But then my husband and I started to think about the possibility of renting an RV for a summer vacation. Having someone have the RV all set up at the campsite of our choice seemed like a game-changer for us: No hassle of car seats in the RV, or figuring out what hose goes where so you can flush (very important, FYI). So we started our search at GoRVing.com, looking at RV options that were right for us, and ended up finding the perfect RV for our family at Outdoorsy.com, a peer-to-peer RV rental company. We chose a travel trailer, the Alpha Wolf Bunkhouse by Forest River ($139/night) and decided to book a weeklong RV camping trip at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport, MD. We chose that one due to its proximity, but there are over 75 Jellystone Park locations in the US and Canada to choose from. If you’re looking to book an RV family trip this summer, or wondering the best campsites in every state to try, we have you covered. Here’s the best advice for making your family RV trip a getaway to remember.
Family RV Trip Tips
How to find an RV
Sites like Outdoorsy.com, Cruise America, RVshare.com, and RVezy.com are a great place to start since you can rent an RV of your choice and have the RV owner set it up for you at the campsite, or you can arrange to pick up the RV at your leisure. The industry website www.GoRVing.com provides a lot of great information on the different types of RV and their prices, but the best resource for finding the right RV is to head to your local RV dealer. When traveling with kids, don’t forget to check the amenities that the RV rental offers. For instance, our kids still take baths, so our travel trailer rental came with a bath and shower (yes, with hot water!), to rinse off.
How much does it cost to rent an RV?
As far as cost, motorized and towable options range from under $6,000 for a small pop-up trailer all the way up to million-dollar coaches. RV Rental costs vary based on the location, season, size, age of RV and type of RV. An RV similar to the one we rented is between $100-$140 per night. If you wanted to rent a motorhome that you can drive, the prices are a bit higher, with a range of $150-$250 per night.
Where to stay
There are more than 18,000 campgrounds across the US ranging from rustic to luxurious, so to narrow down our search, we looked for a family-friendly RV campsite that our kids would enjoy. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport, Maryland, was exactly what we were looking for. The cost for RV sites during the week range from $52 per night for a site with full hook-ups up to $69 for a premium buddy site. Prices are higher on weekends and holidays. The resort also offers 1-and 2-bedroom cabins, as well as tent campsites to rent. (Cabins range from $108-$225/night, depending on the cabin; tent sites on average are $40/night).
What to do
The answer here is endless. At Jellystone Park in Williamsport, Maryland, your reservation includes free admission to their two pools, toddler splash pad areas, two 400-foot water slides, mini-golf, pedal carts, laser tag, playgrounds and daily free activities, from daily “Yogacize” stretches with Yogi Bear and friends, to hayrides around the campsite. This site also included a free dog park, where our pup loved to run around, gem mining, and a ninja course for kids ($5 per kid, adults were free). When I signed up for the free Jellystone app, I was alerted every hour to different activities going on—from teen glow-in-the-dark volleyball, one-hour dance parties, free pony rides, BINGO games, and more. I almost forgot the resort’s giant jumping pillow and pad, where my 3-year-old jumped out all her energy out. Even I got to live out my middle school Camp Nowhere dreams bouncing on that thing. You can also rent a golf cart to drive around the campgrounds to get from activity to activity, with the average daily cost about $64 a day during weekdays to rent and $71 a day during weekends. As for nighttime entertainment, a family movie (such as Finding Dory, Yogi Bear or Surf’s Up) played at their outdoor movie screen every night at 9 pm. Popcorn and candy are available for purchase beforehand!
What to eat
We hit up the local Walmart to stock up on the camping essentials like hot dogs, s’mores, burgers, eggs, etc., but campers at Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport can also stop by the Campfire Canteen, where items like burgers, French fries, pizza, and ice cream are sold. The Canteen also offers an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and ice cream socials for the whole family.
Things to remember when RVing with kids
Your schedule will be affected. Despite everything we did to keep our 1-year old’s sleep schedule on track, naps were hit or miss in the RV. I traveled with black trash bags and painter’s tape to make sure the room would be pitch black for nighttime sleeping and that helped, but one night she was up for the majority of it. My husband was in the other bed with our toddler, so I was worried the baby would wake everyone up. Nothing like a 4 am party in an RV! I blasted the two sound machines we had, and luckily that worked. And I just had an extra cup of coffee that morning—thanks to the Keurig that came with the RV rental.Check what linens, blankets, towels and other necessities come with the RV and confirm beforehand. For instance, RV toilet paper is a thing, so be sure that the RV either is stocked up on them, or you may have to run out to buy. Our RV rental came with linens, blankets, pillows, and extra TP. As far as kitchen appliances, the RV was equipped with a sink, microwave, oven, refrigerator, freezer and a Keurig machine. Our RV rental also included utensils, pots, pans, plates, paper towels, bowls, dish soap, as well as trash bags, cleaning supplies (even a mini vacuum) and a broom which made clean-up easy.
At the end of the day, there was nothing like taking an RV camping trip with my family. After the uncertainty of 2020, there was something really special about staying in close proximity with our kids and enjoying the simple freedoms and pure joy that only camping and RVing can offer. I’ve never seen my daughter smile more than collecting sticks in the woods, building a fire with her dad, and biting into a big s’more. Every night at bedtime, our 3-year-old asks us to tell her a “campfire story”—a nighttime tradition we started at Jellystone—and I smile recalling our special week together. Next, best beach vacation ideas.
