Photo Credit: Dino Reichmuth

Park Hop in Utah

Home to five national parks, Utah is a paradise for enthusiasts of the great outdoors. Few sights even compare to seeing Delicate Arch glowing at sunrise in Arches National Park or marveling at the snow-capped hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. Up north, Salt Lake City, with all its unexpected queerness, is a perfect point to start.

Carve out some time to hang around the Marmalade District, one of the country’s most quirky under-the-radar gayborhoods, and have a meal at the queer-owned Laziz Kitchen or a show at the Salt Lake Acting Company, a former Morman Church turned LGBTQ+ theater space. Then, take the 4-hour scenic drive down to Moab, a must-visit charming mountain town surrounded by some of the most stunning red rock landscapes on earth and local eateries serving up dishes as eye-catching as the sunset views surrounding you.

Photo Credit: Robson Hatsukami

RV Rental Recommendations:

Born out of love, RVshare is a GayTravel Approved service that originated in 2012 when co-founder Mark and his wife Rachel purchased an RV to travel the country for their honeymoon. Not only did the RV allow them to see the country, but it also gave them the freedom to go at their own pace. Upon returning home, the newlyweds realized despite still having all the expenses of RV ownership, the motor home was likely to sit unused for the majority of the year. Hoping to offset the costs and find a way to share all the perks of RVing with those who were on the fence, Mark was discouraged to find that there was no ideal platform to rent it out. Fast forward to today, RVshare is the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, serving more than 60,000 RV owners across the country.

Do your dreams for your next vacation include road trips or camping? Getting behind the wheel of a motorhome is a terrific way to explore the country while still having all the comforts of home. Offering a uniquely intimate experience, RVing allows you to get up close and personal with nature and experience magical moments like spending the night under the stars. If reconnecting with loved ones all while having the freedom to go at your own pace appeals to you, then you need to rent an RV and hit the road! With thousands of satisfied customers and a broad inventory ranging from travel trailers to luxury motorhomes, RVshare is sure to have the perfect choice for your vacation, tailgate, or temporary lodging needs - making the entire process simple and fun!

Photo Credit: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos