Today, we’re discussing the three best things about full-time RV life. We never thought this would be our future. A nomadic lifestyle never hit the radar on the scale of things we chatted about. Yet, here we are.

Are you ready for a life filled with adventure, flexibility, and a sense of community? If so, full-time RV living is the perfect choice for you. Or maybe you’re choosing van life, keep reading, as it’s still a lot of the same.

Imagine waking up in the morning to breathtaking new views. You can spend the day exploring hidden gems off the beaten path. Later, enjoy connecting with a vibrant community of fellow travelers. Full-time RV living offers a unique blend of freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to experience the world.

Let’s dive into the three best things about RV living. We’re talking about the unparalleled freedom and flexibility of RV travel. It’s the thrill of experiencing new places and cultures and the strong sense of community with RV living.

Freedom and Flexibility: The Ultimate Benefits of RV Life

One of the best things about full-time RV life is the ability to choose our schedule and itinerary. Sometimes, Steve and I don’t have a plan beyond our current night. And that’s a beautiful feeling of freedom.

Tonight, as I write, we’re sitting in an RV park in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where we’ve come to work the sugar beet harvest. If you told me five years ago I’d one day be working a harvest, I’d have laughed. But it seems to fit our lifestyle now. A friend reminded me last night that we’ve not been in a corporate wheelhouse for a while. And it made me think about how we are not the same people who started this journey.

Sure, our core values are the same. But we’re not afraid to go with the flow now. Whether dumping the RV tanks or shoveling sugar beets, we get our hands dirty. We’re certainly more open-minded about what success looks like. And this week, success looks like having the freedom and flexibility to try something new.

Freedom of RV Life: Best Things About Full-Time RV Life

We’ve spent the past two summers in Alaska, hanging with our grandson and exploring the state. Who gets to do that? The flexibility we experience is definitely one of the benefits of full-time RV living. We spent time in Anchorage, and then we had the freedom to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations.

We drove our truck camper up the Dalton Highway as far north as you can drive in the U.S. It was freaking amazing. And wild. Plus a little scary. And just plain awesome. Starlink lets us work remotely from anywhere. So, I’m not kidding when I say we did freelance work in some of the country’s most gorgeous and remote places. Look out my window to see mind-boggling mountains. Yes, please.

The flexibility of RV travel means we can change our plans on a whim. When we find a place we love, we stay a week or two, even if we originally only planned to stay for a night. RV living offers greater freedom and flexibility compared to traditional lifestyles. We’ve got enough solar power and water capacity to boondock for 10-15 days, depending on our water usage.

So, if we find a place to explore, we hike all around and get familiar with the land. We stayed on a lake one night and watched a bald eagle dipping for fish. What an experience! Our flexibility and freedom are undoubtedly the best things about full-time RV life.

Experiencing New Places and Cultures: The Joy of RV Travel

I’ve loved exploring America and Canada in our truck camper. We discovered a love for Natchez, Mississippi, which surprised both of us. It was hot, even in January. But the people we met were welcoming and warm. We (briefly) talked about living there for a season. Who knows? Maybe we’ll go back and work camp in a state park. That could be a great way to experience more of the area.

In a few short weeks, we became regular customers of a guy who sells giant Gulf shrimp from the back of his pickup truck. They were so fresh and delicious, so we kept going back. You’ll never see that happening in Portland! We like eating locally and trying the dishes of every area we travel through.

I learned that people in West Virginia have deep Southern accents. What?? Where’d they get those? I grew up in Louisiana, and as far as I knew, West Virginia was in the North! We went into a Tudor’s Biscuit World for some local grub (check it out if you’re in the area.) And everyone in there had the deepest Southern drawls. I was quite honestly shocked.

Full-time RV life allows us to visit diverse destinations and immerse ourselves in different cultures. Even here in the United States, cultures couldn’t be more varied. It’s a great experience.

Explore National Parks, Historical Sites, and Local Attractions

RV living lets us visit some of the most amazing places. Here are some of my most favorite so far.

• Frankenmuth, Michigan
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Dinosaur Tracks in Moab, Utah
• Crawford Landing and Honey Island Swamp Tour

It’s hard to choose my favorite places that we’ve been to in the past four years. Part of visiting these places is getting the chance to meet new people and make lifelong connections. We met Chad, Will, and Natalie in Louisiana at Crawford Landing. Our time around the campfire with them was some of the best time on the road. We’ve met so many people who may only stay in our lives briefly but make a big impact.

