10 Essential RV Camping Tips for Beginners

After visiting RV trade shows and taking an epic RV road trip towing a pop-up camper, I’ve learned so much about RV camping! It’s not only perfect for retirees and digital nomads (here are tips on how to find remote jobs), but it can be a great vacation alternative for people on school break, family vacations, or sabbaticals. 

Alex and I were complete newbies when we decided on a two-week RV road trip, so here are ten RV camping tips, RV essentials and safety advice, and RV tips and tricks we learned along the way.

I didn’t realize there were so many types of RVs before I took my RV camping trip / started going to RV shows. Every time I booked an RV campsite they’d use so much RV lingo I didn’t understand! 

If you are an RV beginner, you’re probably in the same boat. Once you know the type of RV you’ll be camping in, the different RV styles you’ll be neighboring, and more importantly, how much space you’ll take up, booking RV campsites will be much easier. 

Here is a quick guide to the types of RVs:

Motorized RVs

• Class A Motorhomes (shaped like a bus; 30-45’ long)
• Class B, B+ Motorhomes (camper with amenities; 18-28’ long)
• Class C Motorhomes (larger than campers at 25-34’)
• Converted Camper Vans (like Class B but often with fewer facilities)

Towable types of RVs

• 5th wheel campers (for pickup trucks)
• Travel trailers
• Truck Camper
• Teardrop campers
• Pop up campers
• Toy hauler (for hauling ATVs, etc.; often comes as fifth-wheel campers or travel trailers)

One of our big RVing mistakes was not realizing how little our SUV could tow! We had big RV dreams and had to scale down to a lightweight pop-up camper to make RVing more accessible for our then-Subaru Forester’s sad towing capacity, which was around 2,400 lbs.

Before choosing your RV (whether renting or buying) be sure to confirm all towing capacity to choose the vehicle that is best for you. Remember to include your own gear in the calculations.

Another first-time RVing surprise we encountered was finding parking! This was probably the most stressful part about our RV road trip for me. 

When stopping by malls and markets, we always had to find two parking spots to fit our SUV and pop up camper. This was no problem at large shopping mall parking lots, but quick restaurant stops and drive-thrus were not always feasible.

When planning your RV camping trip, be sure to map a route that includes truck-friendly rest stops so you can secure sufficient parking spaces for the size of your vehicle. If you are embracing “van life” in a converted van, or are in a small motorhome (< 20 feet length), you may be able to get around this.

RVing may cut hotel and flight expenses, but it also adds on new ones! The average RVer spends about $1,000-3,000 per month on expenses, but if you love eating out/shopping or don’t want to stay long periods of time at campsites, you might find yourself spending $4,000-8,000 monthly. 

On the bright side, this is still considered big savings considering most people (non-backpackers) spend $2,000-5,000 on a 1-2 week vacation.

When planning your RV road trip budget, be sure to consider:

• Decreased gas mileage and increased fuel costs (and possibly a need for diesel, depending on the vehicle)
• Increased highway toll costs for trailers/motorhomes
• Leasing/rental fees for the vehicle
• Auto insurance
• RV campsite and hookup costs/dump station costs
• Amenities cost (wifi, cable, supplies)
• RV repairs and maintenance 
• Standard expenses (health insurance, food, cell phone bill, student loans, etc.)

If you are used to paying site rates for tent camping, be prepared to double that! RV camping requires more space and services, so you can expect the prices to reflect that accordingly. From our experience, RV campsite costs can range from $30-150 per night, depending on the location and season, if you can’t find free campsites.

We’ve learned a few tricks to finding RV campsites on a budget:

• Get RV memberships if you’re in this for the long run (like Passport America, Thousand Trails, Good Sam, or Harvest Hosts)
• Stay at RV park chains like Sun RV Resorts, which always has special offers
• Park on BLM public land (Bureau of Land Management)
• Get state and national park passes for reduced fees
• Stay longer for weekly and monthly discounts
• Opt for Boondocking (dry camping); use resources like Campendium or iOverlander to find sites

Choose the right RV campsites for your needs

Depending on your RV of choice, your RV camping needs will differ. While most RV sites will offer amenities like electric hookups, you may need other campsite amenities too. What I’ve learned during my time RVing is to PLAN AHEAD.

RVing took me for a loop because I was used to booking tent campsites days before or even as I showed up to a park. With RV camping, it is important to book ahead to secure the right campsite for your vehicle (most importantly, if you’re traveling during high season or need hookups). 

