RV camping - Pitstops for Kids

RV vacation tips for the summer of 2021

May 13, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

Pit Stops for Kids is, at its roots, a resource for families who love to hit the road. We’ve evolved over the last decade to include destinations and vacations across the world, but during these uncertain times, we invite you to join us in returning to what we know best! For the summer of 2020, a road trip or camping trip might be the best vacation for your family. And we’re here to help you plan it safely.

As states slowly open up again to domestic travel, the challenge remains for families to be able to explore while social distancing. One ideal way to do this is with a camper van or RV vacation. Why? You and your family can social distance using your own:

dining area
bathrooms
sleeping quarters

You only patronize local restaurants and hotels when and where you feel it’s safe to do so. Get our RV camping tips here.

Tips for choosing where to go on a road trip or RV vacation:

Even if you can ensure self-containment within your RV or camper van for meals, bathrooms, and sleeping, you’ll want to vacation, right? This means picking a destination that’s open for tourism. Check national state park closure lists, but in the early planning stage, don’t be afraid to make campground reservations. Recreation.gov will cancel and refund you in the event that the campground is not yet open in time for your trip.

If you don’t want to camp at a designated campground, consider dispersed camping. Any BLM and national forest service land is free to camp on; pick up a local BLM map and call the ranger station for ideas. Remember that you’ll be off-the-grid while dispersed camping, so you’ll need to be self-reliant for power and heat, and will need to follow Leave No Trace principles.

A third option is HipCamp, which pairs RV campers and road trippers with private land available for camping. It’s like AirbnB for camping, and is a great way to socially distance while enjoying a new location. Check out our dispersed camping and HipCamp tips.

Once you have campground reservations or have decided on your dispersed camping option, do some research on your intended destination in general: are locals welcoming tourism to the area? Many are, but some regions are wary. Will local restaurants be open for take-out or delivery? Are local attractions, such as museums or parks, open? If not, think of alternative plans: are hiking trails in the area? Can you access greenways or bike paths?

We have successfully enjoyed a private campground experience, a HipCamp experience, and a Rec.gov campground experience since this spring, all while maintaining distance from others and utilizing our own kitchen areas, sleeping areas, and bathrooms in our camper van.

But what if you don’t own an RV or camper van?

You can rent one! RVshare is the first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. Families can rent anything from a travel trailer to a luxury motorhome (and if you own an RV, RVShare is a great way to make some vacation cash while you’re staying at home). RVShare offers:

100,000 listings across the US
a worry-free rental guarantee
Rentals available in all 50 states
A safe and secure booking/payment platform
Instant bookable
24/7 Emergency roadside assistance on every booking
Pet-friendly options
Delivery and stationary options
Comprehensive Nationwide Protection: RVshare Rental Insurance covers both domestic and international renters and provides collision and comprehensive coverage

The average cost is $150/night and anyone with a valid driver’s license can drive. All drivers must be at least 25 years of age. By choosing an RV vacation this summer, you’ll save yourself the heartache of canceled airfare and have more control over your family trip during this time of uncertainty. Enjoy the outdoors!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by RVShare. All opinions remain my own.

Pros and cons of private campgrounds: alternatives to state and national parks

May 4, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

At Pit Stops for Kids, we love state parks and national parks for overnight camping and family outdoor adventure. But those campgrounds fill up fast during the peak summer season, and sometimes, they’re not ideal for RV camping families. If you need last-minute reservations or camping sites for larger RVs, check out the following private family campground resorts, all of which have locations across the U.S.

Tip: The following campgrounds fill up fast during the peak summer season, and sometimes, they’re not ideal for RV camping families. If you need last-minute reservations or camping sites for larger RVs, make sure you have all the necessary camping essentials, and check out the following private family campground resorts, all of which have locations across the U.S.

Thousand Trails:

Thousand Trails is unique in that it’s a club: for one annual membership, families can camp in unlimited family campgrounds across America. There are several levels of membership, and families who frequently RV camp in specific regions (what Thousand Trails calls ‘zones’) of the country report that they save planning time and quite a bit of money. Like most private family campgrounds, Thousand Trails offers more than just campsites: families have access to camp stores, laundry facilities, pools, and recreation like putt-putt golf or go-karts, depending on the resort. Most Thousand Trails properties are near tourist destinations, and there’s a wide variety especially around the Great Lakes region and coastal California.

