Top 14 Tips for RVing With Kids

RV road trip or camping can be an enjoyable experience for your family.

There is a certain thrill that comes with hitting the open road without a fixed itinerary, just enjoying what nature has to offer. Preparing for an RV trip with kids can be challenging because you have to factor in several things. If you pull it off, the experience will be worth the trouble.

Find out what tips you might need when RVing with kids.

#1: Include them in the planning process

To have a wholesome RVing experience, let your kids air their opinions on where they would like to go. You should act as a guiding beacon but let them choose the route and the destination.

Tell them what attractions they can expect to see on every possible route and go with the one they choose. If you impose a route on them, they might not be too enthusiastic about the whole trip.

A road atlas is a must-have item for a family going on a road trip. The Adventure Edition Road Atlas by National Geographic also includes activities to do in the area from backpacking right down to bird-watching.

Learn more about this road atlas on Amazon

#2: Entertainment

How will you keep your kids preoccupied inside the vehicle? You need to figure out entertainment options and think creatively especially if you want to ban the use of electronics.

You can carry board games, books, toys, and probably spend time listening to an age-appropriate podcast.

At the campsite, find out different creative ways to keep the kids entertained.

These road trip games are fun to play with the whole family:

#3: Set Expectations

You should talk to your kids about how they are expected to behave when RVing. Talk to them about your budget and how much they can spend at any given time. If you expect them to help you set up camp, let them know what obligations await them. Set ground rules on how they are expected to behave at the campsite and how they should interact with other campers.

#4: Take numerous breaks

Do not be in a rush to get to your campground. Plan your trip well to ensure that you have enough time to enjoy every attraction along your route. Stop for potty breaks, photoshoots, or take breaks for just stretching your legs.

You can even break down a long journey into different days. Look for good campsites along your route and spend a day or two unwinding before moving onto the next camp.

#5: Keep your kids safe by buckling up

Do not let your kids move freely within the RV. They could get hurt if you braked suddenly or if an accident happened.

When the RV is in motion, every person inside the vehicle should stay seated and buckled up.

These premium plush seated pads are a great way to protect a child’s neck and shoulder while travelling on long journeys.

Get more info on Amazon

#6: Pack food, snacks and water

Pack their favorite snacks in containers that have lids. If you want to save money, prepare your food in advance.

Choose lightweight tableware and tumblers for your family. Heavy dishware isn’t practical for RV living.

This inexpensive and lightweight tumblers and patio-style plates and bowls instead is shatter-proof and durable.

See this tableware set on Amazon.

Pack enough clean, drinking water as well. Carry a cooking stove just in case your campsite does not allow open fires.

#7: Take insurance for your family and your RV

Sometimes accidents happen. To have peace of mind, buy good insurance for your RV and your family. Travel insurance should sort you out on repairs and maintenance if your vehicle breaks down.

Carry a car pump, spare wheels, and a car jerk just in case you need to change a wheel in the middle of nowhere.

This lightweight and small 5-in-1 tire pressure gauge measures PSI and helps you fill the tire to the PSI that you set and automatically shuts off, has an LED flashlight and a built-in window breaker punch. All in all a great purchase.

#8: Choose the right campground

You should do your research well when looking for a campground for your family. Not all campgrounds are kid-friendly. Your choice of camping ground should be guided by the kind of attractions and activities that your family wants to engage in. For instance, if your family loves the outdoors, you can choose a campground inside a national park. If you love isolated places, some free campgrounds offer this as well.

You should also ask about the amenities the campground has and its rules and regulations. For instance, some campgrounds do not allow camping with pets while others offer very specific rules that attract penalties and fines if broken.

Let the whole family know about these rules so that no one will break them unintentionally.

#9: Stay organized

Your RV will be your home for some time, so you need to keep everything as organized as you can. Have storage space for your clothes, electronic devices, books, shoes, toys, and everything else that you will be using inside the RV.

Items that you don’t use frequently should be stored away. Have storage bins to store these items away.

You can use these storage bins in shelves, cupboards, drawers, and in the outside storage compartments.

Check out these RV storage bins on Amazon

#10: Outline chores for the whole family

Everyone should chip in to make this camping trip a great one. Give chores according to age and capability. For instance, your older kids can clean the RV while the young ones store away toys and other items scattered inside the RV.

#11: Make sure your RV is well maintained

If you are going to trust a vehicle to take your family for a long-distance, you need to be sure that it can handle the distance. You have to service the vehicle regularly.

Check the carrying capacity and the cargo weight capacity to determine how much cargo you can carry. Check the tires to ensure they are in good condition.

Check all the lights to see if they work well and check the roof to ensure that there are no leaks. The RV should also have a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

#12: Cooking in an RV

There are numerous options you can explore if you want to cook in your RV. You can use gas hookups, instant pots, crockpots, or stove. Just make sure that these devices are well fastened and there is no risk of danger should something spill from the kitchen area.

Stuff moves around, a lot in an RV. If things are not tied or weighted down, they’ll slide, fall, roll which is not only annoying but also dangerous. So contain your snacks and food in tightly packed containers or use bungee cords to keep everything tight and safe.

See this bungee cord assortment jar on Amazon

#13: Maintain a normal routine

This might be hard to accomplish since your kids are already excited. However, try to maintain their bedtime routine as much as possible. The kids need to get enough sleep.

#14: Safety for the family at camp

Do not forget to carry sunscreen for your kids. Carry a bug repellent as well if you will be camping in the woods. You do not want these irritating bugs to spoil your beautiful camping moment.