Best Things About Full-Time RV Life

We’ve parked in the driveways of friends from all over the country. We’ve had the chance to connect with them in a completely different manner than just meeting up for dinner. When we stumble into the house for coffee in the morning, it deepens our sense of friendship.

So, it’s not just the local attractions or big National Parks that make an impact. It’s also the people we meet along the way. We’ve had unique experiences and cultural encounters that are only possible through RV living.

A Strong Sense of Community: The RV Lifestyle Advantage

That brings me to the third best thing about full-time RV life: community. RVers have a reputation for friendliness and support. And we’ve certainly found that to be true. We’ve had opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals at RV parks and gatherings.

We went to a truck camper rally in Quartzsite, Arizona, a few winters ago. From there, we came away with friendships to this day. We met Vinnie, who lives in Eastern Washington. We’ve stayed at his house and met his family a couple of times now. We also met Dennis and Linda at the rally. It was so wild, but we ran into them at Walmart in Fairbanks, Alaska. So, we hung out, sharing pizza and drinking beer. Linda and I swap texts pretty regularly, sharing our RV travel experiences.

We joined several Arctic Fox and RV Facebook groups. The sharing of tips, advice, and experiences among RV travelers has been hugely beneficial for us. As I followed Steve as he finished the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021, I had house battery problems. I was alone, so what else did I do but ask the group for input?

Then, within just a few minutes, fellow Arctic Fox truck camper owners gave me things to check. Sure enough, they were right, and I figured out the problem. I felt lucky to have a group of friendly experts to ask and get answers right away.

RV Lifestyle Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective

Of course, along with the best things about full-time RV life, there are some downsides. It’s not all rosy every single day.

Pros:

• Freedom and flexibility
• Adventure and exploration
• Community and connection
• Cost savings (in some cases)
• A simpler lifestyle

Cons:

• Missing our children and grandchildren
• Limited space
• Maintenance and repairs
• Potential for isolation

Talking About the Cons

Let’s briefly discuss the cons since I’ve mostly covered the pros. The biggest downside to full-time RV life is being away from our children and grandchildren. We get home every few months, but I know we’ve missed some important times with them. My heart aches at times missing them so much. I’m not sure what else to say here. We’ve made sacrifices to have the flexibility of RV travel. Sometimes, it seems a high price to pay. Most of the time, I’m incredibly thankful for our experiences. But occasionally, I just want to be home with my family.

Another downside of RV life for couples is the limited space. Especially in our truck camper, we are very limited on what we can take. It’s helped us realize how much we actually need and what we can part with. But it’s something to keep in mind. RV living doesn’t have all the amenities of living in a house, simply from the space perspective.

We often have maintenance and repairs, just like we did in our house. So, in that sense, full-time RV living isn’t much different than living in a home. Well, except we don’t have to do any yard work! That’s definitely one of the advantages of RV life.

Right now, I need to reseal the RV’s exterior. I did it a couple of summers ago, but it’s time to do it again. Water damage is a real fear in RVs, so I need to stay on top of it. There’s always some kind of maintenance and repairs to take care of.

Isolation in an RV

Yet another con to a nomadic lifestyle is the potential for isolation. We do meet a lot of people and spend time with them. But it’s not the same as being in a neighborhood and having a group of friends. Steve is excellent company and my best friend, but sometimes we both feel a little isolated. We’ve met other couples who say RV life for retirees is fine, but we want to experience it all now! So do we. But it does feel a little lonely sometimes.

A gentleman we met at Steve’s Dad’s independent living facility told us what we’re doing is fine for now. But there’ll come a time when we need community again, and we’ll know when it’s time to settle back down. He’s not wrong.

Best Things About Full-Time RV Life Wrap up

Now, after hearing some of the cons, you might ask yourself why choose RV living. And the answer is pretty easy. Full-time RV living offers a blend of freedom, adventure, and community. We love that we are experiencing different cultures with an RV. We’re seeing parts of North America that not everyone gets to travel to.

While it’s not for everyone, those who embrace this lifestyle often find it incredibly rewarding. We hope you’ve benefited from reading our list of best things about living in an RV. So, maybe you’ll consider RV life for couples now. We’ve even met some folks who are totally into RV life for families.

You can determine if RV life is right for you by considering the pros and cons. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and embark on your own adventure!