How to Plan the Ultimate Spring Break RV Road Trip

RV Life

Back planning an RV road trip with bikes

Everything You Need to Plan the Perfect RV Spring Break Road Trip

The end of winter is the perfect time of year to get a jump on planning spring RV road trips. The key to the success of any road trip lies in having a good basic plan. With that being said, being flexible with destinations and routes is a good idea, too. After all, a lot can happen between now and spring. However, if we map out a basic plan at this stage, we can always make adjustments as the time gets closer and even when we’re on the road. Even though there’s still snow on the ground in many places, the most popular campgrounds will be opening up campsite reservations in the coming weeks. In this article we’ll walk you through everything you’ll need to do to plan a perfect road trip.

1. Plan Your itinerary

Deciding on the itinerary is probably the most exciting part of planning any road trip. That being said, both the US and Canada offer endless opportunities to explore scenic routes and intriguing destinations. There are a few consideration that are useful when planning the itinerary for any road trip.

Consider using the 3-3-3 rule: When it comes to road trip goals, it’s important to be be realistic about timing because rushing visits to destinations will definitely take away some of the fun. The 3-3-3 rule is good rule of thumb for RV road trips. It means driving no more than 300 miles, arriving before 3 pm, and spending three days at each destination.
A realistic road trip budget: It’s a good idea to figure out how much you’ll need for food, beverages, laundry, campsites, and fuel before you leave home. Be sure to be prepared with a back-up fund for on-the-road repairs, too, because even the most well-maintained RVs can offer up occasional badly timed surprises.
Types of experience? Do you want to relax in nature? Do music festivals feel more like your vibe? Are you more interested in local attractions?
Where do you want to go? Are there particular bucket-list destinations you want to explore? National parks, scenic routes, and historical sites offer fantastic opportunities for exploration and adventure.
Consider using a trip-planning app: RV LIFE Trip Wizard lets you discover the best RV-friendly routes that are just right for your rig. You can even set it up to avoid bad weather and wildfire events.

2. Book Campsites and Activities

Many popular campgrounds, especially within national parks, require reservations months in advance. However, some parks may have times when you can get a last-minute campsite. Albeit, these campsites are usually only available for a single night. This can be handy when you’re on a road trip when previously booked reservations don’t work out due to traffic delays, etc. It’s worth a phone call to check to see campsite availability if you need a spot last minute.

Also, know the length and height of your RV before you book a campsite. Many national park and state park campgrounds were developed when almost all RVs were shorter than 31 feet. With that said, some National parks now boast sites that can fit RVs up to 50 feet long. A few, such as Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, have no RV length restrictions at all.

In addition, there are some great online resources and apps that make it easy to book campsites at RV parks along your route.

Apps and Resources

RV LIFE Campgrounds offers detailed information about nearly every campground and RV site throughout the US and Canada. But that’s not all: One of the great parts about RV LIFE Campgrounds is that the site is a great place to find reviews and tips from the experiences of real RVers.
Harvest Hosts lets you book one night stays at farms, wineries, breweries, and golf courses in your self-contained RV. It’s a membership based service with a wide variety of hosts. Some Harvest Hosts are very popular, so it’s a good idea to book your spot well in advance.
Boondockers Welcome is a subsidiary of Harvest Hosts that offers RVers the chance to stay with friendly locals at thousands of sites across the US and Canada. Some hosts allow stays for multiple nights, including RV hookups and more. It’s a great way to meet local people. Depending on a host’s popularity, it can be worth booking in advance.

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Plan an RV-friendly Road Trip

RV travel offers fantastic opportunities to enjoy scenic routes to destinations throughout the country. Usually there are several options available to get from Point A to Point B. Your choice will often boil down to how direct a route you want to take. But sometimes, it’s nice to take a more meandering route to allow for sightseeing along the way. In any case, RV LIFE Trip Wizard can help you to plan an RV Safe route that allows you to avoid low clearances and other hazards along the way. One of the cool features of RV LIFE Trip Wizard is that it has features that show you elevations and grades along with local attractions.

Don’t forget about the needs of pets that are in your traveling party. If you travel with a dog, plan to stop at rest areas along the way. Better yet, the Sniff Spot app can help you to find private off leash dog parks along the way. These are fenced, secure areas, often with complimentary dog treats and pickup bags. Sniffspot parks usually rent by the hour, so your canine traveling companion will get the whole place to themselves.

Get Your RV Road-trip Ready

Before you take off on a road trip in your RV, it’s a good idea to do a pre-trip check of all the systems in your RV. A thorough pre-trip check will help to prevent problems on the road. Making certain that everything on your RV is maintained and ready to go is an essential part of any road-trip planning. Here’s the pre-trip checklist that we use before any big road trip. Items for motorhomes are marked with an “M” while items that are universal to all RVs are marked with “U”.

The List

(M) Check fluid levels: Oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, DEF, etc.
(M) Belts: Check for cracks and make sure none are loose
(M ) Inspect for leaks in, around, and under the engine
(M) Check the air filter
(M) Clean out any debris around engine components, i.e. leaves
(M) Radiator: Gently remove any debris from fins
(M) Inspect hoses for cracks, leaks, and tight fit
(M) Check engine battery for fluid, corrosion, and tight connection
(M) Fill fuel tank and propane cylinders
(U) Fill propane
(U) Check house batteries for corrosion and fill with distilled water as needed
(U)Check generator oil level and run for 30 minutes
(M) Make sure windshield wipers work
(U) Use a tire gauge to check tire pressure in all tires
(U) Check the DOT date stamp on tire sidewall (What’s this? Click here to find out.)
(U) Check for wear
(U) Make sure all lights are operational
(M) Check windshield wipers work
(M) Make sure mirrors are set properly
(U) Bring in the awning and slideouts
(U) Retract all stabilizing and/or leveling jacks
(U) Close all basement cabinets
(U) Shut of propane at the tank
(U) Make sure steps are in
(U)Unplug any electrical cords
(U) Empty holding tanks
(U) Ensure hitch connections on towable RVs and towed vehicles are secure
(M) Set up and test braking system on towed vehicle
(U) Secure any loose items
(U) Close interior doors and cabinet drawers
(U) Ensure first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, smoke, and CO alarms are all operational
(U) Make sure water pumps and lights are off

Make a Packing List

Everyone has their own idea of the essential things to pack for a road trip. However, there are five categories of things you should pack for any RV road trip:

Snacks and beverages
- Bite-sized healthy snacks like grapes, berries, apple segments, baby carrots, or celery sticks
- Salty snacks such as chips or pretzels
- Easy-to-consume treats
- Beverages can include water, coffee, tea in an insulated mug, sodas, or whatever non-alcoholic drinks you prefer
Bedding and pillows
Clothing for each road tripper
Toiletries and grooming supplies
- Toothbrush and dental floss
- Towels and washcloths
- Soaps
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
Recreational equipment such as bikes, fishing gear and paddle boards
Games
An RV road atlas
A first-aid kit
Pet food, treats, dishes, beds, leashes and other supplies
Cooking tools and eating utensils

Enjoy Your Journey!

Winter can be the perfect time to plan a spring or summer RV road trip. Getting everything mapped out ahead of time gives you the opportunity to relax, knowing that all the details are taken care of. However, road trips are all about enjoying new experiences and adventures—and being flexible with your plans will help you to do just that.