There’s a different level of freedom in retirement travel. Your trips aren’t dictated by the schedule of a job anymore. Want to spend a few more days with your toes in the sand? You got it. Need another go at catching a monster trout? Take as much time as you need.
In actuality, there’s no need to tie yourself to any kind of schedule—airline schedule, hotel, boss. If you have an RV, you are completely free to explore, rest, and repeat on your own time. And since KOA has over 500 campgrounds across North America, you have plenty of places to go.
Think the freedom of the open road might be for you? Here are six reasons you should consider kicking off retirement in an RV.
1. Choose Your Own Schedule
Picture it: you’re having the best lobster roll at a quaint, waterside shop just outside Portland, Maine. Your server mentions a blueberry festival next weekend in Kittery, about three and a half hours away. There’ll be live music, tons of local crafts, and, of course, blueberry everything. Perfect.
This is what retirement was made for—the freedom to chase down experiences, big and small. And when you’re traveling in an RV, you have it. All you have to do is pack up your rig, use KOA’s planning app to find a beautiful campground near Kittery, and get ready for the most amazing blueberry cobbler you’ve ever imagined.
2. Stay Budget-friendly
If you haven’t taken the plunge to buy an RV, there are lots of ways to rent them. Dealerships often have a rental fleet. Plus several RV sharing websites provide a low-cost way to try any size option you choose. The best part? With an RV, you have transportation and lodging covered.
You can cook many of your meals yourself, saving a bunch of money for all the other adventures you’ll have. Speaking of cooking, that brings us to the next reason why you should consider traveling in an RV.
3. Eat Healthier
Trying all those local foods is one of the best parts of exploring new places. But meal after meal of rich, heavy food can take a quick toll on your health. In an RV, you have space to store fresh fruit and veggies and cooking surfaces to prepare them.
Just because you’re not eating at a restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t experience local delicacies. Imagine picking up fresh shrimp, salmon, or scallops at a coastal seafood house. Or slicing into an avocado or squash picked fresh and bought at a farmers market. Pull it all together, grill them up, and dine alfresco all from the comfort of your RV.
4. Take Your Pets
Your pup is part of the family and likely enjoys a good adventure as much as you do. It can be difficult finding a great hotel that allows your four-legged buddy, though. Not to mention, the inconvenience of dragging them through the lobby for their early morning constitutional. Instead, take your dog for a luxury ride in your RV. They’ll have plenty of space to stretch out. Evening walks around your favorite KOA campground are pleasant affairs. And there’s no extra fee like at a hotel. Bringing your pet with you also saves kennel costs and allays worries about how your pet is faring in your absence.
5. Have a Place for your Family
If you’re going on a long trip (and why not), it could be a lot of fun to invite your family to meet you along the way. When you’re staying in your RV at a KOA, your family will have plenty of options for their own cabin or tent space. Not to mention, many KOAs have onsite pools, game rooms, and entertainment like mini-golf. No shortage of distractions for energetic grandkids.
6. Pack Everything You Need
Packing for vacation is stressful. Stuffing suitcases and abiding by airline bag weight restrictions can sap the fun out of your trip. But not when you’re traveling by RV. You’ll have plenty of storage so you can bring whatever you need for comfort and fun on your trip. Plus, you don’t have to worry about cleanliness in your RV. Meaning, no guessing who else has touched the hotel room TV remote. It’s your stuff. And you’re the only one using everything.
They say the journey is the destination. But that isn’t always true when you’re running through an airport or waiting on your rental car. In an RV, you can take as much time as you like to slow down and appreciate a moment with your significant other. Kick your feet up at the end of an adventurous day. Watch the campfire jump and flicker. And know that you have the freedom to do it all again tomorrow.
Written by Rob Glover for Matcha in partnership with Kampgrounds of America.
