RVs are self-contained homes on wheels that take us any place we want. But just because we can, should we? The conundrum of Coronavirus RV travel is weighing heavy on the minds of all RVers, but especially full-timers like me. Hitting the road brings on a whole new set of pandemic concerns.
Thinking Before Turning the Key
Today, there’s more to think about before hitting the road.
That old song by the Clash keeps playing in my head. “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” The RVer’s mantra of “If you don’t like the neighborhood, then turn the key and leave,” now gives us reason to pause and consider the ramifications of doing so.
Many RVers aren’t waiting for the Pandemic all-clear and hitting the road now. The wisest ones are trying to steer clear of interacting with people along the way. I’ve considered doing the same, but then I got to thinking about the What Ifs. Even if I don’t think my husband and I will interact with other campers, it’s always possible we would need to. The usual road trip necessities take on entirely new considerations:
- Filling up at fueling stations means touching gas pumps, pin pads and sometimes interacting with cashiers.
- Since many parks aren’t yet accepting guests, I worry about encountering too many people in the few dispersed camping areas that are open.
- When we need to dump, we’ll need to visit a dump station, touched by the hands of many other campers. Wearing gloves can protect us, but they’re not foolproof
- And finally, when we run out of food, we will need to go into a local grocery stores and interact with locals.
My husband and I are fortunate in that we are sheltering in place in a beautiful location on private property. Our friends invited us to stay indefinitely, but some days the old hitch itch lingers in the back of my mind. When it happens, reality sets in. Apparently I’m not the only full-timer who’s been contemplating the realities of Coronavirus RV travel.
Putting the (Temporary) Brakes on the Full-timing Life
Ross and Jamie give careful thought to RVing during Coronavirus.
Ross and Jamie of Making the Lives We Want, a Practice in Living, are in predicament familiar to the million or so full-time RVers in America. The online music educators, performers and educators are presently waiting out the pandemic in a Florida RV park. As daily temperatures rise, they give a lot of thought to whether or not they should leave.
“We have considered leaving, for sure,” said Jamie in an email interview. She and Ross are from New England, but domiciled in Florida. They had intended to meander up to see family and friends this summer. But when Coronavirus hit, they considered all the ramifications of leaving their current location. They they decided to stay.
“For us right now, we’ve decided staying put here, at a year-round park with full hookups that we can afford with no risk of getting kicked out,” says Jamie. “(it) beats the potential benefits of moving elsewhere, where we aren’t local (we’re Florida residents), where we may have trouble finding a place to stay moving forward, or where we wouldn’t have full hookups or a strong enough internet signal to work.”
Before reaching this conclusion, they considered relocating to their old stomping grounds in New Hampshire. But that dream quickly came to an end when state parks banned non-residents from camping during the pandemic. The practicalities of heading north didn’t outweigh the advantages of staying put in Florida, she explains in their blog:
“Even if family offers to host us, I don’t think we’d be comfortable doing so with this virus on the loose (we’d need to use their shower and laundry facilities at minimum), and if no campgrounds will have us, it just doesn’t make sense to go up there.”
Picking up and moving used to be so easy for full-timers like us. If you are one too, I know you can relate. During the last few weeks it’s become very clear that during the age of Coronavirus, RV travel is filled with so much uncertainty that waiting out the pandemic and sheltering in place makes more sense than chasing after wanderlust. In the meantime, there’s no harm in dreaming about the RV Life After Covid-19, right?
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
I do NOT understand some of these “Concerns” you raise. The Dump Station for one stands out. UM, yes regardless of Pandemic or not WEAR Gloves. You are dealing with human waste, for heavens sake. And if you are that scared, Then stay put. But, don’t let your Phobias influnece others. For the past 3 months (Yes, with Covid-19 runnung amuk), I have had to care for my wifes wounds post op. I had to clean wounds, dispense IV’s and keep her safe. All while trying to use saline syringes to clean a PICC Line wearing Gloves. So, I am pretty confident that the gloves and Pre and Post snitizer work to kill germ spread. Likewise on ALL other interactions for Fuel and Such. If you have Gloves and/or a mask use them. I do NOT understand the Running out of Food deal. I Stock up well, before we leave. And we have Freeze Dried and other backups for food. In the event of emergency or pandemic.
people who are full timers eventually run out of food we do not have a stick brick building to store eatables so we have to go shopping. as far as gloves and masks they only work if you use them properly most people don’t or won’t use them for what ever reason. our theory is better safe than sorry be safe and don’t let the grass grow under your wheels.
