From Coast to Coast: 8 Things We Learned on Our RV Road Trip

I have been wanting to write this post since we arrived in Nevada over a month ago, but needed some time to let the ideas marinate. I talked to Adam a bit for his input, so this is our combined “lessons learned”.

I hope this list proves useful if you ever decide to explore the beautiful countryside via recreational vehicle 🙂

Top 8 Things We Learned on Our RV Road Trip

8. Do your research and plan all overnights in advance. We had planned our first few nights 2 weeks in advance, and as the trip progressed, we started slacking. On the final week, we struggled to find a place to stay the following night. Also know that some campgrounds / RV parks require a 2-night minimum (usually on weekends or holidays). Plan accordingly. Roadtrippers and The Dyrt are very useful apps to help you keep everything organized, and include extensive reviews from other travelers so you can make sure you and your family are safe.

7. Triple check all your doors and locks, especially storage. We failed to do this while scrambling to exit a campground in Arkansas, and my suitcase disappeared somewhere along a main road. Read more about this crazy bump in the road (pun intended).

6. Take lots of breaks! Explore as much as time allows, and within reason. Don’t overcommit. We had a whole list of places we wanted to see but didn’t get to. On the other hand, we saw so much more that we weren’t planning to see. Driving long distances in an RV is absolutely exhausting, so sometimes a quick stop and chill / relaxed evening is all you need to recharge.

5. Take extra care on roundabouts. Apparently people think they can drive through RVs, and assume that we can brake quickly enough. Not at all the case. Luckily Adam has lightning quick reflexes, especially with precious “cargo” in tow 🙂

4. Be sure to pack all your camping materials beforehand. We hastily ordered a lantern via Amazon to one of ours stops on the way. Evening lights came in much more handy than did the leveling blocks (came highly recommended; never used once). Some fellow campers got fancy out there with rope lights around their outdoor space. Our portable gas grill really came in handy, too.

3. It’s not as glamorous as you may think. Before setting off on our adventure, I had assumed the only challenge would be keeping our 2.5 year old occupied while in a car seat for half the day. It took an average of an hour to set up camp, another hour to break down and pack up, and not all showers and bathrooms are as clean as you might expect — although, I do admit, most of the campground facilities were very well-kept and not busy due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

2. You will be hyper-aware of the resources you use on a daily basis. I had no idea how much water I was using for showers and dishes, how much electricity I was using to charge devices and headphones, until I found myself on an RV for 19 days. There were days we didn’t have a water or electric hookup so we had to be extra mindful of how much we were using as to not run out. Our WiFi portable hotspot came in handy as well, but required a cell signal which is few and far between in middle America. If you must have a connection on your trip, pay the extra $ for a satellite connection.

1. The average American is very friendly. Maybe we’ve been in the east coast bubble for too long, but I am still taken aback when random strangers wave or say hello. That just doesn’t happen often in the DC-MD-VA area. Everyone we encountered, especially those at the campgrounds, was super friendly and almost always offered a helping hand without us even asking.

I am so glad I blogged our experience, so we have something to reminisce about! While it is great (and convenient) to just take photos/videos on these types of trips, words just have a way of bringing it all to life.