This Immaculate California RV Park Is A Five-Star Oasis Amidst Desert Views And Private Canals

While California may be best known for its amazing beaches, humming cities, and underrated wine destinations, much of the Golden State is desert, which offers its own kind of charms. Inland California gets arid quickly, with coastal forests giving way to cactus, sand, and wide-open spaces that stir the soul with their seemingly infinite expanses of pure night sky. 

The desert is perfect RV country, so it should come as no surprise that California has some of North America's coolest RV parks, including Motorcoach Country Club in the town of Indio, just down the road from Palm Springs. Situated in the Coachella Valley, Motorcoach Country Club is one of the nation's premier luxury RV resorts, voted number one by USA Today several years running. 

The upscale resort was designed for owners of high-end motorhomes, a complete oasis carved out of the heart of the desert with swimming pools, golf courses, and cool water canals running past each site. Is it opulent and perhaps a bit over the top? Of course, but that's the whole point. Motorcoach Country Club was designed to elevate the idea of traveling in a rolling abode by providing an amenity-filled refuge to those who are able, or willing to pay the price tag.

Self-dubbed as "the Crown Jewel of Motorcoach Resorts," the unique country club sits on 80 acres of beautiful desert in the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains, which provide the site with a spectacular sunset every night. In keeping with their exclusive ideals, the park only hosts 65 sites, each with its own coach house and private swimming pool or spa, complete with cascading water features.

The complex also boasts 2 miles of waterways that wind through the property, which really gives the place the oasis vibes its known for. Come evening, guests can board an electric boat that glides along the canal and sip cocktails while the sun melts beneath the local mountains. Thanks to its stunning location, Motorcoach Country Club highlights the natural magic of the desert, along with secure and very private lots. Guests can hit the fitness center, take a dip in the communal swimming pools, dine at the Top of the Falls restaurant, play pickleball, swing a tennis racket, or bring their pets out to one of two dog parks (one for large pups and one for small).

While the Coachella Valley that Motorcoach Country Club calls may be best known for its three-day music festival held each spring, the area is much quieter throughout the rest of the year, with plenty of attractions for those seeking to experience the wonder that the desert has to offer. Topping the list would be a visit to the stunning and popular Joshua Tree National Park. Situated at the meeting place of the Colorado and Mohave Deserts, this spellbinding preserve features otherworldly rock formations, cactuses, and jaw-dropping vistas, not to mention the iconic Yucca trees that it's named for. Just be aware that it can get scorching during much of the year, so pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and bring a good hat for shade. Given its proximity to Los Angeles, the park can also  get crowded,so plan accordingly, which means getting there early to beat the mobs.

Just outside of the family-friendly town of Palm Springs are the Indian Canyons, three arresting natural chasms featuring granite walls, waterfalls, and plenty of palm trees, making them one of the area's most unique attractions and top hiking destinations. The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla people, which means that — in addition to their great natural beauty — they're also a place of deep heritage and cultural significance. There are many important archeological sites throughout the canyons including rock art, house pits, irrigation ditches, and dams that act as a physical historical record of just how these people lived and thrived in such a hostile environment. For more of California's inland splendor, check out this desert campsite with views of an ancient volcanic crater.