According to estimates by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), there are as many as 30 million RV enthusiasts, including RV renters, nationwide. When you’re camping at an RV park with your own recreational vehicle, you have all the comforts of a home on wheels. However, RV camping can be tricky if you’re a first-time traveler, no matter how many campgrounds you’ve been to. An RV isn’t exactly like a tent or a camper that you haul behind a truck, after all. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you newer RV campers out when you’re visiting any RV parks for the very first time:
Learn About Different Campgrounds – Before you pack up and head out to the first state park you see, you should learn about all the different places that you can go RV camping. RV parks are the most popular, but there are a lot of options you might have never considered before. A quick Google search can help you determine where the most popular spots are. In addition, it never hurts to ask friends and family members if they have a favorite RV camping spot.
Consider Franchise RV Parks/Campgrounds – Many times RV park or campground locations that belong to a franchise organization set higher standards for cleanliness, accommodations and amenities. Plus many franchise parks have multiple locations with different camping options and facilities to choose from.
Prepare For Communication – A set of handheld two-way radios can be extremely helpful during any camping adventures that may occur outside of your RV. In fact these radios may even be helpful when you’re trying to park your RV at a campground for the first time. If nothing else, it certainly beats checking for hand-signals, having to shout back and forth, or trying to park without any assistance at all.
There are a lot of benefits to having an RV when you go camping, but any first-time RV traveler should take a little bit of extra time to prepare using the tips listed above. RV camping shouldn’t be treated like tent camping — it’s a different experience entirely! But once you get the hang of it, you may just be a convert for life.