3 Top Summer Fishing Vacations Your Family Will Love

If you're a serious fisherman and you've been thinking about where you'd like to escape to this summer for some line-screaming fun, we've got you covered. Maybe you're planning on getting out for a few days with the family or gathering several old buddies for a little fishing safari. Either way, if you've never considered making your fishing getaway in an RV, you need to.

Renting a rig that's just right for you and your family or friends is a lot easier than you think. Whether you want to book an RV for a few days or an extended vacation, it's simple. And with gas prices at all-time lows this summer, getting away to hit some of America's best waters in an RV is economical, too. And you'll never have to worrying about finding a place to stay because your fishing camp travels right with you.

While your choices of where to go are only limited by your time and imagination, here are three great getaways that will provide the ultimate fishing road trip.

Adirondack Bass

Situated in the heart of the Adirondacks, 327-acre Lake Durant Campground is the perfect jumping off place to explore the great fishing and outdoor activities surrounding the Blue Mountain Lake area. The campsites offer plenty of privacy and are large to accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length. The best thing about this location, however, is that some of northern New York State's best bass fishing is right here.

Things to Do

Fishing —Great angling for Tiger Muskie, and smallmouth bass abounds among the lily pads of Lake Durant itself. The campground has a boat ramp and canoe rentals are also available. But don't just stop there. Great angling for trout and panfish abounds in the many lakes surrounding the area. Fly anglers will have great luck with poppers while spin and baitcasting fans will have great success wit soft plastic baits and spinners.

Hike —Take a hike up to one of the area's fire towers for spectacular views.

Paddle —Canoes and kayaks available at the marina on nearby Blue Mountain Lake. Take a picnic lunch and paddle to of the small islands that dot the lakes here.

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Fly —Take a seaplane flight from the base at nearby Long Lake to see the entire area from the air. Go early in the morning and you can park your RV near the beach where the seaplanes pull in.

Bike —Lots of places to explore by bicycle or mountain bike

Adirondack Museum —One of the finest small museums (and totally undiscovered) in the U.S. Great art, boat and Adirondack-style twig furniture on display. The gift shop is incredible with a full 30-foot wooden sailboat and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for the kids.

Getting There

2 Hours from Albany

4½ hours from NYC

Colorado Trout

Everybody knows Steamboat Springs, Colorado for its great skiing, hot springs, restaurants and nightlife, but just 26 miles north is one of Colorado's best-kept secrets—Steamboat Lake.

Located at the base of Hahn's Peak, 1,055-acre Steamboat Lake offers world-class fishing. And if you bring the family they'll enjoy the great, hiking, mountain biking, and boating opportunities. Campgrounds at Steamboat Lake offer full RV hook-up facilities and the lake has a full-service marina as well as boat ramps so access is easy.

Things to Do

Fishing—The coves of Steamboat Lake are known for their giant rainbow trout, and with 1,053 surface acres of water, there are ample places where you can have water all to yourself. Best of all, you'll be surrounded by some of the prettiest views of the Continental Divide in Colorado.

For those in search of more solitude, just a few miles up the road you'll discover pristine Pearl Lake. This place really is a gem—a true getaway from the day-to-day world that's just off the highway a few miles. Campsites are non-electric, but that's perfect for RV travelers.

Fishing in the lake is limited to flies and artificial lures only (no bait) and wakeless boating only so you'll experience quiet days and nights. Best of all the lake harbors excellent fishing for cutthroat trout and grayling. Some of the best fishing occurs in late August right on into the fall, so your timing for a visit couldn't be better.

There are lots of things to do with the family as well:

Hike —Miles of trails surround the entire area

Paddle board/kayak —Rentals available at the full-service marina on Steamboat Lake.

Sailing/water skiing —Steamboat Lake offers both.

Pearl Lake —Want an even more remote experience? Nearby Pearl Lake offers a peaceful getaway in a lush forest setting. Campsites here a "non-electric" but perfect for RV enthusiasts.

Getting There

3½ hours from Denver

38 minutes from Steamboat Springs, CO

Discover Copper Harbor, MI

Located at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula at the western end of Michigan's UP, Copper Harbor is one of the best spots to RV in America—scenic, unspoiled and largely undiscovered. And as we move through August and into early fall, anglers will discover this is an incredible place to fish.

Splake, a crossbreed created between a lake trout and a brook trout, are the big fish here. Fish generally run up to 15 inches or so, but 10-pound trophies are occasionally caught. Small spoons in blue/silver and orange/silver work well on feisty splake, locals like Little Cleos.

These fish are great fighters, but they are also delicious, and perfect for grilling back in camp.

Scenic, sheltered, Lake Fannie Hooe has a boat ramp, fishing pier and picnic area. The lake also harbors walleye, splake and smallmouth bass and is an ideal spot for float tube and kayak anglers.

Just across the road, you'll find the mouth of Fanny Hooe Creek. There is a cobble and sand beach with a view of the lighthouse across the bay. It's a great place to fish, as the warmer flow from Lake Fanny Hooe attracts splake, lake trout, steelhead, coho and king salmon—literally everything that swims in the harbor and Lake Superior.

Nearby Lake Manganese and Manganese Creek offer brook trout fishing, and don't miss scenic Manganese Falls, which tumbles 45 feet into Lake Fanny Hooe.

When you're ready to take a break from fishing, there are lots of other activities to discover here:

Things to do

Historic Fort Wilkins State Park —Offers excellent RV camping on site with paved pads for big towable RVs. Fort Wilkins is a fully restored 1844 military outpost and features one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior.

Mountain Bike —the town offers world-class trails for the hardcore but there are plenty of beginner rides as well with rentals available in town

Paddleboarding —Keweenaw Adventure Company in Copper Harbor is a center for paddleboarding and kayaking.

Hike —Take a trail through 500 acres of virgin white pines—one of the few remaining stands left in North America. These trees, which grow to 150 feet tall, provided masts for sailing ships back in the day.

Explore a lighthouse —Just a short boat ride out from the quaint harbor.

Local craft brewery —At the end of the day, everyone congregates at the Brickside Brewery, a very friendly microbrewery that handcrafts artisan brews.

Getting There

3 hours from Marquette, MI

5 hours from Duluth, MN