Now, you can probably agree here that a U.S. road trip has been aggressively romanticised for years, and yeah, films have a lot to answer for there. Basically when it comes to these family road trips (like that National Lampoon movie), you usually see endless highways, neon motels, cute diners, desert views, mountain roads, everybody somehow looking amazing in the front seat with the windows down, not a single one of them arguing over directions, petrol, or where on earth to stop that giant vehicle. But you get the idea, these movies (and shows) just make this look incredible, and it probably is.
It all looks very effortless on screen. Very freedom, very adventure, very “pack up and go”. So, of course, people build this lovely little fantasy around doing the same thing in real life, even in an RV. Which makes sense, but be it a car, van, or an RV, well, there’s some challenges, especially when it comes to an RV (and these things are way bigger in the US than your traditional caravan). So, here are some things you might want to keep in mind before planning that dream trip.
Not Every Campsite Setup Will Feel Familiar to European Travellers
And there’s a reason to start right here, because even if you’re used to campsites and going by caravan, it’s still different. And sure, this is one of those things that sounds obvious until it isn’t. A lot of people hear “campsite” and picture something fairly standard, something they can more or less guess their way through. But in the U.S., that can mean all sorts. Some places are scenic and relaxed, some are really just practical stopovers, and some are built up enough to feel like little holiday parks with their own rules, layouts, and general personality.
As you can see, when it comes to looking into an RV campsite, there’s just a lot of variety. So you can’t just pick one and hope for the best, because the prices vary, the same goes for the hookups, amenities, location, and so much more. Well, that, and some are charming, some are more functional, and some are clearly designed for people who already know the drill.
Driving an RV in the U.S. isn’t the Same as Hiring a Car
And maybe that’s pretty obvious. A lot of people rent an RV in America, and that part’s completely normal. It’s a really common way to do the trip. But okay, that still doesn’t mean it feels natural straight away. It’s a bigger vehicle, it turns differently, it parks differently, and it definitely doesn’t glide neatly into every fuel stop or snack stop as a little hire car would. If you have never driven one before, you might struggle, you might put yourself at risk. Hopefully you don’t, but there could be a chance.
You Need to Know the Laws
Just keep in mind here that different states can have different rules around parking, overnight stays, road use, and RV-related requirements, and no, “didn’t know” isn’t going to feel like a strong defence once there’s a problem. Police don’t care if you’re a foreigner; you’re still expected to know the laws the second you cross state lines.
collaborative post