It’s a great idea to plan most of your vacations well in advance so you have plenty of time to grab the reservations you want, but nothing beats a last-minute camping trip in your new or used RV. Here are a few tips for embracing the spontaneity and enjoying a successful last-minute camping trip.
- Use the Weather to Your Advantage
One of the best things about taking a last-minute camping trip is that you have an updated and accurate forecast, which can inform everything from the activities you plan to the things you pack. It’s a little harder to pack with a forecast longer than 7-10 in advance, because so much can change – and to be safe, you’ll need to pack more to cover a wider range of unexpected weather. But with a spontaneous trip, you can check the immediate forecast and confidently pack fewer items.
2. Keep Stuff Stocked & Packed
One easy way to hit the road quickly is to already have your camping gear and necessities packed. For instance, my family keeps small to medium size plastic lidded totes to hold the following:
- Hammocks
- First aid kit
- Disposable items like paper goods, toilet paper, & garbage bags
- Campsite essentials: citronella candles, bug repellant, sunscreen
- Camping linens including bath towels, wash cloths, dishwashing cloths, bedding sheets, etc.
- Flashlights, extra batteries, camp tools
Allow yourself to have a designated camp set of dishes and cooking utensils to keep in your RV so you don’t have to lug things in and out of your home. Plus, you won’t run the risk of forgetting things like a can opener if you have your essentials already living in the RV!
Having these things stay in bins allows you to simply grab and go – slide them into your new or used RV’s pass-through storage and hit the road!
3. Keep the Meals EASY
Last-minute camping trips need to be simple. Don’t go overboard on your meal plan. Just last weekend, we packed instant oatmeal cups for breakfast and sandwich fixings for lunch each day. The electric kettle heated up water for oatmeal and coffee each morning, and non-perishable snacks like granola bars and beef jerky tided the kids over each afternoon. Enjoy the benefits of keeping it simple and hassle-free!
4. Stay Close to Home
If you have only 3 days and 2 nights to take a whirlwind camping trip, stay close to home! There’s no sense in using up a majority of the time you have to get away just in driving. Try to find a campground within a couple hours and enjoy the time away!
5. Stay Road-Ready
One of the best ways to be able to take a last-minute camping trip is to make sure your RV stays in road-ready condition. You can make sure it’s ready to travel whenever you want by scheduling routine RV service. We can help, so contact us today!
