What to Expect During RV Summer Travel This Year

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages and cases spike around the country, millions of people are rethinking their summer travel plans. Being trapped in a metal tube with dozens of strangers is unappealing in the best of times, but in the age of coronavirus air travel is downright scary.

That is why so many travelers are cancelling their plane reservations and gassing up their RVs instead. Whether you already own your own RV or are renting one for the summer, this socially distant form of travel is a great way to see the world at ground level, and a wonderful way to stay safe and spend time with your family. But before you set out for your RV adventure, there are some key things you need to know. Here are some timely tips to make your RV trip the best summer vacation ever.

The Roads, and the Campgrounds, Are Busier Than Ever Before

If you are thinking about hitting the road in an RV this summer, you will have plenty of company. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of other families are taking a hard look at their vacation plans, and many of them are choosing the flexibility and freedom of an RV.

That means the roads may be more crowded than you anticipate, and that could mean adjusting your schedule or changing your travel times. Setting out in the middle of the night or traveling later at night can give you the jump start you need, so you can reach your destination without delay.

All those road warriors will need a place to stay, and that means the most popular campgrounds will be busier than ever. Even if you never felt the need before, it pays to reserve your campgrounds in advance this summer.

Boondocking is an Increasingly Popular Option

In the age of social distancing and solo vacation adventures, boondocking is becoming a more popular option for RV owners from coast to coast. Also called wild camping, free camping and dry camping, boondocking simply means setting up your RV without the normal hookups for electricity, sewage and water.

You can think of boondocking as the RV equivalent of rough camping, and it can be a great way to spend some time with your family or time alone with your thoughts. But before you start roughing it, you will need to understand some best practices, so you can protect yourself, your fellow campers and the natural world you love so much.

Responsible boondocking means having a solution for sanitary disposal of human waste, as well as procuring fresh clean drinking water for yourself and your fellow RV enthusiasts. It could be as simple as a camp toilet, a supply of gelling solution and some water purification tablets, but having the supplies you need will make your RV adventure both safer and more fun.

Protect Yourself with Roadside Assistance Coverage

Hopefully your RV road trip will go off without a hitch, and you will enjoy the natural beauty, tourist attractions and everything else you long to see. But in the real world things happen, and you will want to be prepared with roadside assistance coverage.

The roadside assistance package you have on your family car may not cover your RV or other large vehicle, so check your policy before you pull out of the driveway. Adding roadside assistance coverage is not expensive, and it will give you peace of mind no matter where you wander.

Speaking of wandering, make sure the roadside assistance policy you purchase covers you from coast to coast. Part of the fun of RVing is you can go wherever you want and take your home with you, and you will want to stay protected no matter where the road leads.

Always Pack Your Emergency Kit Before You Leave Home

Emergencies happen, and you will want to be prepared with a fully stocked road hazard kit. If you do need to pull to the side of the road and call roadside assistance, you will want to make sure your RV is visible from a long distance away, so a set of road flares or orange triangles is a must have.

Staying visible is especially important on those winding mountain roads, the scenic highways and byways that RV enthusiasts love. With narrow shoulders and tight quarters, those roadways can turn hazardous if you do not have the proper emergency gear.

Respect the Campground Rules

Even if you love the idea of boondocking and plan to camp for free in parking lots and other popular RV venues, chances are you will be spending at least some time in a formal RV campground. Whether you want to take a shower, grab some groceries or just see another human being, staying at a campground can be a very smart move, as long as you understand and abide by the rules.

Keep in mind that you may need to book your campground space ahead of time, especially in the busy summer months. RV vacations are more popular than ever as families abandon their traditional travel plans for a safer option, and that can mean overflowing parking lots and sold out campgrounds.

Once you have booked your campground space, you will want to familiarize yourself with the rules. You can check out these regulations online, so you will not have any surprises when you pull in.

From where to park to how social distancing rules will be enforced, responsible campground owners lay it all out for their RV enthusiast friends. In the age of COVID-19, staying at an RV campground may include wearing masks around the campfire and parking at least six feet away from your fellow RV owners. This is for everyone’s safety, and you can still have a great time while social distancing.

You Can Make a Living on the Road

If your RV adventure is your summer vacation, the last thing on your mind is going back to work, but if you plan to make the RV lifestyle permanent you might want to look into nomadic employment opportunities.

From working as a handyman at the campsite to blogging about your travels to signing on at a local warehouse during the holidays, there are plenty of ways to make a living on the road. If you have always wanted to live on the road, these employment opportunities could make it happen.

In the age of coronavirus, facial coverings and social distancing, travel looks a bit different this year, but that does not mean you cannot enjoy a wonderful vacation with your family. When you travel in your RV, you bring your home, and your socially distant bubble, with you, and that can mean a safe, sane and amazingly fun summer adventure.