So it Ends

 

It is strange that the second post talks about the end, but that is the reality. We started full-time RV living in February 2020, just before the start of COVID-19. It’s now August 2023, and with all the changes that have occurred, we’re questioning if full-time RV living is for us. So what changed? The number of weekend and full-time campers has increased substantially. Who knew that so many people would go out and purchase an RV during the pandemic? They did. Fuel, food, camping fees, repairs, and insurance have also increased significantly since 2020.

So planning is at the top of our to-do list since our travel plans are maintained for a year. When we started, our only real challenge was booking campsites for extremely popular destinations like Yellowstone National Park and similar attractions. During the peak of COVID, our challenge was modifying our plans if a state, campground, or attraction was closed, but usually, it was not that big of an issue. Fuel was generally, for the most part, around $2 a gallon, and camping fees averaged around $40–50.

Now planning is more challenging. We’re noticing that you need to look at booking out more than a year in advance and extending your stays for those extremely popular attractions. Fuel is about 75% higher, and when you get around 6 mpg, that’s a big deal. Camping fees have almost doubled, and if your rig needs a repair, you may need to kiss your wallet and plans goodbye since it may take months just to get it in for an estimate.

So will it end?

Who knows, but sticks and bricks are looking pretty good.