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RVs were the cornerstone of my childhood summers and vacations. My parents, avid RV enthusiasts, owned a revolving door of campers – everything from tiny trailers to behemoth motorhomes. Back then, with no separate bedrooms (thankfully, those exist now!), the RV life wore thin on me as a 1970’s teenager yearning for some privacy. Fast forward to retirement, and now the allure of RVs has become a surprising infatuation.
Join me on my personal journey to find the best RV for retired couples.
My “Why”
As a seasoned road-tripper and snowbird myself, the appeal of an RV has been ever growing in my mind. The constant hotel-hopping and house rentals, while once an adventurous novelty, have become a wee bit of a chore. Unpacking and repacking the car, lugging suitcases, figuring out everything the Airbnb hosts want done when we leave – the charm wears off after a while.
➥And can I just tell you, I yearn for the familiarity of “my stuff” on the road.
The Research
The seed of RV travel has been growing for years, even before my husband and I fully retired in 2019. Over the years we’ve really taken our time to thoroughly research the best RV for retired couples and have carefully compared costs against conventional travel, all while keeping a running list of the inconveniences that plague traditional accommodations like hotels and rentals.
But research can only take you so far. The true test lies in experiencing RV life firsthand. Unlike my childhood RV adventures where my parents handled everything, this time, it’s all on us. A question kept nagging at me:
Will the reality of RV travel live up to the romanticized memories, or will it be a case of “buyer’s remorse” on wheels?
This is the question that sparked my painstakingly careful exploration – a journey to find the best RV for retired couples like us, one that offers the ability to travel on a reasonable budget, but without sacrificing comfort or our sanity!
The RV Search Begins Here
Very early on, even before we retired, we realized the importance of understanding the different types of RVs available, and their unique advantages. Each type of RV caters to different personal styles of travel living! Finding the best RV for retired couples can be overwhelming if you do not know where to start.
So…
In case you’re not yet familiar with the RV nomenclature, here’s a simple chart to help you better understand the differences between the many different varieties of RVs.
RV Types Explained
RV Type | Description | Pros | Cons |
Motorhomes (Class A) | Large, bus-like vehicles with living quarters built directly on the chassis. | Spacious, self-contained, easy to set up. | Larger size can be challenging to maneuver and park. |
Motorhomes (Class B) | Also known as camper vans, built on a van chassis with a compact living area. | Very easy to drive and park, fuel-efficient. | Extremely limited living space, expensive for the size. |
Motorhomes (Class C) | Built on a truck chassis with a cab section and an attached living area. | More maneuverable than Class A, still self-contained. | Smaller living space compared to Class A. |
Travel Trailers | Towable units that require a separate vehicle for transportation. | Versatile, can be detached from the tow vehicle. | Requires a suitable tow vehicle and setup at each destination. |
Fifth Wheel Trailers | Similar to travel trailers but designed to be towed by a pickup truck with a special hitch in the truck bed. | Larger living space, more stable towing. | Requires a suitable pickup truck for towing. |
Truck Campers | Camper units designed to be loaded into the bed of a pickup truck. | Compact and easy to set up, utilizes existing truck. | Limited living space, requires a truck for transportation. |
With the various RV types and their respective features, pros and cons, we recognized the importance of taking our sweet time and thoroughly researching the best RV for retired couples and get very familiar with all of our options before making any decisions.
I watched videos on YouTube – so many videos! I also visited RV manufacturer websites and became just a little bit obsessed! Ultimately, my husband and I agreed that in order to move forward with our quest, we’d need to actually see some modern RVs in person. But, this presented a problem for us.
Research Why I Didn’t Want to Go RV Shopping
You see, we DESPISE car shopping. Do you see where I am going with this? No? Okay, I’ll explain in case you are in the 1% of the population who likes dealing with car salespeople and the whole rigmarole of giving a car dealership all your personal info and eating up an hour or more of their time when you are 100% certain that you are not ready to make a purchase any time very soon.
My husband and I dislike car “browsing” because those car salesmen are there to SELL (understandable!) and we do not want to waste their time.
So since all we wanted to do is pop into a slew of different RV models and not engage with the hard sell, the thought of visiting any RV dealerships like Camping World was a showstopper for us.
