You’ll likely always recall your first RV trip. Whether you’ll remember it for its success or its spectacular failure is up to you and how much work you put into planning and preparing for it. From meal planning to packing lists, itinerary development to deciding on a campground, there’s a lot to think about and keep track of.
Here at Bretz Airstream in Missoula, Montana, we want our customers to have a successful trip the first time and every time after. That’s why we’ve designed this brief guide. Read on to learn the tips that we think are important for anyone heading out for their first time. If you’re in the market for a new RV, consider an Airstream from Bretz Airstream. These iconic RVs provide the perfect setup for first timers and veterans alike.
Plans & Lists
Plans make life easier, and when there are so many things to keep track of while camping, a plan will save you a lot of hassle. It’s best to start by making a general outline of your trip that includes an itinerary, budget, and list of goals for the trip. These goals don’t have to be elaborate, but if you state outright that your goal is to see all of the national parks in a given region, or to simply spend a week with cold drinks on the beach, you’ll have a better idea of how much planning you need to put in. Once you’ve decided those elements, make an itinerary for how you will spend your time. This is especially important if you are planning multiple stops on your trip. Once you create your itinerary, you can then start making campsite reservations. You’ll want to consider your budget throughout this stage of the planning process, considering the fact that a hard monetary limit will reduce your options for how much time you can spend on your trip and what places you can afford to visit. After you’ve completed your general plan, start filling in more specific lists. If it’s your first time camping, you’ll probably want to develop a checklist for setting up and breaking down camp, a list for general items that can be kept in your RV long term, a list of supplies you need to buy, and so on.
Packing
With the outline of your trip in mind, you’ll have a clear picture for what you need to bring. Some find it helpful to develop lists broken up by different activities. You’ll probably know ahead of time that you’ll be doing the basics: cooking, cleaning, bathing, sleeping, and leisure. If you’re heading to the mountains, you’ll know you’ll need cold weather gear for snowshoeing or skiing. At the beach, you’ll be mad if you don’t bring your swimsuit. Stating all of this outright sounds pretty basic, but it’s amazing how easy it is to forget the most obvious things.
Organization
The packing process will reveal how much of the things you planned to bring are actually realistic to bring. Remember, you don’t want to overload your RV with too much cargo. Try to keep all of your packing lists in one place so that you can quickly reference them and go through a final check before you leave. As you pack, you’ll probably notice that you have to sort of put things wherever they’ll fit. If possible, try to create a system for where you store things. Dictate specific locations for certain types of gear and take notes on where you put things. There’s nothing more frustrating than looking for something you’re sure you brought but not finding it.
Enjoy Yourself!
All of this might sound somewhat intimidating, but the truth is a vacation isn’t much of a vacation if you aren’t enjoying yourself. Take time to relax and have fun, even when you know you have a lot of work to do. Make intentional time in your schedule for your favorite activities or just rest, and think about how fun your trip will be instead of focusing on all the details of taking the trip.
If you’re starting to get into the RV lifestyle, stop by Bretz Airstream. We carry the latest from this iconic brand and we can get you set up with everything you need to have an awesome time on your first trip. Located in Missoula, Montana, we proudly serve customers from Kalispell, Bozeman, and Billings, Montana.
