With a whole year of full-time traveling under our belt in our 24-foot Class C motorhome we have learned an immense amount along the way. It’s funny to look back at that first month of leaving our freezing NY home and making our way toward warm, sunny Florida. We had no idea what we were doing, where we were going, or how it would turn out. Now here we are a year later feeling like pros- or maybe semi-pros- learning to enjoy every part of it. So our first piece of advice, when it comes to living the full-time RV life, would be to jump right in. You can stay home with your RV sitting in your driveway, while you study all the manuals and watch all the YouTube videos, but the only way to actually figure it out is to start living it! You will be surprised at all the resources you find along the way, that you wouldn’t have found sitting at home “waiting for the right time” to go.
Go with the flow-
This can apply to any type of traveling, but when it comes to traveling in your motorhome it can be especially helpful. You can plan something to the T, and unexpected things can still arise. If you are off the bat going into the exploration with an open mind, these speed bumps along the way can feel less devastating. I’m not saying to expect the worst in every scenario, but be open to plans fluctuating and willing to ride out the waves.
Plan ahead-
Every place has so much to offer in its own way. It can feel overwhelming experiencing a new place if there is no planning done beforehand. There are amazing things for everyone to enjoy, anywhere, it’s just about finding them! Alex and I find making a list of mutual things we want to do helpful. With a list, you can realistically break up the different activities based on location and your scheduled amount of time there. We create a general outline for what each day might look like, prioritize the things we don’t want to miss out on and go with the flow with the less-than-important things. This way, if we can’t get to everything, it is usually the stuff we didn’t care too much about, and it also gives us an excuse to revisit that place!
Take it slow-
When we first set out, it felt like we had so much to see and so many stops to make, that we were continuously thinking about the next destination. We essentially had the entire country in our hands and it felt a bit daunting and overwhelming. So we mapped out a general line to follow but focused on the present and where we were daily. Through this, we ended up making 100% of our journey meaningful. We did this by taking more scenic drives, frequently stopping, and not solely thinking about the next place we were heading. If getting to your destination as quickly as possible is your objective, I would suggest an airplane. Let the road trips in your RV be saved for the times when you can enjoy the ride and take it slow.
Explore with curiosity, not judgment-
After traversing most of the country, we have realized that America is a beautifully diverse place with so much to offer. As you explore and travel, keep an open mind! We are always excited and willing to meet locals and learn about the history and current living experiences of all the places we visit. Driving gives you the unique experience of stopping in towns and cities most people usually just fly over. Enjoy those places for what they are, despite their differences to where you might be from, and appreciate everywhere for their charming differences.
Pack less-
This is something I admittedly failed at when we first set out (and I honestly still do). Thankfully we stopped home for a bit and I was able to unload a lot of the unnecessary stuff I had brought, but a way to avoid this altogether could be starting with the essentials. Even though you may think you need to bring every book you’ve ever gotten, you probably don’t, and maybe a kindle would be a better option for RV life. At the end of the day, our experiences still prove to be the most important part of our time living in our RV, not the stuff we have in it. Embrace the minimalist lifestyle, it’s probably only temporary anyway.
Document-
Take all the pictures and videos. I cannot express this enough. Sometimes I get so caught up in just experiencing new places or things we are doing that I forget to take even one photo. I am not saying to ruin your experience and see the world through your camera when it is right in front of you. I am also not saying you have to take professional-level photos everywhere you go. A few quick snapshots or some short videos are enough to jog a memory later on and bring you back.
Organization-
This may be the most important, at least for Alex and me. Everything in our RV has a spot where it lives permanently. This is super important because there is only so much space. There is no chair to throw things on at the end of the day, and let pile up for days. There is a very limited amount of living space, and if there is stuff all over it, it can feel stressful for both of us. You also don’t want anything to break along the way, so being conscious about the way you pack things is equally as important. There is also just something nice about knowing exactly where something is when you want it.
Community –
The RV community was one of the nicest surprises the three of us discovered quite quickly into our travels and continues to be. Whether it’s meeting people in parking lots, our neighbors at campsites, reading RV magazines/blogs, or connecting on social media, there is an extensive and very welcoming community that comes along with traveling in an RV. There is undeniable support, no matter where you are, the help and community is everywhere!
Leave no trace-
An awesome part of having an RV is the access to nature, and beautiful land. That being said, it is only awesome if those places continue to be beautiful. There is nothing worse than getting somewhere, with the most beautiful views, and finding it surrounded by trash. If you do unfortunately experience this, it is always nice to leave it better than you found it, and hope the next person respects the spot as much as you have. Always remember to keep a pack in, pack out mentality when camping, even in a Walmart parking lot. We are all in this together!
Safety & preparation-
There are always “what if” scenarios that could arise, so it’s always better to be as prepared as you can be, rather than wishing you had charged your flashlight’s batteries before you needed it. Whether you’re planning a long hike, dry camping, or staying at a campsite, it’s important to be prepared. Having extra drinking water, charged flashlights, a toolbox, food, first aid kit (for both you and your furry companion), etc … are all helpful to keep on board for “just in case” moment
Communication-
When traveling in your RV, communication is important for many different reasons. Some are the obvious reasons, and others can be make or “break” reasons. For instance, before we can drive, everything in the RV has to be in its place and packed away properly, otherwise, it will probably end up breaking. If there are things that need to be done every time you want to drive, try dividing the responsibilities so that everybody has something to do vs. one person doing it all. You won’t be left wondering what the inside of your RV will look like when you arrive. Communication is so important to happiness and is vital to RV living success, especially considering the close quarters you may be sharing with somebody else. If you are finding yourself in a disagreement, and don’t feel like you have an adequate amount of space inside to separate, try going on a walk and talking about it a little bit later. Just because you are tiny living, doesn’t mean you need to do everything together. Continue to communicate your needs to create a happy environment for everyone.
Have fun!
Lastly, and debatably most importantly, enjoy the ride and of course, have fun! RVs are popular for a reason, they allow you to experience life in a special way. They can make you feel like a kid again, be the perfect antidote to your 9-5, re-introduce you to nature, and uniquely show you the world. Don’t worry about how other people are traveling in their RV, make the experience your own. When we first left I was focused on where and how everyone else was traveling in their RV. I realized that is not helpful, and to explore and experience the country our way. So have fun, and do things that bring you joy! Don’t worry about where everyone else has been, worry about where you are and all the possibilities ahead of you.