It still seems surreal that last summer we traveled cross country for 35 days in a rented RV. It was an experience of a lifetime! The fact that we still loved each other after is also worth noting. We are blessed, I know not many people could travel with three generations in a 32 foot RV for that long and come away unscathed. In total the adventure was just over 7,400 miles and we traveled through 28 states and visited 17 national parks.
The RV we rented was 32′ and some where around a 2006.
When we first started to plan we debated on renting an RV or driving our car and staying at hotels. For this type of trip and especially during COVID, the RV was the best way to travel. We had our own kitchen which definitely encouraged us to eat healthier. Having our own bathroom and sleeping space was also great.
I’ve been asked, “What would you do differently?” Really, I wouldn’t change much. It was a pretty awesome experience. However, as first time RVers, there were some surprises and things I wish I knew before the adventure began. We learned a lot on the road and through trial and error. I’ll share my wisdom with you (you’re welcome).
Damn, That’s Big. Learn How to Drive It
An RV is likely larger than your everyday commuter car. Take the time to learn how to drive it. You are probably thinking, “Well duh, of course.” But I mean really LEARN how to drive the rig.
Take it to parking lots and gas stations. Practice turning, backing up and pulling away from gas pumps without embarrassing yourself. Our rig was 32’ long and learning how to turn took practice. It needs much more room than you think to turn. And ideally you don’t want to have to go reverse, especially at a busy gas station. So plan ahead when you’re pulling into a congested area.
Get Comfortable with Poop
My least favorite part of the trip was the toilet. Everything about the toilet. The smell inside the cabin, the clogs, having to empty it. So here are some helpful tricks.
- Avoid driving with a full black water tank — also known as a septic tank. It heats up, sloshes around and then the stink fills the cabin. So empty the tank whenever possible. This can be done at truck stops and campgrounds. Most campgrounds will let you pull in and charge you a small fee to dump even if you’re not staying there.
- DON’T USE TOO MUCH PAPER. I felt like a broken record, but it still wasn’t enough. We had at least a half dozen clogs and ended up having to buy a plumbing snake to clear the lines. So do yourself a favor, just buy one of these gadgets before you leave because chances are you’re going to need it.
- Before you open the black water hatch to let the poo fly, make sure your hose is FULLY connected to the septic tank otherwise it’s quite a mess.
Note: If the lovely couple we met in Idaho happens to be reading this — I once again offer my apologies for spraying our septic juice all over your campsite and outdoor carpet at 9pm on the 4th of July. My repeat apologies, the $50 I made you take and my tears hopefully showed the depth of my embarrassment. I’m grateful for your hospitality in sharing your Independence Day sparklers with my children despite the incident.
Don’t Leave Nana in Oklahoma
Nana turned to Facebook for sympathy.
On our seventh day we camped at a state park in Oklahoma. In the morning we packed up and planned to make a quick stop to empty the septic then drop off the trash – both near the campground exit. My mom, Nana, announced that she was walking to the bathhouse and we should pick her up there, to which my dad and I both replied, “Uh huh.”
Oblivious, we made our two stops and were just about to leave the campground when my daughter came to the cab and said, “It’s quiet. Where is Nana?”
To which I replied, “Huh. She must be napping.” She checked the bedroom then shouted, “She TOLD YOU she was in the bathhouse! You left Nana!”
My dad and I looked at each other, wide eyed, then saw Nana in the mirrors walking toward the RV and looking quite pissed. Thankfully we hadn’t left the campground yet! She was not amused and promised us to take her cell phone and an overnight bag whenever she was out of our immediate view.
So, the lesson is, make sure you have everyone with you before you leave!
And, an aside, skip Oklahoma. It’s flat, slightly depressing, the lake water left a brown tint on our bathing suits, and there really isn’t much to see there.
Watch the Mirrors
I cannot tell you how many times I walked into the mirrors. It hurts. They stick way out, like WAY OUT. I get it, you need to see the back end of the camper because the turning radius stinks. But seriously, it freaking hurts.
Don’t Over Plan
As soon as we agreed to a road trip, I had a pretty pink binder, dividers, graph paper, maps, and highlighters. I even ordered a TripTik from AAA (yes, those are still a thing). You get the picture, I went way overboard. We actually did and saw maybe 75% of what was in the binder.
So here is my advice on planning. Have a plan, but understand it WILL change. Know the general route you’re taking, and the the main attractions you want to see, then be flexible on the rest. Our first day on the road we ended up deciding to cut two states out of the trip, Louisiana and California, so we could be more flexible with our time. No regrets because this allowed us to take our time and see things we totally would have missed.
We took backroads through Kentucky and stumbled on a quaint Amish market that had amazing bread and pastries. In Oklahoma we explored a farmers market and picked up locally grown produce. And on the Tennessee backroads we turned the RV into a freezer pop dispensary for road crews who were out there working over 100 degree temps. All great memories!
Agree on How Long You Want to Drive
When I started planning I knew we had 35 days to travel, and our western most point was Yellowstone.
I used the AAA digital travel map to get an estimate on how long it would take us to get there if we traveled 400 miles each day, on average. The map put a little circle on the route for every 400 miles. I started with that and modified our route to include other places we wanted to see.
I underestimated how many hours it would take to travel 400 miles. Not only is driving an RV more tiring than a car, it doesn’t move as fast either. A few days into the trip we agreed to try and keep our average travel distance to under 350 mile per day. This was roughly 6 hours of driving each day, broken up with stops for sight seeing, gas, groceries, etc.
Have a Navigator, and a Back-up Navigator
Everyone in the vehicle who knows how to spell should learn how to use Google maps. As the only proficient user of digital navigation tools, and the person doing 50% of the driving, it was a challenge that I couldn’t just say, “please find me the next rest stop on this highway,” and have an answer in under 20 exits. My parents would say, “Hey Siri, where is the next rest stop?”. To which Siri would reply, “I’m sorry I can’t help you with that right now,” or “Hold on, looking… still looking”. Thanks for nothing, Siri.
More Resources
There are so many great resources out there to explore before you start your RV adventure. We relied a lot on AAA, Harvest Host, Trip Advisor, and Google Maps for our travels. Click here to check out these and other resources we used on our trip.
I hope these tips and tricks are helpful if you’re planning an RV adventure. Share your photos with us by tagging @AdventureBeyondTheWalls on Instagram and Facebook
