Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.
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      • Best Campgrounds in California
      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Delaware
      • Cape Henlopen State Park (Lewes, Delaware)
    • Florida
      • Best Campgrounds in Florida
      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
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      • Military Camping in Key West
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • New Hampshire
      • Lincoln / Woodstock KOA (New Hampshire)
    • New York
      • Round Pond Recreation Area (West Point, NY)
    • North Carolina
      • Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA (Coinjock, North Carolina)
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
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      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Camp Margaritaville (Pigeon Forge, TN)
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Complete Guide to Camping at Shenandoah National Park
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah Views Campground (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
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      • Harper’s Ferry KOA (Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia)
  • USA
    • Alaska
      • 5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Trip To Alaska
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      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves: Best Activities to Enjoy on Your Arizona Vacation
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Dunnellon, Florida)
      • Enjoy the Best of Sunny Sarasota
      • Tampa
        • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
        • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
        • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
        • Why We Love Tampa
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Hawaii
      • Everything You Need to Know About Camping in a Jeep Wrangler in Hawaii
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Road Trip
      • Discover the Beauty of Monhegan Island, Maine
      • Acadia National Park: Highlights You Can’t Miss
    • Nevada
      • Planning an RV Trip to Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • North Carolina
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Uncover the Coastal Charm of North Carolina’s Outer Banks | A Guide for Visitors
    • Tennessee
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
      • Explore Nature’s Untamed Beauty at Big Bend National Park
    • Virginia
      • Explore Great Falls Park, Virginia
  • RV Resources
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    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
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      • WeBoost Cellular Booster Review
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      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
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      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
      • RV Roofs – What You Need to Know
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      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Biggest Regret Full-Time RV Living
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • Get Ready for Full-Time RV Travel
      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • The Ultimate Guide to Embracing the Full-Time RV Lifestyle
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing – Stories from the Road
      • What You Need To Know Before Selling Everything And Moving To An RV
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
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      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
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      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
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      • Cooking Videos
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  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Creative Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation
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      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How to Save on Food While Camping
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • RV Purchasing
      • RV Purchasing: Understanding RV Types
      • Benefits of Renting an RV: Try Before You Buy
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Attend An RV Show – Even If You Already Own An RV | Exciting Reasons Why
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
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    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

9:03 pm by Guest Post Leave a Comment

6 Tips for Safe and Stress-Free Road Trips

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Last updated on September 16th, 2023 at 08:56 pm

Road trips are one of the best ways to explore the world and make memories with friends. Whether you’re planning a cross-country adventure or a weekend getaway, it’s important to plan in advance and be prepared for the journey. With a little bit of preparation, you can ensure stress-free and safe road trips.

Plan for your next RV road trip with these pro tips.

As longtime travelers, we’ve had plenty of time to explore strategies for getting the most out of our RV experience while changing up our lifestyle to meet the challenges of our time. We hope you find them useful as you embark on your own adventures.

Table of Contents
  • Chart a new course
  • Be prepared
  • Go big or go home
  • Create an itinerary
  • Secure the home front
  • Safety at the campground
  • Be financially prepared

Chart a new course

The longer you’re on the road, the more places you’ll see. It’s fun to revisit places you’ve been before, but it’s also fun to get off the beaten track and find hidden gems you might have missed. Check out some of the more isolated campgrounds; they’ll be less crowded, which is better for social distancing. 

Or take things a step further: Have a family member join you in a four-wheel drive. He or she can spend the nights in the RV, then you can go off-roading to even more remote destinations. You can’t get much more socially distanced than that. But it’s a good idea to learn to drive a stick shift first.

Be prepared

Even more than when you’re traveling by car, you need to be sure you have emergency gear on board in case you need it. Of course, you’ll need the standard tool kit, along with jumper cables, a fire extinguisher, antifreeze, and motor oil.

