By Amy Parker, the what CEO (RV enthusiast and motorhome owner)

Our second RV purchase after our 3-week trip from Cali to Austin, Texas. This has been our favorite RV—the Winnebago Tribute. She’s a beauty.

Special thanks to our TWW Contributors - Kim Garner, Vanessa Siebern and Lydia Mondavi

Four weeks ago, we embarked on our first family RV trip to a private campground in the Sierras, joined by trusted friends who have been in our Covid bubble and who also happen to be camping experts. I felt, for the first time, that I was ready—three months of quarantine (minimal showers, no makeup, and not caring what I wore) had prepared me for this moment. My husband grew up camping all over the Western US with his family and we knew it was time to introduce our son to another way to travel.

Our 25’ rental RV, a Thor Vegas Motorhome

After four days of camping on the edge of the Yuba River, spending our days skipping rocks, bouldering, fishing, biking, hiking, reading, and enjoying many quiet reflective hours without any wifi or cell reception, I realized this is what I’d been longing for. Not only was it a change of scenery for our new socially distanced existence, but it was a reboot for all of us—being together in a new way, without news, without iPads, without Zoom, without homeschooling, without the dreaded ‘Groundhog Day’ feeling we were all experiencing. The sense of freedom was transformative and all I could think about was planning our next trip.

I never imagined myself buying a RV. I’m too young. I prefer hotels. I want to go back to Italy and France and travel the world. I like big bathrooms. I like my kitchen and all my creature comforts. But sure enough, one month after our initial trip we have purchased our own RV, a 29’ used motorhome that we intend to use for family adventures all over the US—to visit family in Texas and on the East Coast, jaunts to the desert, drives up the coast, and introducing our son to the wonders of our country. I’ve been in California for almost 25 years and I’ve never even been to Yosemite or Yellowstone.

Is it a wise investment? Probably not. Will we use it as often as we plan? Probably not. But I do know that during this time of Covid, we are stuck together (for better or worse) and we need to create our own safe family adventures. This feels like the right adventure for us right now and we’re going to make the best of Summer 2020, even if we have to set up camp in our own backyard.

Here are some of our trusted resources to help you pack, plan and get inspired if you’re thinking about hitting the road this Summer.

What to Research.

Buy or Rent? Trailer or Motorhome? Class A or Class C? Fifth Wheel or Pop-Up? So many choices out there. We suggest renting first to determine what feels most comfortable. And pay a visit to the RV super stores that are out there - wear your mask, bring your sanitizer and check ‘em out. There are hundreds - from teeny tiny teardrops to coaches with disco lights. There really is something for everyone. Here are our tested platforms for renting, buying and researching.

Outdoorsy. Airbnb for travel trailers and RV’s of every size imaginable. You can negotiate directly with the owners for daily rates, miles, generator usage, etc. We’ve had great luck with our Outdoorsy rentals and also appreciate their insurance policies.

RVshare. Peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, they also have a fun trip planner to help get you started on your journey. RVShare offers travel inspiration, how to’s and tips for evaluating the best trailers, RV’s and accessories for all your needs. We love their real-time updates for State and National Parks, as the situation is constantly changing from state to state.

Cruise America. More than your RV rental/buy site, Cruise America is a wonderful resource for RV’ing in State and National Parks and finding campgrounds across the US. Their rentals are fully equipped so you can have a plug and play experience without having to bring all your own (kitchen) items.

RV Trader. Buy, sell, and rent RV’s. Whatever you’re looking for you can find it here. New, used, local, dealer or private sellers. After a solid month of research, calls to dealers, RV repair experts, conversations with owners and several missed opportunities, this is where we found our RV. As with the other sites we’ve recommended, RV Trader is a wonderful resources for all things RV - deals, insurance, storage, shipping, comparison guides and more.

What to Bring.

We could list all our favorites, but there are others who have already done the legwork. Here are a few comprehensive lists that we’ve used to build our stash of RV must-haves. We’ve included our personal recs at the bottom.

26 RV Essentials. Our friends at NY Mag have put together a fun list of must have gear and cool gadgets that will brighten your RV and keep you comfortable and organized no matter how big your RV or how long you journey.

25 Things For Your Next Camping Trip. Love this list from Buzzfeed. The standouts for us are the headlamps and the glow in the dark wine glasses — we found both to be essential for our 4-day camping trip.

Coleman 2 Burner Grill/Stove Combo. This compact grill is a lifesaver. We purchased the griddle so we could make pancakes, eggs and bacon all together. You get to cook outdoors and you don’t stink up your RV. We also have our eyes on this compact pellet grill by Traeger.

Yeti Camping Chair. Yes, they make chairs too. Their Hondo Base Camp Chair is the most comfortable we’ve tried yet. Pricey, but worth it. You’ll have these babies for years. And while you’re at it, might at as well add a few lowballs and tumblers to the mix.

Dyson Cyclone V10 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. Just because. They’re powerful, they’re compact and pack well. No matter how many days you can go without showering, it’s a good idea to keep your RV dirt and grit free.

