How to Add More Adventure to Your Next RV Trip
Break Out of Your Camping Routine with These Tips for a More Adventurous Outing
Let’s face it: every once in a while, we need to add a little adventure to our lives. It helps us break out of our routine and gets us excited to go to new places and try new things. An adventure can spark our creativity, allow us to expand our horizons, and send us home with renewed energy and a new-found appreciation for the simple joys of life.
But what actually defines an adventure is unique to every person. For some, it means going off on a globetrotting journey á la Indiana Jones. For others, it can be as simple as pushing our boundaries by trying things that would typically be outside our comfort zone. Finding the adventure that appeals to you is all part of the fun.
For many people, going camping is an adventure in and of itself. But for those of us who have been doing that for a long time, it can sometimes feel a bit too routine. If you’re looking for ways to add a dash of excitement and energy to your next RV outing, we have some suggestions that could help. Just be sure to bring an open mind and a healthy dose of enthusiasm. You may return home feeling more refreshed and energized than before.
These are our tips for adding more adventure to your next RV trip.
Visit Somewhere New
Many RVers have two or three places where they love to camp, so they tend to cycle through those locations throughout the camping season. Those places provide a sense of familiarity and comfort that is tough to top somewhere else. But by branching out to an entirely new destination, you’ll get the opportunity to meet new people and explore a new setting. That alone can be fun and exciting as you discover everything from new restaurants and pubs to nearby hiking trails and other local attractions.
Go Boondocking
For a refreshing change of pace, leave the established campground behind and go boondocking instead. This style of camping takes you completely off the grid, allowing you to camp in remote locations far from anyone else. You’ll enjoy plenty of solitude and seclusion while immersing yourself in nature. Sure, you may have to adapt to not having full hookups or most other amenities, but you’ll also gain a sense of independence that might alter your approach to RVing forever.
And when you’re ready, give overlanding a try.
Try a New Outdoor Activity
Camping and hiking often go hand-in-hand, allowing us to stretch our legs and take in some of the local scenery. But there are a host of other great outdoor activities you can try when traveling in your RV. Road cycling and mountain biking are both fun ways to explore a destination, and canoeing and kayaking are a lot of fun, too. Horseback riding is an often overlooked outdoor activity, as is surfing, zip lining, and whitewater rafting. If you really want to get adventurous, give rock climbing or mountaineering a try. Anything that gets your adrenaline pumping is worth giving a go.
Plan a Winter Camping Trip
Winter camping has grown in popularity in recent years as RVers look for more opportunities to use their vehicles. Camping in the snow and cold presents some new challenges, but provided your motorhome or travel trailer is well-insulated and heated, it can be a great experience. Just be sure to bring some warm blankets and proper winter clothing.
During the winter, most campgrounds tend to be very quiet, making it easier to make reservations or nab a boondocking site. Additionally, a fresh coat of snow can make even familiar landscapes and locations feel different and new, opening the doors for even more outdoor experiences like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.
Hit the Trail in an ATV or Snowmobile
All-terrain vehicles offer a fast, fun alternative way to hit the trail, taking you over rugged terrain, including rocks and mud. Plenty of companies offer ATV and UTV rentals and guided tours, taking riders to remote locations that would normally be inaccessible on foot or any other type of vehicle. In the winter, you can even switch to a snowmobile for a similar experience.
Stay Up All Night Gazing at the Stars
Once settled at the campsite, a lot of RVers tend to retreat inside their vehicle after dark, enjoying the amenities their motorhomes and travel trailers have to offer before bedtime. But for a change of pace, why not stay outside well into the night, enjoying the celestial light show taking place overhead? Stargazing is a great camping activity, particularly as you learn more about what you’re looking at and add an excellent telescope to the mix. Few things can provide a greater sense of wonder than spotting Saturn’s legendary rings or a distant star cluster.
Embark on a Long-Distance Road Trip
Recent surveys show most RVers rarely wander more than 50 miles away from home on their RV trips. That’s because most of our camping trips consist of weekend getaways and short vacations. But one of the best things about owning a motorhome or travel trailer is that we can take them with us wherever we go, including an extended road trip to other parts of the country. Why not plan an extended excursion that lasts for several weeks or even longer? It will change your approach to RVing and make you appreciate your vehicle even more.
Do a Fly and Drive
Don’t want to drive your vehicle all the way across the country but still enjoy the idea of RVing in a far-flung destination? Why not hop a flight to the destination you want to visit and rent an RV locally? This not only lets you experience a new place but also gives you the chance to test out an entirely new type of vehicle at the same time. See how the other half lives while touring in a luxurious Class A. Go off-road in a sporty camper van. The opportunities are endless and open the door to all kinds of new adventures.
Make a Run for the Border
The US is large and varied, with some of the most breathtaking landscapes and exciting places on the planet. But that doesn’t mean that our neighbors to the north and south don’t have a lot to offer, too. For an international adventure, drive your RV across the border into Canada or Mexico, where you’ll find completely new cultures and histories to explore. You’ll also get the chance to experience unique activities, foods, art, music, and more.
These are just a few ways that you can shake up your RV camping routine and add a little adventure to your next trip. With a little imagination and a willingness to embrace new things, you can probably come up with even more opportunities to get in touch with your adventurous side. Chances are, you’ll be glad you did and have some memorable stories to share around the campfire.