Our Complete Guide to the Most Helpful RV Resources (2024)

Keeping the RV Lifestyle carefree means having easy access to helpful RV Living resources. That's why we're publishing this RV Travel master list.

Be sure to bookmark and share these resources!

Jennifer and I have spent years collecting them. So, bookmark this post. We know it will come in handy sometime.

Some of the following resources include discount codes for resources that are so good we've partnered with them. But ALL of these resources are incredibly helpful for any RVer.

If you buy something through our links, we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our lights on so we can continue to provide helpful resources for RVers. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.

RV Trip Routing, GPS & Road Conditions

Nothing can ruin an RV trip faster than getting stuck in traffic. Or being detoured because of construction or road delay. These RV resources will help you choose your best route to avoid such hassles.

RV LIFE Pro (4-in-1) App Suite – We recommend the RV LIFE Pro app suite because it comes with four tools in one:

1. RV LIFE Trip Wizard
2. RV LIFE Campground Reviews
3. RV LIFE App (RV-Safe GPS)
4. RV LIFE Maintenance Tracker

RV LIFE Trip Wizard is especially helpful from that app suite as an RV trip planner tool. It can create unique routes based on your rig’s height and weight, helping you avoid dangerous low clearances, steep grades, propane restrictions, and weight limits. 

It basically takes the guesswork out of routing your rig and saves you many hours tracking down information piece by piece. 

RV Life Pro is our go-to RV trip-planning resource. So much so that we became partners with them so our followers can save 25% with the discount code RVLIFESTYLE.

Mile By Mile Road Trip – This site has been around a long time. It's not fancy but it is helpful, particularly for finding scenic byways. Click on a state and scroll down to see a list of scenic byways. Not all states have a list, but most do.

Travellers Point – This site lets you map out your upcoming travels and organize them into a travel plan, create your own travel blog, browse travel guides, discuss plans in our forums, and more. It's great for “drawing out” your own route.

Waze – This app and website offers detailed turn-by-turn route guidance and directions, plus constantly updated group-sourced alerts to traffic Jams, police speed traps, debris on the road, and hazardous conditions. We still recommend using an RV GPS, like RV LIFE, so you will be routed according to your RV size and weight. However, Waze is a great back-up to your RV-specific GPS for those group-sourced alerts.

National Traffic and Road Closure Information – Kept by the US. Department of Transportation's National Highway Administration, it searches state by state and has updates on construction zones, live freeway traffic conditions, and much more

iExit – This app is a great RV 101 resource for finding out what’s at the next exit from the interstate, or exit miles down the way. It locates fuel stops, tells you the average cost per gallon, notes what restaurants and businesses are at that exit. They call it your Roadtrip pit stop finder and it helps save time and figure out where to pull off and find the services you need.

Safe Travel USA – A clickable state map that takes you to the state's road condition website. Check this before heading out and en route. There are also some helpful links to NOAA maps at the bottom, including temperature and windspeed & direction.

Helpful Related Articles:

• Getting Around Big City Traffic Jams
• Our Honest Garmin RV 1095 Review: GPS Navigation for Large RVs
• Why We Should Not Trust GPS completely
• 21 Best Travel Guides for RVers

Weather Resources

Drive Weather App – This app takes the National Weather Service's weather forecast, showing RVers the weather along their route at the time they reach each point. It allows comparison of different routes, creating stops, interactively changing departure time, and other features that help RVers plan trips around the weather.

National Weather Service Active Alerts – From weather forecasts and flood warnings to rainfall alerts, this has state-by-state information for every region of the nation.

Current Wildfire alerts – Wildfires are frequent problems RV drivers need to know about. This updated wildfire incident website shows current wildfires being fought across the nation.

Helpful Related Articles:

• 10 Best Tips for Driving an RV in Strong Winds
• Tornado Safety for RVers: What to Do If There’s a Tornado
• RV LIFESTYLE, RV BASICS
• PREPARE & Protect Your RV from Hurricanes

RV Safety Resources

Latest RV Recalls – No one keeps better track of RV models being recalled for various safety issues than our friends at RV Travel.  Usually, your manufacturer will alert you to issues. But sometimes, those notification letters slip through the system. Get in the habit of checking these notices at least monthly to see if your RV has an issue that should be resolved.

