“A good starting place is a Facebook group that is doing what you want to do,” Pettit tells Parade. “There are many for solo women travelers including Girl Camper, which was just chosen by Facebook as one of their exceptional communities. Not only can you get practical wisdom from women who are already RV-ing but you get the inside track on great campgrounds, places to hike, and friends to do it all with.” Girl Camper creates space for solo-traveling women who enjoy being outdoors, forging new friendships with fellow travelers, and camping—whether that’s in a pop-up trailer, tent, or lux motorhome. Campers range from 18 to 80+ years old and can participate in Girl Camper events all across the United States. Especially now, people are opting for RV road trips more than ever. According to a survey by Vacation Renter, 66 percent of people said they intend to take more road trips in the future and that since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, have taken an average of three trips and plan to take at least one more before the end of 2021. Aside from the travel aspect, it’s also a meaningful way to meet new people and forge new friendships with people who have similar hobbies and interests. “I have met so many wonderful women, but one comes to mind right now,” Pettit tells Parade. “I was camping in Ohio and I met a wonderful woman named Gail Bable who was a camp host at a local campground. She lived at the campground, which was only a few miles from her home, in the summer and helped campers find their spots and get settled.” Pettit continues, “Camp hosts are a great resource for local finds like the best bakeries. It was a volunteer position and she really enjoyed the change of scenery and being outdoors. I stopped by to ask her a question and ended up chatting around the fire with her for hours. I discovered that she was the mother of ten through marriage and foster care. She was also a certified naturalist and could make tea from the wildflowers around the area. She had a knitting podcast and taught me to knit mittens—no easy feat. She also volunteered at the living museum once a month doing reenactments of colonial life.” That initial meetup turned into an invaluable years-long friendship. “We have stayed friends all these years and camped together many, many times,” Pettit says. “I am so grateful to have her in my life. If not for camping, I would not know this truly loving and giving soul.” If you want to get in on the RV life but aren’t sure where to start and who to go with, Girl Camper can definitely help. After all, at its core, Girl Camper is a community. Like most communities, Girl Camper is welcoming to all kinds of campers—from novice to veteran. Keep reading for Pettit’s top tips for camping and RV-ing.
How to get started RV-ing
Are you new to the worlds of camping and RV-ing? Using a resource like Girl Camper and other Facebook groups is an excellent starting point, as Pettit suggests, but there are also other tools you can check out, too. “Another good jumping-off place is the GoRVing website,” Pettit explains. “They have all kinds of tools to help newbies get started finding the right RV for them.” But first, Pettit recommends thinking about the kind of RV experience you want to have. That plays a big role in a lot of different camping-related decisions. “Figure out your camping style,” Pettit recommends. “Once you know if you want to travel a few weekends a year with friends or take off on the epic All-American road trip, you can start to narrow in on your starting point. I always advise the solo women travelers to join a few Girl Camping groups and sign up for a trip. Most campgrounds have cabin rentals which allow you to join in the fun and to meet people and start asking questions.” Not sure what your camping style is or, rather, will be? Check out the lifestyles of others in order to zero in on the kind of experience you want. “Campers are among the friendliest people in the world and love sharing their passion for the lifestyle with others,” Pettit says. “YouTube is another good resource. It’s a great place to find channels by solo women travelers that give a realistic view of the ups and downs of solo travel.” “I like ‘Where is Tiffany,’” Pettit adds. “She chronicles her road life with humor and grace and doesn’t leave out the parts (like cold nights) that might put someone off.” Once you have a better idea of what kind of experience you’d like to have while RV-ing, you can make choices about renting/buying, where you want to go, where you want to park, and more. “Some like camping at RV resorts in a luxury RV with all the bells and whistles,” Pettit adds. “Even after you figure out your ‘camping style,’ it’s a good idea to try out a few models before you decide on one.”
To rent or to buy, that is the question
Which leads us to this: if you’re just starting out, Should you rent or buy? “Renting an RV is a great way to discover what type of RV works best for you,” Pettit says. “People have different camping styles that will impact their choice. Some like to boondock in remote locations with no hookups and that will require an RV with some additional bling—extra batteries, larger holding tanks, and solar panels.” Comparatively, if you’re looking for a luxe vacation experience, you’ll want to choose the appropriate set of wheels. “There are peer to peer rental companies like Outdoorsy that have tens of thousands of units being rented by owners when they’re not in use. It’s a wise investment to try before you buy. Outdoorsy is also a great way to cut the cost of ownership down.” Ultimately, it’s like splurging on clothing or accessories or just about anything. What will your cost per use be based on how much use you’ll get out of it? It’s an investment, right? If you’re considering buying an RV, you have to ask yourself if it will be a good one.
What are Girl Camper’s favorite camping locations?
“I live in NJ so have the best of all worlds,” Pettit says. “I can camp at the beach one weekend and in the mountains the next and still not be more than an hour and a half from home. That is the perk of owning an RV. It is a weekend home but you get to move it to a new location whenever you want.” Of course, Pettit’s fave camping spots can’t all be in NJ. What would be the fun of owning an RV if you only stayed in one state?! “When I get out to the state I love camping in West Virginia. It’s a secret gem and not as crowded as many other areas,” Pettit adds. “I am also working on getting to as many National Parks as I can. My favorite National Park has got to be Glacier National Park but picking one is like trying to pick a favorite child! We love them all.” If you want to go the National Park route, it’s a great place to start. After all, there are 417 parks throughout the U.S. to explore.
How to find good camping locations
Pettit’s #1 tip for finding a good camping location is to simply ask around. “A good tip for finding a great location is to crowdsource,” Pettit says. “Your camping friends are the best reviewers you can find. Whenever I see someone post a great camping photo, I not only ask what campground they are at but what site # they are on.” In fact, finding out as much information as you can before camping somewhere is the best way to find a great place. This includes whether or not you need a reservation, the exact location you’ll be at (including views and proximity to restrooms), and more. “You have to book early if you want something specific like a lakeside site or to be close to the bathroom,” Pettit says. “Traveling without reservations is doable if you are not picky about what site you get or are willing to boondock in a Walmart parking lot if everyone is sold out.”
Must-have gear for camping and RV-ing
Pettit’s top three pieces of must-have gear for hitting the road are a surge protector, a quality chair, and a multi-use cooking tool. “I always use a surge protector at the campsite to make sure that there are no power surges that might damage my RV,” Pettit says. “It’s an expensive piece of gear but the peace of mind is worth it. An unexpected power surge from lightning or a malfunction can do thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your RV. " Just as important as protecting your RV from a power surge is comfort. “A good camp chair is a must. I want to be so comfortable when I am sitting around the fire. I can remember watching the Milky Way with my youngest daughter on the Grand Mesa in Colorado at an altitude of 11K feet,” Pettit says. “It looked like you could touch the stars they seemed so close. We were sunk into our favorite chairs and wrapped in blankets at 2 AM counting shooting stars. When you’ve driven thousands of miles to get somewhere you don’t want to be driven indoors by a sore back from a bad chair.” Lastly, you also need good food. And for that, you need a good skillet. “I never travel without my big cast iron skillet,” Pettit says. “For me, food is key on a campout. I have finally perfected campfire pizza on the skillet and now I am loving shopping local bakeries for the best artisan bread and dreaming up new recipes for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. We make herb butter before we leave home and use it on everything. There’s also nothing like a fresh trout or steak on a cast iron grill. We even made apple pie in it.” Don’t want to camp in your RV? Renovate it instead, like this mom who converted a camper into a mobile bar.