My wife and I are full timers – we go home every night – wherever it happens to be parked. We have no “sticks-and-bricks” home. So we do not have (nor want) to make a choice of home or RV. Our home IS our RV. We happen to be in Mesa AZ at the present time. The air conditioner lowers the indoor temperature to the high 90s. So we have made reservations at a higher elevation where it is cooler. And we will move our RV to get there. The effects that covid 19 have had are that the swimming pools are closed and friendly meeting new fellow travelers is more difficult. Also, eating out in restaurants has been curtailed. The effects on us RVers is minimal when compared with those that are trying to support a family when the restaurants where they were wait staff have closed – and others that were trying to make a living.
Hi there, My husband and I are in year 2 of fulltime RV living. We have no home other than our RV. We travel all the time… we were fortunate that when this pandemic hit hardest, we were parked in a park in Ajo, AZ for the winter and were able to extend our stay until May 1st. Arizona has mixed response to the virus as far as businesses and parks go, but we have been on the move since May 1. Honestly, we have not felt much difference with exception that we need to get to Northern California for a few months this summer to help our son and his wife with their first child. Some state restrictions have been more difficult to work with, however, now that more states are starting to loosen restrictions, I suspect it will only get easier from here. Right now, travelling through Nevada, we have been fortunate to find spots. We also are set up to boondock/dry camp and have found dispersed camping and BLM campgrounds open so far along our journey. California still presents as a challenge at this point, but, we don’t have to be there until June, so have time to see how things go. As a retired RN, my advice to anyone considering RV life is to plan ahead… it isn’t just pull into a town and park kind of life… to wash your hands, wear gloves as appropriate, wear a mask when in enclosed areas or heavily populated ones, and enjoy RVing!
We full time and run from the cold and the heat. Yes while wintering in So CA the pool activities and bingo were canceled. We stayed an extra month then moved on to AZ. The temps climbed to low 100’s when the states started opening. We are traveling to make it to Western NC where we spend our summers and are considered residents. Texas and Oklahoma have been great. The RV Parks have contactless registration and all is working great. We keep a months worth of supplies since COVID just in case we are required to self quarantine for 14 days. I probably have a 2 month supply if I had to stretch it. We keep the fuel tank and fresh water tank full. Also, just in case. Inviting people to sit and chat does not happen as often due to social distancing but campers are still the friendliest people. As a full timer we have the best of places to shelter in place. Campgrounds are open for business as the states open up. We on on our way to TN for the next 9 weeks then on to NC.
Just returned from the English North Countryside in the UK where there are virtually no problems and social distance is practiced.
When we arrived in Phoenix, we were surprised to see much evidence of pre virus change. We left the next day for our regular spring location in Albuquerque.
We had no issues with making a reservation before our return to the states and although booking for a month, we will be able to extend if necessary.
Our plans for going back east are on hold and we will decide on a week to week basis. At this time it doesn’t seem like a good time to travel.
Were finishing our third year of full timing, and will be moving into a apartment in the fall when the building is completed……..but, we have decided to spend as much time on the road as we can……when / if this passes.
This decision was made before the pandemic .
We will miss the full time life, but not as much if this virus situation lingers.
Stay well
In early Feb we unfortunately began a very detailed post retirement plan to travel across the country from California to Florida (where we will be living) to visit National parks and other sites.
In early March we started replanning entire trip after several RV parks closed as well as all National parks. While we can still travel but it has become extremely difficult. Parks are closed everywhere. When they are open then the amenities are closed. Forget pools or bath rooms, showers, community centers and tennis courts – all are closed. You have the option of staying in your RV but that is it.
There are now few restaurants open but service is weird. There are no activities open. Most municipalities have closed off hiking trails as well.
Yes you can travel but it aint much fun. We keep moving slowly East. We have made it to West Florida and will soon be in St Augustine where our home is being built. May be a while before we hit the road again.
Just a quick comment. All the concerns mentioned are present if you are static, or in sticks n bricks. If you can get a reservation, or be self sufficient, gloves/masks/staying 6′ from others is safe. Also, credit or debit, Cash can be iffy. 👍🌞
Ross & Jamie:
It’s always wise to pay attention to what’s going on. But in my opinion, as a veteran Paramedic who has treated 20,000+ patients, you are over-reacting. Sometimes it helps to put things in perspective: The reality is, fewer than 5-6 people out of 100 will contract Covid. Of those who do get it, 98% of them survive. I would love to see some numbers re: RV folks, because other than being at sea in a submarine, I can’t think of any group of people less likely to get sick.
Listen to what the other posters are saying. You’re probably more likely to get hurt in a traffic collision. Just be careful and live your life. And for godsake, forget the “stay inside” idiocy. You don’t get much safer than fresh air and sunshine.