Sun RV Resorts:

Like Thousand Trails, Sun RV Resorts are located across the U.S. with a high concentration in the midwest. Properties range from Wisconsin to Florida, and most everywhere in-between. With an emphasis on longer stays, some Sun RV Resorts even boast sports leagues to join. If you’re not an RV camper, there are a few properties with cabins to rent for the night or the week. Sun RV Resorts has some of the most competitive pricing for large, pull-through RV slots.

KOA Kampgrounds of America:

KOA has had it’s ups and downs in our personal experience: we’ve had great stays and lousy stays. What makes all the difference? The property. Since KOAs are individually owned, it’s hard to recommend the brand across the board: we recommend checking individual campground listings on family travel review sites like Trekaroo. We’ve personally had a great time renting KOA’s Kamping Kabins (ignore the annoying purposeful misspelling, if you will). With comfortable beds, tables, heaters, and electricity, these cabins are a good alternative to RV camping or even a motel room. Most KOAs have pools and other on-site recreation to entertain kids, and while many area near tourist attractions, and equal number are convenient to major freeways, making them good road trip pit stops.

Photo credit: Grand Canyon NPS

Renting vs buying an RV: Which is right for you?

November 1, 2020 By Amy Hagstrom

So many people are taking to the roadways to travel right now. With COVID cases rising not just in the U.S. but throughout the world, many people don’t want to hop on planes like they once did. Thinking of buying an RV? Read this first!

The safety of a long car drive is probably pretty compelling if you don’t want to be in crowded places with other people, and particularly on a plane or even in a hotel. You might then think you’re going to drive anyway; why not do so in an RV?

Traveling in an RV is the perfect socially distancing means of traveling with your family.

If you’ve never traveled by RV before, should you rent or should you buy? Even if you have traveled by RV before, but you think you might like to do it again more in the future, is renting or buying better?

Rent First If You’ve Never Traveled by RV

If you’ve never been in an RV, the best advice is to rent one first.

Traveling by RV can be something that people love. Once they do it, they’re hooked, and they don’t envision every doing it differently.

At the same time, there are people who romanticize the idea of RV travel, and then when they do it, it doesn’t mean their expectations.

You certainly don’t want to have started the process of buying an RV just to discover you don’t like it.

There’s a lot of work that goes into traveling by RV, which many people underestimate.

If you haven’t traveled by an RV before, luckily, there are rental sites that operate similarly to Airbnb that make it easy to try it out. Go for a short trip initially, because again, there are likely to be many unexpected things that come up that you may or may not like.

Along with generally getting a feel for it, specific benefits of renting an RV before buying include:

You can figure out the configuration you like best. For example, some people like having a kitchen that faces the door, while other people want their sofa facing the door.
You get to drive an RV and understand more about how they handle.
You can start to get a hands-on understanding of how RVs work.

How Much Does it Cost to Rent an RV?

Of course renting is not an investment the way buying an RV is, but if you already know that you like traveling this way and you’re regularly renting, the costs can add up quickly.

An RV rental price can depend on a lot of factors but is usually on par with staying in a moderately-priced hotel.

For example, it can be $100 up to several hundred dollars a night.

There might also be a lot of extras added on, depending on where you rent from. Extra costs may include extra mile surcharges, and of course you have to pay for gas.

Maintenance

If you buy an RV, you have to think about the initial costs of making any big purchase.

Then, you need to factor in everything else that goes with ownership, such as maintenance costs.

If You Buy, You Can Rent It Out

In contrast to some of the downsides of buying an RV, there are pros. If you buy an RV, it might be a lucrative investment. Just like you could be considering renting, many other people are as well. When you’re not using your RV, you can rent it out and make some money that will help cover the costs of ownership.

What to Know About Renting an RV

If you do decide to rent an RV, what should you know in general?

First, renting an RV can be a bit intimidating for a first-timer, so take as many of the unknowns out of it as you can.

For example, plan your route, budget, and activities you’re interested in along the way.

Make sure you’re familiar with the types of available RVs so that you pick one that’s going to suit your needs. You need to think about space, and just because you see an RV listing that says it will sleep six, for example, it doesn’t mean this will be comfortable.

You also need to learn more about the types of campgrounds available and what hookups and amenities they have.

Overall, if you have no or very limited RV experience, the best recommendation is probably to give yourself at least a few chances to get to know what it’s like with a rental.

Achieve your RV-ownership dreams with information from The Home Loan Expert
Questions to ask before buying travel insurance
How to finance an RV

Tips for getting your RV summer-ready

May 4, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Summer has arrived, and while you might be ready for a family camping trip, or road trip, can the same be said about your RV? If your Class C camper or trailer is still winterized, it’s time to get it summer-ready. You’ll want to begin your preparations a week or more before your first camping trip of the season, to ensure you have time to replace any necessary parts and pack for your trip.

