Did you know that over 11 percent of U.S. households have an RV?
Clearly, more and more people are starting to realize the joys of adventuring.
To start with, you’ll become less stressed, more resilient, and fit. Not to mention how smarter you’ll become and the stronger bonds you’ll enjoy with your family and friends.
But for any newbie RV traveler, questions linger in the mind. Is an RV road trip adventure better than any other kind of traveling? Is there a given formula to a perfect RV trip?
To answer these questions and many more, you ought to look at RV traveling holistically. Here’s everything you need to know before embarking on your RV road trip.
5 Advantages of Traveling in an RV
Here are some benefits of using an RV for your road trip:
Saving Money
Despite the fact that you’ll incur quite high fuel costs, the savings you’ll make on other expenses offset this one colossal outlay.
One of the most significant economic advantages of RV traveling is lodging. While you might pay upwards of $200 per night in a decent hotel, an overnight stay at most RV parks won’t cost more than $40.
The best part is that you can even ditch an RV park and settle for a roadside or Wal-Mart rest area, all for free.
Another major expense that makes RV ideal for budget travelers is food. Since there is a kitchen moving with you wherever you go, you can simply cook all your meals and save on food costs. $100 worth of groceries is enough to feed an entire family for a week.
Mind you, the same $100 is the least you’ll spend per day eating in restaurants.
Flexibility
Motorhomes offer the most flexible vacation because of the respite and freedom from getting tethered to a schedule.
You can stop whenever and wherever you like. Additionally, you can shorten or extend your stay in each area you visit. Not to mention how easy it to change destinations at the last minute.
Convenience
As you know, you’ll be traveling in a home on wheels.
This means that you get to enjoy advantages like no luggage restrictions. So you can also pack your favorite sports equipment, board games, or even a small bar barbecue.
Also, motorhomes come equipped with entertainment systems and other amenities you normally utilize at home.
Savoring the Beauty of the Outdoors
An RV vacation offers you a front-row viewing seat to breathtaking sceneries in American National Parks.
You’ll get close-up views of fauna and flora, coupled with wide vistas of mountains, forests, beaches, and lakes. If anything, an RV trip is an opportunity for enjoying sports like kayaking, bicycling, hiking, and fishing, as well as relaxing in areas with fresh air.
Connecting with nature quickly impacts the renewal and revitalization that is somewhat difficult to get with conventional vacays.
Family Bonding
With modern life being terribly busy, it’s normal for family members to head into different directions.
And because RV trips allow people to spend quality time with their kinsmen, many consider this kind of vacation the best way to bond.
You can share stories and schmooze with the adults as the children play. Simply put, such instant chumminess and camaraderie are unheard of in most hotels.
Tips and Hacks for the Best RV Road Trip
Consider the following tips for your RV road trip:
Tip #1: Choose RV Purchase and RV Rental
To know whether to buy or rent an RV, consider these factors:
Finances
It’s not wise to have debt on an asset that’s depreciating, right? This is if you’re not going to pay for an RV upfront. As you know, financing doesn’t save you from settling all the maintenance and upkeep costs of the RV. It’s, thus, better to rent if you can’t afford it.
How Often You’ll Travel
If you’ll be traveling many times in a year, it’s better to have your own easily-accessible motorhome.
Take note that RV traveling peaks on traditional holidays, which can make it difficult to set up a rental.
On the other hand, if you can only manage a few trips each year, renting an RV is more ideal because you’ll avoid unwarranted obligations such as covering storage and maintenance costs, as well as making loan payments.
Storage and Resell Value
Many municipalities have rules stating that only allow temporary parking behind the house or in a driveway.
You might, therefore, need to pay monthly storage fees for your new RV. For one thing, this is a cost that can quickly add up to become a burden you’ll resent if you’re not traveling many times a year.
Also, it’s not advisable to purchase if you can only afford an RV with low resale value. Ensure to undertake a motorhome valuation before you buy any vehicle.
Tip #2: Invest in Peace of Mind
Whether you decide to rent or buy, it’s important to purchase an RV specific insurance.
Yes, it’s an additional cost to your trip, but it definitely saves you from a lot of psychological torment. Remember, hitting the road comes with all kinds of unexpected scenarios. For this reason, you can’t predict how many times, why, and when your vehicle will conk out.
On top of an RV specific insurance, consider undertaking an RV test drive prior to your trip in addition to signing up with an unbeatable road assistance service.
Tip # 3: Plan
In as much as you ought to prepare your road trip carefully, be flexible.
As you’ll be traveling to many spots, RV traveling isn’t something that you can do spontaneously. Thus, pay attention to distances as well as potential stopovers as you plan. You can even use online platforms to get everything order.
Other things you ought to prepare for include:
An Offline Life
You’re likely to travel to remote areas where your phone will be useless without a data connection.
Additionally, most RV parks have poor wifi, making it imperative to invest in paper maps or use the options in Google offline maps.
Finding an RV Park
Note that most RV park websites are poor, mobile-unfriendly, and have unreliable performance.
Therefore, ensure to search and save park phone numbers to seamlessly complete your bookings.
Controlling Your Budget
Despite the fact that undertaking an RV travel is way cheaper than convention vacation in hotels, renting a motorhome is anything but cheap.
In that case, ensure to build a realistic budget before your travels. To be on the safe side, allocate about $400 per day to cater for insurance, gas, RV park, rental, and extras.
Experienced travelers will tell you to always refill your gas tank even when half empty. This not only gives you peace of mind, but it will also save you from unexpected gas cost changes in the places you visit.
Get Your RV Road Trip on
Without a doubt, you can make some of your best memories while taking an RV road trip.
Still, it’s important to figure out if the RV lifestyle fits you beforehand. This way, you’ll avoid any negative surprises that may spoil the party and have the best RV trip. Follow this blog for more travel tips.
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