Category: family travel

The Most Iconic Road Trip Vehicles of All Time
Let’s be real: vehicles are just tools. Whether you’re in a land-yacht-sized RV, a two-seat sports car or a big-bodied minivan, you just need to get where you’re going, safely and on schedule. On two wheels, four wheels or more, they’re merely a means to an end.
Whatever! We all know this is “true,” but not true in a deeper sense. Especially when it comes to the epic form of travel known as the road trip, we all recognize that vehicles are not created equal. Many will get you there. Few will get you there in style. And only the most beloved (or notorious) rigs in America’s century-plus history of road-tripping truly changed how we travel.
We set out to celebrate those vehicles. We started with big, frankly out-of-control lists of trucks, vans, RVs, muscle cars, you name it. Then we argued. (The Lamborghini Countach was a fraught topic.) We let the journey shape our list’s destination. (Three Fords? Yep, three Fords.) We winnowed. We ranked. We asked a few friends to ride along.
Here, in reverse order, are our choices for the ten iconic road trip vehicles that made travel what it is today.
Photo Credit: Ford Heritage Archive
10: The Ford F-150 — Big and Rich
The Era: 1975-Present
Classic Version: Early ’90s models have a special something.
Total Sales: More than 41 million!
Telling Detail: Several bed lengths reflect a heritage of workhorse versatility.
Cultural Moment: Hard to pick one, so we’ll go recent: Robyn Ottolini’s 2020 pop-country hit “F-150.” The late nights, the bonfires…
Michael Charboneau, contributor to the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Journal and others, writes:
If there’s any vehicle that can claim the title of “quintessential American truck,” it’s the Ford F-150. In a production run that spans nearly 80 years, more than 41 million F-series pickups have been sold. Today, you can find them everywhere from remote construction sites to suburban strip mall parking lots.
Photo Credit: Ford Heritage Archive
And yet somehow, this truck is not merely commonplace. In fact, the F-150 has long been my unattainable crush. When I was a kid, my dad had a green 10th-gen model. Although I never drove it, I did enjoy a fateful ride in the bed while he shuttled my buddies and me to an adjacent neighborhood for trick or treating. Gliding down the street with tree branches passing overhead, the wind gently rushing in my ears—that sold me on the magic of a pickup.
My crush deepened in high school. As a teenager I wanted nothing more than a regular-cab Bullnose (produced 1980-86, distinguished by its prominent grill and square headlights). To me, the rig’s clean, straight lines and blocky shape were perfect. These trucks looked solid and timeless; built to work, beautiful in their simplicity. I pored over listings online, dreaming about cruising with the windows down, my girlfriend beside me on the wide bench seat. I vividly recall falling for a handsome long bed with a red and silver paint scheme. Unfortunately it was in West Virginia, hundreds of miles away. At 16, I had no money anyway.
What would I have done if I got it? Probably what most people do: drive the hell out of it. Whether you slide a camper in the bed, tow a trailer or just toss a blanket in the back to look up at the stars, the F-150 is an ideal workhorse for exploring. It’s not sporty or fast, but it can promise one thing: It’ll get you there.
Photo Credit: Winnebago
9: Winnebago Brave — Land of the Free, Home of the…
The Era: 1967-2016 (Multiple reintroductions)
Classic Version: 1974 model with “thermosteel construction.”
Total Sales: ≈150,000+
Telling Detail: The trademark “eyebrow” over the front windshield.
Cultural Moment: In the 1996 film Independence Day, Randy Quaid’s character drives a 1967 Brave
The 1967 Winnebago Brave sent seismic shockwaves across the RV industry. Not only was this motorhome easy to drive with ample interior space, it also came with a long list of standard features, all at a surprisingly affordable price. As a result, it quickly became a smash hit, giving Winnebago its first major success in the motorized RV category.
