First RV Road Trip Tips
Are you planning a family road trip in an RV for the first time? If so, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. It’s natural to feel anxious about taking your first RV trip, but don’t worry! We recently went on our first family RV road trip. We have some tips that will help make your first RV road trip a success. From driving and planning to packing and finding the best campsites, we’ve got you covered. So get ready for an amazing adventure with your family as you hit the open road in your motorhome!
Related: How to Plan an RV Road Trip
If you’re thinking about starting your first family road trip in an RV, there are a few things that you will need to prepare ahead of time. Here are a few top tips that will make your driving journey smoother and help you plan the perfect timing for your ride.
Tips for Driving an RV or Motorhome
- Plan your route. Getting lost in neighbourhoods with narrow streets is not recommended in an RV. Knowing where you’re going ahead of time will save you a lot of stress.
- Plan some parking options. Larger parking lots will often have room to spare, but think about places that might be short on options and use street view to check them out ahead of time. Parking garages often have height restrictions – know yours before you drive. Universal Studios Hollywood had a parking garage with lots of space for RVs in the basement level. Our rental RV was a 26′ C Class motorhome. It just barely fit between the lines of a parking space, but we needed one and a half spaces to fit lengthwise.
- Always have an exit plan. Before you enter a gas station, parking lot, or dead end road, make sure you have an exit plan. Watch for steep (or even slightly steep!) ramps.
- Download your maps for offline use. You may lose cell or GPS signal.
- Check the weather forecast. When I planned our California road trip for December and January, I searched for “weather Los Angeles January” to get an idea of the typical forecast. This helped me narrow down our route because I would have originally driven further north along the coast but read that it could be extremely rainy with flash flooding. It turns out that’s exactly what happened during our trip and we would have needed to change half of our trip if I planned it without looking at the typical weather. Avoid driving in high winds if possible.
- Plan for flexibility. Have a few backup options for overnight stays or gas stations along your route so you don’t panic if your plans need to change.
- Back in to overnight spots for a quick and easy getaway if necessary.
- Take your time. Driving an RV for the first time takes a little more focus and you’ll typically drive slower. Slow down, enjoy the journey, and save on gas consumption.
Our RV just barely fit between the lines by width but it was longer than one average parking space.
What to Pack for Your First RV Road Trip
We flew to Las Vegas with only a small backpack each and picked up our RV upon arrival. We didn’t bring much with us. Along with our RV rental, we added a “convenience package” of sheets, blankets, towels, and basic dishes – cutlery, plates, bowls, cups, and a cutting board. The rental company also had a shelf of new or gently used items that previous renters left. We also did a grocery shopping trip at the beginning of our trip and here are some of our tips for what was helpful and what we would skip next time.
Cleaning and Kitchen
- Rubber gloves for emptying black and grey water tanks
- Paper towels
- Hand and dish soap
- Matches or lighter (although we didn’t end up having a campfire this time)
- Scissors
- Paring knife
- Spatula
- Frying pan/pot
- Broom and dustpan
Entertainment
We didn’t bring much at all. The kids each brought a small stuffed animal, a pair of headphones (though we didn’t end up using them), a small toy finger skateboard, and a notebook and pen.
The #1 favourite evening activity on the trip was playing the game, Uno Flip. Our 6 and 8 year old picked it up quickly and we played as a family almost every night.
Each time we went to a National Park, we asked for the children’s activity booklet – their Junior Ranger program. After they complete some of the activities in the book, they say the pledge with a park ranger and earn a badge.
The kids also bought a few small souvenirs along the way which were good entertainment on the longer drives. Snacks were also very helpful when passing the time.
Where to Find Free or Cheap RV Campsites
- Boondocking or dispersed camping are search terms to use when you’re looking for free places to stay overnight. BLM land is also free.
- Apps with reviews of RV sites (free and paid) such as RV Parky or AllStays.
- State Parks. We stayed at San Onofre State Park and Bolsa Chica State Beach. San Onofre was just a quick overnight stop. Bolsa Chica is right on the beach. Crystal Cove State Park is very popular and was fully booked during our trip. We were also supposed to stay at Leo Carrillo State Park Campground but there was flash flooding (in January) and our reservation was cancelled.
- Rest Stops. Leave space for truckers who don’t have the option of parking at a campground. App recommendation: USA Rest Stops.
Have you ever been on an RV road trip? Is it on your bucket list?
Read about the rest of our first RV road trip from Las Vegas, through Joshua Tree National Park, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, the Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles, and Death Valley National Park.
