RV Getaways May Be Ready To Rebound

When RVers hit the road as more states lift their shelter-in-place orders, they’ll likely want to avoid crowds. “Practicing social distancing and enjoying Mother Nature is much easier in an RV than it is at a hotel. You can find a range of locations, from completely barren to more of a traditional campground with showers, playgrounds and other amenities,” says Young.

For their five-day escape, the Wittels explored California’s remote Northern Coast, riding along the Eel River and driving the Redwood Highway south of Eureka. They stopped to listen to the waves and watch sunsets with wine in hand.

Go Rving’s site lists other scenic byways suitable for social distancing, including the Selma to Montgomery March Byway, a 43-mile stretch in Alabama that follows Martin Luther King Jr.’s march in 1965, and routes through the Colorado Rockies and Michigan’s Copper Country Trail.

Also consider exploring the smaller, less-visited national parks. According to farandwide.com, California’s Lassen Peak National Park gets only 500,000 visitors a year; Big Bend National Park in Texas, about 400,000; and Congaree National Park in South Carolina, just 160,000.

Young recommends several beach areas near Houston, including Galveston State Park and, for a little more quiet, Matagorda Bay and Surfside Beach. When Hawaii reopens again, and if you’re comfortable with flying, she says Kauai and Maui are also great spots for RVers, with ample beachfront camping and parking.

What you’ll pay

An RV trip can be affordable, but not necessarily cheaper than a hotel. “All in all, it’s about the same amount of money to rent an RV as it would be to fly, rent a car, have a hotel and pay for meals. But you can’t have the same experience in a hotel as you have in an RV. With an RV, you’re right there, wherever that may be,” says Wittwer says.

Indeed, the rental costs can add up. Daily rates vary greatly, typically ranging from less than $100 a day for a smaller vehicle to $200 for a spacious motor home. Additional fees can include generator time, cleaning and mileage, which can be as high as 45 cents a mile. There’s also insurance and, of course, gas and food. You can find free parking spots in many places, but some campgrounds charge $20 to $50 per night.

Even if you do spend as much as you would on a hotel getaway in a specific locale, an RV escape offers this advantage. “If you’re in an RV and you don’t feel like you’re in the right place, you can just drive to the next spot,” says Smalley.