Getting your RV summer-ready:

Begin with a basic spring or summer maintenance check, which will ensure your safety while enjoying your RV. Start by checking your batteries and smoke detectors, and checking for any rips or tears in seams. Next, check for leaks to your water system. Run fresh water through the whole system, checking valves, and if desired, sanitize your water pump system with a bleach-water solution after filling your fresh water holding tank with water. Here’s how: turn the water pump on and run water through all hot and cold faucets until you smell the bleach (1/4 cup for every 15 gallons your tank holds). Close the faucets and let sit for twelve hours. Drain and re-fill the tank with potable water, running the water until you no longer smell any bleach.

Check all fluid levels next, then test your hydraulics (if you have them), kitchen appliances, and oil levels. You don’t want any surprises after you’ve left the comforts of home and the conveniences of retail stores.

The day of your camping trip, it’s time to pack up your RV, taking care to secure all loose items. It can be a good idea to place a pad or cushion on the floor of the RV in case items fall (you’ll probably pack a few to sleep on anyway).

Take a walk around your RV, making sure you’ve secured everything on the outside, too, such as bikes and scooters, lawn chairs, or awnings. Check antennas and satellite dishes, and lock all external doors (closing internal doors, too). Empty your black and gray water tanks, and disconnect any cables or cords connected to your RV.

Once you’ve secured everything for travel, it’s time for final safety checks to your headlamps, trailer brakes, tires, and mirrors. It will be hard enough backing into narrow campsites without worrying about your mirror placements!

Lastly, stock your RV with gear you’ll use all summer (the stuff that stays in your RV). These items include travel-friendly magnetic board games, flashlights and lanterns for outdoors (don’t forget batteries), pantry staples like flour, sugar, coffee and spices, and dishware (consider silicone cups, tumblers and wine glasses that won’t crash to the floor while driving…we love silipint’s bright designs.

Upon arrival at the campground:

When you arrive at your campground, it’s a good idea to park near the entry booth (taking care not to block others) and first check out your campsite on foot. This way, you can double check that the needed amenities are ready to use, including any hook-ups or water, and you can make a plan for approaching the site in the RV (backing up or driving through).

Check for any low-hanging branches or rocks in the way, then be sure to stabilize your RV once you’re settled in your spot. At many campgrounds, a campground attendant or camp host is happy to assist with this process if the campground is not busy. Connect your water and power, ensuring they are in working order, then switch your refrigerator from portable power to plugged in power. Set up your campsite with any chairs or awnings, and take a stroll around the campground to meet your neighbors.
The small space afforded by most RVs can make camping challenging, especially if you like to camp in comfort, but it’s possible to save space while still bringing (most of) what you want. Focus on elevated space saving measures: hang items from magnets or hooks, install hanging trash receptacles and organizers, and add dividers or lightweight shelving to your top cabinets.

Dividing storage areas into smaller spaces can help you stay organized and find gear faster; divide bigger cabinets and shelves with office file folder baskets, tension curtain rods, or simple wooden slats.

Keep as much bigger gear outdoors as possible, including your grill, bikes, chairs, and larger kitchen items. Enjoy the great outdoors while keeping your RV neat and organized.

Source: Fix.com Blog

Renting an RV: Tips for RV summer travel

July 5, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

As a parent, I understand it can be appealing to rent an RV for a family road trip. Your schedule is your own (and so is your bathroom!), and you’re not confined to airports, flight delays, or even hotel reservations. On a whim, you can detour to visit something new, or delay a day to remain somewhere special. Before you take the plunge and rent an RV for a family road trip, however, read the following tips gleaned from hard-earned experience.

Weigh the costs to have an affordable RV experience:

Consider what is typical for you while on vacation: do you seek a relaxed experience? Are you content exploring a single destination for longer stretches of time, and do you want the flexibility of making your own meals? Would you rather have your own space (which is mobile!) than nightly hotel rooms that are less flexible? The amount of vacation money you’ll save by renting an RV depends on your road trip style.

Ways to save money with an RV:

Stay in one place longer to save on fuel.
Plan to cook in your RV or over a campfire.
RV reasonably close to home.
Skip hotel rooms (more on this below).

If, for example, you normally spend a decent chunk of your vacation budget on hotel rooms, the $30-$45 per night on an RV camping space will be a deal. Of course, if you’re accustomed to renting tent sites, you’ll need to budget for the upgrade necessary for an RV space. As a beginning guide, use this Vacation Value Generator from Go RVing to directly compare vacation prices.