RV Parks with Storm Shelters – When bad weather hits an area, you want to have a safer place to retreat to than your RV. Here's a list maintained by RV Travel of parks and campgrounds with shelters you can take refuge in.

Seatbelt laws in every state – Some states only require those in the front seat of a motorhome to wear seatbelts, while others may require all passengers to be buckled up. To avoid getting issues with the law and a costly ticket, check out the motorhome seatbelt laws for every state you'll be traveling in.

RV Service Reviews – This very helpful RV resource rates and reviews RV repair facilities across the country. This site is particularly helpful when you are in a new area and don't know what best place to call for help.The site contains actual reviews of RV service facilities made by RV owners themselves. You can research where to take your RV for service and what establishments you may want to avoid.

Our LIFE-SAVING RV Emergency Preparedness Article Index – We created an index of all of our RV emergency preparedness articles in one place. It's organized into categories, with short intros to each article. We HIGHLY recommend you bookmark it and review the collection of safety articles.

Best Apps & Websites for Camping Reservations

There are many apps and websites designed for campsite reservations, but here is a shortlist of the most popular. Learn more about each platform by reading 11 Best Sites for Camping Reservations for Your Next Adventure.

We’ve included DISCOUNT CODES whenever applicable. We hope the information and savings will help you the same way it’s helped us! 

• AllStays
  (10% off your annual subscription with discount code: rvpodcast)
• Harvest Hosts
  (15% off your annual membership with discount code: RVLIFESTYLE15)
• Boondockers Welcome
  (15% off your annual membership with discount code: RVLIFESTYLE15)
• Togo RV Roadpass Pro
  ($10 off your annual membership with discount code: RVLIFESTYLE21)
• Recreation.gov
• Reserve America
• Hipcamp
• Campspot
• Campendium
• CampNab
• The Dyrt

RV Resources on Parking Overnight for Free

State-by-State Overnight Parking Rules at Rest Areas – Camping is not allowed in any interstate highway rest area, but some do allow you to sleep in your vehicle/RV as needed. This link lists the rules for each state. Violators technically risk receiving a fine if caught, but unofficially, I would not hesitate to overnight at a rest area in our RV. State police and highway officials do not want sleepy drivers on the road. As long as you are only staying overnight  (no more than 6 or 7 hours) and don't set up camp chairs and grills,  you likely won't have a problem.

Cracker Barrel – Unless prohibited by local ordinances or other regulations, most Cracker Barrels welcome RVers to overnight in their parking lots. Again, don't set up camp. But overnighting is usually fine. Always ask the manager first and follow the 7 Unwritten Rules for Parking Overnight at Cracker Barrel.

Cabelas – Cabela's is a sporting and hunting store with locations across the U.S. and Canada. If the store so permits, you can park your RV there overnight at no cost to you. Some Cabela's even have dumping stations and water stations. Call ahead and get management permission.

Walmart – Walmart is very welcoming to RVers. Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on the availability of parking space and local laws. Please contact management in each store to ensure accommodations before parking your RV and follow the 7 Unwritten Rules for RVers Parking Overnight at Walmart

Pilot and Flying J Travel Plazas – Flying J locations in North America cater primarily to long-haul truckers but they are also, generally, very welcoming to RVers and usually have dedicated parking spots where RVers can overnight for free. Again, it's best to always check with management. Many Flying Js also have dump stations that Rvers can use. There may be a small fee for dumping.

Loves Travel Stops – Like Pilot and Flying J, most (not all) Loves allow overnight RV parking when permitted by local laws. Ask for permission. In addition, many Loves have fenced-in Dogg rest areas, too.

Costco – Most Costco locations allow for overnight RV parking. They usually close around 8:30 PM  and don't open until mid-morning, so their parking lots are empty overnight. The manager or security guard will usually have an area for overnight RV parking, and it's typically in a well-lit area in the parking lot.

Home Depot – With 1,900 locations in North America, Home Depot doesn't have a corporate policy to allow RVs to park overnight in their parking lots. That's a decision left to each store manager. Historically, store managers have allowed RVs to park overnight, assuming they leave the following morning. Always ask first.

