It will only take a little bit of planning to insure a happy and fun RV vacation that will remain with you in the form of memories and photos for years. Your planning will help you avoid the classic pitfalls of an RV vacation and it can be the best experience possible.
Following are 5 tips to make sure that ‘getting there’ really is the fun part.
To paraphrase T.S. Eliot – “The Journey, not the arrival is what matters.”
Plan Your Route
By using a tool like MapQuest, you can plan your route and estimate how long it will take you to get to your destination. You can figure in your stops along the way to see the sights. This will also save you from getting worn out and you’ll also be able to calculate your fuel costs.
Save Gas Money
These money-saving tips will help you to refuel for less:
• You may want to look into obtaining a FREE app called, “Gas Buddy.” Gas Buddy will keep you abreast of the cheapest gas wherever you are and can also tell you the cost of gas along your route.
• If you don’t have a smart phone or other means of downloading and using the Gas Buddy app, look for exits where there are multiple gas stations which create an atmosphere of competition as opposed to an exit with only one station.
• Plan your luggage like anything else and keep it as light as possible. This will make your vehicle lighter and help with fuel economy.
• If you’re prone to getting lost easily, invest in a GPS device before your trip to avoid wasting fuel on unnecessary detours.
• If you don’t have a GPS device, you can download another FREE app called “WAZE.” WAZE is a real-time traffic app that not only shows you your route, but alerts you to traffic conditions, hazards on the road, accidents, police speed traps, etc. The people that use WAZE are called Wazers and as they are driving, they report on conditions, etc which is fed to you and others in real time via the app. A necessary tool for travelers for sure.
• Use your cruise control and obey speed limits. This can save you fuel.
Make Sure Your RV Is Roadworthy
Make sure that your RV is in good repair before embarking on a trip. There are some maintenance checks you can perform yourself, but you should also take your RV to a trustworthy mechanic for a once-over, especially if it’s been sometime since your check. Performing basic maintenance will not only help you avoid a road trip disaster, but little things like insuring your tires are properly inflated will help the handling characteristics and will help you save money on fuel.
Keep Everyone Happy
A road trip in an RV can be a ton of fun, but like a car trip, it can also become a bore at certain times when the scenery may not be the best, etc. Kids can get bored quickly, so try to plan for the kids as well as adults. Stop often where there is something for all to enjoy. Bring along plenty of books, CD’s and DVD’s and have some car games for a mix is also good. This keeps everyone happy and in a great mood and makes for a more pleasant trip.
Eat Healthy
Unfortunately, it’s easy to pig out on junk food while you’re on the road. Instead, think about preparing your own food and bring it along in your refrigerator. If you’re driving long distances, healthy snacks like mixed nuts and fruit such as apples and oranges will give you a bit of energy as you drive. One of the beauties of traveling in an RV is that you can plan your meals just as if you were home. All you have to do is pull over at a rest stop and prepare your meals.
Planning an awesome road trip does not need to be a headache. With these simple tips, your family can have memories that last a lifetime.
