Quirky Attraction: RV Hall of Fame

RV / Motor Home Hall of Fame
Location: Elkhart, IN (21565 Executive Parkway)
When to visit: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sunday 10am-3pm (Winter hours may be shorter)
Cost: $10
Time needed: 30-60 minutes
Website: www.rvmhhalloffame.org

I once spent an entire summer cruising around the U.S., living and traveling in a conversion van. That was a lot of fun, but it was a very bare-bones means of nomadic living. Having to find a Walmart or McDonald’s or rest stop every time I needed to use the bathroom got old fast.

Secretly, I’ve always hoped that someday I could purchase an actual RV, with an actual bathroom and sink and television and a bunch of other fancy amenities onboard. Partaking in road trips would be much more fun if I had a basic level of leisure.

So naturally I was drooling as I walked through the RV / Motorhome Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. This place has exhibits about the history of RV life, plus brand-new RVs and vintage models you can walk around inside and explore. Smartly located just off Route 80, the site is easy to reach whether you’re in a compact car or you have a giant motorhome dragging a truck behind you.

That Coachmen is a ride similar to what my grandparents used to have in the ’80s. I’d love to have one of those.

Most of the RVs, both new and classic, are open for visitors to walk through.

The Hall of Fame also has some standard museum exhibits on camping and RV history.

Good news for RV owners on the move: You can park overnight in the lot at the RV Hall of Fame. However, there are no hookups of any kind.

The RV Hall of Fame is only a short detour from U.S. Route 20, which happens to be the longest road in America!