Are you itching to get on the road, escape from the hustle and bustle of life, and explore the great outdoors? RV travel gives you the freedom that other types of travel cannot. There are no layovers, no hauling luggage in and out of hotel rooms, and you even get to avoid the dreaded public restrooms. Cruising in a portable home is the ultimate form of freedom; it means that when you need a nap, you just find a spot and pull over, and when you’ve had enough of one place, you head straight off to the next spot. RV travel is a rewarding experience, but you have might some planning to do before making yourself at home on the road.
Finding the right RV is the first challenge, but luckily there are a lot of websites where people rent out their motorhomes. Outdoorsy is a great place to start. You can look for vehicles in your pick-up area, and the listings will give you all the details you might need to narrow down your choices. RVs come in all shapes and sizes, and some have more amenities than others. When choosing the size of your RV it is crucial to consider driving routes and road conditions, sleeping arrangements, gas mileage, and parking. Keep in mind that if you choose a class C camper, your RV will be too large to easily move around small-town roads or crowded big cities. Not to mention, you can’t zip to the store from your campsite once you have the hook-ups connected. You will want to either bring a car, plan to rent a car, or bring bikes with you. Even if your goal is to stay “off the grid”, you never know when something will come up.
When booking your overnight stays, keep in mind what you are looking for in a location. State park campgrounds tend to have more space than RV parks, but often with fewer amenities. Many will not have Wi-Fi connections in all areas, and some have limited or no hook-ups. They also tend to be significantly cheaper, and often require no reservation ahead of time. RV parks can have vastly different pros and cons. Some are essentially parking lots, while others have tree-covered lakeside spots. There are RV resorts with luxury amenities like swimming pools and tennis courts. If you don’t know where to begin, head to a website that will do the searching for you. KOA campgrounds and Reserve America have a wide range of traditional choices, including state park campgrounds. Harvest Hosts and Hip Camp both feature unique spots to dock your RV, like wineries and specialty farms.
There are a lot of simple packing tips that can help you avoid hassles on the road. Since you’ll be spending time in the great outdoors, bring a basket to put your shoes in when you walk in the door of your camper. This will help you avoid constantly tripping over hiking boots and cleaning muddy tracks. If you plan to do laundry on your trip, bring quarters for the campground laundromats. Pack items for outdoor use separately from items you need readily available, so that you can stow some of your bigger items in the outer storage spaces.
For more good RV tips, tricks, and great camping stories, get to know your fellow RVers when you set up camp. You’ll find a wealth of information and a variety of experiences that can’t be found anywhere but on the road.