As new full-time RVers, we have had a big learning curve during our first 7 months on the road. We have been fortunate to learn from many experienced travelers, both in person and in online forums and groups. Of course, trial and error always works too! Here is our list of the top seven things we have learned in our first 7 months of full time RV traveling.
1. Flexibility is key:
When you are living full time on the road, it’s not always easy to keep to a set schedule or travel plan. That’s a hard thing to adjust to if you are two type-A people who are newly retired, but we are working on it! Why is it hard to keep to a plan, you might ask? Well…
Sometimes it’s the weather: We discovered that we don’t want to drive in the rain or snow or even stay in an area that is cold if we don’t have to. Call us crazy, but we decided we are in search of warm weather during the winter months! Recently we were in Atlanta and the forecast for everywhere north was cold and rainy. Instead of heading up to Tennessee as we had planned, we turned south and spent another month in Florida. We enjoyed wearing shorts and doing outdoor activities in 80-degree weather until the rest of the country got its act together.
Sometimes it’s repair issues: Driving a motor home has been likened to putting your house through an earthquake every time you travel. Things will and do break and will need to be repaired. Keeping up with regular maintenance is also important. We are learning that finding a reliable repair place and getting a timely appointment for a big rig like ours can be challenging. National Indoor RV Center is one place we can highly endorse- they have locations in Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Sometimes you discover something interesting: The great thing about being retired is that we can make a side detour should we happen upon a place or attraction we would like to see. We’ve also enjoyed making a stop to see friends or family in or near an area we are passing through. While we may not be able to give you a lot of notice, we’ll definitely try to see you if we come your way😊
2. Don't always trust the GPS:
Being in a motor home that is 13 feet tall and 43 feet long means we must be vigilant for low bridge heights, low hanging branches, and tricky parking lots. We have a GPS that is supposed to take that into account, but we double and triple-check with other maps and travel apps. We also look at the satellite view for info on gas stations and campgrounds to make sure we don’t get stuck in a tight spot. Since we can’t back up while towing a car, it’s easier to avoid any iffy areas if possible.
3. You don't have to rush:
On our first journey, we had an exact plan of when and where we would stop along our route from Texas to Indiana. We allowed 3 days in each place and made all our reservations before the trip. We quickly learned that keeping a fast pace for a long trip gets tiring and that it would be better to slow down and smell the roses a bit. Staying a week in each campground gives us time to get comfortable and relax some, yet still have time to explore the area. Plus, the cost for a week’s stay is usually better than the daily campground rate.
4. Limit daily driving time:
To go along with not rushing our travels, we also try to limit the amount of time we drive each day. Driving a motor home involves a lot of concentration and can be very tiring. We have decided 4-5 hours a day is a good goal and keeps us from having to drive in the dark hours. We change drivers about half way, which also gives our dogs a chance to get outside and stretch their legs. While we always have the option to do a long day if necessary, we would rather not push things if we don’t have to.
5. Go south for the winter:
As I mentioned already, we don’t want to deal with the cold weather anymore, so we have decided that southern locations are best during the winter months. Unfortunately, all the other people traveling in RVs have discovered that too! We quickly learned that if you want to go to the highly popular destinations, you need to make your reservations early. We were fortunate to find spots at several Florida locations, and learned that inland areas do not book up as quickly as those right near the beach. So, I guess we will be official “snowbirds” now—that’s people who travel south to be warm for the winter. Other popular areas for winter are Texas and Arizona.
6. Less is more:
When you live in a small space, life can be easier if you are not overcrowded with stuff. We have learned that the number of things you really need is much less than what most of us have. While downsizing to move into our RV was hard at first, we really haven’t missed most of the things we left behind. Because we have a smaller living space, it is important for us to have a place for everything and to keep things put away. Moods inside the RV are better when you’re not tripping over things or looking for a place to sit.
7. Planning takes work:
Just pick a destination and start driving, right? It’s not as easy as it sounds. We spend a lot of time deciding where we want to go and then determining where we will stop. We have to factor in driving times, which roads to take, where the truck stops are for getting gas, locations of rest stops for letting the dogs out, and which campgrounds we like. There are so many apps that have been helpful, but it still takes time to look everything up and compare notes. Even so, the time spent planning is well worth it and saves trouble down the road.
So, there you have it—a newbie perspective on what works and what doesn’t when you are traveling full-time. I’m sure there are many more things to learn, but these are the ones that stand out to us right now. While each person’s journey will be different, hopefully some of these things will be helpful to others who are ready to hit the road and get started on RV living.
Great post! Makes me want to hit the road!
It’s definitely a learning experience but one we are thankful to be able to do…especially when it lets us reconnect with dear friends like you:) Maybe you will be able to enjoy some travel this summer as well. Thanks for following along with us!
Thanks !
It was nice meeting you guy’s today. We’re enjoying your blog.
Safe travels. Hope to meet up with you guy’s again.
Happy trails
Wayne and Bonnie Mitchell
Grants Pass Oregon
Bonnie and Wayne,
We really enjoyed meeting you both today also. Too bad we didn’t connect sooner, but hopefully we will meet again down the road. Thanks for checking out my blog and safe travels to you!