A two-week RV trip offers endless possibilities! You could make it across the country and back in that time. Or you could stay in a small town for two weeks and also have a blast!
There are a few factors that determine how you’ll plan your two week RV trip.
There are things to consider like the distance you want to travel, what you want to do while visiting, and how much you’re willing to spend.
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Write Down All Possible Destinations
Now comes the fun part!
Do you have destinations already in mind? Write them down!
What kind of trip are you looking for?
Mountain trip? A vacation on the beach? Wildlife trip? City life?
It’s really important for you to know what kind of trip you’re looking for when determining where to go.
Think of things you want to do while on vacation.
For example, if you love to hike you could research the best places to hike in the US.
Or if you’re searching for the best beaches in the US, you may want to consider places like the Siesta Key Beach in Florida, Outer Banks in North Carolina, or the Gulf Shores in Alabama.
Keep a Running List of Dream Destinations
I’ve created a list using Google Sheets of the top categories I want to visit including National Parks in the US, all of the US states, Canadian Provinces and Provincial Parks, etc.
Once I’ve gone to a destination I strike it out and I highlight any upcoming trips in a different color.
If you want more help on picking where to go on vacation check out the post below that dives deeper into this topic.
Read More: How to Pick Your Next Memorable Vacation Destination
Create a Vacation Budget
Planning a trip with a budget is SO SMART! There’s nothing more annoying than paying for a trip long after you’ve been on vacation.
Think about how much you are willing to spend on this vacation and create a budget to reflect that.
While you don’t need to be super strict with yourself, you’ll find that having a budget allows you to plan your trip with the added ease of knowing your boundaries and goals.
A few things to budget for:
- RV rental
- Gas
- Activities
- Campgrounds
- Food/Eating Out/Alcohol
- Souvenirs/Extras
- Emergency Fund
- Insurance
It’s very important when budgeting for a trip to write down the anticipated costs ahead of time. Seeing it on paper before you go will make you much more likely to stick to the budget while you’re on vacation.
It’s best to save up money ahead of time rather than putting your vacation expenses on a credit card. You don’t want to have to keep paying for a vacation months after you get back.
The easiest way to save money for a vacation is to open a separate travel fund bank account. This ensures you can see clearly how much you’ve been able to save towards your travels.
A special note is that if you can buy your own groceries and cook in your RV, do that at least half the days – you’ll save so much money!
We typically will decide how many times we want to eat out and intentionally pick the restaurants we really want to go to.
Of course you’ll have times when you go with the flow and need to grab a sandwich after a long hike or something, that’s fine, just leave room for that in your budget!
You can also use websites like Harvest Hosts to cut down on the cost of campgrounds.
Especially if you’re traveling in between destinations and need a one night stay somewhere.
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The Distance You Travel Will Impact Your Budget
The cost of gas will be a huge line item in your budget. It can make all the difference in the budget for your trip.
For example, the cost of gas alone for roundtrip from Maine to California (6400 miles @ $4/gallon and a 12 mpg) will cost $2133. That’s $2133 just in gas!
Compare the figure above to roundtrip from Maine to Michigan (2000 miles @ $4/gallon and a 12mpg) will cost $670. That’s a huge difference.
To estimate how much you will pay in gas you can use this formula below. There are also online calculators you can use.
Distance from your starting point to your furthest destination________(miles)
Divided by miles per gallon your towing vehicle or RV gets __________(mpg)
Multiplied by the average cost of gas per gallon ___________________(dollars)
(6400 miles / 12 mpg) x $4 = $2133
You can also use apps like Gas Buddy to find the best gas prices. I love this app because when you’re new to an area you won’t know the cheapest gas prices so this is really helpful.
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Don’t Forget an Emergency Fund and Insurance
This is so important to your trip!
If you don’t already have an emergency fund, this is the perfect time to start one. No one wants to think about unexpected expenses while on vacation but they are inevitable. And the fastest way to ruin a vacation is a huge expense you weren’t expecting.
On that same note, having the right insurance is essential.
If you own your RV, you’ll need to add an RV policy to your insurance policy. Keep in mind not all companies provide RV insurance so you may need to shop around.
It’s also worth considering a roadside assistance service like AAA.
Outdoorsy also provides insurance for their RV rentals. You can learn more here.
Consider If You’ll Need to Rent an RV
Do you need to rent an RV? Check out Outdoorsy. It allows you to try out RVing without making the commitment of buying your own rig.
Or if you have no interest in owning a RV but you just want to take advantage of an RV, this is a perfect way for you to do so!
If you own your own RV – perfect – you are on your way to a great two week vacation!
Who is Going on Your RV Road Trip with You?
Who you are going with will greatly determine where you want to go and what you want to do while there.
If you have small kids you may not want to go to a large city or an epic hiking adventure. (Or maybe you do, depending on your family’s travel style).
Likewise, if you are bringing a pet with you, you’ll need to find pet friendly campgrounds and activities. This is easy to do with tools like RV Life Trip Wizard and Campendium.
If you plan to meet up with multiple families, you’ll need to consider a campground that can host multiple RV’s together. Sometimes you can rent out a field all to yourself.
If you are planning to join a bunch of other campers, you may need to plan your trip further in advance because campgrounds can fill up quickly.
Which Season Will You Be Traveling In?
The typical RV season runs from April/May to Oct/November depending on your homebase and the weather. But people RV full time all year round and follow the nice weather.
So it depends less on when you’re traveling and more on if your RV is equipped to be traveling during inclement weather.
Check prices of your campgrounds and activities ahead of time and note any changes in prices. If you have a tighter budget you may consider traveling on the shoulder season but there may be limited campgrounds available.
Remember to Get Your RV Ready for Your Trip
You’ll need to make sure your RV is in top shape for your two week RV road trip.
Make sure to get an oil change on your truck or RV.
Check your tires and make sure you have a spare tire.
And if you plan to drive a long distance, it’s not a bad idea to get a quick tune up.
Read More: Unique Travel Destinations in the US and Canada
Remember, Less is More
You’ll feel an urge to jam pack your itinerary, but I promise you won’t regret building in free time and more days in each location.
If you have two weeks I would recommend 3-5 nights in each place. Yes, you’ll go to less places. But you’ll enjoy your trip way more if you’re able to relax.
Of course you could stay in a different place every night but you’ll have a very limited time in each place.
For example:
For a two week trip from Tennessee back to Maine, we gave ourselves:
5 nights in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
4 nights in Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia (to explore nearby Grayson Highlands State Park)
5 nights in Washington, DC
1 night to make our way back to Maine
Booking Your Trip
Time to book your campgrounds! Use resources like Campendium and RV Life Trip Wizard to find campgrounds.
Make sure to keep all your confirmations in your email just in case you need to retrieve them later.
This is also a good time to double check activities that need to be booked ahead of time. For example, we learned the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC required a ticket at the time of our visit. So I went ahead and booked that.
You may also want to research resources like Viator to see if there are any activities in your area you can join. They have everything from food tours and boat trips to historical walking tours.
Choose Your Route Carefully
Using resources like RV Life Trip Wizard and our favorite Mountain Guide for Truckers, RVs, and Motorhomes Drivers can help plan your route. Beware when using Google Maps that it doesn’t lead you to the middle of a city for example.
Before you start driving, double check your route to gain an understanding of the general direction you’ll be driving.
Final Thoughts
You’re going to have a blast on your two week RV trip! I hope these tips will help you plan your perfect vacation.
Of course, these factors are determined by your individual preferences, budget, and time restraints.
At the end of the day, you’re on vacation, so relax and enjoy the journey!
Happy Traveling!