Wasn’t it nice that “back in the day”, the vehicles, whether motorhomes or cars, used to be unlocked? We could wander in and out of them without having to take the salespeople away from patrons who were there to make a purchase!
My dilemma brought on a bright idea!
RV Shows!
You may or may not be aware that there are RV shows all over the place. They are usually a 2-3 day event where several RV dealers and manufacturers bring their RVs to one huge convention type place, typically outdoors. There’s typically a small fee to get in, although seniors often receive a discount.
RV shows would allow you to not only gather information about what might be the best RV for retired couples, but also experience walking into DOZENS and DOZENS of the different types and models of RVs!
We could look inside hundreds of them if we had the stamina! And all this is accomplished without dragging a sales staff outside of his comfy showroom with a key or two to open a couple of RVs via the eeny meeny miny moe method.
Yes, salespeople are there at the shows and there are good sales going on. However, it is understood that unless you approach the representatives with inquiries, you are free to wander in and out of their RVs at will!
RV Shows Are a Great Way to Get Acquainted with RVs (and FUN!)
We ended up going to two RV shows over the next couple of years. For my husband, who had zero prior experience with RVs or camping, the RV shows were crucial for him to gauge his comfort level with their size. After all, he would be the one to do the driving most of the time.
As for me, while my (very brave) father had (only once) allowed me to take the wheel during my later childhood RV adventures, I definitely needed a refresher on what those larger rigs felt like for the rare occasion my husband might like me to take over the driving.
Each RV show provided an invaluable opportunity for both of us to explore the layouts, features, and overall feel of the modern RVs, allowing us to better grasp which options might best suit our needs and lifestyle as a retired couple.
While at our first RV show together, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, we quickly realized that there were too many RVs to look at. It was dreadfully hot and we’d only planned to be there for one day.
We had to focus on just one type of RV.
We decided to focus our attention on motorhomes, specifically Class C models. After our limited research, we were leaning toward the opinion that the Class C Motorhome would be the best RV for retired couples.
As future snowbirds, we felt that a 25-28 foot long Class C motorhome would provide the perfect balance of comfort for extended stays while still being manageable to drive.
The Short List of Requirements in any RV
While at the Hershey RV show we also realized that we had some very strong likes and dislikes towards the motorhomes we were viewing. My husband started giving them scores so we could reflect on them later on at our leisure.
After getting a good grip on the different features inside of the different motorhomes we viewed, we decided to make a quick list of “must haves”, ie. our “short list of requirements”.
This way, we could walk into an RV, look for these features, then walk out fairly quickly if our favorite features were missing. Everyone’s short list will be quite different, depending on what’s important to YOU.
Here’s our short list.
- Queen or King Walkaround Bed that is NOT sloped at the head (we like to sit up in bed and read!)
- High end refrigerator (we like to cook!)
- Recliner couch or chairs (just say no to stiff couches and dining benches!)
Alas, Covid-19 Changed Our Direction
When Covid reared its ugly head we felt that we should hold off on making any huge purchases. We wanted to ensure we didn’t make a rash decision given the uncertainty of the time, plus the prices of motorhomes suddenly skyrocketed!
In retrospect, I’m pretty glad we decided to hold off. Although we had seen plenty of motorhomes that seemed like a good fit for us, we still had reservations since we had not explored other RV types. I went down a rabbit hole of:
- Pop up trailers – a quick NO from me because of the wonky bathroom space, PLUS they aren’t bear proof! Hey, I live in Pennsylvania and that is a definite thing here!!!!
- Class B travel vans – these are so very tiny inside, but I was drawn to how easy it would be to drive. However, the prices of these puppies are way out of our price range, at least for the ones we would have considered. Also, many of them do not have bathrooms, or if they do, the toilets are usually what I call the “hands-on” types. Those are a whole topic for another day.
- Truck campers – I spent a lot of time down this particular rabbit hole! I liked that a truck camper could be removed from the truck bed if we wanted to settle in somewhere and explore. But we never could find truck campers to look at in person. Plus, ultimately, I decided they were too scary to get on and off the truck. I watched videos of people doing it and for each one I was squirming in my chair. That’s when you know you need to move on! I suspect these are not the best RV for retired couples. Who needs anxiety at our age!