Embrace the RV vacation lifestyle during your road trip:

Repeat after me: you’re not in a hurry. You’re not in a hurry. You’re not in a hurry… The beauty of RV vacations is the slower pace. Plan a route that takes you along scenic byways and off the interstate. Create an itinerary that ensures less mileage and more pit stops. In most cases, it’s more affordable to rent and return your RV at the same city. In other words, travel in a loop instead of in Point A to Point B style.

Consider driving or flying to your destination, then renting an RV:

This combination seemed perfect for us. We knew we wanted to fly from our hometown to our primary destination (in this case, Chicago). From there, we wanted to take it slow, so we planned an RV road trip around the Great Lakes. We didn’t need to rent a car, and skipped all hotel and dining costs while in the region. After our Great Lakes tour, it made since for us to fly to our next destination. The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and create the transportation combination that works for your family.

Eat on the road so you don’t feel deprived of restaurant dining:

If the thought of preparing all meals while RVing doesn’t appeal, try these ‘tricks’ to feel less deprived of restaurant food:

stop at farmer’s markets and roadside stands en route
eat a big breakfast out (the cheapest meal of the day) and skip lunch entirely
let the kids cook: in an RV, it’s somehow fun to plan and create meals
cook over a campfire (we love this Guide to Campfire Cooking)

Get more tips on RV rental affordability at GoRVing.com. As I disclose whenever applicable, this post was written in partnership with Go RVing. I found the information on GoRVing.com to be useful for planning an RV trip, and hope you will, too.

Photo credit: Trekaroo/mcfam

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How to prepare meals in a camper van

January 31, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

When your family hits the road in a camper van, you want your kids to be well nourished throughout your journey. After all, well-fed kids are generally happy kids, which can make your road trip more enjoyable. However, a small campervan kitchen might pose a challenge and leave you scrambling for diverse and delicious meal options that your youngsters can enjoy. Once you’ve devised your road trip and secured your camper van rental, take time to meal plan before you hit the open road.

Know What You’re Working With

Before your trip, familiarize yourself with the campervan kitchen. Typically, you’ll have a refrigerator, a couple of burners, and a small grill. So, while real estate might be small, you’ll have enough basic tools to throw together a variety of meals for your hungry family.

Focus on One-Pot Meals

You don’t have to rely on hot dogs every night—even if your kids might love that—when you’re road tripping in a campervan. However, you do need to get creative to provide a well-rounded meal that doesn’t require too many pots and pans. One-skillet meals are a smart solution when you’re cooking in a campervan. For breakfast, brown sausage in a skillet, pour eggs over the cooked sausage, and top with cheese. You’ll have a hearty breakfast skillet, which you can serve on its own or wrap in a tortilla to make breakfast burritos. Diced potatoes, veggies, and kielbasa or turkey sausage is another mouthwatering meal that requires just one skillet.

Get Grilling

If your campervan includes a small grill, take advantage of this versatile appliance. Hot dogs and hamburgers are, of course, a simple and kid-friendly option when you’re exploring the open road, but don’t limit yourself to these classics. Tortillas can double as pizza crust—just top them with sauce and your kids’ favorite toppings for a simple and crowd-pleasing dish. Enjoy a Mexican-inspired night with bean and cheese quesadillas cooked on the grill. Grill packets are also convenient when you’re on the road, and they minimize messes. Chopped veggies and potatoes, along with an easy-to-grill meat, wrapped in aluminum foil requires little effort and delivers a hearty meal every time.

Minimize Cooking But Maximize Meals

Don’t spend too much time on your journey in the campervan kitchen. Instead, focus on ways to cook in bulk for your family and use up every last ingredient to create a diverse menu that pleases both kids and adults. For example, chicken breasts have a variety of uses, so cook several pounds of breasts at once. You can boil the chicken and shred it or fire up the campervan grill. Make chicken salad for sandwiches, add shredded chicken to tortillas for tacos or quesadillas, or toss some barbecue sauce on it and add it to a bun. This way, you’ll devise several convenient meals in one cooking session, which leaves you more time to enjoy your adventure.

Tip: Looking to have a camper van adventure outside of the states? Check out RV hire Australia for great options.

Even though the quarters are tight and the resources limited, cooking in a campervan doesn’t have to be frustrating. You can keep your family well fed during your getaway with thoughtful meal planning, simple recipes, and versatile ingredients.

Image BY studio tdes via flickr.com under a Creative Commons License CC BY 2.0