But the Brave’s influence went well beyond being a popular option for weekend camping trips and cross-country family vacations. As other manufacturers scrambled to duplicate Winnebago’s success, the motorhome’s boxy design and distinctive profile replaced the more van and
bus-like designs that came before it. As a result, the Brave became the template for nearly all of the coaches that followed it, with its influence still felt across the RV industry to this day.
Photo Credit: Ford Heritage Archive
8: Ford Mustang — Born to Run
The Era: 1964-Present
Classic Version: 1965 convertible.
Total Sales: 10+ million
Telling Detail: The famous galloping wild horse badge.
Cultural Moment: Steve McQueen’s 1968 Highland Green Mustang GT Fastback in the classic film Bullitt
With their distinctive looks and overabundance of power, American muscle cars, like the Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Pontiac GTO, are the stuff of open-road fantasy. But for our money, nothing beats the dream of climbing behind the wheel of a classic 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, dropping the top and heading out for a long cruise up the coast. Any coast.
Photo Credit: Ford Heritage Archive
First introduced in 1964, the Ford Mustang has been an American institution ever since. And while competitors have come and gone, this car remains a Ford stalwart. The original model came with a 271-horsepower engine and could do zero to 60 in 5.9 seconds. (Not bad for $3,163.) From the get-go, this car oozed cool, quickly becoming both a pop-culture and road icon. Today, this pony can still run, and the current convertible is as drool-worthy as ever.
Photo Credit: GM Archives
7: Chevy Suburban — Suburban Cowboy
The Era: 1934-Present
Classic Version: 1973 Custom Deluxe
Total Sales: 10+ million
Telling Detail: Extra-long rear side window, lighting up “the way back.”
Cultural Moment: In 2019, the Suburban became the first vehicle awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for its recurring prominence in the movies.
Few vehicles have occupied so many roles—and so much of America’s automotive attention—for so long. Released in 1934 in the era of woody station wagons, the Suburban offered something novel, or at least distinct. Neither a station wagon nor a truck, it eschewed wood for steel paneling and was marketed to both families and business owners with goods and people to move. Chevrolet called it the “Suburban Carryall”, a rig ready for a new generation of road tripper and laborer.
The 20th Century would go on, and the Suburban would go with it, ultimately becoming the world’s longest-utilized automobile nameplate. In the ’50s, the Suburban was first featured in the movies, and has since made more than 1,700 appearances. In the ’70s, it ushered in the modern era of SUVs, a role that would make it a practical choice for parents and police, just as common in high-speed chases as it was at soccer fields. Twelve generations later, like any true star, the Suburban can play most any part.
Photo Credit: Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo Ariese
6: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT — That’s Amore!
The Era:1927-1954
Classic Version: 1929 GT model
Total Sales: 3,000
Telling Detail: The 6C name nods to the six-cylinder engine.
Cultural Moment: This Italian icon won numerous major European races throughout its production history.
On road, on track, in whatever era of its three-decade life, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 swaggered with style and power, speed and performance. But it was the 1929 GT edition that bent road-trip history to its will, adding a dash of luxury and comfort to the mix. As one of the first vehicles purpose-built for long-distance travel, it helped promote the idea that driving wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B.
Photo Credit: Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo Ariese
Perhaps more importantly, this was the first automobile to carry the “GT” or “Grand Tourer” designation—and far from the last. In the decades that followed, everyone from Ford and Chrysler to Porsche and Ferrari built a touring-focused “GT” car of some sort. Most of those models followed the 6C 1750 template, marrying performance and comfort to deliver a road-trip-worthy driving experience. And while this vehicle may not be as well-known as some of the others on this list, they all owe it a debt of gratitude.
Photo Credit: Subaru
5: Subaru Outback — Home Ranger
The Era: 1994-Present
Classic Version: The 2001 stands out, with many still on the road.
Total Sales: About 3 million in the U.S. as of 2024.
Telling Detail: All-wheel drive, whether you need it or not.