Another Bright Idea – RV Rentals
We decided to rent a couple of different RVs to experience firsthand what it would be like to live and travel in them before committing to a purchase. I had known about the possibility of RV rentals all along, but during Covid the prices were astronomical. We could have stayed in resorts for what they were asking for us to rent their RVs, put gas in them, add insurance on top and so on.
Best RV for a Retired Couple: Renting RVs to Explore the Options
The Motorhome Rental:
Although we ended up putting our RV dreams on hold in favor of taking traditional road trips (since hotel prices were quite reasonable in the Covid and post Covid years), I did keep a close eye on the RV rental prices.
Finally, in early 2023 we were able to rent a motorhome from Cruise America. We were so very ready, once and for all, to find out if we’d be comfortable driving and staying in a motorhome.
The Motorhome Adventure:
We were invited to take a trip with my husband’s friend who lives a nomadic RV lifestyle, full time, in a trailer. Our destination was to be a lovely farm in central Pennsylvania where the fellas would be metal detecting (see my article about metal detecting!).
The motorhome we rented from Cruise America, was 25 feet long and was priced at $534 for 3 nights. That was the best price I had ever seen.
Click the images to learn more about the cost breakdown and the Cruise America rental agreement.
We would be traveling to a Pennsylvania farm that was about 4 hours away from our home, which seemed like a VERY long drive for our first time out. Fortunately, we had the great idea to pick up the motorhome rental at a location about halfway to our destination. This meant that we’d only be driving the motorhome for 2 hours there and 2 hours back. That seemed safe enough and it did indeed turn out to be a fantastic way to experience our first motorhome road trip!
Despite some initial nervousness on my part, picking up the motorhome at Cruise America turned out to be a breeze. We were able to leave our car in their secure parking lot (not always the case!), so that meant I’d be able to stay with my husband in the motorhome’s passenger seat and cheer him on while he drove the beast, I mean motorhome!
The Cruise America agent kindly gave us a comprehensive tour of the motorhome’s features. He patiently explained how to operate essential equipment like the battery, water pump, and generator. Additionally, the company provided a helpful reference video and document for any subsequent questions during our trip. This thorough orientation put us at ease and ensured we were well-prepared for our RV adventure.
On the road, finally in a motorhome!
The day we had long dreamed of – driving away in a motorhome – finally arrived, and it was as exhilarating as we’d imagined. However, the thrill was tinged with a hint of trepidation as we adjusted to the sheer size of “our” new home on wheels.
Despite opting for a compact 25-foot model, the motorhome still felt like a goliath compared to the sedans we were accustomed to piloting. However, it didn’t take long for my husband to start embracing the driving experience, his initial nervousness giving way to his great sense of adventure.
Ruh-Roh
Unfortunately, our excitement was soon tempered by a rather nerve-wracking noise. As we navigated the completely unexpected winding, mountainous roads of rural central Pennsylvania, the motorhome’s transmission began emitting loud and alarming sounds that had us worried we had already managed to break something.
The mountain road proved to be a white-knuckle adventure, ridiculously steep and treacherously winding, with hairpin switchbacks that sent our stomachs lurching with every uphill climb and downhill plunge. I felt SO bad for my white knuckled husband!
As the groaning noises emanated from the transmission, we desperately wished to call and get reassurance from someone, anyone, that these ominous sounds weren’t harbingers of impending mechanical doom.
By the way, there are NO shoulders on mountainous roads!
Alas, our pleas for cellular salvation went unanswered, as the remote location left us utterly devoid of phone reception.
With bated breath and fervent prayers, we soldiered on, my husband gripped the steering wheel with unwavering determination, with sole focus on reaching our destination unscathed and not owing a whole lot of dollars for a new transmission.
As it turned out, the angry sounds coming from the motorhome were perfectly normal for the truck’s transmission, given the very steep inclines and declines we were navigating. Our buddy, who was pulling his own trailer just a few miles ahead of us, was quite in tune with what we experienced and he set our minds very much at ease. In fact, it became a source of amusement for us, and we couldn’t help but laugh at our terrified panic.
Research The Motorhome Camping Lessons Learned
We quickly found things we loved about staying in the motorhome and adapted to the small living quarters very easily. Contrary to our expectations, we found the corner full-sized bed surprisingly comfortable and embracing, even for us bed snobs who typically prefer a luxurious king-size mattress. The cozy space felt like an awesome hideaway, and we slept soundly each night.
