Plan Your Destination (And Book a Spot!)
The first element to planning a vacation is figuring out where you want to go! You probably have a long list of places you want to visit in your mind that you’ve been thinking about for years. If that’s not the case, though, a fun way to choose a destination is to just close your eyes and point to something on the map. All across the country, there are high quality campgrounds and attractions that make for awesome RV trip destinations.
Once you pick a spot, it’s important to choose your campground and reserve a spot as soon as possible. The best campgrounds with the most amenities always fill up quickly—often months in advance. By making your plans early, you can reserve the best spot.
Plan Your Route
The route you design to your destination can be the main attraction itself, if you know what you’re doing! Stay away from the fast-moving, straight path interstates and try to find more local highways and backroads. Of course, if you’re trying to optimize the amount of time you can spend kicked back in a deck chair with a cool beverage and sunglasses, you can always choose the most direct route and get there in a hurry.
Budget Your Trip
There are many things to account for when budgeting for a summer vacation. You’ll need fuel for your tow vehicle or motorhome, propane, food, camp fees, utilities, extra supplies, money for souvenirs and entertainment, and anything else you want to add. How you make your budget will depend on your lifestyle and how you like to travel. Make sure you account for as many variables as possible, and always have emergency funds should any accidents arise.
Create an Itinerary
If you want to pack as many sights and destinations into your trip as possible, you’ll want to make an itinerary. Note check in and check out times for any campgrounds you may be staying at, and mark the hours of operation for any attractions you hope to visit. Make sure to leave yourself breathing room so that if you decide you need another day in one location, you won’t ruin your entire trip. After all, a vacation should be leisurely and relaxing!
Make Your Packing List
Making a packing list is critical for a successful RV trip. Many RVers choose to develop a packing list of things needed trip after trip so that they don’t have to try to remember things from scratch every time. A spreadsheet can help you keep track of this and it will also give you space to write notes on what you needed or didn’t need each trip. In addition to your clothes, bedding, kitchen supplies, recreation supplies, and all of the other things you need, make sure to pay special attention to packing your emergency supplies and safety equipment as you’ll want to be able to deal with injuries and emergencies as quickly as possible when you’re out on the road.
Prepare Your RV
The last element to preparing for a summer vacation is preparing your RV. If your RV has been stored over the offseason, make sure to de-winterize it and air it out for the upcoming trip. Perform a thorough inspection so that you can take care of any repairs long before you leave. Make sure to refill the propane, fuel the generator, test all of the appliances, and make sure everything is in good working order. Finally, pack everything up according to your packing list, grab the dog, load the kids, and hit the road!
Have any questions or concerns about your RV? Stop By RVs Northwest. We proudly serve Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Lewiston, Idaho, and we can help get you equipped for a trip you’ll remember forever!
This information is for educational purposes. VIARV shall not be responsible nor retain liability for RVer’s use of the provided information. Prior to making any RV service decision, you are advised to consult with an RV professional.
Comments