Cultural Moment: In 1994, Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan introduced this model with a confident Australian twang: “This here is the all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback.”
Kimberly King Parsons, author of acclaimed novel We Were the Universe, writes: When my family and I fled New York for Portland in 2017, the Subaru welcoming committee was idling curbside at the airport. The taxi line: Outback. The rental lot: Outback. Our new neighbors: an Outback with a “Coexist” sticker. By week two, I’d developed a tic—pointing out Outbacks to my kids, who’d long stopped caring. “There’s one! There’s another! My god, there’s a convoy!” The migration from Queens to this Subaru sanctuary felt like stumbling into some automotive monoculture where variety had been sacrificed to the gods of practical wheel clearance. We’d traded concrete canyons and subway grime for mountains that made us gasp and waterfalls so perfect they seemed computer-generated. We needed a car to match our new surroundings, something that wouldn’t fl inch at mud or judge us for tracking pine needles into its footwells. Soon enough, we bought a (very!) used Outback of our own. The kids named it Roo.
Photo Credit: Subaru
What nobody tells you about the Outback is how it beautifully embodies the charming paradoxes of the nation’s crunchier corners. (Subaru love runs strong in New England and the Rockies. In the cities of the Northwest, it’s almost impossible to look to the middle distance without seeing one, or seven.) It’s a vehicle designed for rugged adventure that may spend most of its time in Trader Joe’s parking lots. The all-wheel-drive system that Subaru made standard is both sometimes utterly necessary and often overkill—you’re prepared for apocalyptic weather events and driving conditions, and you can get to the coffee shop to chat about them.
We loved the wheels off of Roo, and recently traded her in for an electric van. These days I look at Outback drivers with gentle affection and nostalgia. Maybe that’s what makes it an icon: its role as the first chapter in so many outdoorsy road-trippers’ journeys. The Outback was our gateway to something with more batteries, more smugness, more rooftop solar. But I sometimes miss that sturdy wagon. Our van has impressive range, but it lacks that sense of belonging, that quiet announcement of Pacific Northwest citizenship that comes standard with every Outback. Lucky for us, we still have 17 reusable grocery bags and a forgotten kombucha rolling around somewhere under the passenger seat.
Photo Credit: Stellantis
4: Jeep Wagoneer — It’s Yelling Timber
The Era: 1962-1993
Classic Version: 1984 Grand Wagoneer
Total Sales: 500,000+
Telling Detail: Long body, high clearance.
Cultural Moment: In season three, episode two of Breaking Bad, Skyler White’s 1991 Wagoneer sits in the driveway as Walt throws a pizza on the roof of his house.
In 1962, decades before luxury SUVs would become the most popular residents of American driveways, the Jeep Wagoneer broke automotive ground. Catering to drivers looking for space, utility and comfort, the Wagoneer wasn’t just an early SUV. It was one of the most reliably innovative vehicles of its time. The early models introduced features like power steering and braking, ceiling lights, automatic windows and air conditioning. In the decades to follow, the distinctive woody exterior would define the Grand Wagoneer models featuring V8 engines and Quadra-Trac four-wheel drive systems.
As the era of station wagons gave way to minivans in the ’80s, the stalwart SUV remained a favorite among America’s well-heeled travelers. But while the Wagoneer was an early innovator, its body barely changed over the decades and it was discontinued in 1993. Then, after nearly three decades on the shelf, the Grand Wagoneer reemerged in 2022 as a high-end SUV ready for a new era of automotive luxury.
Photo Credit: Airstream Heritage Center
3: The Airstream Clipper — Silver Gets the Gold
The Era: 1936-1941
Classic Version: The original 1936 trendsetter.
Total Sales: Unknown
Telling Detail: The riveted aluminum construction, a tribute to aircraft engineering.
Cultural Moment: In 2024, the Airstream Heritage Center exhibited “Clipper #1.”
