Tips for First Time RVers

Going on your first RV trip is an exciting experience, but there’s a lot to keep track of. You’ll need to equip the basic utilities in your RV, plan your meals, pack your own clothing and gear, and plan your route. Juggling all of these things at once can be an overwhelming experience if you don’t set yourself up for success by preparing correctly.

We here at Camp Site RV prepared this short guide to offer our best advice to those who are just starting out in the world of RV camping. Read on to learn more about packing and preparing for camping, and stop by our dealership and service center in Cresco, Iowa. We proudly serve the areas of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Rochester, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Planning

It’s easy to leave planning to the last minute and then to find yourself unprepared when your trip rolls around. It’s always best to start planning for your trip as far out as possible. Early on, you’ll want to start nailing down your itinerary and destinations. Many RV parks fill up with reservations months in advance. The more popular the RV park, the earlier you’ll want to make your reservations.

It’s also helpful to plan your route early on. While many people just leave this step to the GPS, it can be fun to plan this part yourself because you can direct your path through whatever attractions and landmarks you want to see. For example, if you’re traveling with kids, you can plan on taking a detour to a national park or theme park to keep them interested. Or, if you’d rather just get to the camping, find a path that’s as fast as possible.

Packing

Smart planners will start to build their packing list early on so that they are less likely to forget something important. If you’re buying a new RV, as opposed to renting one, you might want to start building a master packing list. A list like this contains all the items you consistently find yourself needing while on the road. This list will evolve over time, and each trip you’ll need to bring things that are specific to the trip. But having a master packing list is a good way to ensure that you’re packing as efficiently as possible and that you don’t leave behind obvious stuff.

Organizing

It’s always a good idea to open up your RV a week or two ahead of your trip to make sure it’s aired out and in good shape. This is especially true if your RV has been locked up for the winter. Once you open your RV, you can start with some early packing and organizing. At this point, you can start going through your RV to make sure you have all the kitchen supplies, bedding, and utility equipment you need for your trip.

It’s helpful to start developing systems for everything you do in the RV, and then writing down that system. If you have to learn how to flush the grey and black water tanks, write down the exact process. That way, when you inevitably have to do this again in the future, you can look at your notes about the best method for completing the task.

Finding Time to Relax

Of course, an RV trip is about recreation. If you don’t build time into your schedule to actually have fun, what’s the point of the trip? While it’s important to make sure you plan your trip correctly, pack efficiently, and keep things organized, those things exist to make the leisure time more plentiful and more fun. If you love to exercise, make sure you plan some time in your schedule to exercise. If you prefer to sit down with a glass of wine at the end of the day, make sure you bring the things you need to do so.

Camping in your RV is often a fun and rewarding experience, and it’s more likely to be so if you plan and prepare ahead of time. Try out these tips for yourself before your next RV vacation. If you’re in the market for your first RV, or need parts and services for your current one, stop by Camp Site RV in Cresco, Iowa. Our knowledgeable team of RVing experts proudly serves the areas of Cresco and Cedar Falls, Iowa, Rochester, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.