A woman sitting in a folding chair at an RV park in front of her RV.

Tips for Traveling & RV Park Safety for Solo Campers

Road trips and camping aren’t just family activities. Traveling alone is a popular way to get away from it all – enjoying peace and solitude while saving some money on the overall trip. But with all the benefits of solo travel, there are also some unique risks. It’s important to understand how to protect yourself – from RV park safety to staying safe on the road.

RV Park Safety for Your Property

Always Lock Your Doors

One of the most basic safety steps you can take is to simply lock your doors and windows. It’s easy to overlook, but these small barriers are what separates you from the rest of the world. When your vehicle is locked up tight, nobody can enter without you knowing.

Locked doors are even more important when you aren’t around. An unlocked RV when you’re off exploring on foot is a treasure-trove of goodies for potential thieves. They can take everything from your appliances to irreplaceable keepsakes like photos or gifts.

Don’t Leave Valuables Outside

When you travel, you may bring your bicycle with you, or other items like lounge chairs. Everything you leave outside is vulnerable to theft.

 

Don’t Forget About Your Tow Vehicle

If you’re not using a motorhome, you’ll need to make sure you don’t forget that RV park safety applies to your tow vehicle as well! Always lock the doors and try to keep any valuables out of sight.

There are certain items that make more sense to leave in your truck. But the more items you keep in your RV, the safer they’ll be. You can’t keep a perfect eye on your tow vehicle from inside the RV – and when you go to sleep, you won’t necessarily hear someone poking around your truck.

RV Park Safety for Yourself

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

This obvious but critical safety tip is one of the most important things you can do. You can’t always identify threats or risks, but if you pay attention, you’ll be surprised at how much you notice. Just like driving in bad weather, slowing down a little bit and focusing can let you spot things you may have otherwise missed.

Even a well-maintained park can have unsafe areas that appear in a matter of minutes. Sudden rain, erosion or other weather can weaken trees or infrastructure. Since you’ll be on your own, you want to minimize surprises. Take your time and keep your eyes open!

Sometimes you may notice suspicious behavior from other campers, too. There are unruly teens or other problem-causers everywhere in the world – even out in the middle of nowhere in a major national park! If you’re watching for them, you’ll be able to steer clear and keep yourself safe.

Try to Stay Near Populated Areas

Woman relaxing a folding chair in an RV park

Even if your goal is solitude, it’s best to try and stay close to where other people are camping. While you don’t always have strict control over your campsite at an RV park, you can try to stay near groups when hiking the trails in the park.

Solo travel doesn’t need to be a solitary event. Just because you’re moving around the country on your own, doesn’t mean you have to give up on making campsite friends! RV campers are a large community of all types of people – you may just meet your new best friend if you take the time to introduce yourself to other travelers.

Share Your Travel Plans with Family or Friends

Whenever you plan to hit the road on your own, it’s important that you share your itinerary with family or friends. This small bit of information can be a literal lifesaver in the event of a disaster or emergency. Camping alone can leave you stranded if something happens and you can’t contact anyone. This way, if you’re stuck somewhere with no phone reception, someone will know that it’s time to start looking.

Outside of major disasters, knowing where you are can make it easier for your friends to help you. If you need a repair, they can help you find somewhere near your location without you using your data to scour the web.

Consider Traveling with a Dog

You can travel without other people without having to travel alone! The right dog makes a perfect companion for your road trips. Not only do they offer some much-appreciated company on your adventure, but they’re a fantastic deterrent.

Simply having a dog nearby will make you less of a target for thieves. The sound of a barking dog can make someone skulking around your RV think twice about trying to make their way in. A dog can also help keep you safe on the trails – not only from other people, but from wild animals. They’ll often notice a potential threat from a much greater distance that you could.

It’s easier than you think to travel with a pet! If you need some tips, read our recommendations for RV travel with pets.

Tips for Staying Safe on the Road

Keep a GPS Handy

In the past, traveling in new places could be confusing. While you’re on the road, you have the advantage of a small device that can not only tell you where to go, but also tell you where you are.

Being lost can be stressful – but stress isn’t the only issue. Especially on long stretches of road, you run the risk of running out of gas and getting stranded.

Your GPS can be your best friend to help prevent situations like this. Use it to plan out your next moves as you continue on the road. Whenever you stop, take a look at where you’re going to make sure you can get there safely.

Avoid Backroads & Poorly-Lit Areas

While your GPS can do a good job of keeping you on track, you’ll sometimes have to make an “executive decision” to avoid potentially hazardous routes or obviously unsafe stops. An important part of traveling alone is to keep yourself visible and near help if necessary.

Backroads, while sometimes faster, can be less traveled and often poorly maintained. Especially when you’re driving or towing an RV, you never know what you might come across. If you get stuck in the mud, you’ll have to rely on a service like AAA. Barring that, you’ll need to cross your fingers that a helpful stranger happens across you!

If you end up in a town that has your gut telling you to keep going – trust yourself! Unless you have no choice, it’s always best to stop somewhere safe than somewhere convenient. Never go anywhere you would avoid while camping with your kids. Well-lit gas stations will keep you visible in case of accident or emergency.

Don’t Make It Obvious that You’re Traveling Alone

Lifetime travelers will all attest to how safe it actually is to travel. People are genuinely helpful, and few mean you any harm or discomfort. Despite that, when you travel alone, it makes you more vulnerable.

You don’t need to go out of your way to make it appear as if you’re traveling in a large group, but you should take care not to announce to the world that you’re alone. When speaking with strangers or stopping in a town, simply pay attention to how you present yourself and what you say.

Start Your RV Life Today – Contact RV Wholesale Superstore

Looking for the perfect small RV for solo travel? The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you! We can answer your questions and help you choose the perfect RV for you! Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at 844-601-1171

 

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