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Ah, the life of the full-time RVer. Unless you're retired, you'll need to make a living. And maybe you don’t want to spend the majority of your money on campgrounds every night and don’t mind the small risk to save some dough.
Below is a list of tips on how to successfully sleep covertly (and free) while traveling.
If you're the type of travel that wants to travel while still having creature comforts like full hookups and a community, then consider enrolling in a campaign subscription. Here are a few options to choose from:
Only do this as a last resort. If you’re in an area where campgrounds are full and there’s no overnight parking allowed in parking lots, then find a quiet neighborhood to get some shut-eye. Be respectful, though. Pull in late (after it appears people have gone to bed) and leave early in the morning before the sun comes up.
Let’s talk about covert sleeping. It is what we call a cozy thrill. You are in a parking lot, but your home is all set up, maybe a candle is lit, it’s warm, and you fall asleep in your own bed. Here are some experiences we’ve had with different endings.
We visited Yellowstone National Park in 2017. Up to that point, we had not needed to prebook campgrounds. All of the campgrounds in Yellowstone were booked up for the night. The park is huge and we wanted to be close enough to Lamar Valley to see animals early in the morning. We drove into Gardiner, Montana right outside of the park on the upper west side. We parked, had dinner, walked around, and when it got dark, pulled onto a quiet side street to sleep. We were very quiet, not using many lights, and woke up around 5 a.m. to drive back into the park.
In 2018, we were driving the coast of Florida and needed to stay the night in Boca Raton. The Walmart did not allow overnighters and the Planet Fitness parking lot was too small. Trying to be as respectful as possible, we pulled down a neighborhood road to a dead end with no houses, just a turn around. We thought we parked out of sight. All things considered, we did make it till 6 a.m. (it was still completely dark) when we heard cops outside reading our license plate. We jumped into action (which is really hard to do from a dead sleep), opened the door, and explained why we were there. They were nice enough, obviously asking us to leave, but did not give us any trouble otherwise.
We’ve also gotten kicked out of a Walmart around 12 a.m. when we first started full-timing. We had not checked any apps or even checked the hours of the Walmart—they closed at midnight. Sometimes you’re just going to have to take a risk. The manager of each Walmart, Planet Fitness, Cracker Barrel, truck stop, etc. we overnight at has the right to ask us to leave, but we always try to be as respectful as we can and rarely have trouble. Park far away from the entrance and if you are nervous, ask the manager or customer service if they would mind if you stayed one night. Explaining you’re a patron always helps, too.
No matter your income or how you’re making money, it’s smart to track your spending. The last thing you want is to be surprised when you go to fuel up at a gas station and can’t go anywhere. It also helps to keep your spending prioritized. You will come to learn that you have a different set of expenses as a full-time RVer.
Here is a list of tips on creating and managing a budget while traveling.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “don’t live above your means.” That’s an important mantra for the full-time RVer. Remember, you’re not on vacation. In order to keep this lifestyle sustainable, you need to understand your financial situation.
Create goals and be diligent about tracking what you spend to make sure you manage your budget appropriately.
We use a simple Google Sheet to track our monthly usage. Here is a blank template for you. We break it out into two categories.
Even though you are living a life with more spontaneity, you will be happy you built up your savings down the road, even if you are always a wanderer.
Life on the road is unknown. You never know when an expense will come up that was unforeseen especially when it comes to car repair.
If you are traveling for work, chances are you can deduct a lot of your expenses from your taxes at the end of the year. Get into the practice of taking pictures of all of your receipts for campgrounds, groceries, restaurants, gas stations, and maintenance bills.
You might as well be earning money or other rewards every time you make a purchase. There are many credit cards that offer reward programs. For this to work, you need to make pay off your credit card balance frequently, like once per week. This way you will avoid interest fees.
If you're looking for a credit card, then we recommend the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. This card gets you 5% cashback on all Amazon purchases and 2% cashback on gas stations and restaurants.
Finding and keeping an efficient, healthy self-care routine is vital to a sustainable life as a full-time RVer. Some semblance of routine in a spontaneous life could mean the difference between you trying the life out for a few months and it becoming a long-term lifestyle. It is easier to have a routine when you know what to expect. But, of course, that is a big reason why you are exploring the life of a full-time RVer—to break the monotony.
Self-care is whatever helps you stay centered and mindful. It will help you approach any unexpected situation with grace and allows you (yes, you will now allow yourself) to enjoy every moment—every truck stop, back road, parking lot, hawk sighting, campsite set up routine, roadside wildflowers, and fellow traveler interaction.
Here is a list of tips on how to create a mindful self-care routine while traveling. Remember, we are all a constant work in progress!
Before you open your computer or turn on your phone, take five minutes for reflection in a journal and five minutes to meditate.
Here is how each of us practices meditation.
We are both different, but still are able to become more centered, present, and calm.
Ariele’s method: Usually performed in the morning after having a cup of coffee. Sit in an upright position (so you don’t fall asleep), close your eyes, take a few centering deep breaths, and return to your regular breathing pace. Just focus on air going in and out of your lungs. If you have a thought, recognize it and let it pass, always coming back to focus on your breath. Imagine a white light surrounding you, kind of like a safe zone. A mantra can help keep unwanted thoughts at bay. A favorite of Ariele’s is “I am love, I am light.”
Justin’s method: Usually performed first thing in the morning and last thing at night – M.D. Andrew Weil’s 4:7:8 (relaxing breath) exercise. As Weil describes it:
Half of Wild We Wander does not enjoy talking on the phone, but yearns for more connection with her loved ones. She always feels more energized and happy after a good conversation with family or friends. So, even if it’s just for a quick check in, make it a point to call or connect with someone once per week. This is especially important if you spend the majority of your time on your own or in more remote places.
We’ve touched on this, but prime physical health makes it so you are at the top of your game as a full-time RVer. The following tips may sound simple, but are sometimes hard to remember to do everyday. We are a fan of the post-it note reminder around your abode.
Even if you're a routined, organized person stuff happens. Be patient with yourself (and those you travel with). When something happens, make an effort to keep a positive disposition and react once you have thought through the situation. This will take practice.
We woke up from a night of boondocking in a Walmart parking lot. We stopped and had breakfast at an IHOP before traveling up route 1 in California.
Before I got into our truck I noticed there was water coming out from the side of the Airstream (and it wasn't near the water tank). I thought maybe something had spilled inside our Airstream so I opened the door to check things out.
When I opened the door I saw the kitchen faucet on and the sink was covered with a cutting board... I realized the water pump had been left on during travel and somehow the sink turned on in transit.
Our 25 gallon fresh water tank was unloading on the floor. Everything was soaked.
We could have yelled. We could have been upset. We could have blamed each other. Instead we hugged each other, gathered our things, and dealt with the situation.
When you travel, stuff will happen. Expect it. You can't control that, but you can control how you react to a situation.