When you head out on vacation, you may think that your regular exercise routine has to take a break, too. However, a camping getaway can be a great place for a fun workout. Here’s how to exercise while camping — fitness and nature make a perfect pair.
Pick Campgrounds With Workout Opportunities
When you are looking for campgrounds to park your RV, choose ones that have hiking trails, bike paths or kayak rentals. The variety of outdoor activities gives you different workout options to try. In addition, seeing other people being active around the campground is a sure motivator for you to get moving too!
Stop Every Two Hours While on the Road
You likely have read article after article about how sitting for long periods of time is extremely damaging to your health. That is no different when you are traveling in your RV. Since you can’t stand and drive, make a point to stop about every two hours on the road to get out and stretch.
It is easy to get “in the zone” of being on the road, so set an alarm to remind yourself to take a break every couple of hours. Make each stop about 15 minutes long to give you time to stretch your arms, legs and back. Walk around a bit to get your blood flowing again.
Bring Active Gear With You
Packing small, light exercise equipment such as a yoga mat or small weights is a big help for staying active and healthy on your camping trip. Resistance bands are also lightweight and portable tools that are ideal for strength workouts while camping. If you love biking, bring along your trusted gear and explore the scenic routes to get some cardio exercise.
Set Daily Workout Goals
With all the fitness-tracking apps and devices of today, it is incredibly easy for you to keep track of your activity. Start each day with a personal goal, or make it a challenge with your travel buddies. See who can get the most steps each day or who can bike the most miles around the campground. Make being active fun!
Also, plan your RV trip meals and snacks ahead of time. Doing so can prevent quick fixes with unhealthy options and help keep your other fitness goals on track.
Walk as Much as You Can
Walking can provide many health benefits, and the 10,000-step concept established by fitness tracking apps and devices can be a good starting point. However, rather than tracking steps precisely, the goal is simply to get moving. If you’re stopping every two hours to walk around for 15 minutes and incorporating other exercises into your vacation, those steps will add up.
Mix up Different Sets of Exercises
Exercising while camping can be a challenge. At times, all you want to do is bask in the scenic landscapes and do nothing. Mixing up different workout activities is a nice way to provide a sense of excitement during your outdoor adventure. Skip the monotonous routines and enjoy your workout session with a variety of options. If you are feeling adventurous, you can strive to do the unusual and try out things such as skiing, kayaking or snorkeling to see things from a perspective other than the road.
However, you can keep things simple, too, and work on the intensity of your exercise sessions instead of the length. You might try a short jump roping session in between your favorite kettlebell exercises. If you go walking, try stopping periodically and adding in some weight-bearing exercises like squats and pushups.
Stretch It Out in the Great Outdoors
Make your camping experience more enriching with some yoga exercises. Practicing yoga outdoors is a gentle way to wake up your mind and body before heading out on your next adventure. Plus, yoga requires minimal equipment. Just a flat patch of fields at your campsite or on a nearby lake, and you’re ready to feel the earth beneath you and rejuvenate your senses. Stretch those muscles and connect with nature.
Go Swimming in a Pool or in a Nearby Lake
Some KOA Campgrounds have pools to relax you after a long, hard day on the road. Make the most out of these amenities to stay active while camping. Swimming is a fantastic full-body workout that engages multiple muscle groups to keep you fit and fab throughout your outdoor escapade. It’s also an exciting activity that adds an element of fun and surprise to your day, especially if you come across a lake nearby or a natural swimming hole.
Swimming in natural bodies of water is more than just a workout. It lets you connect with nature in an enriching way.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Driving your RV can be exhausting, and you don’t want to be so tired from your traveling that you aren’t up for any activities once you’ve reached your destination. Aim for at least eight hours a night of sleep, but listen to your body — if it needs more than eight hours, give it that.
Stay Fit While Camping at Your Favorite Kampgrounds of America Locations
Make any camping adventure at your favorite KOA more productive with our list of tips for staying fit on the road. Many KOA Campgrounds have workout rooms and gym equipment right on-site as well. Take a look at the campground online or call to see what amenities they offer. Find a KOA Campground today and enjoy your camping excursion while maintaining your fitness goals.
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