Mattew Every, Contributor to Field & Stream and Wildsam and sometime Airstream resident, writes: The travel trailer is, by its nature, a nostalgic genre of vehicle. The phrase brings to mind throwback campsites and endless summers on the road. The reason for this, if you had to pick just one, is Airstream. Travel trailers have an inherent retro appeal, yet most of them on the road today look completely different than their predecessors. Most, except for Airstream—which, despite advances in technology and design, stays true to the aesthetics of Wally Byam’s 1930s design for The Clipper.
When I was confronted with a sprawling lot of new trailers at a dealership in 2020, I don’t exactly know why I landed on a Bambi, the Clipper’s 20-foot baby sibling. There was just a pride of ownership that I knew I’d have a hard time finding in another vehicle. It felt like a good pair of jeans, an L.L.Bean canvas tote, a Zippo lighter or a sturdy leather jacket. I knew it would wear in rather than wear out, and I couldn’t wait to watch it get better with age after every adventure.
With thousands of miles logged on my Airstream in the past five years, I can say I made the right decision. My Bambi doesn’t have any slide-outs or giant televisions or a whole lot of space compared to many trailers today. But open the door and you’ll feel right away that it’s something of quality. The Airstream has always been built to last. Mine has only gotten better with age. Every dent or scuff in the floor serves as a reminder that I’ve been places. And it’s those reminders that make an otherwise cold, riveted metal capsule feel like my home on the road.
Photo Credit: Greg Gjerdingen via WikiMedia
2: Dodge Caravan — Mini to the Max
The Era: 1984-2020
Classic Version: 2005, featuring Stow ‘n Go seating storage.
Total Sales: 14 million+
Telling Detail: Crosshair grille.
Cultural Moment: In 1996, MotorTrend magazine names the Caravan the “Car of the Year.”
Vans existed before 1984. But until then, no one had released one geared toward families, short enough to fit in a garage, low enough to make loading kids a breeze, nimble enough that it would feel like driving a compact car around America’s suburbs. Enter Lee Iacocca, the wily auto exec who had been dumped by Ford because, among other reasons, he’d been pushing for this concept. When Iacocca joined the lagging Chrysler in 1978, his team started designing a “minivan” atop a car chassis. Six years later, it would hit the market as the Dodge Caravan, alongside its near-identical cousin, the Plymouth Voyager.
Both were legendary vehicles—and the first-ever minivans—but it was the Caravan that left an indelible mark on family travel, becoming one of the country’s best-selling vehicles during its nearly 40-year run. (In 2019, the Caravan accounted for 54 percent of all minivans sold in the United States.) With its sliding doors, collapsible rear seating and ubiquity on roads across the U.S., the Caravan changed the way families thought about journeys near and far.
Photo Credit: Ford Heritage Archive
1: Ford Country Squire — King of the Road
The Era: 1950-1991
Classic Version: 1966 model with Magic Doorgate.
Total Sales: 1.8 million
Telling Detail: Distinctive wood paneling,
Cultural Moment: A 1979 Country Squire was the stand-in for the “Family Truckster” in National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Number one? Hear Us Out:
It was the 1950s. The war was in the rear-view mirror, the country rode high on optimism and everybody liked Ike. Middle-class income was on the rise; road trip culture was taking hold thanks to the president’s ambitious Interstate Highway System. Cross-country sojourns and family vacations were all the rage.
It was a time that changed how we travel in this country, right up to today. And the vehicle of that moment, more than any other, was the Ford Country Squire.
With its signature wood-grain paneling, expansive cargo space and room for eight, the Country Squire became a symbol of suburban success. This car—or one of its many imitators—found its way into countless driveways. And even when parked at a white picket fence, it hinted at the freedom of the open road. The “woodie” station wagon even played a direct role in the rise in popularity of the national parks as family destinations. During the 1950s, visitation at those iconic locations rose to over 25 million a year, on its way to 80 million just a decade later.
