Newcomers to RV camping may find the experience daunting, but with careful preparation you can enjoy a successful journey on their first RV camping adventure.
As your first RV camping trip approaches, choose a campground with pull-thru sites for optimal convenience. No one wants to waste their time trying to back their RV into tight spots only to become frustrated.
Renting an RV
An RV vacation may appear daunting at first, but renting one doesn’t need to be stressful! A little research and planning will make your experience far more enjoyable than you ever anticipated! To begin your RV rental experience, first select which RV and campsite will best meet your needs before planning the adventure of a lifetime!
RVs come in various shapes and sizes. While some can be towed behind cars, others sit atop truck chassis or are pulled by large trucks. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages; finding the ideal RV depends on factors like budget, location and desired level of comfort. If you need help in selecting an appropriate size RV rental company will be there to offer advice as they will know which would best meet your needs while providing information to help make an informed decision.
Cost of RV ownership varies widely and comes with hidden fees that must be considered when shopping around for an RV. Some models will charge a daily flat rate while others charge hourly or mileage fees; to prevent surprises when purchasing, read all fine print carefully and compare prices until you find the one that best fits you!
When choosing an RV, you need to carefully consider how much time and how soon you want to spend traveling and when you hope to reach your destination. If traveling with children, planning the journey around school holidays could help avoid overcrowded campgrounds and traffic issues.
An additional factor when renting an RV is comfort. RVs range from basic tent trailers to luxurious fifth wheels; therefore it is important to understand exactly what you want before creating a budget. If traveling as part of a group or family, larger RVs might be ideal while for couples or solo travellers, smaller options could work just as well.
Joining a Camping Club
When starting RV camping for the first time, joining a membership club could save money on campsites. You should choose one that suits your RVing lifestyle and travel goals; some clubs only have access to specific campgrounds in specific regions; many also have usage rules on how long people can remain connected in network as well as how often discounts can be redeemed.
Boondocking, or free camping, refers to camping without hookups for electricity or water in an RV. Common locations for boondocking include Walmart parking lots and Bureau of Land Management dispersed camping areas – perfect for travelers who enjoy traveling but don’t require full service RV parks every night! This camping style can offer great opportunities for travelers looking for new experiences while traveling light.
Good Sam is another popular club that provides members with access to campgrounds, resorts and other camping locations that allow free or discounted camping experiences for them. They even have an impressive rating system to help compare campsites more easily.
Are You an RV Social Camper Looking for the ideal club? Look no further – with low annual fees and discounts at campgrounds, resorts and attractions across North America this could be exactly what you’re searching for!
Be wary when joining other RV clubs that promise cost savings; some may have bad reputations and you should research before committing.
Harvest Hosts RV Club provides another fantastic solution, connecting RVers with private landowners who allow them to stay for free overnight on their land. This is an excellent option for travelers who prefer more unique locations on their road trips.
As a beginner to RVing, joining a membership club may quickly pay for itself within a few trips. Just keep in mind that you still need to budget for activities and meals while traveling; also important is how far away from your destination things will be and whether or not the destinations fit within the dimensions of your RV.
Searching for a Campsite
Most RVers spend considerable time and energy researching potential campgrounds and vacation destinations, poring over catalogues, reading online reviews and spending time on forums to gain more information on each campground they consider visiting. Once it comes time to reserve one they often simply enter their travel dates into an automated computer algorithm – leaving site selection up to them!
Weekend camping may work, but full-time travelers need to know exactly which amenities they want when selecting their travel destination at specific times of the year, such as if a campground provides water and electricity hookups or proximity to popular activities like theme parks if weather turns bad.
Campgrounds typically provide both electric and water hookups, though sewer may not always be included. They will often also offer amenities like wifi, cable TV, playgrounds, pools, shuffleboard courts or shuffleboard courts that make the experience truly worthwhile over a “dry” campsite.
New campers who wish to experience dry campsites must come prepared, which means bringing extra supplies such as quilts, sleeping bags and portable mattresses or cots for sleeping on. Some first-timers also find eye masks and white noise machines helpful in quickly falling asleep in unfamiliar environments.
Campendium, a free app designed to assist travelers in their camping search, offers an alternative method of finding campsites by providing lists with descriptions and peer reviews of available campgrounds. Utilizing this resource can help narrow your choices before arriving at any campsite, giving you more confidence that this decision will be the right one.
One downside of reserving a site is its short availability window; newcomers should log on as soon as the system opens to have any chance at their first choice. Therefore, practicing making reservations before heading out on their trip could help.
Getting Started
Beginners to RV camping need to remember to start small. While it can be tempting to pack all sorts of gadgets that promise to make life easier in an RV, adding too many accessories adds both weight and space requirements. Stick to a list of “must haves” items during your first few trips – this also helps determine which accessories might not be worth carrying around! Taking baby steps also allows you to figure out if any are unnecessary weight considerations.
An RV tip for beginners is to practice driving and maneuvering their rig before embarking on their first real trip. RVs tend to be longer and wider than standard trucks or SUVs, and taking practice trips through empty parking lots or on open highways will give you a good understanding of how your RV handles in tight spaces or windy roads.
As soon as you’re ready to embark on your first real trip, plan well in advance. Campgrounds tend to fill quickly around holidays; to help avoid disappointment and stay within budget, there are apps and websites which show all available campsite options in an area, including whether or not it is public land, amenities provided, costs associated with each option etc. Using these tools will allow you to select an adventure within budget!
For full-timers planning an RV lifestyle, remember this is no vacation: you will still have daily errands and chores to attend to just like any home or business, plus any potential work-from-the-road opportunities that might present themselves. But with enough effort, you will eventually be able to accomplish things like cooking a turkey over a campfire. Establish work hours and budgets well in advance for any such ventures; schedule regular breaks with traditional hotel stays or moochdocking at friends’ or family’s houses when possible.
These helpful RV camping tips for beginners will enable those new to the experience to embark confidently and make the most of this unique lifestyle. By taking it slowly, practicing and being prepared, RV campers can maximize their experiences and enjoy this lifestyle to its fullest extent! Happy RVing!