Recently, some friends asked us about our experience renting an RV from Cruise America. We were so eager to share information with them and seriously excited that our enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming. We had such an incredible experience with our rental that we actually ended up purchasing or own camper! We drove our rental through Colorado and Utah on a fantastic road trip. For the purposes of this post I am just going to walk you through some of the basics of the rental process.

I am not affiliated with Cruise America in any way at this time. I love sharing our rental experience with friends, family, and Camp Cristen readers. I want to make it as easy as possible for you to make a reservation, pack the necessary items, find a campsite, and be confident that your trip will be amazing.

making a reservation

A reservation can easily be made at Cruise America. You can search location, availability, and size of the vehicle on their website. Make sure that the vehicle you rent meets your needs in occupancy, number of seat belts, vehicle length, and suitability for the type of adventure you are planning. We have a large family, it was important to us to have at least 7 seatbelts in our vehicle. We rented the largest RV that they offer at Cruise America. On their website, they have floor plans, interior photos, and videos to help you determine the RV that will be the best fit for your trip. Pricing can vary by location, so be sure to search multiple locations to lock in on the lowest price. They have some really appealing off-season, relocation, and one-way deals if you are flexible on your dates and location.

what to bring

During the reservation process there are options to purchase a kitchen kit and a personal kit. We chose to skip these and it worked out well for us. When we received our rental, the kitchen was fully stocked with utensils, cups, bowls, plates, pots, and pans. Apparently, they leave them in the RV to save on storage space and the hassle of packing and unpacking the kitchen prior to each rental. You will need to bring your own bed linens, towels, and paper products. If you are renting locally, I recommend just heading back home to pack your rental RV with your own personal items. We were flying to our rental location. We packed some towels and sleeping bags and purchased additional linens on clearance at the nearest big box store for less than the price of the linen kits offered. These and additional suggested items that you may need or want are listed below.

• bed linens and pillows – We prefer sleeping bags for kids, particularly if their beds will be put away in the daytime. Rolling up a sleeping bag and throwing it in the cab-over bunk is easy.
• bathroom and kitchen linens
• paper products – toilet paper (any labeled septic-safe), paper towels, napkins, plates, food storage bags, etc.
• cleaning products – When we received the rental, I wiped down all surfaces, cleaned the bathroom, and wiped the floors. It was quick and easy. Ours seemed to be swept clean, but I’m not confident that the cleaning process went much further than that and an exterior wash. Also, RVs get dirty quickly and it is nice to be able to tidy up each day. Our rental included a broom.
• drinking water – Most privately owned RVs have water filters. My personal preference is to never drink from either the city water or the freshwater tank in a rental as I do not know if the water hose or tank has been contaminated. You can cook with water if you will be boiling it.
• food and drinks – You will be limited on food storage space so if you are taking a long trip you may want to only buy for a few days at a time. Also, you will want to purchase food after picking up your rental so that the refrigerator will have time to get cold before you start stocking it with food. Check out my post on quick and easy camping meals for families.
• personal care items – medicine, body wash, shampoo, make-up, etc.
• clothing – We usually pack clothing for 3-4 days and then wash it in the campground laundry facility.
• soap – hand soap, dish soap (+cleaning sponge), laundry soap
• camping chairs – or hammocks or something for sitting and relaxing outside
• vinyl picnic table cloth
• flashlights
• matches or lighter
• charcoal and/or grilling necessities
• small kitchen appliances – griddle, coffee maker, instant pot, etc.
• extension cord
• outdoor lighting/lantern
• bikes/bike rack – Small bikes and scooters may fit in larger storage compartments.
• portable fire pit – We love traveling with our Solostove Bonfire. Be sure to check local fire regulations before your trip. Most campgrounds provide a fire ring and sell firewood if fires are allowed. Some campgrounds even rent propane fire pits, particularly in areas with heavy fire regulations.

where to camp

We enjoy staying in government-run campgrounds like state parks, national parks, national forests, etc. These parks are reasonably priced, reliably safe, and usually quiet as they are often in remote locations. I highly recommend using apps like Campendium and Recreation.gov when choosing a campground. Most of my favorite campgrounds involve dry camping on national forest land. I love getting away from the crowds!

If you are looking for a campground with wi-fi, swimming pools, or splash pads, you may want to consider staying at a private campground. I highly recommend reading reviews on third-party sites and I usually prefer the vibe of campgrounds that only allow short-term stays. There are some fantastic private campgrounds out there! One of our favorites is Zion Ponderosa located near the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel of Zion National Park. We often choose to stay at KOA campgrounds on our road trips. They offer a variety of site styles and are consistent in meeting expectations. Although KOA can often be more costly than other options, I appreciate that they offer online reservations, full hook-ups, and clean bathrooms. Wherever you choose to stay, be ready to unwind and have fun!

how to make the most of your RV rental

RV life can be somewhat daunting to newbies. Let’s be honest, it can be difficult at times for seasoned RVers. Occasionally, there are going to be rough days and trying moments. Keep your cool and remember that each minute of your day is just part of the adventure. RVing is camping. If you are expecting that your rental will be luxurious like staying at a posh hotel, you will likely be disappointed. It is definitely camping. I find it way more comfortable than tent camping. You get to sleep in a bed. You have a dry place to stay on rainy days. You have the air conditioning, a furnace, a kitchen, and a full bathroom. While it may not be as well-appointed as your sticks and bricks, you will have most all of the comforts of home. And, since your kitchen travels with you, you will be able to have gourmet picnics in some of the most amazing places!

Thankfully, in our experience, the friendly folks at Cruise America were great about walking us through every step of the process! Reality is, that you will have to learn how to connect the water, sewer, and electricity. You will have to hand wash dishes, bathe in what must be the world’s tiniest shower, and complete the dreaded hassle of dumping the tanks. We learned a lot on that first RV trip, but most of all we made some amazing family memories.

Have you rented an RV? How was it? Have any questions?

Let us know in the comments below!