But you’ll also need specialized supplies on the road like an electrical management system, tire pressure monitor, air compressor, sewer valve, hand vac, water purifier, and jack pads. As far as electronic devices go, don’t forget backup cellphone chargers, WiFi and cellphone signal boosters, and a two-way radio. Take a paper map, too, in case you’re out of range of all satellite systems.

And in the current environment, be sure to stock a kit of health and safety items, like hand sanitizer, face masks, rubbing alcohol, and disinfecting wipes. 

Go big or go home

Actually, if you’re in an RV, you are going big already, so you need to adjust your driving habits accordingly. If you’re new to this lifestyle, be aware that size matters, whether you’re on the road or in a campground. You’ll need to know where (and whether) your RV is allowed on the road. 

Maximum heights and lengths vary by jurisdiction, so know what’s legal before you cross that state line. Not sure whether you’ve got enough clearance to get under that bridge? Best not to test it. Also, be sure you’re aware of other RV restrictions: Some places, for instance, require that you have special weight-distribution hitches, sway control, or independent braking systems.

Create an itinerary

Even if — or especially if — you’re always on the road, you need to think and plan ahead to the conditions you could encounter next. Download a weather app so you know what road conditions and potential detours you might be facing soon. If possible, plot out your stops ahead of time, and decide where you’ll be staying. 

RV campgrounds are available across the United States. Follow these tips to find campgrounds along your chosen route, but be sure you know what each has to offer. Rules may vary, too (some, for example, don’t allow you to bring in firewood), so be familiar with them before you stop.

And look for alternatives: For example, Walmart doesn’t offer hookups, but it does allow RV users to use most of its parking lot. (You’ll need permission from the manager first.) Many RVers prefer retail establishments that close at night like Cracker Barrel or Cabela’s to allow for a quieter night’s sleep.

Secure the home front

If you’re not a full-time road-tripper, you’ll need to be sure your home base is safe and secure before you get going. Chances are, you’ll be gone for a while, so make sure your house is protected from intruders. Deadbolt locks are always a good idea; so are outdoor sensor lights and indoor lights that turn on automatically at night. 

Not all threats come from the outside, though. It’s also important to protect your home from problems that can arise when you least expect them. If your pipes freeze when you’re gone, or something goes wrong with one of your major appliances, you’ll want to know you’re protected. A home warranty can do the trick by covering the cost of repairs to your essential systems.

Safety at the campground

Typically on a road trip, you’ll be spending hours away from your RV each day. You’ll want to take a few RV security measures. First, a new RV lock should be top of mind when purchasing an RV since most have interchangeable locks. Also, always trust your instincts and leave if a campground doesn’t feel right. Finally, consider installing a system like RV Whisper that monitors power, temperature, propane, and more.

Be financially prepared

An RV is a big investment, and the time you take to explore is a major commitment. As with any other major investment, you need to make sure you’re financially prepared — which includes different budgeting and funding factors for RV travel.

You’ll need to increase your fuel budget, for example. Your gas mileage will be significantly less than what you get in a car, so calculate it and adjust your projected costs accordingly. (Gas prices also vary a lot by state, so factor that in, too.) Another thing to consider: Diesel RVs tend to be more fuel-efficient. Look for strategies to save on RV travel. 

Then there’s RV insurance. Many insurers offer a reduced rate for their coverage when the RV is in storage. And you’ll want to have enough money budgeted for a long trip with possible detours, souvenirs, and weather-related mishaps. Beyond that, make sure you have an emergency savings fund as a backup just in case you need it.

There’s a lot to think about when you’re living on the road, but planning and preparation beforehand can make your experience much more enjoyable. Do plenty of research and make a checklist to be sure you don’t forget anything. Then you can hit the road with the knowledge that a great time lies ahead.

Guest Post by Molly Barnes, a full-time digital nomad, exploring and working remotely in different cities in the US. She and her boyfriend Jacob created the website Digital Nomad Life to share their journey and help others to pursue a nomadic lifestyle.

Related posts:

The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
Avoid These RV Travel Mistakes

Filed Under: RV Resources Tagged With: RV Road Trip, RV Safety Tips

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