Anyone who has ever been on a Rving with kids has had their share of trying moments. From the moment your kids ask “Are we there yet?” to the moment they throw a fit in the parking lot of the grocery store, Rving can be downright exhausting. But done right, RV travel as a family is an ideal way to spend quality time together, be outdoor, experience many new places and create lasting memories. Below are a few tips that will help the RV trips for beginners.
Find The Right RV
With the growing list of RVs and the different categories, choosing the right RV can be daunting. One too big (class A) will require a lot of planning when choosing your camping destinations. One too small (mini campers) will feel claustrophobic and not provide enough space for storage. Depending on the situation and your family needs i.e. number of kids, or number of toys, you will need a different size RV. Luckily we have already provided an article here, that can help you with that decision, and also outline why we chose the Class B as our preferred RV.
Plan As a Family
RV trips are a great way to show your kids the world and have some great family memories. One of the best parts of an RV trip is planning where you’ll go, the things you’ll see, and the places you’ll stay. Don’t forget to involve the kids in this step since it’ll add to the excitement! From there you would need to plan rest stops so that the kids can expend a little energy and shake off the numbness in their bums. It also helps you reenergize and give you a little break from the monotony of the highway and open roads. Don’t forget to look out for scenic areas, which may be noted along the highway with signs, for some photography that helps memorialize the great adventures.
There are many resources you and your family can use during the planning process for your RV getaway. The best place to start would be the destination’s website. Here you will get the best idea of the activities and attractions that are available in the area and where you can camp. If you are visiting the National or State Parks, their websites will proved a comprehensive list of things to do and information on the Parks. It is best to check back occasionally before the trip to ensure there are no closures due to weather conditions and fires in the area.
For additional information or recommendations of places to go in the area or within the state, you can research blogs or other websites. These sites can give you suggestions on when and where to go and provide insight that you may have never even considered. A blog such as 21 Unforgettable RV Camp Spots in California by Camper Report can be a great tool in planning your family’s unforgetable RV adventure.
Shorter Travel Days
While the thought of a road trip and cruising down the open road towards your next adventure can be thrilling, road trips can be tough for little passengers. Long travel days can be exhausting, uncomfortable and boring for the family but also dangerous for the driver. Sometimes it is best to break down the trip into multiple travel days instead of going to the final destination in one go to keep spirits high and enthusiasm going about the upcoming trip. Keep travel days on the shorter side to ensures that everyone is well-rested and aids in overall enjoyment since it will feel like multiple vacations. Another added bonus is you get to explore more towns and cities along the way to the final destination that you probably would’ve passed up if you kept on driving. Keep travel at 3-4 hours a day for younger children.
If it takes you multiple stops to reach your final destinations, apps such as iOverlander and Boondocking are great resources for finding places to call home for the night. Most Walmarts, Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas allow RVers to park overnight. Did you know Truck stop such as Love’s, Flying J, Pilot and TA allow for overnight stays for RV? Another great way to find places to camp is to pay for a membership such as Harvest Host or Boondockers Welcome. For a small annual fee, you can have access to thousands of wineries, golf courses, beer gardens and parking lots throughout the country for overnight stay. Just remember to be courteous and keep your area clean when you stay at any of these locations so that they continue to welcome RVs back.
Sound Machine
Something that we didn’t have initially when we started that we can now not live without is a portable sound machine. Depending on where you decide to hunker down for a night’s rest or an afternoon nap, you could be rudely awakened to the sound of a jackhammer in the city, wolves howling in the wilderness, or the inconsiderate RV neighbor using his noisy gas-powered generator late in the evening. You can drown it all out with the sound of white noise, or a peacefully flowing stream. A good night’s rest will provide you the energy to enjoy your fun-filled day. The following are the two we use; Marpac Dohm and Yogasleep Hushh.
Indoor Entertainment
The beauty with Rv camping is when Mother Nature is having a fit, you can take the fun inside. But if you don’t have the right stuff inside, boredom can set in quickly and restlessness may occur. Some of our favorite indoor entertainment include board games, puzzles, movies and games on the IPad, and arts and crafts.
Outdoor Playspace
When you are enjoying Mother Nature, and she decides to play nice, it is a beautiful thing. Sometimes it is nice to have a dedicated area so that the kids can hang out and take a break from the sun and not have to go inside. For these times we love to use our Clam Quick Set Pavillion. It provides shade from the sun, protection from the wind, and also from the pesky bugs. In conjunction with the Clam pop up shelter, we use this RV Mat.
Keep Snacks and Finger Foods Handy
When you are traveling with kids, it is important to have plenty of snacks and finger foods on hand. This will help keep them happy and occupied, and will also help to avoid any meltdowns. Some of our favorite snacks for kids include apples, oranges, grapes, carrots, celery, cheese sticks, yogurt, and crackers.
When we first started Rving with our kids, it was definitely an exhausting and trying experience. The more trips we went on, the more we learned what was helpful and what to avoid when it comes to traveling with our kids. To optimize your experience of RVing with kids, you want to pick the right RV for your family’s needs. We prefer the smaller, more agile class B for our little family. With the smaller floor plan, we have to remember that organization is key which will help prevent the small are from being cluttered. Before your trip, you want to include the kids in planning, so everyone has something to look forward to and create excitement. Also, with a bit of extra research, you can pick the best site at the campground that the whole family can enjoy. During your planning, try to keep in mind shorter travel days to keep the energy level up and prevent a meltdown. Having healthy snacks on hand will also help avoid the meltdowns. Plan to have indoor entertainment as well as an outdoor play space to allow for a change in scenery and ways to keep each person occupied. Rest is also very crucial for the overall enjoyment of the trip so remember to pack a sound machine to block out all the unwanted noise.
We hope these tips we’ve learned along the way while traveling with our kids will help you enjoy your time RVing with your kids and create memories for a lifetime. Safe travels!
