Skip to Content

Tempting RV travel this Summer? 3 Reasons Why There Might be Resentment

| Updated May 7, 2020

Can I travel this summer in my RV without experiencing resentment from the places I visit?

If you've been doing some RV trip planning lately, you're not going to like the answer to that question.

But yes, we think there will be resentment in some places about RV travel this summer because of fears over COVID-19. As we write this in early May of 2020, it's very clear that some places will be not too happy to see folks coming into their communities to enjoy the RV Lifestyle. Is some places, unnecessary travel is being discouraged by health and government leaders for the foreseeable future.

For a variety of reasons, having tourists and RVers coming through town, shopping at stores, eating in local restaurants, and mixing with locals, is not being welcomed.

Stay at home orders are not going away

Stay at home orders and closed campgrounds are still in play in many states.

In Florida, where we have been riding out the crisis, the governor and many local leaders have made it very clear that out-of-towners are not welcome just yet. While many private campgrounds are and have been open down here, visitors from other areas are seen as bringing the risk of infection with them.

When we look to June and July and the peak summer travel season our best guess right now is that not all of the country will be opened up. That means you are going to have to pay very close attention to the local rules in the states and communities you will be traveling through. We think there will be places you will want to give a wide berth to.

More RV events and gatherings will be canceled

Fall is a major RV show season, starting in September with the big one – the annual Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania. The next month it's the California RV show in Fontana, CA. Officially, as of May 7, both shows are still on. But will they happen? It depends on whether the virus is diminished. Frankly, we personally think the odds are 50-50. In fact, we would not be surprised to see them canceled, along with many other RV shows in many other parts of North America.

There is talk of schools and colleges still being closed come fall.

With that level of uncertainty, bringing it back to RV travel, we can only conclude that there will be places where RVers will be resented.

That doesn't mean we agree with such sentiments. We just think all RVers need to take that into account when making their RV travel plans.

What about us? We have had on our calendar long before we heard of COVID-9 a very ambitious summer RV travel schedule that has us heading to the Canadian Rockies and then the Pacific Northwest, making our way south through Washington and Oregon and making it to the California RV Show the first week of October. Will it happen?

RV travel is still uncertain

Being realistic, we just don't know. So, in case too many things are canceled and resentment about leisure travel by RV is strong, we're working on a Plan B, something that will get us out and about, making videos, exploring and enjoying the RV Lifestyle, but doing it in a smaller area, something regional instead of cross-country.

We write this post to encourage you to do the same. 

We may not be able to go everywhere we would like to this summer, but we will be able to go some places. So look about you and make your own Plan B.

By June, we'll have a much better idea. Meantime, stay safe Fellow Travelers.  And flexible.

mike and jennifer wendland

Get more RV travel ideas, tips, news and perks!

Each Monday we publish our RV Lifestyle Newsletter, where we share weekly articles about RV travel that inspire and inform. We'll start by sending you a free RV travel checklist. Plus, you become one of our Fellow Travelers, which gets you lots of special perks and RV discounts. It's totally free!
Enter your info below and you are in!
[mc4wp_form id=”49345″]

 

Mike Wendland

Published on 2020-05-07

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

15 Responses to “Tempting RV travel this Summer? 3 Reasons Why There Might be Resentment”

May 22, 2020at11:57 am, Ted Chura said:

Maybe have a sign on your RV stating that you are Virus Free.

May 19, 2020at11:07 pm, Michael Schuetz said:

Last year I watched a YouTube video on being cautious where you legally boondock. Especially if it’s less than 5 Free campsites along a quiet, rural commuter 2 lane highway.
His advice was to not overstay.
The local commuters would notice you and may not think much on the first day seeing you. Some even may friendly beep and wave.
BUT by the 3rd or 4th day that human curiosity may have advanced to a nosey curiosity about why you are there and do you pose a threat.