This wasn’t Ford’s first station wagon, of course, but it would become its most successful. The vehicle first rolled off the assembly line in 1949, although it wasn’t officially branded as the Country Squire until two years after that. By 1953, its trademark wooden side panels were replaced with simulated wood-grain metal, which remained a distinctive feature across eight generations. By the end of the 1950s, the wagon was selling 25,000 units a year, before reaching a peak of 143,000 in 1973. By that point, it had already achieved icon status—a true piece of Americana.
By the time the Country Squire was retired in 1991, it had been in production for over 40 years. By then, our appetite for station wagons had been supplanted by the ever-increasing demand for minivans and SUVs. But there is no doubt that this car left an indelible mark on American culture, becoming the most recognizable road trip vehicle to ever roam the country and creating an entire genre of road-trip rides.
For us, this Squire is the king.
This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.
The post The Most Iconic Road Trip Vehicles of All Time appeared first on RV.com.
2025-07-17
The Complete Guide to Full-Time Family RVing
Bryanna here from Crazy Family Adventure! We lived, worked, and traveled full-time in our RV for over 8 years with our family and two dogs. During that time, we learned a few things about full-time family RVing and wanted to pass that knowledge on to you to help you hit the road with your family.
We’ll cover preparing to get on the road, homeschooling, picking your RV, budgeting, memberships, and how to choose the campgrounds you want to stay at.
Our Story
We are a family of 6. Craig and Bryanna are the parents (we are high school sweethearts). Then there is our oldest Carson, the twins Melia and Cannon and our youngest Knox.
We started off having the typical life – Mom stays home with the kids and the husband goes to work. We had a big house (on a 1/2 acre with a swimming pool, swing set, sandbox, big deck) and a LOT of toys and stuff!
We then decided to sell EVERYTHING and move into an RV! This journey has been both exhilarating and challenging. It has also led us to guide others to this lifestyle with tips, tricks, and fun itineraries.

On our site, we share tips for full-time RVing, our top road trip destinations and all about National Parks – one of our favorite places to visit!

P.S. We literally wrote the book on full-time family RVing Check it out here.
How to Prepare for Full-Time RV Living With Kids
Image source: Getty Images
Preparing to take your family on the road includes a lot of internal reflection on whether this is the right choice for you and your family. We never had a moment where we were 100% sure it was the right choice. But what we did know was we wanted to go for it. We didn’t want to look back and have regrets.
Once we knew we were going to become a full-time RVing family, it was time to start preparing to hit the road. It isn’t easy to take a 2700 square foot house filled with years of things and downsize it to fit into an RV. But it is possible!
Getting Started
Getting ready to hit the road is not for the faint of heart! It takes a lot of effort, decisions and time to downsize all of your possessions to fit into an RV. But it is a very freeing feeling and well worth it!
Our best advice when downsizing is to just get started, take one room at a time and just keep moving forward. Also, plan on going through multiple phases to downsize.
- Phase 1 – Will be easy. This is when you get rid of all of the things you have wanted to get rid of but haven’t yet.
- Phase 2 – This one will be harder because you have to start making some tough decisions about what you really need.
- Phase 3 – You might shed a few tears during this phase when you have to let go of things that you have never considered letting go of.
But in the end, it is all worth it and feels very freeing to downsize your possessions so you can spend more time focusing on your family and adventuring!
Image source: Getty Images
Homeschooling and Roadschooling Options
If you plan to full-time RV with school-age kids, you will need to explore homeschooling options. The good thing is that there are numerous options available.
One of the joys of going on the road full-time with your kids is that you get to be part of their learning. You won’t be sending them off for 8 hours a day to be taught by someone else. Instead, you will be there every step of the way.
I love that this helps you to learn more about your kid, how they learn, what they love and what they are into. It also allows you to give the time and energy to the things they are passionate about – not just what the school system says they can do!
Our Choice: Unschooling!
