RV Travel: How to Plan a Trip, 5 Cheap Places to Camp

Are you planning an RV travel trip but are unsure where to begin?

If so then you have come to the right page.

Since the COVID-19 paused international travel, people have opted to find ways of exploring their own backyard. Currently, more and more people have opted to head out on road trips using their own cars, RVs, and campervans.

Granted, there are many things to consider when motorhoming or campervanning in Europe or any other country.

From how to plan a perfect RV road trip to how much does it cost to camp with an RV, there are many questions you need to ask yourself before you begin your RV travel.

This makes planning a great RV travel almost impossible for someone who is getting started with RV road trips.

Don’t worry.

In this article, we’re going to teach you how to plan the perfect RV road trip. In case you aren’t convinced why you should plan an RV road trip, we will also share with you the benefits of doing it. At the end of this article, you will discover some great cheap camping spots.

So without further ado, let’s get started:

How to Plan the Perfect RV Road Trip (Useful Tips for Beginner RV Campers)

Here are practical tips to help you plan a good RV road trip even if you’re a new RV adventurer:

Choose the Right Rental Company

You’d be lucky if you have your own RV but don’t worry if you don’t have one because there are many RV rental companies out there. You just need to know how to find the right one.

Generally, you need to choose a rental company that provides RVs with all the things you will require in your RV road trip. These include cookware, sheets, and many others depending on your RV travel destination.

You also want to make sure the rental company shows you how to use their trailer so that you don’t get stuck along the way.

As a rule, your car should have sufficient towing capacity to hold the trailer. You must also examine the trailer carefully for external dents or dings the same way you’d do when renting a car.

A good rule of thumb is to choose a rental company insured by AAA.

Choose the Right RV

There are different types of RVs out there but you don’t need just any RV. You need to choose the right one for your road trip.

Decide whether you want a large motorhome of 21 feet or more or you need a small tow-behind and pop-up options. You can either choose a towable or motorized one. You also need to choose an RV that will accommodate the things you want to bring with you as well as the features it comes with.

Here are the types of RV classes to choose from:

Class A

RVs in this class are large. They resemble buses and can accommodate up to a maximum of eight people. If you’re looking for a spacious RV, you’d want to consider these.

Class B

These are smaller motorized campervans. They resemble extra-large vans and come with few features, unlike other RV classes. These types of RVs have a toilet, sink, and shower.

Class C

RVs in this class are an upgraded version of Class A and B. They are designed on a truck chassis. These RVs are spacious and comes with more features than a Class A but are more flexible and easy to move around with than Class A.

Tow-behind trailer

These RVs are also called travel trailers since they allow you to bring your own truck, car, or SUV. The only downside with these RVs is that they aren’t easy to navigate with but you can park the camper and move around town with your regular car.

Fifth-wheel

A fifth wheel is a smaller tow-behind trailer that’s attached to a truck with a gooseneck hitch.  The beautify of these types of RVs is that they are spacious and are flexible than tow-behind trailers.

Pop-up camper

A pop-up camper is a smaller tow-behind RV and is suitable for RV adventurers who don’t require a lot of amenities.

You can collapse the top of a pop-up camper to make it a lower-profile trailer and pop it up once you’ve parked. They come with a small bedroom, kitchen and a place to take a bath.

Choosing You’re Preferred RV Travel Destination

Chances are that you already know where to go for your RV road trip but it’s also good to get some suggestions.

First off, choosing your preferred RV travel destination will be influenced by the purpose of your trip.

What is the aim or objective of your road trip? Do you want just to have quality time outdoors or do you want some quality time with friends and loved ones?

There are many benefits of RV travel for families.

Apart from allowing you the freedom to customize your road trip to your family’s needs and interests, RV travel also enables you to connect with other RV adventurers. These are RV travel enthusiasts you’d probably dream of connecting with.

If the purpose of your RV road trip is to have quality time with your family and loved ones, choose an ‘off the grid’ destination surrounded by nature.

No matter the objective of your road trip, the distance and the amount of time your trip will take is worth considering.

You also need to consider the weather of the travel destination as well as that along the route to ensure you don’t face challenges along the way.

Your hobbies and interests should be able to guide you to choose a suitable destination for your road trip.

Note that, choosing a destination will help you avoid last-minute fees. The good thing is that most destinations allow people to make reservations six to nine months before the day of their trips.