Getting Used to the Motorhome
While the propane heater in the RV worked fine, our RV savvy buddy loaned us his plug-in electric heater, which significantly improved our comfort level since we were unreasonably wary of the propane, knowing very little about how it operated.
We were plugged into the farm’s electricity, but if we hadn’t been, we would have had the option to use the onboard generator, which used gasoline. The RV also had solar power, which would power the lights in the absence of electricity, but not much else.
Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised by the motorhome’s toilet facilities, which we had initially thought might be a source of anxiety because I clearly remembered some icky performance and odors from back in the day, circa 1970s! However, we found the toilet to be perfectly functional and odor free!
Research Our Lasting Impressions of Traveling in the Small Motorhome
In the end, we were quite conflicted over the motorhome. It truly was enjoyable for our brief 3 night trip. However, we ultimately decided that on longer trips we would be venturing out a whole lot more into nearby towns to explore, shop, eat and so on. We felt that we would be rather put out by not having a separate car on those longer trips.
This was eye opening for us because while we thought this could possibly be an inconvenience, we didn’t realize the extent to which it would be the case.
Why the Motorhome Would be a Ball and Chain on Longer Trips:
Our most serious reservation about using the motorhome on long trips stemmed from experiencing, firsthand, the amount of work required just to get settled at the campsite (or farm in our case).
Finding and pulling into the perfect level spot, further leveling the rig so drinks wouldn’t slide off the table, setting up the awning, aligning the patio set underneath – it was a meticulous process with a whole lot of little chores.
We quickly realized that having to undo and redo aspects of the setup every time we wanted to run out for coffee, go on a hike, or any of ten other excursions, would drive us nuts.
As active individuals who look forward to exploring our surroundings, we envisioned feeling trapped by the sheer effort needed to prepare the motorhome and campsite for even the simplest outings.
The prospect of being tethered to our temporary home on wheels, unable to embrace spontaneity, was a dealbreaker for anything more than a quick weekend away.
Wrapping up our final conclusions about the motorhome:
- The good – We loved the small motorhome. It was easy to drive and easy to figure out the simple features that came with the uncomplicated rental model that we were given. If all we wanted to do was short, stay in place weekends, this would be our go-to.
- The bad – While the compact 25-foot motorhome sufficed for our brief 3 day excursion, we would not like it for extended trips. The lack of a separate vehicle would make us feel tethered and trapped, plus the cozy quarters, though charming for a short stint, would undoubtedly breed a sense of claustrophobia over the course of our typical 2-3 month snowbirding or cross-country adventures.
- The decision – Unless we are willing to pull along a small vehicle (which we are NOT), motorhomes are not going to work for us. We must move on to Plan B!
Consider your own goals while camping
For us, the small motorhome was NOT the best RV for retired couples. However, you must take into account whether your travel goals are different enough that the whole “extra vehicle” issue is a problem for you or not. Perhaps you don’t mind pulling a small car behind the motorhome. Or perhaps all you want to do is arrive at the campground and not leave for the duration of your stay. If that’s the case, you’re lucky and I suspect anyone would love the experience of the motorhome!
The Trailer (Our Plan B)
Later in 2023, our second rental experience took us to the Jellystone (Yogi Bear) RV Park in Chincoteague, Virginia, where we rented a travel trailer. Although their listing didn’t state the size of the RV Trailer, I believe it was 29 feet long.
We were lucky enough to have booked early enough to receive a nice discount, so the total cost for the RV Trailer and campsite for 6 nights was $860.42.
While the park was geared more towards families with children, we still thoroughly enjoyed our stay, despite not having any kids with us. The energy and activities at the park were truly infectious, and we found ourselves embracing the youthful spirit.
I felt that the 29 foot trailer was a bit larger than we needed. If I didn’t have to tow it, I’d be all for it! However, there was a bunk room on one end and we really did not need it (although we enjoyed using it like a walk in closet!).
Perhaps if we were using the trailer to spend time with our grandchildren, the bunk room would be A-MAZING!
