For the past year my husband, our two dogs, and I have been living full-time in an RV.
Some people think we’re crazy — in fact, most do — while others are very curious and consider doing the same. The question we hear most often is: what is it like to live in an RV?
It’s understandable. RV living isn’t the conventional American dream, and until recently I never imagined I’d do it either. It wasn’t a lifelong goal or something I’d planned. One step into an RV changed that for me. Living full-time in our RV has been one of the best decisions we’ve made — we really love it.
In case you’re new here, below is a photo of our home:
Over the past year we’ve driven roughly 15,000 miles in the RV, plus many additional miles in our Jeep. We’ve visited so many incredible places, including:
- The Pacific Northwest: Wes cycled 1,000 miles from Port Angeles, Washington to San Francisco while I drove the RV with our dogs. We explored Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Kalaloch and Ruby Beach, the Hoh Rainforest, La Push Beach, and more — a trip of a lifetime.
- Utah (many visits): Arches, Canyonlands, Moab, and other stunning areas.
- Colorado (many visits): Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, and more.
- Our base in Missouri.
- Mississippi.
- Arizona: Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Sedona, and surrounding areas.
- California: continuing down the coast toward Los Angeles after the Pacific Northwest leg.
- Wyoming: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
And that’s only a portion of where we’ve been — there’s much more.
If you’re curious about RV living, there are many useful resources and guides available on the subject. From getting started with RVing to budgeting, making money on the road, and tips for families, you can find detailed posts that cover practical topics and common questions for new RVers.
You can park your home wherever you want.
One of the greatest benefits of RV life is bringing your home with you. Traveling becomes seamless because you don’t forget essentials — your living space, kitchen, and comforts travel with you. We can chase the weather, visit friends and family on our schedule, or relocate to places that excite us.
Chasing better weather is a real perk for us. We keep a very simple wardrobe geared toward warm weather and avoid cold climates. I essentially live in flip-flops, shorts, and tank tops year-round — and I enjoy it.
It’s exciting to live in new places all the time.
The views from our RV windows are constantly changing, and they’ve been spectacular. We’ve parked outside national parks, overlooked mountain ranges, and experienced many different landscapes.
Because of that variety, boredom disappears. There are always new hikes, paddle boarding spots, restaurants, Jeep trails, and biking routes to try. We’re rarely without something to do.
Not seeing friends and family regularly feels different.
At first I felt sad about being away from friends and family. Missing life events and the small everyday moments was hard. We try to go home as often as we can, but the adjustment took time.
Over time the feeling of FOMO faded. Now we focus on enjoying the visits we do have, even if they’re brief.
Working while living in an RV works well.
RV living has pushed me to improve my work-life balance, plan ahead, and increase passive income. My business has grown, and I manage everything more efficiently. Working from beautiful places is motivating — I often work from the passenger seat and glance at scenery while I’m on the laptop.
For connectivity we use a mobile hotspot (MiFi) and multiple cell carriers to ensure coverage. This setup is common among full-time RVers and keeps us connected for work and navigation.
Scary movies feel even scarier in an RV.
If you enjoy horror films or shows about zombies, watching them inside an RV can make the experience more intense. As a friendly warning: after a scary movie, letting the dogs out at night can feel a lot more dramatic.
Driving an RV is fun but can be stressful.
Wes usually drives while I sit upfront to help keep an eye on the road. Driving an RV isn’t inherently difficult, but there are risks: careless drivers, road construction, and rough patches demand constant attention.
We limit driving on travel days to about 250 miles, which keeps trips manageable and reduces stress. Because we take our time, travel days are less frequent.
Making friends on the road is easy and unique.
There’s an instant camaraderie when you meet fellow RVers. New friendships form quickly — lots of laughs after a short conversation — and goodbyes can feel bittersweet because everyone moves on at their own pace.
It’s common to be invited to join neighbors for drinks right after arriving at a campground. That spontaneous friendliness is a normal, fun part of RV life.
Downsizing is liberating.
Living in an RV forces you to reduce possessions. While downsizing can be daunting at first, it becomes freeing. When we sold our house and moved into an RV we donated and sold many items. Over time it got easier, and now we’re content with a small, well-chosen set of belongings.
We buy less, waste less, and save more. The outdoors become our main pastime, so we no longer spend time shopping for things we don’t need. Instead, we explore new places and experiences.
We still get along in close quarters.
One common question is whether couples survive the tight space. We do — if we didn’t, RVing would be near impossible. Arguments in an RV can be intense because there’s little privacy and nowhere to escape, so getting along is important.
Yes, RVers take showers.
Contrary to some stereotypes, RVs have functioning bathrooms and showers. RV showers aren’t exactly like home showers — you need to manage hot water usage — but they work well and haven’t been an issue for us.
Food seems to taste better on the road.
We both agree that meals taste better when you’re RVing. Maybe it’s the scenery, the slower pace, or the sense of adventure, but dinner always feels more enjoyable.
Are you interested in living in an RV? Why or why not?