Just go with the flow

You can’t plan for everything that will happen along the way, but you can plan to go with the flow and enjoy yourself. Don’t try to control every aspect of your first RV adventure, or you will end up stressed to the max and irritable. You want to have fun, and we want you to enjoy your RV. How can you do that?

Forget the destination

Obviously, you know where you want to go, and you should make that your end goal, but all kinds of interesting things crop up on the side of the road that you may want to check out. Seriously, there’s no rush. You’re on vacation or just starting out on your new lifestyle. Enjoy yourself. Some of the little places we see along the way give us better memories than our end destinations ever will, and you never know who you will meet or what you will find. Just go with the flow.

Trust the locals

There’s a lot we can find out online, and it’s good to make plans around our research, but don’t forget to ask the people when you get to where you’re going. Do you want to know the best place to eat? A local will be able to tell you. Do you want to know the best location to see the sunset? Those who’ve lived there all their lives will be able to tell you that better than someone who’s stopped there a few times and written a review.

Turn the radio off

Memories aren’t only visual. Memories encompass all the senses, including hearing. Even though music makes for awesome road trips, save it for the second or third day. For now, take some time to enjoy your surroundings and all there is to hear around you. Make sure you use this same philosophy when you’re walking around. Don’t distract yourself from all there is to hear.

Go private

Enjoy the amenities at a private campground for your first few stays. Knowing you have access to a full hookup is great when you’re just starting out and unsure how your family will take to sleeping in an RV. Private campgrounds also give you more security to enjoy yourself freely.

Remember that nothing ever goes completely as planned

There will be moments when your plans go down the drain. Accept them and move on. If it’s something you can change, change it. If it’s something you can’t, roll with it, and come up with a new plan. Often some of the best memories come from improvisation.

Set up as soon as you arrive

Before doing anything else, make sure your RV is all hooked up and ready to greet your family when you return from wherever your adventures take you. You will get carried away with exploration, and you will be tired when you get home. You won’t want to spend a lot of time hooking up your RV, rolling out extensions, and getting everything settled. Do it beforehand so you don’t have to rush home and do it after your adventures.

Don’t speed

Take your time. Other motorists can pass you if they like, but you’re on vacation, and there’s absolutely no rush. Rushing opens doors for errors, and errors can ruin a vacation. Also, how are you going to find amazing out-of-the-way places if you’re rushing past everything? Decide on a speed, and keep your RV there.

Reserve ahead of time

Reserve the campsite you want at your destination as soon as you know your destination. You’ll feel secure knowing that you have a place already lined up when you arrive. If you know how far you will be traveling each day, think of accommodations early on, and see if you can reserve a spot so you’ll already know where you’re staying that night. This takes a lot of stress out of traveling and allows you to enjoy the trip more.

Before you hit the road, make sure you have everything you need, like your membership to the RV Advisor. You don’t have a membership yet? Membership gives you access to exclusive information, discounts, and deals that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Check out our membership page, and see how we can help you along the way.