When it comes to how you want to homeschool on the road, you will have to do your own research on what will work for your family. Almost every family we met did things differently, and there was no universal theme for homeschooling.
We chose to unschool our kids, which worked well for us. Other options include online schools like Power Homeschool or Acellus. You can also look to buy a curriculum. This in itself can be a whole blog post, but it is also a very personal decision that will take research and trial and error to determine what will work for you and your family.
The nice thing about it being your choice means you can change your mind! If halfway through the year, what you are doing doesn’t feel right for you or your kids, you can change it.
Legal Considerations for Homeschooling
The first step is to look into the rules for your state. If you plan to change your domicile (the state you “live” in), make sure you understand the homeschool rules for that state.
We never changed our domicile while on the road and stayed with the state of Wisconsin. For Wisconsin, we simply need to fill out a form each year, stating that we will be homeschooling our children, their grades, and our commitment to providing them with the required yearly hours of school time.
Here is a great place to find the rules for each state.
Image source: Getty Images
Handling Healthcare for Full-Time Families
Having health insurance while on the road was important to us, especially with four little kids. You never know what is going to happen! Luckily, when we first got on the road, my husband was working his 9 to 5 job remotely and still had insurance.
Once we became self-employed, we had to look for other options and chose healthcare.gov. We have used this option for years and still do! Just be sure you have an option that offers emergency care across the US, not just in your home state.
Here are a few other options you could look into:
- Self-Employed Group Plans
- Telemedicine
- Health Sharing programs like MediShare
- Supplemental Fixed Indemnity Plan
Doctor’s Visits
With little kids, we were bound to end up at the doctor and dentist at some point on the road. This presents challenges since you can’t just call your pediatrician from your hometown. Instead, you will have to find a doctor locally or go to urgent care. We had to do this multiple times, including unexpected dental visits, but it always worked out.
It just took more effort to find the doctor, explain our background and history when needed, etc. However, it is doable. I would recommend always requesting a printout of any tests or X-rays they perform so you can have these at the ready for your next doctor.
We also scheduled our yearly well visits in our hometown, ensuring the kids were all up to date on their visits. We would sometimes spread these out to 18 months instead of 12 months, but we always made sure to see their primary pediatrician when we returned to our hometown.
Like most things about living this unconventional life, you will be able to figure out how to make it work – it just takes more work to make it happen!
Staying Connected: Internet Solutions for Families
Image source: Getty Images
Having internet was essential for us since we worked remotely. Additionally, we have kids who enjoy being online, so we needed a substantial amount of data. We were lucky enough when we hit the road to get a grandfathered-in Verizon unlimited plan. We had a hot spot, and it worked well for us all around the US.
Unlimited plans like that are hard to come by these days – but cellular hot spots can still work well.
Starklink is one of the best internet options for RVers these days, offering high-speed coverage almost anywhere you roam. Just be sure to place the dish away from tree coverage (a long cable is provided). Starlink doesn’t work well when trees block the signal. We learned that when we RV’d to Alaska and ended up in campgrounds with a lot of trees!
Outside of that, when it comes to Internet solutions, your best all-in-one resource for information is the Mobile Internet Resource Center.
The Best Types of RVs for Full-Time Family Living
Picking an RV you are going to live in is very different from picking an RV you are going to use on the weekends or take out a couple of trips a year!
Over our 8 years on the road, we had five different RVs:
- 29-foot Class A Motorhome
- 23-foot Class B
- 21-foot Travel Trailer
- 30-foot Travel Trailer
- 36-foot 5th Wheel
When it comes to picking the best RV for full-time family living, there are a few things you should consider:
1 – How fast will you be moving?
Are you planning to stay in one spot for several weeks or even months? Or will you be on the move, spending just 3–5 nights in each location?
If you’ll be staying in one place for extended periods, a larger rig might be a better choice. The extra space can make a significant difference, allowing you to settle in and enjoy a setup that feels more like a cozy, compact apartment.
