Over the past year RVing has taken off. Of course, many of us have known the benefits of RVing for years, but for others, the concept of camping in an RV is brand new! Even if you’re an experienced RVer, it’s possible you’ve never taken a true RV “road trip.” Road trips can be a great way to see parts of the US, and camping is a less-expensive way to go than staying in hotels and eating meals out. We’ve got a few tips for RV road trips to help you plan and execute your next adventure.

A few years ago we took a road trip to Oregon. Based on our experiences, I’ve compiled a few tips to help you with your first (or next) RV Road Trip.

First, don’t drive more than 5 hours a day.  Long driving days make for just tired and cranky drivers and passengers. It’s true you can’t cover as much ground if you limit your drive times, but having a relaxing hike around your campground, or getting into town early enough to explore it without being tired and irritable is much better than covering another 100 miles.

Start small. For your first road trip, consider just a week long trip around your home state, staying in 3 or 4 different places. This gives you a chance to see what you like, and don’t like, about road trips.  You’ll be able to make note of things you want to change before you set off on a longer trip.

Reserve campsites to save yourself added stress.  Getting into town late in the afternoon and having to hunt for a campsite is no fun. Reserve a site at a state park campground, national forest campground, or private campground ahead of time. Also don’t turn your nose up at KOAs or other large campgrounds. These often have amenities that come in handy on long road trips like laundry areas, playgrounds, and nearby restaurants.

Budget for gas. Use an app like Gas Buddy to find low prices on gas as you travel, but know that gas will be the biggest cost of your trip and plan accordingly for that.

Buy local! When you get to a new area try to find a local place to buy items for dinner, whether that’s a local meat market in Wyoming or a local seafood market in Oregon.

And finally, be a tourist! Take in all of the sites and sounds of the place you’re visiting. Part of camping in new places is immersing yourself in the flora and fauna of an area. Do the same with the culture, history, and foods of a new place too.  Enjoy exploring every “new to you” part of your state and/or country!  Need new accessories or parts for your RV? Shop our parts department!