Why I’d Be a Terrible Full-Time RVer — and Why I Still Love RV Travel

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In this episode, Julianne opens up about the “van life” fantasy that hits hard after a stressful day of parenting, dishes, and screen fatigue. There’s something undeniably tempting about the idea of freedom on wheels — but the reality of RV life? Let’s just say, she likes it in doses.

She shares a personal stories of RV mishaps (hello, flat tire in the Upper Peninsula), cozy night memories in parking lots, and the not-so-glamorous details that don’t always make it to Instagram.

Why Renting Makes Sense for So Many Families

Julianne walks through the benefits of renting vs. owning — like no long-term maintenance, easier packing, and the ability to test-drive different setups before making a big investment. According to recent RV industry data:

• RV vacations cost 27–62% less than hotel + flight combos

• 65% of new RV buyers are millennials

• The RV rental market is projected to hit $1.54B by 2030

• Families who involve kids in planning RV trips report less stress and reduced screen time

Outdoorsy = Adventure Without the Commitment

With Outdoorsy, Julianne’s family was able to rent fully stocked RVs from experienced owners — and even had one delivered right to their house. It made the whole process more approachable and family-friendly, with flexible options that worked for their stage of life.

You Can Be Outdoorsy Without Living on the Road

The big takeaway? You don’t have to give up your routines or your full-size kitchen sink to enjoy the magic of RV travel. You can roast the marshmallows, chase the sunsets, and still come home to your own bed.

Try Outdoorsy RV Rentals and save $50 on your next rental!

*Some of the links in this  post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to make a purchase. I only share products and brands I genuinely love and use with my own family. Thanks for supporting My Outdoorsy Mom!

• EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

  Julianne Nienberg (00:01)

  Hello, friend. Today's episode is titled, Why I'd Be a Terrible Full-Time RVer. There is a profound romance in the idea of RV life. It's just you, your family, the wide open road, and a boundless canvas for adventure. But if you've ever caught yourself fantasizing about van life after a long day of dishes and the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but also know deep down that van life isn't for you,

  This episode might be your jam. So here's the thing. We've rented RVs. We've loved our time vacationing in an RV. My kids ask to do it again every year. I actually love the preparation and the lead up time to getting the RV. I'm the weirdo that loves a Google Doc meal plan for the vacation. I want to know what we're eating and when. And partly because when I'm not under duress, I love preparing a meal for my family.

  but I also like to be prepared and not have to deal with the hangries from my children. I love putting together an itinerary for these trips. And according to a 2020, and according, and according to a 2024 travel report, my planning has a significant upside. It reported that families with children who are highly engaged in trip planning report lower stress, an increase in positive attitudes and increased excitement. How about that?

  Families who engage their children in every aspect of trip planning were found to have a higher likelihood of tech free time 66 % versus 52 % Nearly half of all teens 48 % reported reduced screen time during family RV trips I think for some parents that statistic alone is compelling enough to take an RV trip now not every minute of RV travel Now not every minute of RV travel

  is rainbows and butterflies, of course. There's been last minute changes in plans. We've lost hours, days of our trip thanks to a leaky tire. It's all part of the experience and makes for some funny, after the fact, of course, memories. It's all part of the experience and makes for some funny memories, after the fact, of course. Actually, we've had two experiences that derailed our travel plans. First, we had a leaky tire.

  that prevented us from camping in a remote area in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stopped at a nearby campground where the owner took one look at our tire and said, there's no way you're making it to your campsite on that thing. And luckily, he had the wisdom and knowledge to know that getting to our reserved campground meant driving five miles down a dirt road. So instead, he recommended us to go to a repair shop in town. And since the repair shop wasn't open that evening, we had to spend the night in a random communal

  We had to spend the night in a random commuter lot in Antanagan in the Upper Peninsula and my dreams of sleeping along Lake Superior were gone. Now here's the glass half full version of the story. While our sleeping arrangements weren't picturesque, it ended up storming that night. We all piled inside, got cozy, and once the kids fell asleep, my husband and I sat up front having a beer and eating Twizzlers.

  We were talking, we were laughing about our day's adventures and our mishaps. But hear me when I...

  We were talking, we were laughing about our days adventures and our mishaps. And that evening still in my mind stands out as one of my most favorite memories from that trip. But hear me when I say, I am not cut out for full-time RV life. I create outdoor play guides. I promote adventure and I love a good road trip. But the truth is, I also love routines. I love the feeling of home and

  If I'm being honest with myself, I can be a little bougie about my things. And I also love having a full-size sink to wash dishes. What's wild is just how many people are jumping into RV life right now. And while I tend to lump everyone into two buckets, those who respond with a heck yeah to RVing and those who respond with a heck no, here are some interesting statistics.