We’d recommend you choose a campground near your place of residence if you’re going for an RV vacation for the first time.

Remember that RVing for the first time comes with a lot of challenges. Choose a nearby campground could help to avoid these challenges as you try to figure out what really RVing looks like.

Always Have a Route Plan

Choosing a destination for your road trip is half the battle. You also need to make a plan.

Remember that RVing isn’t just about renting a car, hopping inside, and hitting the road.

You’ll need to know what route to use to reach your travel destination. A mistake most newbie RV adventurers make it so to use Google Maps on their phones.

Google Maps may not show you more details about the route.

You need to have a place to park your RV and what restrictions you’d expect.

You might also want to decide whether to make early reservations or not since you also have the flexibility to navigate around before deciding where to park.

It’s good to make reservations in advance though to avoid the hustles of the night.

Dry camping or “Boondocking” is an awesome and affordable option as well. This involves looking for free public lands or parking sites.

Remember that if you choose “Boondocking” you need to come with the right amenities, know where to get dry camping, and more.

As a rule, when planning, focus on the safety and flexibility of your trip.

Know What to Pack

Unlike a traditional road trip, RVing requires you to know what to pack. Remember that your apartment is your car so you want to bring the right camping gear. This includes towels, sheets, cookware, bedding, and many other things.

This will help to make sure you’re not lacking in anything from cooking to sleep and bathing.

You’d also want to know what specific accessories to bring with you. For instance, if you’re going on a road trip for a long time with a motorhome, you need to bring a sewer hose to dump your RV’s holding tanks.

When you chose to travel in a trailer, carry with your equipment and tools for leveling the rig out after you arrive at your campground.

Some of these things will be provided by your car renting company but make sure you ask beforehand.

Before You Commence Your Trip

So you have decided what rental company to use, choose the right RV, and decided where to travel to. You’ve also decided what route to use and packed your items and you think you’re ready to hit the road?

Hold your horses.

The last mistake you want to make is going on a road trip only to find out later that you don’t know how to use the generator or the air conditioning systems don’t work.

Ensure you have checked everything before you start your trip. If you choose a trailer type, learn how to set it up properly. Ask the renting company or owner of the RV about any quirks the RV might have and know how to operate the vehicle.

Know how to connect the water and electrical systems as well as how to empty the blackwater.

In a nutshell, ensure you know everything there is inside the RV before you start your trip.

Now that you know how to plan a perfect RV road trip, you must be asking yourself…what is the cheapest place to camp?

This section answers your question:

5 Awesome Cheap RV Camping Spots

Here are cheap camping stops to save you money on your RV road trip:

1.    Blue Bell Campground

This beautiful RV camping spot is located in Custer State Park. Rates start from $25 per night. You can also enjoy the hayride and take a chuckwagon dinner while on the camping ground.

2.    James Island County Park

If the purpose of your RV road trip is to have some nature retreat then James Island County Park is the camping spot to go. The campground is located in a 643-acre land in Charleston, South Carolina bordering an amusement park with waterslides as well as a 500-foot lazy river. Camping rates start from $48 per night.

3.    Colter Bay Village RV Park

Another great camping spot for RV adventurers is the Colter Bay Village RV Park, a place full of activities like canoeing, swimming, kayaking, and more. The campground is situated in Moran Wyoming in the Grand Teton National Park. There are many hookups so you don’t have to worry. Parking rates start at $61 per night.

4.    Bay Center/Willapa Bay KOA

Bay Center is a shady campground where forests meet the ocean. The campground is located in Washington. You can be served pizza and burgers right in your RV so you don’t even need to alight.

5.    Lynchburg/Blue Ridge KOA

Lynchburg is a summer camp located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Monroe, Virginia. Camping rates start from $45 per night.

Are You Ready for RV Road Trip?

Multiple studies suggest that spending time outdoors helps to improve concentration; sleep patterns, mood, and can facilitate faster healing.

The beauty of RVing is that you can go where you want. Besides, it’s a budget-friendly travel option.

Another good thing about RV travel is that you get to spend quality time with friends and family.

We hope this article will help you plan a perfect RV road trip.

Enjoy your vacation!

Author Bio:

Charlie Svensson is a professional travel writer with over 10 years of experience. He has been to over 50 countries and has experience in RV travel. Besides, he’s also a professional essay writer who writes about nature, travel, and lifestyle. Charlie loves sports and volunteering.

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