May 15, 2020at3:12 pm, Joyce said:

We were planning on a 3 months trip starting with a 3 week trip with friends in Utah who want to start RVing. We were going to South Dakota and Yellowstone Tetons etc. then we were leaving them in Jackson Wyoming and head back to Pennsylvania to visit relatives who we haven’t seen in 3 years and who aren’t young any more, just like us. Now we’ll see what traveling we’ll be able to do

May 11, 2020at11:36 am, Ken said:

Some of the “knee-jerk” reactions by Governors just don’t make sense. We had planned on going back to Maine this year – one of our favorite destinations. However, the Governor has dictated that anyone coming from out-of-state must self-quarantine for 14 days. Her excuse is a concern about outsiders bringing COVID-19 into the state, while completely ignoring the thousands of Maine residents who work in adjoining states and commute daily. Many of the coastal towns are almost completely dependent on tourism dollars to the point that many shops, restaurants, etc. close down during the off-season. Denying people from coming into the state will result in many of these locations closing their doors permanently. It just doesn’t make good sense.

May 11, 2020at8:43 am, Keith said:

I think a lot of these communities that are discouraging RVers now will later realize that we shop and dine and leave money in their area. They may change their mind quickly.

May 11, 2020at8:30 am, Ron said:

Like you, we planned to travel to the Canadian Rockies in August and Sept and already had reservations, etc. But given all the uncertainties, have cancelled them. Especially because if another flare up occurs, borders could be closed again and one could be stranded in Canada. Hadn’t really considered the potential for resentment along the way, so thanks for pointing that out.

May 09, 2020at9:19 am, Dan said:

We’ve had to cancel a two week trip from Ft Worth to Salt Lake City area which would have brought us back through Colorado. Also, as of yesterday, our Labor Day weekend trip is also cancelled, so we are looking at ‘hopefully’ putting together a long extended trip around October.

May 08, 2020at1:47 pm, DK said:

We are getting our Roadtrek ready for some exploring soon even though we are in lockdown yet. We can still do walmart grocery pickup as we have been doing the last two months. Target also has great curb side pickup. We can use the RV for curbside dining where ever we go. I think we can travel a bit and still be safe. Hoping we can later go out west to Glacier NP.

May 07, 2020at3:48 pm, Andy or Mary Bokma said:

Isolation has made us dream of exploration in our Roadtrek. We shall wait with respect for the opening and loosening of lockdown rules . It is impossible to imagine not being out n about but staying close to home offers a new perspective. Another option within 3 hrs travel is identified below.
We sold a cottage 15 years ago and it has both of my parents ashes spread onto the lake (jack lake) The current owners respect our need to pay hommage which was established at time of sale) and a couple of perfectly placed (natural) hills keeps us pysically distanced and out of site from them . A perfect balance !

May 07, 2020at12:32 pm, tgt said:

While we can travel in our RVs, I can’t imagine it would be very enjoyable with parks, museums, and restaurants closed. #stayhome

May 07, 2020at9:35 am, Ken Turchen said:

Southern states will severely suffer if snowbirds are restricted to travel.

May 07, 2020at9:29 am, Pat McDonald said:

Explore the state your license plate says you’re from. That should lessen the resentment and you might find places that would surprise you.

May 07, 2020at8:51 am, Sandi Bergstrom said:

This mess has caused us to completely re-think our future plans. We had planned a 6 week trip to Florida to look for the right RV starting in late March. We were going to come home and sell our house then travel full-time starting this fall. Well enter virus and all that changed. We will now wait another year, pay extra on the mortgage and buy a less costly RV and rent out the house. That way we have a “home base” to come back to if something like this happens again. Also we can keep our Boondockers Welcome site open while we are traveling. We are hoping we can at least travel on the east coast this summer! Safe Travels everyone!

May 07, 2020at7:58 am, Mike Wendland said:

Yes, I agree with that. Frankly, nothing does social distancing better than an RV! Especially if we boondock.

May 07, 2020at7:50 am, julia norris said:

I think being as self contained as possible, especially in taking your food along will help keep you from having to go into the community you are camping near.

Comments are closed.

Back to top
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email