Explore the National Parks in an RV
When I think of an RV, my mind immediately goes to a dad in 12” inseam shorts and flip flops, sunburnt imprint of Oakley’s on his face, corralling his children to a historical marker on the side of the road.
Recreational Vehicles, fondly abbreviated to RVs, are emblematic of America’s lust for the open road. Ingeniously combining shelter and transportation, RVs have everything needed for extended adventures. Depending on the size, they come equipped with a kitchenette (including a stove, sink, refrigerator, and table), a shower, and a full-sized bed. Previously, RVs were designed for families with lots of vacation time and disposable income, with price tags ranging from $35,000-$300,000. Nowadays, convenient rental opportunities make it possible to get a taste of RV livin’ without the full commitment.
The rise in rental platforms, such as Airbnb and HipCamp, have made traveling more accessible, while creating a new market for owners to make passive income on their land, homes, cars, vans, and more. Outdoorsy.com is a rental website specific to RVs, vans, and trailers, and where we found our RV rental.
With a group of six, we set out to explore two National Parks in an RV: Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Yellowstone National Park is a geological wonder, the land spotted with geothermal hot springs and geysers. The park is also a sanctuary for wildlife, two notable species being the endangered gray wolves and the once-endangered bison. The Grand Tetons are an impressive mountain range that jut far into the sky and expand over miles. The rocky terrain is dotted with coniferous trees, and from the air, the Tetons are folded over one another, concealing snow-fed lakes and steep summits. Like wrinkles of Earth.
The two parks were ideal to navigate between, as it takes just under an hour to drive from one edge of the park to the other. We began our trip in Jackson, spending two days exploring the Grand Tetons. A few of us ran a half-marathon organized by Vacation Races, rising with the sun to run 13.1 miles through Yellowstone. The remaining three days were spent in Yellowstone, hiking to waterfalls and watching wildlife.
RVs create an opportunity for a very unique National Park experience. Parks and BLM land have built the infrastructure necessary to host these larger vehicles and make traveling in an RV simple. In the parks, there will be campgrounds specific to RVs, where you can find a different on-the-road community at each spot. Outside the parks, RV parks offer a secure location to park overnight and handle RV maintenance such as emptying gray water and supplementing the water supply.
Benefits
Mobility. You don’t have to feel tied down, or make plans to head back for the night.
Cost-effective
Can fit a group comfortably
Huge windows offer unfettered views of the park
Spontaneous dance parties upon spotting beautiful vistas
Lots of room for activities! We never felt crowded on top of each other, because there was so much sitting room. We could work at the kitchen table, hang out in the back room, or play copilot up front.
Logistics
Your new home on wheels will require some work on your part, if you’re game. With good communication and teamwork, everything will play out seamlessly!
At first, we were hesitant about renting an RV because of the responsibility, and liability, of driving around a 30 foot vehicle. One of us had a commercial driver’s license, although no special license is required to drive an RV (just recommended, haha). Before renting an RV, discuss with your group who feels comfortable driving. I’d recommend having two-three people ready to accept the challenge, so they can alternate resting and driving long routes. Trusting yourself and your friends to drive a 30 foot RV through winding mountainous roads...that’s life, baby!
Here are a few tips on ensuring a safe and stress-free experience when renting your first RV:
Do a quick inspection of the vehicle, inside and out. Take photos of any damage you see, so you won’t be held liable for it later on.
Record all the instructions the RV owner gives you. When you’re panicking later because the poopy water is about to overflow, you’ll be grateful for the imparted wisdom captured on your phone.
Identify what the RV comes prepped with, such as dishware and tools, and supplement as needed.
Ask about spare tires, gas mileage, registration, and insurance. See if your host has any local secrets (like parking) they’ll let you in on. Usually, they’ll share because they are vested in the condition of their RV.
Gray water. Although it varies from rental to rental, you will most likely have to empty the gray water tank, which is all of the waste for the week. It’s super smelly, but manageable. It can be alleviated by only using the bathroom in emergencies, opting for gas station and grocery store restrooms instead. The sink and shower still contribute to the gray water tank, so we decided to say fuck it, and use our RV to it’s full, glorious potential.
Make sure there’s enough space to sleep everyone in your group! Our RV slept six people: two in the bed, one on the futon couch, one on the converted kitchen table bed (a tight squeeze), and two on the top bunk above the driver’s seat.
A Flat Tire
On the second day of the trip, as we made preparations to depart the town of Jackson to head into the mountains, one of us had the foresight to do a walk around the vehicle to ensure we were in good shape. And what do you know, the tire was going flat and the interior wall had burst. Shit!
I want to brag for a moment about my people- instead of screaming, crying, arguing, or resigning in frustration, we immediately went into problem-solving mode. We consulted fellow RV owners parked around us. With a little soap and water, shaken and poured over the tire, we were able to see where the tire was leaking air. We were immediately in contact with the RV owner, because we knew there were no spare tires with the vehicle.
The flat tire was a result of a manufacturing defect, and because of that, we were not held liable for the cost of repairs and damages. If we hadn’t seen the flat before we left, we would’ve been barreling down a small road and the tire would’ve burst in action, sending the entire weight of the RV down with it. It would’ve cost thousands of dollars if the entire frame shifted forward, dragging on the road. Not only that, it could’ve been very dangerous.
Luckily, we were still in town so there was an auto shop within a few miles of us. While we wanted to get a tow, the owner insisted that it was okay to drive it to get repaired. Due to the nature of the flat, we were hesitant to do this and made sure we had in writing that if the tire burst in that short trip to the auto shop, we were not liable for any damages incurred. The repair was finished within an hour, and did not delay the rest of our trip. We were incredibly grateful that we had to deal with this the second day of the trip, and not in some remote region of the wilderness later on in the week. Our plans weren’t derailed in the slightest. Biggest lesson here? Be prepared to handle an emergency, and only travel with people who you know will be helpful in those situations.
Overnight Parking
She’s got a wide load! With an RV, there are different parameters around camping so be sure to search for rules specific to the park or location you plan to stay around. Speak with the locals to get a feel for how aggressive local law enforcement is about parking. You can always chance your luck and hope that nobody bothers you, but I’d rather avoid being woken up by a cop banging at the door for illegal parking.
Dispersed camping on BLM lands
Walmart
Super 8 or any other low-key motels
RV Campgrounds ($$$)
Yes, we did say, “Are we there yet?” over a hundred times and no, we never got sick of it. Cram yourselves in an RV and reclaim the outdoors with your chosen family.