Casinos – Across the country, many casinos offer free overnight RV parking. Others have leveled full-fledged commercial campgrounds. This list from Casino Camper will help you see what's available near you.

A Beginner's Guide to Boondocking eBook – We created a 65+-page downloadable digital guide to help you understand the nuances that come with boondocking, the most common boondocking problems, and what you need to do to get your rig “boondocking-ready”.

The Ultimate Guide to Cheap or FREE RV Camping Sites eBook – Buckle up, because here is everything you need to know on how to find cheap or free RV camping sites is in the 33-page EBOOK.

A very informative interview I did about dispersed camping:

Helpful Related Articles:

• Mega-post on Free or Cheap RV Sites Camping
• 7 Unwritten Rules for RV Parking Overnight at Truck Stops
• Which is Safer: Overnighting at Walmart or a Rest Area?

Subscriptions that Connect RVers with Thousands of FREE Campsites

Harvest Hosts – A network of 5,000+ farms, wineries, breweries, tourist attractions and golf clubs where RVers can stay free overnight. Receive 15% off your annual membership with discount code: RVLIFESTYLE15. Here's a video of  how Jenifer and I use it:

Boondockers Welcome – This site connects RVers to more than 3,500 private property owners from all over North America who make overnight camping spots available for RVers who are passing through their area. Some spots are in their driveway, some out back. Some are small businesses. Your RV must be self-contained. Hosts charge nothing. Receive 15% off your annual membership with discount code: RVLIFESTYLE15.

CLICK HERE to listen to our podcast interview with the founder of Boondockers Welcome!

Roadpass Pro – INCLUDES access to all 14,000+ free boondocking locations in the OvernightRVParking.com app! Roadpass Pro also includes new RV GPS navigation that considers weight limits, low overhead clearances, grades of terrain, and propane restrictions to give you turn-by-turn directions specific to your RV.  Get $10 off your Togo RV Roadpass Pro annual membership using the discount code: RVLIFESTYLE21 

RV Clubs & Memberships Worth Joining

These are great RV communities. They offer rallies, special member perks, road service and insurance deals, mail forwarding services, and much more. Here are the top 3 clubs we recommend as RV resources:

Escapees – This just might be the most active RV club out there today. If you are looking for community, help with RV issues, RV product discounts, and more, check out these guys.

FMCA – This is the granddaddy of RV clubs. Originally, the group was only for motor coach owners (the MC in the name), but for the last couple of years, they have opened to all RVers. They have lots of rallies and lots of members-only RV discounts.

Good Sam – A part of Camping World, the Good Sam Club is an international organization of recreational vehicle owners and the largest organization of RV owners in the world. It is focused on making RVing safer and more enjoyable and saving members money through club-endorsed benefits and services. It states that it has over 2.185 million members.

10 Best RV Campground Memberships & Clubs – Our more comprehensive list of campground memberships and clubs that are popular among RVers.

Helpful Related Articles:

• 10 Best RV Campground Memberships & Clubs
• Save BIG with Reciprocal Memberships for Museums, Zoos & More

RV Road Trip Planning & Things to Do Resources

Roadtrippers – This app helps you find fun and interesting things to see along your travel route. You can filter it however you want but the app covers just about every region in the country and makes some great suggestions for off the beaten path exploration. Read the reviews from others who have been there and we guarantee you’ll find some fun places to stop.

Tripadvisor – This app and website is another great resource for finding things to do wherever you travel.

Yelp – We love Yelp and use it all the time to find great restaurants. Pick a location and see what’s near you. We always look for places with the best reviews, four or five stars, and we’ve never been disappointed. In fact, have found some awesome local restaurants that we would have passed right by.

CampsitePhotos – This website allows you to search and view photos of each campsite in over 2,500 state parks, national parks, the U.S. Forest Service, BLM land, and other campgrounds throughout the USA.

RV LIFE Campground Reviews – There are listings and reviews here on over 20,000 campgrounds. The reviews are usually spot on, submitted by real campers. Very helpful site.

