Traveling with a Recreational Vehicle has become quite popular over the last several years. While earlier it was common among retirees and adventure seekers to travel cross-country with an RV, now everyone has jumped into the trend. The appeal mostly lies in having a home on wheels and the freedom to go wherever one wants to. But to ensure a smooth, safe, and memorable travel experience for beginners, careful planning is important.
1) Plan the Travel Route Ahead of Time
While the RV trip in itself is quite enjoyable, it is equally fun to plan one’s perfect RV route. While seasoned adventurers can try routes that are not quite popular, it is best if beginners, especially those traveling with families, take familiar and popular routes to ensure a safe, comfortable, and predictable experience. All these top routes have stopovers and camps that can be easily found on any map. This helps when one is traveling with an RV for the first time. Some of the best RV routes in the USA include Route 66, which starts from Chicago and ends at Santa Monica and covers the cultural districts of Oklahoma. If one wants to explore scenic views and iconic state parks, then one should embark on a journey through the Pacific Coast Highway, starting from Washington and ending in California.
2) Choose the Right RV
When going on a long-distance RV trip, the vehicle serves as a home during the journey since one will spend a lot of time inside it. This is why it is important to choose an RV that meets all the needs of comfort and convenience. In addition, the automobile must be easy to maintain, especially since beginners might not be familiar with handling complex RV issues. While picking a vehicle for the trip, one can choose to rent or purchase. For beginners, it is generally recommended to go with any affordable RV rentals instead of making a big purchase. One can choose from several types of RVs, including large motorhomes, small tow-behind RVs, and pop-up options. RVs typically fall into two main categories—towable and motorized. The Best RVs for beginner travelers are tow-behind trailers. These can easily be towed behind a truck, car, or SUV. Since these are a bit tricky to maneuver, it is usually recommended to learn how to drive an RV first and familiarize oneself with the vehicle’s features before heading on the trip.
3) Look at RV Campgrounds and Regulations
The flexibility to camp anywhere makes RV travel attractive to most people. One can choose to go anywhere, whether it’s a popular RV park or a Walmart parking lot. If one is traveling in an RV for the first time, it helps to do detailed research on some of the top RV parks for first-time travelers. Check if there is a 24/7 electricity and water supply on the site. Also, it is important to go through the reservation policies, as they can vary depending on the location. A top RV travel tip for beginners is to learn about the common rules of an RV campground. Knowing and following these rules can make the trip safe and memorable. In general, most RV campgrounds have the following regulations-
- Drive in before sundown to set up the camp and get familiar with the surroundings.
- Quiet hours are usually between 10 pm and 7 am. One should not play loud music or be noisy during this period.
- Campers are responsible for keeping the campsite clean and handling their garbage disposal.
- All RV travelers must respect the privacy and space of their fellow campers.
- Campers with pets must control their movements and always clean up after them to ensure a pleasant experience for everyone.
4) Decide on a Budget
Most beginner RV trip planning guides suggest setting up a budget before embarking on the adventure. Having a reasonable budget means one can enjoy their trip without spending excessively. For this, it is generally useful to have an essential RV travel checklist that includes all the expenses that can arise during the trip. These can include everything from fuel and parking expenses to fees for campgrounds and RV parks. It is also a good idea to estimate how much one will spend on food and beverages, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping, and souvenirs. Additionally, one must factor in the unexpected maintenance and repair costs that can arise during the trip. Besides all these factors, one must also have some emergency funds and extra cash set aside to be prepared for unplanned expenses. These steps help one prepare and manage their overall budget for the trip.
5) Pack all the essentials
Packing for an RV trip is all about balancing practicality and comfort. Besides, it is also important to maximize storage wherever possible since space in the RV is limited. It is generally recommended to bring along weatherproof bedding and layers. Also, outdoor entertainment items and space-saving solutions can make downtime more fun. Plus, make sure to pack all the necessary documentation like a valid driver’s license, insurance papers, registration, and warranty information.