RV Vacations: Ten Tips

Perhaps you have wondered about taking an RV vacation. It seems like fun and you'd like to try it, but you aren't sure if it's for you. Well, it's a growing industry. Annual RV retail sales topped $14 billion in 2004. As baby boomers take to the road, the RVing pastime and lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular. If you have a hint of the RV itch, then here are 10 common reasons for taking an RV vacation:

  • Getting Back to Nature: If you are interested in the great outdoors, an RV is a great way to vacation. You can visit state or national parks, tour famous landmarks and simply enjoy some fresh air and natural settings. Take a hike or go fishing. Try white water rafting or canoeing. Play some golf, go swimming, ride your bike. Get some exercise or simply do nothing but enjoy your surroundings.

  • The Comforts of Home: In an RV, you can have the best of both worlds. Enjoy the great outdoors with more creature comforts than tent camping. Whether you own an RV or try a rental, most RVs are well equipped. You will likely have a kitchen with microwave, fridge and stove, a TV and VCR, beds, living and dining areas and bathroom with shower. Many RVs have slide out rooms that increase the living area at the touch of a button. You can sit outside under your awning, get out of the rain if the weather changes, and turn on the air conditioner if it gets too hot.

  • Family Matters: Family members of all ages tend to connect with each other when they are away from their normal routine enjoying a simpler lifestyle. Remember that family togetherness can be a double-edged sword. While the RV is comfortable, it is a small living area for a large family. If you are renting, bear this in mind in choosing the size of your rental RV. During the day, try to spend time outdoors or in different activities, so that each family member gets a bit of personal space and time for themselves. But the minor logistics can be managed. The general consensus among RVing families is that an RV vacation tends to bring the family closer together with more communication and the sharing of good times.

  • Cool for Kids: An RV vacation can be a great way to travel with children. They can go out to play or take part in campground activities. There are likely to be other kids to meet and new places to explore. Children of all ages will enjoy an old-fashioned campfire complete with stories, songs and stargazing. And most kids think it's pretty cool to be in an RV "home on wheels".

  • Campgrounds: There are many choices in campgrounds and RV parks. In peak season and tourist areas, you should make reservations. Look for the amenities that are important to you. Campgrounds may have swimming pools, lakes, boating, fishing ponds, miniature golf, playgrounds, hiking trails, game rooms, walking or bike paths, tennis courts and activities for kids and adults. You may find dances, barbeques, contests or other entertainment. rv clubs are worth joining to get campground discounts and other services. Consider the size and setting of the campsites and check out overall campground ratings in campground directories. Also consider proximity to other attractions or landmarks that you want to visit.

  • Flexibility: In an RV, you have the flexibility to change locations if you get the whim. But take this with a grain of salt. For popular destinations, you may not be able to pick up and find another campground without a reservation. You also want to strike the right balance between seeing different areas, the amount of time spent driving and ensuring you have enough time to relax. Cautions aside, an RV can give you a lot of freedom and spontaneity. RV travel appeals to an inner pioneering spirit and allows you to create your own adventure as you go along your way. You can explore the country at your own pace or take off for last minute mini-vacations, tailgating events and weekend trips.

  • Affordability: The question of whether it is cheaper to take an RV vacation doesn't have a "one size fits all" answer. The comparison really depends on the type of vacations you would take instead, as well as the way in which you plan to RV. For a one-time trip, you can compare the costs of renting a suitable RV to the costs of hotels, airfare or other means of travel. Or if you are considering regular RV vacations, you may want to purchase a motorhome or towable trailer. In this case, you would need to factor in operating costs, maintenance and the purchase price. In an RV, you can save money by cooking meals at home vs. dining out. You can minimize expenses if you take advantage of activities and amenities already included in the campground rate. Fuel expenses can be managed by reducing the distances traveled and staying longer at a given campground or park.

  • Driving the RV: Driving yourself gives you control over where you go and the pace of your travel. You don't have the hassle of airline counters and keeping to schedules. You can stop and take a break when you choose. You don't need a special license to drive an RV. Sure, it takes some getting used to -- but the number of RVs on the road should tell you that it is doable. Practice on your own (or with one other person) before you load up your passengers. Take advantage of any classes available through your dealer or one of the many RV organizations.

  • How about a relaxing vacation for a change? How many times have you returned from a trip saying you need a vacation from the vacation? Now don't kid yourself - if you are the type who likes to schedule all the details of a trip, that's not going to change simply because you are traveling in an RV. But in choosing an RV vacation, you may shift your thinking and be more apt to use your time off as an opportunity to truly relax and unwind.

  • Test out the RV Lifestyle: The RV vacation may serve as a test drive to gauge your overall interest in the RV lifestyle. There are RVers who spend several weeks per year in RV travel. Other RVers take off for months. Snowbirds are RVers who make an annual trek to warmer climates for the winter season. And then there are fulltime RVers whose only home is their RV. Many of these people started out by vacationing in an RV as a way to try out the RV lifestyle.

    Copyright 2005 rv clubs, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

    Publication is permitted provided the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and links are live. Please notify the author via the Contact Us form at rv clubs, providing a link to the location of the article, or a copy of the newsletter.