Campground Views – It offers actual views, photos, and videos – often 360-degree videos –  of RV parks and campgrounds across the U.S. 

RV Travel Guides –  We have written a series of regional RV travel guides covering the most popular destinations for RVers. We provide a suggested route and itinerary (7 stops in each guide, one for each day of a week trip!) as well as links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, local tips, and interesting things to do at each location.

Helpful Related Articles:

• How to Stay Comfortable on a Road Trip (10 Accessories)
• How to SAVE MONEY on an RV Road Trip (Top 10 Tips)
• 7 Ways to Find Cheap or Free Things To Do While RVing
• Many Articles About Things To Do at Various Destinations

RV Buying, Warranties, Inspections, Etc.

Buying an RV – We created a 70+-page downloadable digital guide that serves as a very helpful RV Living 101 RV resource tat will help you understand the nuances that come with purchasing an RV, where you can save thousands of dollars in the buying process, what the right questions are to ask dealers, what things to look out for, how to select the right unit, amenities, warranties, and so much more.

Financing an RV – This links to Jeff McLeod of Newcoast Financial Services who specializes in RV loans and the refinancing of existing loans. He'll offer up free quotes that let you find the best places to finance that purchase.

Extended Warranties – Recreational vehicles are complex machines with many parts, and you owe it to your rig and your wallet to keep those parts covered.  An extended warranty is a wise decision. Wholesale Warranties is the company we recommend to find the right RV Extended Warranty coverage for your vehicle. Simply fill out their online quote form below with your rig’s information, and one of their knowledgeable Warranty Specialists will reach out to you in no time with your extended warranty quote

Getting an RV inspected – Next to our house, buying an RV is probably the most expensive purchase you will make in a lifetime. When buying a house, it’s normal to have it checked out by a home inspector. Do you realize you can do the same thing with an RV? In RV Lifestyle Podcast Episode #207, we introduce you to the National RV Inspectors Association of America and tell you what needs to be checked out by a pro before you sign on the dotted line.

Miscellaneous RV Resources

We have a few more miscellaneous resources for you!

Find RV Dump Stations – This is a very helpful crowd-sourced RV resource list that lets you see RV sanitation surrounding the area of your choice. Click in the state you are in and it opens up a map that will quickly let you see what is near you. with just the click of a mouse.

Go Pet Friendly – We travel with Bo, a 65-pound Norwegian Elkhound. And this app is the main RV resource we use to make sure we give him a good time, too. It helps us find pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds, beaches, off-leash parks where Bo can run, veterinarians, pet supply stores and even restaurants and wineries where pets are welcome to join you.

The KOA App – KOA is our go-to campground of choice when it’s time to overnight on the road when we need a commercial campground to get some laundry done and empty the tanks. The app lets you see photos of the campground, get an idea of what amenities are available, and read reviews from other RVers who have stayed there. You can also reserve a spot from the app.

The RV RULE Book – To save you from being “that guy,” we've written many articles on the unwritten rules and proper etiquette for RV camping. We've received excellent feedback on those articles, so we've decided to compile them into an “RV Rule Book” in the form of this round-up post.

Your Ultimate Guide to Winter RV Camping – This ULTIMATE GUIDE brings all our winter camping tips and resources to one place. It has videos, tips, and different links to click on for expanded articles and information. This guide covers winter driving, insulating your RV, what clothes to pack, what national parks to visit in the winter, and much more!

RVing with Dogs ULTIMATE Resource Guide – This ultimate guide brings all of our best articles, videos, and tips on RVing with dogs together in one easy resource.

TWO Helpful EBOOKS in this RV Lifestyle Bundle!

Beginners Guide to Boondocking (one of our most popular ebooks) and one of our newest ebooks, The Ultimate Guide to Free and Cheap RV Camping!

ebook #1: Beginners Guide to Boondocking

We created a 65+-page downloadable digital guide to help you understand the nuances that come with boondocking, the most common boondocking problems, and what you need to do to get your rig “boondocking-ready.”

ebook #2: The Ultimate Guide to Free and Cheap RV Camping

Buckle up because here is everything you need to know on how to find cheap or free RV camping sites in the 33-page EBOOK.

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