What would you think about a vacation that discourages screen time, encourages family time, is cost-effective, fun and adventurous? How about one that gives your family the flexibility to roam and explore, and presents the perfect opportunity to include the kids in the vacation planning? And what if you didn’t need to rush to make a flight and you could bring Rover with you?
Sounds good right?
No longer just for retirees, these factors, among others, are spurring the incredible growth of the RV family vacation. In fact, according to national trade group Go RVing, 35-54 year olds now comprise the largest group of RV owners and more families are discovering the allure of RV adventures each year.
When I was about eight, friends of my parents headed off on a cross-country RV trip in a motor home they named Herman. Before they hit the road, they brought Herman by so that we could “meet” him and took us for a spin around the block. I remember my sense of wonder at this cozy traveling home and the exhilarating sense that you could just pick up and drive your home, well, anywhere. I was jealous as they pulled out of our driveway on their huge family adventure and have been itching to do the same ever since.
30 years later, the itch is still there, as more and more, I hear from friends about their RV adventures. There’s Jenny and her husband, who bought an RV last summer and head out with their two little girls on weekend adventures throughout the summer. Bob and John, two New York City dads who left their wives and apartments behind, packed up their kids and rented an RV for a ten day trip in Arizona. Karen, who planned the ultimate two-week family RV adventure that included two RVs, their very best family friends and a total of six children.
If you love the idea of hitting the road with your family, here are five tips to get you started.
Step 1: Decide where you want to go
Planning an RV adventure begins with a family conversation contemplating where you want to go. New England? The Grand Canyon? The Pacific Northwest? The White Mountains, Smokey Mountains or Rocky Mountains? Put a map on the dining room table, gather the family and decide where your RV adventure will take you.
Step 2: Decide what you want to drive
Assuming you don’t have an RV of your own (and with 8.9 million American households now owning an RV, it’s possible you do), you’ll have to rent. No worries there, there are literally thousands of dealers from coast to coast ready to outfit you. A simple Google search with turn up hundreds of resources, or check out the Rentals area of the “Where to Find” tab on Go RVing.
Next decide if you want a motor home or towable RV. The key advantage to towable is the ability to reach a campground, unhook the RV and drive off in your car to explore. Of course, you’ll need a vehicle with enough juice to tow your RV of choice.
The key advantage of a motor home like Herman is they tend to be roomier and, well, a bit homier. Plus, you will have the amenities of the entire home while you are traveling, which means the kids can be watching TV or working on a vacation puzzle while you are en route.
Step 3: Plan Your Itinerary
Especially if you plan to travel during high season, it is imperative that you plan your RV parks in advance. You can select one park and stay put for your entire vacation, or move around to several. We love the idea of a night or two at each park, with just several hours’ drive between them. For instance, we recently planned a five-day RV adventure in New England that looked like this:
Day 1: Pick up RV from Campers Inn RV, Kingston, New Hampshire. Drive 63 miles to Red Apple Campground and settle in for a two night stay.
Day 3: Drive 66 miles to Silver Lake Park in Belmont, New Hampshire.
Day 4: Drive 71 miles to Wakeda Campground in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.
Day 5: Drive 15 miles to Kingston to, sadly, return the RV.
We loved this itinerary, because it had us moving and exploring, but since we only had five days, had us on the road for just a few hours each day.
Step 4: Pack Up and Hit the Road
While there is lots and lots and lots of advice about packing for an RV adventure, and we do suggest preparing a list and checking it twice, the key is to keep it casual, keep it fun and don’t forget the marshmallows and s’mores fixings, flashlights, glow sticks and board games!
Step 5: Have Fun
Kids love to explore, it’s part of their DNA, and an RV adventure delivers ample opportunity for them to do just that. It is a chance not to over plan the details, not to fill every hour, but to give your family the space and time to take it as it comes.