On the other hand, if you’ll be traveling frequently or using your RV just for vacations, a smaller rig with a more straightforward setup and fewer components might be more practical and easier to manage.
2 – What season will you travel in?
Do you plan to travel only in warm weather? If so, you could consider a smaller RV, as you will be spending more time outside. If not, you will want a larger RV with more interior living space.
3 – Where will you stay?
Do you plan to stay at RV resorts, where the size of your rig doesn’t matter? Or do you want to visit more off-the-beaten-path places, such as national parks, state parks, boondocking, etc., where it can be more complicated to get in with a bigger rig?
4 – Work/homeschooling schedule.
Will someone in the family be working a 9 to 5 and need a quiet space? Will your kids be doing an online-based homeschool curriculum and need room to sit and work on the computer? These are things to consider when thinking about which rig makes the most sense for your family.
When it comes to must-have features, that is 100% a family’s choice, as each family can be so different in what they “need” to have. For us, when we bought our 5th Full-time RVing rig for our family of 6, we wanted:
- A big fridge
- Plenty of cargo capacity (4000+ lbs)
- A kids’ room area
- Kids’ beds.
RV Floorplans Ideal For Families
In our opinion, there is not one ideal RV floorplan for full-time RVing with kids. Instead, there are ideal floor plans for each family depending on their situation and travel plans. We have had a 39-foot motorhome, a 21-foot travel trailer and a 37-foot 5th wheel.
The best approach is to take your time walking through different RV floor plans, considering the above questions, and selecting an RV that meets the needs of how your family plans to live full-time in their RV.
Here is an article we wrote with all the details on picking the right RV for your family for full-time RVing.
image source: Getty Images
Budgeting for Full-Time Family RV Life
We often get questions about the cost of full-time family RVing. Like so many things in this lifestyle, it depends. We have met people with unlimited budgets who treat each stop on their travels like a vacation. We have also met families that are very budget-conscious and only look for free things to do while traveling.
You will also have to pay for internet, cell phones, insurance, food, activities, etc. – all the basic things you do while living in a house that aren’t related to owning a home. All of these options can be priced differently based on your budget.
Full-time RV living is not automatically a cheaper way of life unless you are good at budgeting and can avoid the desire to go out and try new restaurants, breweries, and things to do at the locations you visit!
This article gives the full play-by-play of how we managed our full-time RVing budget.
Image source: Getty Images
Choosing the Right Campgrounds and RV Parks for Families
While living on the road, you are going to have to pick where you stay every night of the year! That is a lot of decision-making. Here’s what to consider:
Are you looking for an RV park that is close to what you want to do in the area, and you don’t plan to be in the RV park much?
- In this situation, your choice won’t be based on amenities and things to do, but instead on location. On multiple occasions over the years, we have stayed in RV parks that were little more than parking lots with no amenities. But they got us super close to the things we wanted to do, so it worked out well!
Are you looking for a place to stay for a couple of weeks and relax?
- If this is the case, you will want to look for amenities that your family enjoys, such as a pool for swimming, a playground, a fishing pond, or open grass for the kids to run around. Thousand Trails parks are generally good for this, and you will most likely run into other families as well!
Are you looking to splurge on a vacation spot?
- In this case, you will want to look for RV resorts that offer many amenities and fun things to do, but come with a higher price tag.
Are you looking to get out in nature, away from all the amenities, internet, etc?
- State Parks and National Parks are good options, or consider boondocking! Any chance we get, we stay in a State or National Park. We loved the vibe at these parks and enjoyed being there. However, note that they are usually not full hookups, and internet coverage can be spotty.
- Boondocking isn’t easy everywhere in the country. But when we got out west, we always looked for boondocking opportunities. We stayed in some pretty epic places for free!! If you want to learn more about this, check out our post: How To Camp For Free Or Close To It In The US.
Picking the best RV campground or park for your family comes down to what you want to do when you are staying there. No matter what, you should always check to ensure kids are allowed—some campgrounds do not.
