Health + Fitness: Take the Fit Road

Things have changed so much in the way people are RVing. Take physical activity as one example. When James and I started RVing more than a dozen years ago, getting active on RV trips wasn’t too popular. Back then, RVers seemed to be more interested in the “relaxing” part of RVing rather than prioritizing physical activity. It’s what drove us to start our Fit RV channel.

We wanted to encourage a healthier, more active lifestyle than what we were seeing on our travels. I remember how hard it was to get The Fit RV to take off. There was very little interest in such an undertaking at first. We’d practically beg RV rallies and events to let us lead healthy RVing seminars or exercise classes. Even offering these things completely free, we’d still get turned down, often with a laugh and something like, “We tried that before, no one’s interested.”

Boy, are things different today! There are a few reasons I can see for the shift to a more active RV lifestyle. For one, active communities—like bicyclists, kayakers, and climbers—started buying RVs once they discovered that RVing is a handy way they can do their sport anywhere. It’s why James and I got into RVing ourselves. Having our own rolling bathroom at any endurance event was such a luxury! Back then, we’d often be the only RV overnighting at events’ starting lines. Nowadays, it’s common to see dozens of RVs at endurance events.

But it’s not just the athletes who are giving RVers a more active reputation. It’s also the younger demographic who has taken up the RV lifestyle— digital nomads, full-time families, vanlifers, weekend warriors, etc. Many of these types of RVers got into it for the adventure aspect, where they focus first on what they want to DO, and the decision on where to go is secondary to that.

Finally, I’ve got to give today’s RVing retirees some credit, too. I’m not sure there’s ever been a time when seniors were so in tune with staying fit and aging as well as now. When you compare RVers from a dozen years ago to now, you can especially see it. And when we lead healthy classes at RV events these days, it’s the seniors who pack our sessions. I couldn’t be prouder to see it.

So, there’s been good change and a larger interest in staying fit when RVing. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy making healthy choices and keeping up your activity levels on trips. We’re not perfect beings, after all, and vacation mindset can thwart your otherwise good intentions. There’s a secret to ensuring you’ll have a fit-focused trip. That secret? It all comes down to this one thing: Planning.

That one word right there is everything. Making sure you’ll stay active starts way before the trip even begins—while you’re planning. It’s one of the best habits you can get into; taking the time ahead to build in physical activity, and especially the kind that’s so fun you don’t even realize you’re doing something healthy.

Here are some strategies you can use while trip planning that’ll help you keep the “fit” in your RVing.

Don’t Stay in One Place Too Long

One of your best Fit RVing strategies is to move frequently during your trips. If you are headed out on a monthlong trip, for example, and you stay in the same RV park the entire time, you’ll probably tire of exploring your surroundings. You’re more likely to remain back at the RV and settle into a “homelike” routine.

When you change your surroundings more frequently, there will be new places to explore and novel experiences to hold your interest. As you plan your RV trips, keep in mind how long you really need in one place to keep it feeling like “vacation” versus “home.”

Take Lessons or Sign Up for Guided Experiences

Gear your trip around an active learning experience. You could seek out lessons in various sports (like golf or pickleball) or experiences with an expert guide in things like rock climbing, hiking, paddleboarding, etc. James and I have done guided experiences in whitewater rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, ocean kayaking, and even dance lessons … all of which ended up enriching our trips and leaving us with fond (and, in the case of dancing, slightly comical) memories.

Seek Out Local Group Activities

Instead of a formal guided experience, you can find group bike rides, hikes, or paddles in the areas you’re visiting. For group bicycling, check with any bike shops in the area. Besides good old Google searches, Facebook can be a useful resource for finding group hikes and paddles. You can search through local hiking or paddling groups’ “Events” tabs.

Hanging out with other active people who share your interest is a great way to stay motivated. It also gives you the chance to connect with locals wherever you’re traveling, and I can’t think of any better group to take a hike or ride a bike with than people familiar with the area.

Plan a Trip to an Active Event

Make fitness the entire focus of your trip by heading to an interesting event that could either be competitive or fun-focused. While you could always do a traditional 5K run/walk or cycling tour, you can also find events that involve silly costumes, glowstick night runs/walks, zombie races, and even scavenger hunts. Or—if pickleball, golf, or some other sport is your thing, do a search for a tournament happening somewhere you’d like to visit.

It’s quite simple, really. PLAN a fit-focused RV trip, and then you’ll HAVE a fit-focused trip. It’s great seeing more and more RVers embracing this mindset. With some good planning and some exciting activity-focused adventures on the itinerary, perhaps your next RV excursion will be the best trip you’ve ever taken!

Get Active!

It’s not just me who’s noticed this shift in RVer priorities. RV manufacturers have, too, and it shows in their RV designs. It’s become common to find features built into RVs that cater to more active, outdoorsy types—gear garages, bike racks, off-road rigs, etc.

At an RV show recently, I had to ask the rep what some special hooks in the storage compartment of a travel trailer were for. Turns out it was a ski rack. A ski rack! More proof manufacturers know their customers are evolving, and so their designs continue to evolve along with them.