    About The Author
    Jill is a fulltime RVer and the editor of rv clubs, where you can find more advice for choosing, affording and enjoying your RV lifestyle.

    residential cleaning services Lincolnshire ..
    In The News:

    Cleafy researchers discover fake VPN streaming app Mobdro Pro that installs Klopatra banking Trojan, giving attackers full control over Android devices.
    Police departments across the U.S. and Canada are adopting virtual reality training to better prepare officers for high-pressure, real-world situations.
    House Bill 469 would prevent AI systems from owning property, serving as executives, or gaining legal personhood in Ohio under Representative Thaddeus Claggett's proposal.
    Public voter records expose retirees' personal details to election scammers who create targeted cons using names, addresses, and voting history data.
    Instead of fearing what comes next with artificial intelligence, think outside the box. Here are high-earning AI jobs that don't require a computer science degree.
    OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says polite words like "please" and "thank you" cost millions annually, while direct prompts may improve ChatGPT accuracy by several points.
    Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat exposed intimate conversations and photos, revealing users spent up to $18,000 on AI companions before the breach.
    New Instagram parental controls allow families to manage teen screen time and content limits through the Family Center with stricter safety settings.
    Third-party security breach at Discord exposes sensitive user information including government IDs, highlighting cybersecurity risks from external service providers.
    Survey of 1,000 students shows teens using AI for personal relationships while two-thirds of parents remain unaware of their children's AI usage.
    Cybersecurity experts warn about a ShadowLeak vulnerability that weaponized ChatGPT's Deep Research agent to steal personal data from Gmail accounts through hidden commands.
    Tesla's Full Self-Driving system faces federal investigation following 58 reports of crashes, with six vehicles running red lights before colliding with other cars.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest developments on artificial intelligence, with news on OpenAI moving to soon allow erotica for adult users.
    Eric Schmidt alerts that hackers can reverse-engineer AI models to bypass safety measures, citing examples like the jailbroken ChatGPT variant called DAN.
    Cybercriminals exploit Microsoft Teams through impersonation, malicious links and fake profiles to gather intel and deliver ransomware to personal and work devices.
    Google, Dior, Allianz and dozens of other companies lost sensitive customer data in Salesforce-related breaches affecting millions of records across multiple sectors.
    Apple launches iOS 26 with new Preview app that combines document editing, PDF annotation and scanning features into one streamlined iPhone experience.
    New AI road monitoring system uses sensor-embedded fabric to predict infrastructure problems, potentially reducing maintenance costs and traffic disruptions for cities.
    Holiday charity scams target retirees through lookalike organization names, untraceable payment requests, and data broker information to steal donations.
    The Federal Trade Commission says criminals are posing as IRS agents, law enforcement officers or other officials, often over the phone or online, to steal thousands of dollars at a time.
    AI phishing scams now use voice cloning and deepfake technology to trick victims, but Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals warning signs to watch for.
    Inversion Space unveils Arc, a reusable reentry vehicle that can deliver up to 500 pounds of cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.
    Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.
    Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.
    Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.
  • Discover Knotts Berry Farm

    Of course you know about Southern California's premier attraction, Disneyland... Read More

    Campsite Meal Planning and Recipe

    Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More

    Protection from Lightning - Smart Strategies for Hikers and All Outdoor Enthusiasts

    Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to... Read More

    Mammoth Cave: One of the Most Beautiful in Our National Park System

    Directly south of Louisville, just off Interstate 65 and not... Read More

    The Benefits of One Day Hiking Trips

    Do you like to take one day hiking trips? Do... Read More

    The Kuan Yin Shrine, Bangkok ? the Goddess of Mercy on the Chao Phraya

    The Kuan Yin Shrine in Bangkok is in an old... Read More

    A Review of Inflatable Boat Manufacturers

    There are many manufacturers of inflatable boats on the market... Read More

    A Fishy Road Trip in Cairns

    The Cairns Fishing Adventure A Great Australia Road TripYou love... Read More

    A Holiday in Rajasthan

    Romancing History ? A Holiday in RajasthanRajasthan, the name evokes... Read More

    How to Save Money AND help the planet

    Don't all of us love to have the money to... Read More

    RV Camping at Casinos

    There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More

    Zambezi Sharks Under Threat at Protea Banks

    Sharklife.co.za has been fighting an ongoing for the protection of... Read More

    Ultralight Backpacking Versus Traditional Backpacking

    Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More

    River Rafting in the Grand Canyon

    Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a... Read More

    Camping - Get Those Tents Up!

    Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More

    Kayak Travel and Trips

    If you love the thrill and adventure of kayak travel,... Read More

    Bunbury Western Australia

    The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay... Read More

    Stay Warm - A Backpacking Skill

    Stay warm or die. That's what it comes down to... Read More

    Ten African Safari Tips That You Must Know Before You Go

    1. Take the early morning drives on safari even though... Read More

    Packing a Backpack - A Guide

    With so many different designs, packing a backpack will vary... Read More

    Hiking Safely on the Hills

    SAFE WALKING TREKKING OUTDOORSIf you are contemplating a long distance... Read More

    Calculate Food Quantities for Camping and Outdoor Recreation

    As the warmer weather approaches, we look forward to another... Read More

    Journey to Haypress Creek

    It was the end of my first year as a... Read More

    Lake Winnipesaukee ? The Smile of the Great Spirit

    Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More

    Bird Safaris: Timbavatis Most Desired Plumage

    Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More

    best cleaning company Highland Park ..