Outdoor Mat. We love giant outdoor mats that we can layer outside of our RV. Makes an easy drop spot for shoes, gear, etc. and your RV stays that much cleaner. And don’t forget your broom and dust pan. Game changers.

Playlists. No road trip is complete without the right tunes. A few of our trusted playlists for hitting the road, setting up camp and hanging out by the campfire — 70’s Road Trip, 90’s Acoustic, Perennials Playlist, Happy Again, and This Is: INXS. And be sure to download all your music before you hit the road, while you still have a strong wifi signal.

Boardgames. Just having a few decks of cards will usually do the trick and it keeps the packing to a minimum. However, if you have the time, the space and right group, here are a few (family friendly) games to pull out after you’ve made S’mores by the campfire — Mexican Train, Five Crowns, Sequence, Kids Against Maturity

Nesting Bowls With Lids. There’s always something you have to pack away and lids are key. We love these brightly colored stainless steel nesting bowls. Easy to pack, store and serve. Lifesaver every time.

Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet. We love this 5 quart pre-seasoned deep skillet for cooking just about everything. A few years ago, we did a one-week ‘Cast Iron Skillet Challenge’ where every meal was made in this - from veggie scrambles and pizzas to roast chicken and a giant chocolate chip skillet cookie. If you have the space to bring a classic skillet AND a dutch oven, go for it. Otherwise, this is the perfect hybrid. Here are a few skillet recipes we love from our friends at Bon Appetit.

Electric Bikes. Bikes are a must, especially if you’re in a motorhome and you don’t have a smaller vehicle to go explore. While we love our mountain bikes, we were recently turned on to the joys of electric bikes. WOW. Unless you’re a seasoned cyclist, we highly recommend giving one of these models a try. The ease with which you can explore your surroundings and know that you can get back safely and without killing your spirit is amazing. There are so many to choose whether you’re into hills, trails, distance or a family cruise. And of course you need a bike rack for transporting. Most car bike racks will work fine. Here’s our favorite for easy install and it holds up to 70 lbs.

What To Download.

Here are some of our go-to resources and apps when planning a RV road trip. Whether it’s a weekend jaunt or a cross country trip, do your homework so you can have the perfect spot to set up camp.

Harvest Hosts. RV Camping at over a thousand wineries, breweries and farms across the country.

The Dyrt. Thousands of campsite reviews and tips. We love their Pro App for offline access to their 50,000+ database of public and private campgrounds, as well as downloadable maps and more.

Hipcamp. A comprehensive guide to camping on private lands across the US - from ranches to land preserves.

Recreation.gov. The go-to for finding and booking campsites at US National Parks. Book ahead and you will be immediately notified when parks are opening or closing due to Covid.

Reserve America. The first online camping reservation system is still going strong. Research, review, book camping and outdoor (private and public) recreation destinations across North America. Also follow them on IG or Twitter for updates on most any destination you’re considering.

Campendium. Search, review and virtually visit over 20,000 campgrounds throughout the US. We love the filters feature for searching results by category, price, WiFi, amenities, pets, etc.

Passport America. This discount camping club can get you up to 50% off at almost 2000 campground across the US. So worth it, as RV’ing costs can add up quickly. Check their site for restrictions and to learn which parks and campgrounds accept the pass.

CampNab. Nab reservations at sold-out campground. Tell them when, where and how you want to camp for and they’ll notify you when a suitable spot opens up at that campground. Our new favorite.

What to Follow.

These are just a few of the adventurers we follow - for inspiration, resources, commentary and stunning moments captured on the road and in the world. If you ever imagined just hitting the road, their stories are proof that it’s possible choose a different path and find freedom on your own terms.

Crazy Family Adventure. Follow this family of six who, in 2014, sold everything, bought an RV and have been traveling full-time around North America.

RV Wanderlust. Another family who has been documenting their full-time RV adventures across the US. Not much new info for 2020, due to Covid, however, you can still find timeless resources, tips, itineraries and insights for all your RV travels.

Heath And Alyssa. Full time RV’ers sharing their experiences so that others can enjoy remote work and full-time travel. We love their podcast for nomadic entrepreneurs.

The RV Atlas. Stephanie and Jeremy have built a devoted following and community of RV enthusiasts, while sharing their journey with the world. Their weekly podcasts are timely and witty, especially during the time of Covid. We love their campground reviews and recipes.

@Alexandra_Abroad. Solo, but not alone while RV’ing around the US in her custom camper and sharing her beautiful photos with the world.

@A.Girl.And.Her.Commander. Jessy is a badass. Plain and simple. She lives full time in her vintage RV with her cats and travels North America - doing her own repairs, sharing everything she knows so you can become your own successful modern nomad.

@Mali.Mish. This family of five traveled North America and most recently through Europe. Now they’ve set their sites on Asia and Africa. We can’t wait to watch them go international.

@MandyLeaPhoto. Full time teardropper, full time photographer and full time adventurer. Her pics are stunning.

@OurVieAdventures. Love watching full-time adventurers, Cees and Madison grow their family while journeying across the US. Gorgeous in every way.

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Hit The Road