Solo Travel: The Joys And Challenges Of RVing On Your Own
Solo travel has been gaining popularity, and with good reason. RVing on your own has lots of benefits and, of course, a few challenges. Don’t let solo travel stop you from getting out there; it might be the best decision you’ve ever made!
Is solo travel in an RV safe?
Something preventing many people from hitting the road by themselves is safety concerns. These concerns are often voiced by older folks and solo women who are looking to venture out in their RV. However, everyone has safety concerns of their own.
Every year, solo RVers hit the road to explore and challenge themselves. While solo travel can make some people feel vulnerable, it can also be very empowering! As far as safety goes, RV travel, whether as a group or solo, is very safe. There are, however, some safety tips that solo travelers can use to make their time more enjoyable and worry-free.
Being a solo traveler doesn’t mean you’re always alone. Planning your trip to include certain areas to stay and routes can keep you close to others. Using campgrounds and busier routes can be comforting to those who worry about isolation.
Letting someone know your route and checking in daily ensures that someone is following along with your travels. On the flip side, it is a very popular trend to post everything about your travels on social media, which can be risky for solo travel. Avoid sharing your exact location and post things a few days after you’ve moved on to another location.
If your definition of solo travel just means no other people, get a dog! Having a dog with you is a great way to ease safety concerns, and you’ve got someone to talk to!
Your schedule is the only schedule
One definite joy of solo travel is that you’re in complete control of the schedule or lack thereof. Traveling with a group or the rest of the family means planning stops and activities to keep everyone happy.
When you’re flying solo, you can come and go as you please, stay as long or as short of time as you like, and switch up your plans at any traffic light or exit.
There are lots of cool things to see and do throughout the country that get bypassed because they are out of the way or not family-friendly. When you’re a solo traveler, if you want to head off to see an abandoned town or the largest tree in the state, go for it!
It’s not uncommon to spend a bunch of time planning a trip and activities and not include anything for yourself. When your name is the only one on the list, everything revolves around you.
More independence means more responsibility
As a solo traveler, you will be responsible for ensuring your travels are problem-free. Being a jack of all trades and being able to deal with any problems that do arise is very beneficial.
If you are planning on traveling solo, you would be smart to become very familiar with your RV and its systems. Being able to troubleshoot and fix problems on your own will be essential.
There will always be helpful campers willing to help along the way, of course. However, the more you know, the better. This includes being familiar with the areas you are traveling to. You won’t have a navigator or tour guide with you, so familiarizing yourself with your route and general location before you get there can take some of the stress away.
For some people, it may seem like a daunting task to become an electrician, plumber, or mechanic. The idea is not to become a pro RV tech. Even knowing the basics, along with having some basic tools and spare parts, can be a lifesaver. It will also make you a more confident RVer and ease some of the stress of being vulnerable or unprepared for problems.
Challenging yourself can lead to epic adventures
There are lots of situations that may be preventing you from RVing or doing other things in life because you are solo. Perhaps you are widowed or divorced, or maybe you’re the only one in your group who has time away from work or school to travel.
Whatever your current situation is, being a solo traveler shouldn’t prevent you from taking a trip. So many people talk themselves out of solo trips and miss out on what could be the adventure of a lifetime.
Sure, traveling by yourself may take some getting used to; however, if you are deciding between solo traveling and not traveling at all, go for it! You will challenge yourself and grow as a person as a result. Overcoming some RV issues yourself or going outside your comfort zone to maybe tow an RV or meet new people will better you and open up lots more opportunities for you.
Get tips from other solo RVers
One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and more.
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I agree with StLPro2A. I have a GPS located on my rig and my daughter’s have access to it. We’ve already had the discussion about being able to choose your own time and place 10 or 20 years from now. In the meantime I am lovin’ every minute of life. It would be great to have a partner on this journey but it just didn’t work out that way. You only get one chance to do everything you want to do.
If one is a solo traveler, they are probably alone at home as well. I placed GPS locator tags on my coach and Jeep so my son can know where I am even if I neglect to update him on my travels. At least he will know where to send the dogs to look for my remains, collect the good stuff….. 🙂 🙂 🙂