Make Memories with an RV Vacation

Having been to almost every theme park in Orlando and on a few cruises, our family of three went off the beaten path for vacation this year.

We decided to channel our inner Chevy Chase and see the Grand Canyon and other cool places out west.

Oh, and we LOVE to RV.

RV Road Trip — Father’s Day somewhere on California’s Coast.

Tips for a Successful RV Vacation

We have a pull-behind camper that doubles as the Sparks Hilton during football season, but the thought of pulling it thousands of miles wasn’t anything to cheer about.

We discovered it’s not as hard as you might think to plan a destination RV vacay.

All you have to do is rent from a reputable company (we flew to Las Vegas and rented from Road Bear RV), plan your route and hit the road.

What You Must Love

In the “must love” category … RVing in general.

It requires some specialized … um … maintenance that can be avoided by staying in a hotel (ahem, Cousin Eddie come to mind?) And, it’s a relatively small space, so it helps if you actually like the people RVing with you.

You also need to love trip planning, which my husband does. He got to flex his travel agent muscle by researching all the possible locations to camp, selecting activities at every stop and planning our itinerary. He earned the name “Sparky!

What You Have to Do

RV Adventure Rafting Break — Taking a break from white water rafting on the Merced River.

Then there’s the “must do” beforehand – make a grocery list.

That may sound super simple, but the last thing our 8-year-old wanted to do was go grocery shopping after picking up the RV.

The rental company from will hook you up with all the essentials like real plates, cups, utensils, small appliances and pots/pans. Ours even provided outdoor chairs, and some will rent mountain bikes. But, with our previous camping experience, I knew I’d need things like ziptop baggies, shower gel, charcoal and ice pops.

You run the risk of ruining the journey before it even starts because most excited kids had rather be logging miles in the Family Truckster to get to the fun places than pushing a cart through Wal-Mart.

Trust me. Make a detailed list to get the shopping done as quickly as possible.

Those Must Haves

Finally, there are some “must haves” … starting with the current year road atlas.

The rental company provided one, and we were so glad they did! We relied on turn-by-turn from Siri most of the time, but when it comes to showing your kid the entire route (all 1,881 miles of it), nothing replaces tracing the route with your finger on a map of the U.S.

Pam Sparks RV Vacation — Breathtaking views in Yosemite National Park.

And, Siri seems to be “unable to take requests” at the most inconvenient times. I can’t figure out what she’s up to in those moments, but it must be pretty important if she can’t help us navigate our way down the side of a mountain on a road we’ve never been on in our lives.

Also, the Sparks family needed a bottle opener rather than the corkscrew provided by the rental company. This is because places like Straight to Ale and Blue Pants Brewery have us completely ruined for anything other than local craft beer. Caps that don’t twist off can pose an unwanted challenge because RVing is like a tailgate party that never ends.

Finally, take some card games. We played hundreds games of UNO (no exaggeration) over 10 days.

Adventure Together

Is RVing more affordable than going to Disney or on a cruise? With gas at $4+ per gallon, not really. We spent about the same on 10 days of RVing as we did on a 7-night cruise.

But for a family who loves adventure, togetherness and visiting new places, we found unquantifiable value in the memories made.

We’re already planning next year … renting out of Salt Lake City and going to Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton and Arches.

We think the Griswolds would approve!

About the Author: Pam Sparks

Pam Sparks wanted to relocate to the Tennessee Valley when she graduated from the University of Alabama in 1996. Three moves — first to East Tennessee, back to Tuscaloosa, then all the way to East Texas — and she finally made it to Madison in 2006. Pam has been in health care marketing and public relations for more than 10 years. She loves the responsibilities and challenges of her career and active volunteer schedule, but her most important responsibility is being an epic mom for her son, “Speedy.” Always up for a new challenge, Pam’s dream is to be a competitor on the Amazing Race!