In recent years, a growing trend has begun and it’s one we love—full-time RVing. While the majority of people think of vacations when they think of RVs, there are some people that decide life in the RV is for them. Why settle down in one location with a yard and house to care for when you could experience life on the road, moving where you want when you want. Thanks to the growing popularity of working remotely, full time RVing has become a realistic option for many people.
But while you may enjoy living in an RV, there are some new challenges that you face when your RV goes from occasional vacation accommodations to your primary residence. One of those questions is “Where can I park my RV to live?”
The option to move from place to place is fun, but when you’re RVing full time, you may want to find a place to call home base for longer periods of time.
Learn your local laws
When it comes to parking your RV, it’s important that you research the local laws and guidelines for the area that you’re in. You can do this through an online search with your local municipality office. This is something that varies greatly from one place to the next, even within the greater city areas which tend to be made up of many smaller municipalities.
In many places, you’ll be limited when parking on streets to certain time periods each day, meaning you wouldn’t be able to stay there for a 24 hour period of time. However, some Class B Camper Vans are able to get away with urban camping full time because people don’t realize that there’s someone living inside. But again, you should be learning and following the laws of the area that you’re in.
RV Resorts
If you enjoy the amenities and community of an RV resort, you may want to consider buying an RV lot. This again is limited in some areas, so it’s important to explore your options in a few locations to see what the best fit is for you. There are many advantages that can come with purchasing a deeded RV lot. For example, it gives you a place to setup camp for good if you’re tired of moving around all the time, you can take advantage of amenities, and you don’t have to worry about paying nightly fees all the time. It’s also nice if you want to live in your RV but would also like to do a bit more outdoor projects like minor landscaping.
However, there are some drawbacks that can come with this option. For example, they can be difficult to sell if your lot doesn’t stand out from the rest so it’s important to make sure you really want to buy before doing so.
Buy a piece of land
Another option that you can consider if you want to live in your RV full time is purchasing a piece of property where you can stay in your RV. This would be your own private place that you could enjoy and come back to whenever you wanted without having to worry about having a space open or being too close to others.
Generally, this will not be an option within most city limits. In fact, many cities even have laws against having your RV parked in your driveway. However, if you go outside of the city, this may become an option. Remember it’s important to check with your local government to find out what rules and restrictions apply if you want to go this route.
You’ll also have to consider the cost of any improvements that you might need to make to the land such as adding a drive, water access, or electricity. You’ll also want to think about options for how to secure any belongings that you keep on the property, such as a lawnmower to protect them when you’re away.
Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is a unique membership opportunity for full-time RVers. You pay for the membership and then you gain access to over 1,400 places to stay around the country. But these aren’t your average campgrounds. The locations include things like wineries, museums, gardens, distilleries, and farms.
For less than $100/year (or around $120/year if you want the golf option) you can stay in places that will provide you with experiences you can’t find just anywhere. However, it is important to note that the majority of these locations do not have electricity or water hookups. They are businesses that work with RVers and not campgrounds. So if you’re looking for a place to stay that’s full of amenities, this isn’t your best option. And the written rule is that you can stay for 24 hours unless you’re invited to stay longer by the host.
Friends and family
Depending on the location of your friends and family, you may be able to live on their land. This provides you a place to park, set up a home, and enjoy being close to people you care about. Before jumping into this option it’s important to check the laws for the area they live in. The last thing you want is to cause trouble for your loved ones.
You also want to think through the relationship you have with them and make sure that living on their land will not strain the relationship. For some people, this is a great option, others realize that they don’t want to live that close to their friends and family.
While it might sound nice to park your RV and stay put for a while, you may find that after a little while that you’re itching to get on the road again. That’s the beauty of having an RV. You can have the best of both worlds. If you’re interested in starting out on your RV journey, stop into Sky River RV to find the perfect match for you.
