After spending time revising the article on games for RVers, I kept coming back to the idea of walking as the perfect exercise for RVers. But I had to remind myself that, first, walking is not a game. And, second, the post wasn’t about exercise per se. By now you know how my mind works. If I start thinking about something and mulling it over, I figure it is a good idea for a post. So, here we are.

Exercise for RVers is a pretty big and broad topic so I limited this article to walking.

Reasons Walking is a Perfect Exercise for RVers

First, it requires no equipment (though I will share gear you might be of interested and could come in handy). In my book, the fact that it requires no equipment is the number one reason to name walking as the perfect exercise for RVers. With storage at a premium in RV life, games and exercise options that require none of the precious space is gold.

Second, and the most obvious reason it is a perfect exercise for RVers is that anyone can do it. You don’t need special skills. It doesn’t require a certain level of fitness. Start where you are and build from there. You can walk for five minute or five hours depending on your fitness level, the amount of time you have available and your desire to do so.

Third, walking can be done anywhere. For RVers who travel in a Class A or C and who do not have a toad (a car you tow behind the RV) this can be an important one. Eighty percent or more of the walking I have done in RV life has been in campgrounds. It is simply a matter of open the RV door and stepping into the day.

Tips for Walking in a Campground or RV Park

Now and again, you’ll stay an RV park or campground that is less than idea for walking. However, the bulk of my experiences have been that campgrounds are a great place to walk. With smaller ones, you might have to make the same lap multiple times but that’s okay. On the other hand, with bigger ones, it can take multiple days to cover the entire place. That was certainly true at Guntersville State Park in Alabama where I stayed on multiple occasions (feature photo).

Walking a campground is a nice way to get acquainted with what the place offers. No one might have told you there was a volleyball court or a fantastic bench to watch the sunset. But exploring a campground, you will make many all sorts of discoveries.

At a bigger campground, I’d recommend taking the map with you. At least the first couple times until you get your bearings. It’s just downright embarrassing to get lost in a campground. It’s akin to losing your car in a parking lot when you shop for groceries.

A campground can turn into a treasure hunt. If you are a geocacher, be sure to look on the app to see if any caches are hidden close by. You never know what you might find.

Always take your phone on walks. Even if you want to unplug it is a good “just in case” idea to have it available. My close friends and I use the Life 360 app to keep track of each other’s location. It’s a free app and offers a sense of safety knowing there are people who always know where your phone is (and, presumably, you).

Hand holding a little green three-eyed alien toy.
The three-eyed alien. My favorite geocache find so far and one of the few I have kept.

Perfect Exercise for RVers Gear

While I said one of the biggest benefits of walking for the RVer is no equipment is required, there are a few items you might consider. None are a necessity, except maybe water on a particularly long walk or hot location.

Walking/Hiking Poles

These are great at offering stability on uneven or rocky terrain. Recently I’ve been battling a ligament tear in my knee which has made me really appreciate all the work our knees and joints do for us. My orthopedic surgeon, when I told him walking / hiking is my favorite forms of exercise and I wanted to get back to it asap, said to always use hiking poles. They take 25% of the pressure off the knees.

They can be awkward at first. You never feel like you are using them correctly. But a quick YouTube will fix you right up. That, and practice.

I purchased my hiking poles, prior to beginning RV life. But these days, poles with cork grips are all the rage as the cork absorbs your sweat so the grip doesn’t get slippery. My next pair will definitely be the cork kind.

Two pairs of hiking poles laying in gravel.
My hiking poles. They are adjustable and retract down to about two feet. The short bungie on the right side I loop through the straps to hang in my van.

Gaiters

Ever gone for a walk, came home, took off your shoes and dumped out sand or dirt? Ever had to stop walking or hiking to pull off your shoes because a pebble made it impossible to continue?

The solution? Gaiters. They look a little silly but they are so highly functional that you forgive the silliness. When I workamped at the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge I went on a walk through the state park every morning. The dirt and little pebbles never got in my shoes because I wore my pink Dirty Girl Gaiters. There was even one guy in town who took to referring to me as Pinkie which I got a kick out of.

Dirty Girl is my favorite brand but you can also find other brands on Amazon.

Woman in the middle of a highway with arms outspread.
On my morning walk in Sumpter in my Gaiters. Here comes Pinkie.

On a Bright Sunny Day

Make sure you are protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Before starting your walk cover exposed skin in sunscreen. My go-to brand is Neutrogena. Though for the rest of the day I like one that has a tint in it.

Take a wide-brim hat or even a baseball cap to keep sun off your face and out of your eyes.

For decades, I was a gas station sunglasses kind of girl. And, I was quite proud of the $1 pair I bought at Walmart. Yes, $1. Then I discovered that, like most things, the high priced sunglasses actually offer more than just a brand name. In the last year, I have acquired two pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. The polarized lens are amazing for hiking and beach walking. This is one pair that I own and here is the other (and my first pair of wire-rimmed). Not sure I can ever go back to the $1 pair.

Woman with a pair of sunglasses on her head and on her face.
Because it take a special (and by that I mean goofy) kind of person to wear two pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses. On both her face and her head.

For a Long Walk

Water is a necessity on hot days and/or long walks. You can take along a water bottle, either something like a Nalgene or a Hydro Flask (if you want to keep the water cold) or a fanny pack that has a slot for a water bottle. But my favorite is a CamelBak. I’ve had mine for twenty years and it still works fine.

If you don’t know what one is, the simplest way to explain it is that it is a water pouch that tucks in a backpack. They come in all different sizes. The bonus is you don’t need a separate backpack for other items such as sunscreen, snacks, etc. They all tuck into the CamelBak.

If You Walk with Dogs

Many campers bring furry friends on their RVing adventures. Dogs and even some cats can be the perfect walking companion. I know for myself, there were many times I would have foregone the walk if not for my pup.

Most of the items suggested here, a dog owner will already have and know to bring on outings. But just in case, I want to offer the couple of things I bring (brought…I still think of Solstice in present tense as it’s hard to think of her in past tense).

  • Poop Bags: Be a considerate walker and dog owner by always picking up after your pet. Score karma points by picking up one piece of trash or a poop that an inconsiderate camper failed to pick up.
  • Leash: I love Solstice’s retractable leash as it gives her more freedom to stop, sniff, explore. However, when passing others be sure to put the brakes on letting your pup invade other’s space. Hard as this is to imagine, not everyone is a dog lover or wants your dog asking for them for pets.
  • Tick Picker: Being from Alaska, I never owned one of these. Never had to. But outside of Alaska, you have to check for ticks. And–bonus–at one of my first stops in Texas, I discovered what handy little tool these are for getting those tiny sticker balls out of her paws (or from the bottom of your shoes). The pickers are so small, I keep one tucked in the poop bag holder that is part of my dog’s leash.

If the walk takes you outside the campground, be sure to bring along water for the pup as well as yourself. This is especially important on hot days.

Black retractable dog leash.
Solstice’s leash. It’s one of the few things of hers I kept. You can see the leash was well used. The round thing attaches and you can put the poop bogs in there. Then tuck a tick picker in as well.

Conclusion

In addition to being the perfect exercise for RVers, strolling through your campground is a fantastic way to meet fellow campers. Who knows, you might strike up a conversation that leads to an invitation to roast s’mores around a campfire or you might even meet someone who will become a lifelong friend. That has been my experience anyway.

Would love to hear about adventures you’ve had while walking through places you’ve camped.

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