Baton Rouge to Aspen Road Trip Guide

Starting off your RV road trip with some learning is always a great option, and when it comes to getting your arts fix in Baton Rouge you can't miss visiting the well-regarded Shaw Center for the Arts. Located in the downtown area of the city, the Shaw Center for the Arts was established in 2005 and is home to the Louisiana State University Museum of Art, the Louisiana State University School of Art Glassell Gallery, and the Manship Theatre.

Opened thanks to private and public funding, there is always something interesting to check out whatever time of the year that you visit. There are many different art collections that you are able to view for free, and within the Louisiana State University Museum of Art part of the building, you will find the only art museum in the city that has local, regional, and international exhibitions.

Before you arrive in Baton Rouge check out the Shaw Center for the Arts website to see if there are any exhibitions, plays, musicals, or concerts that are occurring at the building. When it comes time to find a place to stay you can't beat the offerings available at the Baton Rouge KOA Holiday.

During your drive through Louisiana there are plenty of beautiful wildlife areas to explore, but did you know that the state only has one national forest? Located in central Lousiana around two hours from Baton Rouge is the Kisatchie National Forest. With over 600,000 acres, you and your partner could spend weeks checking out everything that there is to do here since there are so many attractions.

During your visit, you will be able to walk among longleaf pine forests, view bogs of the hillside seepage variety, and experience rare prairies that have almost been completely destroyed in Lousiana. Basing yourself in the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex of the forest is a wise idea since it isn't too far from the I-49 and will still provide you with a range of activities. You can go fishing and swimming in Stuart Lake, put your hiking boots on and see the Stuart Nature Trail, and have a picnic at one of the many tables and barbeque areas.

The complex features eight campsites, but it is important to know that they are primitive with no hookups available. For more modern camping options the Rolling Hills RV Resort is only seven and a half miles away.

One of the hidden gems that you can visit on your RV road trip as you make your way through the northwest of New Orleans is The American Rose Center. Located 16 miles to the west of Shreveport, The American Rose Center was has been the location of the American Rose Society since 1974 and is an ideal place to spend a romantic day out.

The rose center has 118 acres of stunning rose gardens and tall pine forests that are open for visitors all year round, however, if you are wanting to see the thousands of roses in full bloom it is recommended that you visit either from mid-April to late-May or from mid-September to late-October. Once you have enjoyed the gardens there is also the Hering Gift Shop where you can pick up a souvenir from your visit to one of America's greatest rose gardens.

For your last night in Lousiana, the Shreveport / Bossier City KOA Journey is only five miles away from the rose garden and has full hookup sites, WiFi, cable TV, and a pool for your convenience.

America is full of weird and wacky pastimes, and you won't find many that compare to the world of professional wrestling. On your way to Aspen around halfway through your trip, you will drive through Wichita Falls where you can visit the well-renowned Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.

First opened in 1999, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will be a very enjoyable stop for anyone interested in American culture, sports, or of course, any diehard wrestling fans. You will be able to view some priceless memorabilia that covers wrestling beginnings up until the present day in the only brick and mortar professional wrestling hall of fame and museum in the world.

The 7,000 square feet building will teach you a lot about the business, so whether you are a fan or not, you will leave the building with a greater appreciation of a craft that has entertained millions throughout the country for over a century.

When it comes to wilderness areas in the Texas Panhandle you are spoilt for choice, but since you don't have weeks to explore, the Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a great option to visit before making your way out of the state.

Home to the Palo Duro Canyon, this is the second-largest canyon system in the country and feels like a world away from the beginning of your RV road trip down in Baton Rouge. Featuring 80 feet high cliffs, the canyon stretches for 60 miles and is dotted with hiking trails that you can use to get an up-close look at this gigantic formation.

One of the main attractions in Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the jaw-dropping Lighthouse Rock. Perched above and overlooking a massive drop, you can see this famous rock formation for yourself if you and your partner are up for the six-mile looped trail that takes you to its base.

After spending a day checking out the canyon you can head to one of the multiple RV-friendly campgrounds within the park that all have electrical hookups to enjoy.

Following a day and night spent at Palo Duro Canyon your next day on this trip of a lifetime gives you the chance to see a completely different landscape. The Rita Blanca National Grassland is located across six different counties in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico and encompasses 230,000 acres of protected prairie grasslands.

Unlike many protected areas, the prairie grasslands are scattered between privately owned properties, and all of the lands that are part of the Rita Blanca National Grassland is owned by the U.S Forest Service. You will pass through the grasslands as you approach the borders of Oklahoma and New Mexico, so this is the perfect opportunity for a stop and take in the flat plains and rolling hills for as far as the eye can see. Some of the popular activities include picnicking, photography, and staying at the free campground at Thompson Grove Campground which is not too far off the beaten path.

Welcome to Colorado! Following your time in the grasslands, arriving in Colorado will be a big change since you will now be able to see and experience what high-altitude life in the mountains has to offer. Lathrop State Park was the first park in the Colorado State Park system and is one of the most picturesque locations that you will see throughout your whole trip.

With the sublime Spanish Peaks in the background, Lathrop State Park is an incredibly relaxing place to either kick back or enjoy some recreational activities. You can enjoy some fun in the sun at the Martin or Horseshoe Lakes, use one of the two trails for hiking or biking, or even visit the Walsenburg Golf Course that is located next to the park. There is also a very interesting visitor center at the park where you can learn more about the history of the park, its environment, and the animals that call it home.

After enjoying what the park has to offer you can use the Pinon Campground if you want electrical hookups or the Yucca Campground for a more primitive camping experience.

Mountain life is waiting for you when you arrive in Colorado Springs. The largest city in Colorado by square footage and second-largest in population behind Denver, Colorado Springs is a gateway to many outdoor activities and city attractions.

The city has received some high accolades (such as being the U.S. News' most desirable place to live in the United States) and it's easy to see why. There are some incredible food options in the city at Shuga's, The Rabbit Hole, and Paravicini's Italian Bistro, or you can head just a little outside of the city for some unique attractions. The Broadmoor Seven Falls is well worth the visit if you want to see some waterfalls with seven different falls to enjoy or think about heading to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center for the superb rock formations.

Colorado Springs also has many RV campgrounds, but since your final drive will be over four hours it makes sense to stay at the Pikes Peak RV Park sine it is within close proximity to the I-25.