5 Great Tips for Staying Fit and Active While Traveling in Your RV

Traveling the country in your RV is an adventure in and of itself, and if you’re one of those lucky – and brave! – RV enthusiasts who live full-time in your rig, you may find that your unpredictable schedule doesn’t leave a lot of time for exercise or healthy eating. However, driving, sitting in the passenger’s seat, or relaxing around a roaring campfire for long periods of time may lead to a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. And opting for fast food or other quick meal options may not being giving you the nutrients and energy you need. Read on for some helpful hints for maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle while you enjoy the open road.

1. Choose campsites with exercise options – Many RV resorts have a clubhouse or other recreational facility on site that may contain a fitness center or gymnasium, in addition to outdoor fitness equipment. If you don’t want to pay for resorts with upgraded amenities, you can also look for RV campgrounds that offer bike paths, hiking trails, kayak rentals, or other opportunities for exercise.
2. Bring exercise gear with you – Sporting equipment can be bulky and take up quite a bit of room, so you have to be pretty picky when choosing what you’ll bring along in the limited space of your RV. Bikes are a great option because they can be easily transported with racks that attach to the exterior of your RV – no valuable living space is lost! Water weights, yoga mats, and resistance bands are also space-saving options when you want to exercise while staying on the move. If you require a little extra motivation, guided exercise DVDs or streaming workout videos are great ways to get some coaching from your laptop, tablet, or television.
3. Make meal plans – Planning healthy meals can be time consuming, especially when you’re traveling in your RV and don’t want to spend a ton of time grocery shopping or cooking in your cramped kitchen space. But if you schedule some healthy meals for 5-7 days in advance, you’ll be rewarded by saving both calories and money. Slow cooker meals with veggies and lean proteins are a great option if you want to make a large portion that will last for a few days. If you do need to have a meal on the road or in a restaurant, try to look at the menu ahead of time to see if there are healthy options available.
4. Challenge yourself – In this technologically advanced age of Fitbits, health wearables, and other fitness tracking devices, it’s easy to maintain exactly how active you are each day. Set goals for yourself and your family to see who can achieve the most steps in a given day or week. This will challenge everyone to be more active. From taking extra walks around the campsite to doing a few jumping jacks while taking a rest stop, it’s easy to be active without spending a lot of your travel time exercising.
5. Incorporate exercise into sightseeing – When you arrive at one of your destinations and you’re ready to start exploring your new surroundings, try and incorporate exercise into your sightseeing. Consider taking a guided walking tour of a new city, or renting bikes to enjoy the countryside. Taking hikes on nearby hills or mountains is a great way to get the best views of any new place. Talk to locals or other RV campers who have been in the area to find out if the location you’re exploring is known for any activities such as skiing, kayaking, or snorkeling.