Hit the Road, Beat the Heat: Your Ultimate Guide to Summer RV Trips

Summer is here, and now is a great time to go on an RV road trip. If you look at the rising number of RV shipments, you’ll find RVing has been growing more popular recently. Some of the recent spike was likely due to people wanting to get away from crowded cities during the pandemic, but RVing is still a popular way to do your vacation.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the main benefits of doing a summer RV road trip and the five steps you must follow to help ensure it’s a success. Let’s get started!

Key Factors to Consider When Planning an RV Trip

Compared to other vacation methods (hotels, camping, resorts, etc.) RV trips are a little different. Here are four key factors to consider:

Comfort and mobility. RVing offers all the comfort of staying in a small Airbnb with all the mobility and outdoor life of camping. It’s the best of both worlds.
Controlled costs. It’s easier to control costs with an RV in terms of food and lodging. You can cook your own meals and choose where to stay—whether that’s an RV park or government land. The RV itself can be rented, bought, or financed.
Freedom. RVs let you travel to areas you may not otherwise, such as national and state parks and other outdoor attractions far from civilization.
Scenic drives. Sometimes the journey is as enjoyable as the destination itself. An RV lets you travel in comfort while seeing beautiful landscapes along the way.

The Great Escape: How to Prepare for Your Next RV Trip

1. Create a road trip budget.

The first step is to set a budget. If you don’t, your vacation costs can easily veer out of control. Decide how much you’re willing to spend overall. From there, you can determine how much to spend on what.

For example, the biggest expense will probably be the RV itself. As mentioned earlier, you can either rent or buy one. Rentals can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 per day depending on their size and whether it’s a trailer or an all-in-one vehicle. If you plan to do many RV trips, it may make more sense to buy, especially if you can get good financing. Whatever you do, aim for an RV that fits your budget and needs.

Other RV-related expenses you should consider include rental insurance, roadside assistance, park entrance fees, dump station fees, and propane costs.

You’ll also need to take into account costs for food, eating out, and entertainment along the way (e.g. amusement parks, museums, etc.).

2. Choose destinations.

Next, choose your trip destinations. You don’t need to plan out each day in detail, but you should choose some anchor destinations around which to plan.

As an RVer, you have three main parking options: RV parks, campgrounds, and boondocking locations. RV parks usually have the most amenities but also cost the most. Some campgrounds have sites with RV hookups. Boondocking locations are free public sites that are generally first come, first served and don’t have any hookups (so you will need to bring your own water and power supply).

For campsites and RV parks, you want to book your stay well in advance. Many sites fill up fast, especially at national parks. And if you don’t book in time, you could be out of luck. Plus, the further out you book, the more you’ll save.

3. Plan an RV-friendly route.

Driving an RV is not the same as driving a regular car. RVs generally maintain a slower speed and are much bigger than cars. You’ll want to factor this into your trip so you can have accurate estimated times of arrival (ETAs) and avoid short underpasses and narrow roads.

Planning an RV trip this summer? Before you hit the road, you’ll need to understand what federal regulations say about living out of your motorhome.

Here’s What You Need to Know

4. Pack the essentials.

With any long excursion, account for the essentials when packing for an RV trip. Generally speaking, your packing list should include the following:

Food. Though you may eat out for some meals, you’ll probably cook most of them in the RV. Figure out what ingredients you need so you can pack them and know what to get at grocery stores along the way.
Clothes. Pack enough to last you at least a week, if not more, before you have to find a laundromat.
Toiletries. Don’t forget your toothbrush, face wash, shampoo, and all the other hygiene items you use on a regular basis. Bring plenty of toilet paper, too.
Entertainment. Though there may be many outdoor attractions to see on your trip, you’ll also have downtime. Bring plenty of games, movies, and devices. And don’t forget about charging cords.
Outdoor gear. You may want to bring bug spray, sunscreen, lamps, lawn chairs, and fold-up tables to enjoy your time outside.
Emergency items. Any time you go on a trip, you should bring emergency items such as a paper map, compass, first aid kit, flashlight, and toolkit. You never know when you might need them.
Leveling blocks. These are blocks you place under the RV’s wheels to help level out your parking spot since not everywhere you park will be 100% flat.

5. Be flexible.

Lastly, be prepared to adjust your plans. Something is bound to go wrong at some point. Instead of letting the unexpected ruin your trip, have some backup plans. For example, bad weather may keep you from driving as far as you’d like or staying at the campground you picked. Find the next best option and go from there.

Make Your RV Dreams a Reality With Finance Solution

RV trips are meant to be an adventure. As long as you keep a positive attitude, it’s bound to be a positive experience that you won’t soon forget. Whether you’ve already hit the road, or want to purchase your first motorhome, Finance Solution will be here to make your summer RV trip dreams a reality. Get in touch to learn more!