  RV travel and ownership aren't just niche anymore, they're booming. The RV market is projected at $35.66 billion in 2025 and expected to climb to $52 billion by 2030. That's an 8 % annual growth rate. Towable RVs dominate the market, with motor homes growing fastest,

  The average new RV buyer drives only 186 miles to camp. So that's close enough to forget the bread, to turn around and still make happy hour. Millennials now make up 65 % of first time buyers. yeah, all those cliches of avocado toast in my generation pairs nicely with a 30 amp hookup when you're overlooking Lake Michigan. And my personal favorite, RV vacations cost anywhere from 27,

  to 62 % less per day than a flight and a hotel combo for a family of four. When you see numbers like that, it's clear that a lot of folks are giving RV life a try. But that makes our choice to rent and not commit feel that much more deliberate. But that makes our choice to rent and not commit feel that much more deliberate. So what's driving this shift?

  I think at the core it's not just about wonderlust, about unplugging.

  I think at the core, it's not just about wonderlust. I think it's not just about unplugging, but I think we really want to simplify our schedules, our homes, our expectations. Say what you want about millennials, but I do believe that we're the generation that started, or some might argue, brought back the idea of investing in experiences instead of things. And I think it's about getting back to something quieter, something closer to the pace of that 90s childhood that we all romanticize now.

  And yeah, there is something to be said about RV travel being cheaper than flying a family of five across the country. I think though there is a gap between the idea of RV life and the actual day to day. Social media can either help. I think though there's a gap between the idea of RV life and the actual day to day. Instagram and travel content creators show us the mountain backdrop and the cozy camper mornings.

  But it doesn't show us the fights you're having in a really tiny space that your campsite neighbor next door gets the privilege of hearing. It doesn't show the random parking lot overnights in the middle of nowhere or the gray water tank drama. Yeah, let that term sink in for a second. Gray water tank. I'll give you two guesses if you're not an RVer what that means. We romanticize the freedom. And don't get me wrong, is, we romanticize the freedom.

  And don't get me wrong, there is freedom, but I've realized I want portions of that freedom and not a full-time serving. So that's where Outdoorsy comes in. This isn't a sponsored episode, but I will share a link at the end if you want to save money on your first Outdoorsy RV rental. I actually heard about Outdoorsy from a friend who rented one during peak 2020 and she recalls it as one of the most special family trips they've ever taken. At the time when I heard about it, it was 2022. I had no idea such a platform even existed.

  but I was willing to look into it. So I planned a summer 2023 RV trip for us and lo and behold, the perfect size RV was just 25 miles away. We actually had not only a great family vacation, but the experience of renting through the RV owner was pretty seamless. provided an entire YouTube library of his own videos on operating the RV, troubleshooting features of the RV, you name it. He had a video about his rig.

  We drove out to pick it up and bring it back to our house and that required an entire afternoon. Now for our second trip, I was wiser and I paid an extra $100. I was wiser and I paid an extra $100 for the RV owners to drop it off at our home so we could load up and hit the road ASAP. One thing I will say that was incredibly helpful was the renting from owners who had families with young children because they thought of everything when it came to amenities.

  If it wasn't already provided in the RV, you could rent it for an additional fee like a camp stove or a grill, which is what I think makes RV rental through OutdoorZ a great entry point for most families to experience RV travel. It lets you dip your toes in without the full commitment. And if you're able to find a seasoned owner with all the extra amenities and accommodations, it really takes a load off of planning and preparing. And it's no surprise that an overwhelming majority of American families are opting to rent rather than own.

  The RV rental market in the United States was valued at approximately $865 million in 2023 and is projected to reach around $1.54 billion by 2030. Nearly two-thirds of travelers are considering renting an RV for future trips. Why? It's more affordable, you skip the maintenance, the storage, the full-time commitment, and you still get the adventure. That's why I always recommend renting an RV through OutdoorZ.

  I'll drop my affiliate link in the show notes if you want to plan a trip without committing your life on the road. So here's the moral of the story. You can be outdoorsy without selling your house and living in a van or an RV. So here's the moral of the story. You can be outdoorsy without selling your house and living in a van. You can rent the RV. You can go on the trip. You can chase the fall colors, swim in the lakes and oceans, roast the marshmallows and

  come back to your kitchen and your quiet routine. We can love both. We can love the wild adventures and the feeling of returning home. And of course, I can't sign off without an, and of course I can't sign off without an outdoorsy challenge. So my outdoorsy challenge to you is to rough it for just one night your way. I'm not telling you to go full off grid, but this week or sometime soon, try a one night family camp in.

  or backyard sleep out. Eat something cooked over a fire or a stovetop hot dog if that's your speed. Go stargazing or go flashlight exploring and notice what feels hard, what feels freeing, and what makes you grateful for your everyday comforts. Alright, thanks for hanging out with me today. I know it was a quick one, but if you've been wondering whether RV travel is for you or if you're like me, a girl who loves adventure but also loves coming home to my bed, I hope this made you laugh, nod along, and maybe even inspired your next mini adventure.

  If you want to try RV travel without going all in, use my affiliate link to rent through OutdoorZ. It helps support the podcast and your next family memory. And if this episode made you smile, share it with a friend who also dreams of the RV life. And if this episode made you smile, share it with a friend who also dreams of the RV life for maybe a weekend. Until next time, keep adventuring, but don't forget the best stories are often waiting right outside your front door.