We love being able to visit amazing places and see awesome sights as we travel around the country in our RV. The sightseeing and exploring are sometimes the easiest part compared to the actual planning and traveling part. Time and experience have taught us a few things that make getting to the next place a lot smoother. Here are some of our travel hacks that have helped us over the last three years on the road.
Getting Ready:
Checklists are a must for the many pre-departure requirements so that nothing gets forgotten. Just as with our car, we always make sure our RV is serviced and in good shape before a trip. Checking things like fluids, brakes, and tire pressures are some key items as well as carrying an emergency roadside kit and first aid kit. The more things you can get done early, the easier and more relaxed your departure will be. We also follow an RV start-up checklist on the morning we are leaving and a campground arrival checklist at our destination.
It’s also a good idea to have a checklist for packing, especially if you are going to be doing a variety of activities (think swimsuits, hiking boots, or golf clubs). Make sure you take weather conditions into account for clothing as well since they can be very different from your home area. We like to stock up on groceries before we depart so that we are ready to start having fun when we arrive instead of needing to find a grocery store. A bonus is that you can save money by cooking meals in your RV instead of eating out every day.
Planning the Route:
Once we have determined where we are going, we make campground reservations. Knowing you have a good place to stay makes for a less stressful journey. With more people out there camping nowadays, it has gotten a little harder to stop on the fly (especially if you have a big rig like we do). I use several apps to help me pick where we will stay, including Good Sam, RV Parky, and RV Trip Wizard. Make sure to book early if you are going to a high demand location!
We pay close attention to the travel route considering things like bridges, tolls, road construction, weather, and fuel stops. Because an RV is longer and taller than typical vehicles, we check several sources to make sure we don’t end up on a dirt road or some other unwanted place. I like the Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas for truckers which lists things like low clearances and restricted routes. We also use GPS and Google satellite views to help identify any pitfalls we might encounter.
During the Trip:
We have found that we are more alert when we drive early in the day. If we have to drive through a big city, we try to time our departure so that we avoid rush hours, if possible. We also try to follow the RV Rule of 3 whenever we can: don’t drive more than 300 miles in a day, stop by 3 pm each day, and stay for at least 3 days. If we really need to make a longer drive, we will leave early to get the extra miles in and still stop by early afternoon. Keeping our speed at about 63-65 mph seems to be the sweet spot for fuel economy and helps to save a little money on the diesel bill.
During the trip we take breaks and switch drivers every 2 hours. When you are on the road, taking frequent breaks helps both the driver and the passenger to stay alert. We like to stop at rest areas for breaks when possible. They are very conveniently located right along the highway, and we don’t have to worry about clearances with the RV. At the rest area we stretch our legs, use the restroom, get a snack and are back on the road in no time.
Getting Gas:
With our large RV we find it easier to use truck stops to gas up our motorhome. Situated right along the highway, the truck stops usually have more room to maneuver the RV and higher clearances than a regular gas station. We use a fuel discount program called EFS that saves us on each gallon of diesel we purchase. Originally designed for truckers, this program now accepts RVers and can be used at over 12,000 truck stops nationwide. There is no cost to join and no annual membership fees, so it is a great program for those who use a lot of gas like we do in the RV. Other programs like Mudflap and Good Sam also have gas discounts.
Road Hacks:
We have discovered some “road hacks” that have really made navigating our driving journey a little easier. One simple hack is looking up rest stops when we need a break. If you type in “rest area” or “rest stop” in the search bar of Google Maps on your phone, it will bring up a picture of any rest stops in your area. You can move the screen and click “search this area” to adjust the search. This hack makes finding a spot to take a break much easier. Again, checking the satellite view will ensure the rest area is what you are expecting.
When we are driving along the interstate highways, we’ve learned that the exit only lanes have different markings than regular lanes. You might have noticed that the dashed markings are smaller and closer together on a must exit lane. This can really come in handy to let you know where you should be driving—especially if you are in a line of traffic and can’t see the exit signs yet. Nothing is worse than getting stuck in an exit lane in a large motorhome when you don’t want to get off the road.
When you do need to take an exit, it is nice to know if it will be a right exit or a left exit. We learned that you can tell which direction an exit will take by looking at the top exit number bar on the sign. If the bar is on the right, the exit lane goes right off the highway. If the exit bar is on the left side of the sign, the lane goes to the left. While most exits are to the right, when you do come across the occasional left exit you want to be in the correct lane to get off the highway.
One thing we are vigilant about while traveling is keeping a watch on the weather. When you are on the road it is harder to monitor local news and potential weather warnings. We have learned that you can set up your phone to receive wireless emergency alerts so that they will appear based on your current location (even if that is changing!). To set up your phone, look under settings then safety and emergency to find emergency wireless alerts.
Finally, understanding the interstate numbering system helps us with navigation. Major interstate roads have a 1- or 2-digit number like I-40. East/west roads get even numbers with the lowest numbers in the south and highest in the north. North/south roads get odd numbers with the lowest numbers in the west and highest in the east. Mile markers help you know exactly where you are and are posted every tenth of a mile. They restart at each state border with numbers increasing as you go east or north.
Have an Easy Road Trip:
Everyone has their own system, but we have found these travel hacks have helped us a lot on the road. Preparing your vehicles, packing all necessities, and making proper arrangements will get you started off on the right foot. Using the road hacks simplifies driving and navigating duties and keeps the stress level down too. I’d love to hear any tips you have for safe and smooth travels. Here’s wishing everyone a great summer and happy road trips!
Great article Robin! Like the tip about knowing which way the exit goes by position on the sign. Occasionally it can be on the left!
Thanks Joan! We learn new stuff all the time and love passing it on for others😊
Hi Robin!
Very informative article! All drivers can learn a thing or two , even if you don’t drive an RV!!
Hi Cheri, You are so right–these tips can hopefully help both car and RV drivers navigate our roadways easier. It is interesting that even after 40 years of driving, I am still learng new things!
Perfect article. You brought up so many important tasks!
Hi Pam, Now that we are on the road much more we really have become more aware of all those tasks! The learning curve is big at first, but even after 3 years we are still discovering new and better ways for things. It’s always an adventure😊
Wow… in all the time we’ve been on the road, I never once noticed the thing about the exit numbers for left/right exits. Who knew? What a great tip, and another very helpful post!
Thanks Laura. I didn’t know the exit number thing before either. Also, when did the markings start changing for the exit lane? One day I was just like–whoa, look at this! Both things have definitely helped us in traffic with our big rig.
I learned a few things that are helpful for us car travelers, too! Thanks!
Happy to help, Barbara. Thanks for checking out my travel blog😊
What a fabulous and very informative post. I learned quite a few interesting hacks I’ve never heard about before. Really great information! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Sandi–we enjoy sharing the things we have learned with others.
Love reading your posts and valuable information for RVing full-time! We are considering this in the next year, and want to learn from others that do it. Great information and easy to understand! Thanks!
Thanks for checking out my blog Tammy. You are doing it right by researching and reading all you can before you jump into full-time RVing. We are loving the lifestyle but I am glad we learning alot about it before starting out. We have met so many great fellow RVers who are willing to give guidance and help too. Good luck!