Survive the Drive: 12 RV Driving Tips for Your Road Trip
Full-time RVers spend a huge chunk of their time driving. We’ve done a lot of driving during our year of full-time RVing, and we can attest to this. When you spend so much time on the road, you want to survive the drive and maybe even thrive.
So, we’re bringing you 12 tips on how to survive HOURS of RV driving:
Fill up the gas tank
If our 5th wheel is unattached to the truck, we always try to fill the gas tank up. It’s very convenient because it’s almost impossible to back out of a gas station with a 40-foot rig. I had a police officer help me back out the last time I filled up at a regular gas station. You can also fill up at a truck stop if you have your rig attached. They’re big enough for an RV of any kind.
Prep the night before you leave
Preparation always takes much longer than you anticipate. We always prepare the night before our trips. That way, we only need to hook up the RV before driving off in the morning.
Enjoy the ride
The journey is the destination. We’re constantly in a rush to get to our destination, and we hardly take time to appreciate the journey. If you’re too hellbent on getting to your location, you’ll miss half the fun. You spend a lot of time driving. So, if you see a detour, take it. If you see a funky restaurant in a tiny town with a population of seven, go eat there.
We took a quick detour to Christmas Valley, Oregon. The town even has Christmas-themed street names!
Don’t be in a rush
If you’re constantly in a rush, you won’t enjoy life. The purpose of full-time RV living is to experience and enjoy your life. You don’t need to rush to your next stop; be patient.
Pack light
When RVing full time, you don’t need to be a fashionista, as the kids say. Be practical and avoid packing more than you need. Carry clothes that won’t require ironing to avoid wearing wrinkled clothing.
This advice was proudly brought to you by my wonderful parents.
Pace yourself
Don’t try to travel too far in one day. I know you want to reach your destination faster so you can enjoy it. We’ve fallen for that trap once; we drove for 16 hours, and it was painful! Don’t do that to yourself. If necessary, make a driving schedule so you’ll know when it’s time to take a break.
Prioritize your rest
If you’re going to drive all day, or even for a few hours, you need to sleep at reasonable hours. If you drive exhausted, you risk your life! Many people try to push through the exhaustion, and that’s not safe for anyone. You’re pulling an entire house with your car. So, you have a place to sleep when you feel tired. It doesn’t matter if you sleep on the side of the road; no drive is worth your life or the lives of others.
Find places that offer overnight stays during long drives
When planning a long trip, we always look for spots we can visit during travel days. The best stops we’ve found when we needed short overnight stays were Harvest Hosts.
We found a fantastic winery and food cart at one of our stops. It’s been the best way to meet people and make new friends.
Rachel (pictured) runs Olsen Run Winery with her father.
Mind your diet
There are many ways to stay alert during your drives, and one of those is being careful what you eat. You’ll want to avoid sugar because you’ll feel great for 5 seconds and then crash. Try snacking on nuts and seeds because they’ll give you energy without making you sluggish on your drive. Leila is a huge fan of carrots and red pepper hummus because they have the same effect.
Communicate with your fellow travelers
I usually drive with Leila and Kalin in the truck. Other times we have our adorable grandchildren with us. We usually converse during the drives. Sometimes I listen to an audiobook or podcast. But I can’t do both. So, I’ve had to learn to communicate my driving needs better.
Download driving entertainment before you travel
Often, we drive through areas without cell service, meaning we can’t listen to YouTube or audiobooks online. We now download our audiobooks so we can listen offline while driving. Even Netflix and YouTube have the option to download content and listen offline.
Invest in offline maps
An offline map is another essential when driving. We use The Dyrt app, which has offline maps. It’s also great for spotting nearby campsites. So, download the app to avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with no means of navigation.
As always, we look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you.
Check out our YouTube video below for more RV driving tips:
