Ahhh, the open road! The RV industry markets the wildly carefree vision of the endless journey, simply heading out and seeing where the wind takes you, figuring it out as you go along.
However, the reality is often not quite that romantic. Particularly since RV purchases increased exponentially during the Covid pandemic, there are more RV’ers on the road than ever before.
Furthermore, we are all frequently vying for the same destinations made visible and popular on Instagram and social media, making it more challenging than ever to just “go with the flow.”
There is no “right” way to RV, but let’s analyze the factors at play for two styles of RV’ing – for those who PLAN, and those who FLOW, recognizing that everyone falls somewhere in between these absolutes.
Know Yourself
Your baseline personality will not change simply because you have taken up RV’ing. If you are organized and methodical in your life at home, you’ll be more comfortable having a full itinerary for a trip completely decided in advance. If you take a looser approach to daily living and enjoy the unexpected surprises that pop up as a result, you will be less likely to feel anxious about leaving certain aspects of your trip to fate. Honest self-awareness is key.
Know Your Destination
Campground usage is more competitive than ever, especially in the summer months and for the most popular destinations, like National Parks. Even for those who like to flow, some basic research is required to know campground options, restrictions, and to identify in advance the exact day and time that reservations will open up. The looser camper, on the other hand, can still snag last-minute cancellations through programs like Campnab, which sends you a message when a site opens up. Recreation.gov has also recently launched Availability Alerts, a way to get notified when sold-out campsites become available. Some campgrounds hold back a percentage of sites for walk-in’s; plan to arrive early to grab one of those sites.
Know Your Budget
Budget-minded travelers should plan ahead to target more expensive destinations for shoulder seasons or mid-week, when prices may be lower than on weekends. In some cases, booking early might save money by locking in prices before future rate increases take effect. Discount plans like Passport America can help to keep costs lower; check with the campground to know if there are certain days or lengths of stays that are restricted. Especially out West, many of those whose travel plans are flexible can enjoy free or cheap boondocking on open Forest Service or BLM land, where available.
Know Your Journey
Planners are generally locked into the settled-upon itinerary, since modifying or cancellation already-booked reservations can be impossible or expensive, leaving little opportunity for spontaneity. The popularity of non-hookup overnight camping at places like Walmart, Cracker Barrel, or truck stops is of benefit to those whose plans flow, giving options to stay longer in a place you like, leave early from a place you don’t, and make shorter or longer drive days as needed, while filling in gaps in the schedule. Apps such as RVParky can be helpful in identifying places to stop along the journey.
Know Your Rig
The advance planner is more likely to snag the best sites in their top locations, and this is particularly important with smaller campgrounds and non-traditional stays through programs like Harvest Hosts, who may have extremely limited space. Longer or larger rigs have fewer options not only for campgrounds, but also for parking at attractions and even grocery stores along the way. Even if you are flowing, use Google Maps, with the satellite layer turned on, to quickly ascertain the layout of a parking lot or gas station before entering.
Know Your Abilities
Especially if you’re driving a larger rig, it can be difficult to navigate on-the-fly and you might want to plan your route ahead of time. Those who find the “road less traveled” to be an exciting concept, however, could accidentally stumble across surprising scenery or unexpected delights. Both styles might benefit from an RV-specific GPS unit to potentially avoid treacherous driving situations, unsuitable roads, or hazards like low bridges. Your decision about whether to plan or flow during navigation should be driven solely by your confidence in your ability to drive in all types of conditions and situations.
Know Your Interests
It’s not just the journey you’re after, but also the adventures you have upon arrival. Flowing is best for people who have many and varying interests, who will find satisfaction with any variety of activities. A casual conversation with the campground host or neighboring campers upon arrival can provide the flowing camper with a wealth of current and useful advice for “where to go” and “what to do.” Planners are more likely to target a special occasion, event, or festival. Being present on the correct day is important; many tours are only offered on weekends, for example, or a desired activity may be closed on certain days of the week.
Know Your Flexibility
Not everyone can commit to travel plans far in advance, so flowing will be the default mode by necessity. The flowing traveler needs to have more flexibility not only with dates of travel, but also specific geographic locations. A more flexible personality will be less bothered if forced to stay in less-desirable environs, if that is all that is available. Certainly, some factors cannot be planned for, including health emergencies and mechanical problems, and a healthy dose of flexibility is called for in even the most set plan.
How About You?
Everyone falls somewhere in the middle of the absolutes of planning and flowing, and it can take a few trips to determine what level of organization works best for you, depending on where your comfort level lies. A thorough understanding of the realities of RV travel will allowing maximum enjoyment with minimum worry. Regardless of your personal style, be sure to enjoy your travel all three times: once while envisioning it, once while living it, and once while remembering it!
About The Author:
Tessa Miller has been RV’ing around the country with her husband Philip since 2013. They recently camped in their 48th state and share state-specific travel inspiration on their blog at www.charmingrvadventures.com.
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