When choosing your RV campground, consider this:

• Are there hookups available at all (electric, water, septic)?
• Is there a dumping station or are hookups at specific sites?
• If your RV doesn’t have a shower, will your campground offer bathrooms and showers?
• Does the campsite offer cable and WiFi?

Learn RV campsite rules and etiquette

One of my essential RV camping tips is to first understnad that RV camping is a lot different than tent camping.

In fact, if tents are allowed in a campground, they are usually in a different section of the park. Abiding by RV park rules and showing RV manners will help you have a better stay (and maybe even make some friends!)

Here are RV camping tips, rules, and etiquette we’ve learned from RV road tripping:

• Many RV campsites are “back in” only. If you hate backing into your site, you can look for campgrounds that offer “pull-through” sites (but they’re not always guaranteed).
• Most campgrounds have a noise curfew, which means your generator has to be turned off between 10 pm and 7 am (varies). It is also courteous to turn off any bright lights.
• Don’t walk through other people’s campsites.
• If there are many campsites open, give your RV neighbor some space.
• If welcoming guests, be sure to observe guest rules, parking regulations, and curfews.
• Spray the dump station after you use it.
• Don’t leave trash behind!

RV campsite set up tips I’ve learned from RVing (and watching other types of RVs set up) include:

• Allow at least 2 hours of daylight to set up your site (and break down) comfortably
• Disconnect any towed vehicles (ie. if you are towing a car behind your motorhome)
• Check for anything that could obstruct you backing in (trees, rocks, etc.)
• Park so that you have enough space for an outdoor seating area (or slide outs if applicable)
• Be sure to have blocks to level your RV if needed; if you have a trailer you’ll want to insert wheel chocks (like door stoppers) to keep it secure
• Set up an awning, outdoor rug, and seating area/table outside your RV 
• Do not leave awnings out while away for long periods of time or during windy days

If you want an awesome list of RV essentials to pack for your camping trip, I really like this RV camping packing list from Campers Inn.

Dump the right way

If you choose a motorhome or trailer that includes a kitchen, bathroom, or shower, you’ll have to learn a bit about holding tanks and dumping. Here is a quick guide:

• Dumping stations: this location where you can dump your waste sewage; perfect for RVers who don’t have hookups at their campsite. Here are great dumping tips to review before your RV trip.
• Hookups: most RV parks include hookups at each campsite (so you don’t have to go to a dumping station) which offers gray and black tank emptying as well as fresh water.
• Black tank: this is where your waste goes when you use the bathroom in your RV
• Gray tank: this is where the shower and dishwater goes when used in your RV

When you get a campsite with full hookups, you’ll be able to connect hoses to your gray and black tank valves and empty them into the campground’s septic system. 

If you are going to be at the campsite for a while, be sure not to keep the black tank’s valve open, so as to prevent dripping and the smell of waste at your site.

Other holding tank/hose tips include:

• Use your fresh water hose for freshwater only. Many RVers choose to use a completely different colored hose to prevent a mix-up with the black and gray tank hoses (yuck).
• Only empty your black tank after being > halfway full so it can empty easily.

While RV camping can offer luxury and comfort at your campsite, those same luxuries have to be securely stored anytime your vehicle is in motion. Be wise with your storage solutions, supplies, and accessories in order to make set up, break down, and driving as easy and safe as possible. 

Here are some tips to take with you on your RV camping trip:

• Frequently check your RV health, tires, and fuel gauge.
• When driving, do not leave anything loose (all items should be stored away, locked, or secured against the wall or floor).
• If you have a tall RV, always know bridge clearance heights and weight restrictions
• Because of the size of your vehicle, you should drive slower and add time to your projected ETA.
• Mentioned before but worth mentioning again: always secure your RV wheels (level, chocks, parking brake) when parked.
• If you are going cold weather RV camping, be sure to know how to prepare accordingly. 

Now you’re ready for RV camping!

I hope you found these RV camping tips for beginners useful —  these were all the things we *should’ve* known on our first RVing trip. The more we learned, the easier our RV road trip became. 

To help you get started on your RV camping trip, check out my printable camping checklist. It is geared toward tent campers but you can use the groceries and supplies lists just the same. You can also check my list of diverse RV blogs that create more dedicated content about the full-time RV lifestyle.

xx, O.

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