RV camping is a wonderful way to experience the great outdoors in West Virginia. The state offers unrivaled scenery and tranquility combined with a wealth of history and outdoor activities ideal for campers of all ages. Whether you’re traveling to an RV resort, a state or national park, or another public campground, you’ll find it quite an adventure. In order to have a good time, however, you need to be well prepared, and these RV camping tips may help.
Have the RV serviced
Safety is vital when taking an RV road trip. Ensuring that your recreational vehicle is efficient reduces the likelihood of accidents or breakdowns along the way. Have the vehicle serviced. Have the fluids and hoses checked, the tire conditions and pressures checked, and perform an overall evaluation to be safe. Also, perform a full exterior inspection of the vehicle. Be sure the RV awnings are secured and that there isn’t any damage that needs to be addressed.
Carry a few tools
Though you might have had the RV serviced, you can never tell what will go wrong on the road. Should there be a minor issue, you may be able to repair it by reading the owner’s manual — if you have the right tools. You don’t have to get carried away, but jumper cables, lug wrenches, and a tire gauge are a few things you’ll want to have on hand.
Pack light
If your recreational vehicle is large, you may be tempted to pack a ton of things. This can backfire, however. The more items you have, the heavier your load, which will increase the cost of traveling. And you'll have less space to comfortably accommodate yourself and other travelers. Be practical, as you may be on a campsite and otherwise away from things you need, but don’t overpack.
Plan activities along your route
Your destination may be West Virginia, but you may be hours or days on the road. To keep things interesting, plan activities along the way. The states that surround West Virginia are full of parks, museums, and recreation centers, and all maintain state-of-the-art visitor centers on interstate highways just with the entrance to every state. Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all offer much to see and do.
Get out and mingle
Once you’ve arrived at the campground, get outside and mingle. If you're a veteran camper, you know that lots of families and individuals enjoy the outdoors as much as you do. You never know what you'll learn about the surrounding area or who you'll meet along the way. Because West Virginia is many respects an "undiscovered country," many celebrities vacation here where they can enjoy relative anonymity.
The great state of West Virginia awaits! If you’re going to get the true experience on this RV road trip, it's important that you prepare. Keeping safety first, make sure that your vehicle has been serviced and that you’ve packed the appropriate tools. Keep it light-but-practical when packing. Plan your route, and have fun mingling with other members of the West Virginia camping community.
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