Click here to check out 15 of our favorite campsites!
Camping Memberships
Various camping membership sites offer savings on nightly rates. We belong to:
- Fulltime Families – all about families traveling full-time in their RV. Lots of great resources, rallies and savings info!
- Thousand Trails – as mentioned above. Great for inexpensive camping (once you buy the membership) and for meeting other full-time traveling families.
- Good Sam offers discounts on thousands of campgrounds nationwide, fuel savings, deals on camping gear, and much more.
- Overnight Stays is another Good Sam offering that features free single-night RV stays at unique locations.
Image source: Getty Images
Pros and Cons of Full-Time RV Living With a Family
There are so many amazing things about full-time RV living with a family, but there are downsides too.
What we love:
The freedom
We have the freedom to come and go as we please. If there’s somewhere we want to go, we schedule it and go.
Community
There is a great community of people who travel full-time, and it’s great to connect with so many like-minded individuals!
Minimalism
It’s a great feeling to have fewer things. Fewer things mean less to worry about and less to take care of. It’s liberating!
Family
There is nothing like loading the family up in the RV and taking off on our adventure. We all get to know each other so much better, spend more time together, and explore this amazing country!
What We Don’t Love:
Leaving Family And Friends
This is always challenging and something we dislike about this lifestyle.
Not Having Your Own Yard
This is a good thing since you don’t have to maintain or clean it. But it’s a bad thing because the kids can’t dig a hole in the campground “yard”. Since it isn’t your space, you are always following someone else’s rules when you stay at campgrounds.
Image source: Getty Images
FAQ: Full-Time Family RVing
Q: Is full-time RV living legal for families with kids?
A: Yes, it’s legal. You must comply with homeschooling laws, residency requirements, and health/insurance regulations.
Q: How much does it cost to live in an RV full time with a family?
A: On average, between $2,000–$10,000 per month depending on travel frequency, campground choices, fuel, family size, and travel style.
Q: What is the best RV for full-time family living?
A: Large fifth wheels, bunkhouse travel trailers, and Class A motorhomes with bunk beds are among the most popular but I would not say the best. The best RV depends on how you want to travel. One of my favorite setups for us was a 12 passenger van with a 21 foot travel trailer that we took down to Baja, Mexico.
Q: How do kids go to school while full-time RVing?
A: Most families homeschool, roadschool, or use online public school programs.
Q: Is RV living safe for children?
A: Yes, with proper RV maintenance, safety planning, and supervision. Many RVs have safety features designed for families.
Q: How do families make money while RVing full-time?
A: Remote jobs, freelance work, seasonal employment, YouTube/blogging, and online businesses are common.
Q: Can you still have a social life while full-time RVing with kids?
A: Absolutely. Many families join full-time RV communities, attend rallies, and connect via social media or travel networks.
Top RVs for Full-Time Families
Here are some of the best RVs commonly chosen by full-time RVing families:
- Grand Design Reflection 311BHS – Bunkhouse fifth wheel with spacious living area and separate kids’ room
- Jayco Jay Flight 32BHDS – Travel trailer with double slide-outs and outdoor kitchen
- Keystone Montana High Country 385BR – Fifth wheel with a mid-bunk room and loft space
- Forest River Georgetown 5 Series GT5 36B5 – Class A motorhome with bunk beds and two bathrooms
- Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H – Class C with bunk beds and a family-friendly layout
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, we 100% think taking your family on the road to travel full-time is worth it. It is not all rainbows and sunshine, and it will have its challenges, but it is worth it!
Before going on the road, you will never have all your ducks in a row and be prepared for every situation. But that is all part of the adventure of going on the road full-time with your family. You learn how to figure things out and how to get through situations together as a family.
If this is a dream you have, go for it! You will figure everything out along the way!

The post The Complete Guide to Full-Time Family RVing appeared first on RV.com.
2025-06-05