To RV or to Tent?

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

If you’ve been planning a camping trip and struggling with the question of exactly how much “civilization” to bring with you into the woods, you’re not alone. One of the most crucial questions parents will face when planning a trip into the great outdoors is whether or not they’ll spring for the luxury accommodations of an RV or even a cabin, or embrace the challenge of a more rustic camping experience.

Here is a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both options.

RV:

Advantages: The advantages of an RV are obvious – get a good enough one, and your “camping” trip can still get 200 channels. RV reduces the need to really “settle in” to the wild, while still giving you access to nature since it’s just a few steps away. Many families enjoy getting an RV because of pure convenience, as it allows you to forget the tents and simply get out there and drive.

Disadvantages: Cost. RV’s can be expensive, and there’s always a financial price to pay when it comes to those luxury items you can’t afford to live without. You have to consider the crucial question of “money spent, or convenience lost,” in order to ask yourself if you’re an RV or a tent family.

Tents

Advantages: Many people feel like you aren’t actually camping if you bring your house with you, and an RV does that in a way. The tent experience, however, gives you access to nature itself, letting you build your own site in the woods and living off of the land for a couple of days (or, at the very least, living off of the local convenience store). Tents are also low-cost compared to RVs, even if you acquire tents that do most of their setting up by themselves.

Disadvantages: What you gain in your checkbook, you lose in convenience, as you simply can’t bring a bed with you to your tent. You also can’t have running water or a bathroom, and if you have a lot of kids, this can turn into a problem quickly. Many people are willing to embrace these challenges as part of the “outdoor” experience, but to others, that sounds like a rationalization for being a cheapskate.

Now that you’ve had a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each option, it’s time to ask yourself what kind of camper you might be. Remember, there’s only one way to find out if you’re right: try out one of these options!

Photo Credits: blmurch