As for the campground location, unlike most RV parks, the Jellystone Park campground in Chincoteague Virginia was in the center of town and at the edge of an island wildlife preserve. We were able to walk to pretty much anything if we wanted to, and we did. I loved it there! I’m a big proponent of being able to walk to things, so this place was a huge WIN in my book.
The great part about renting an RV trailer that’s already set up in a park is that you do not need to tow the RV at all! You just show up!
Of course, this rental would not give us the full RV experience since we weren’t responsible for pulling the RV, but we figured that we should try the RV living experience in a campground before we worry about whether or not we’d be comfortable pulling an RV!
I had actually spent many summer vacations in this very same campground as a teen (I believe it was called Maddox Family Campground back then), but it was even better than I remembered. They have renovated the entire campground and there’s even a water park attached now (and by the way, we received a free pass for 1 day.)
Our mosquito, I mean biking, adventure and what we learned
During our time camping in Chincoteague we had the opportunity to rent bikes for a few days to explore the far reaches of town and the nearby wildlife refuge. However, our cycling adventure was cruelly limited due to a swarm of relentless mosquitoes that targeted us mercilessly.
We were so excited to strike out into the beautiful wildlife preserve bike trail. It was warm out and we left in nothing more than shorts and tanks. Well, let’s just say that we quickly learned the importance of proper clothing, insect repellent and timing when it comes to outdoor activities in marshy areas. I now know that when a person becomes heated up and breathes heavily, we become red bullseyes for mosquitos! I am ever so thankful that there was a nice wildlife center building on the path, so we were able to take a much needed mental break from being eaten alive before we turned back to the safety of our campground.
In hindsight, we should have rented the bikes for a shorter period, rather than for days, until we had assessed the biking conditions. Nevertheless, the experience taught us valuable lessons about being prepared and adaptable when exploring new environments.
Boys and their crabs
Some of our best times at the RV park were when my husband went crabbing at the marsh near our campsite. (Chincoteague is famous for crabbing.) Armed with nothing more than a net, he managed to catch numerous crabs throughout our stay, but they were completely covered in smelly mud! But, it was a hilarious sight to see him so excited to haul in his muddy catches! He was SO muddy and smelly, but his smile was SO big! He couldn’t wait to do it again and again. This is a definite place to bring the grandkids if you have ‘em!
Our Lasting Impressions of Staying in the Large Trailer
The good – The inside of the trailer was a lot more roomy than the motorhome. This isn’t only because it was longer, but because the trailer doesn’t have all of the “under” mechanics that are needed for driving. Therefore, there’s better headroom and, therefore, a great feeling of space. The best part was that we were able to take side trips in our car without so much as a thought given to securing things in the trailer or having to move things out of the way outside.
The bad – Along with the trailer feeling larger is the fact that once it’s hooked up to the back of a car, you are indeed dealing with a long bit of house behind you! People say you get used to it, but I still see this as a major negative. Getting a trailer set up to tow safely is a process and is daunting for newbies. Also, I can recall (from my childhood) how difficult it can be to arrive at a campsite at night and unhitch the trailer from the car in the dark. I’d try to avoid unhitching until morning!
The decision – A travel trailer in the 22-25 foot range feels like it would be the ideal option after our rental experiences. This size seems ample while still being manageable to tow with an SUV. The ability to unhitch and explore in our auto during extended stays, leaving the trailer set up at the campsite, is definitely our preferred travel style. Having a separate tow vehicle for year-round use is a big plus. I also like that it’s a nifty “tiny house” type of thing to put in our backyard. We have quite a lot of children/grandchildren, and the trailer would be very handy as an extra space. Of course, the motorhome would work too, but the trailer just seems to give more of the neat tiny house vibe!
Research Another RV Show – Looking at Trailers This Time
With practical RV experience under our belts, we once again traveled to a large RV show, this time in West Palm Beach, Florida in early 2024.
Armed with newfound insights, we focused solely on travel trailers, specifically those ranging from 22 to 25 feet long. We feel that this size range offers the perfect balance of living space and driving ease.
After looking at dozens of trailers at the RV show, I still never found “the one”.
While at the RV show we again recognized that layout preferences are highly personal, and we’re still mulling over the options to find the best RV for a retired couple like us.
I wish I could design my own RV! I imagine that opportunity does exist, but I am fairly certain it would not be in my price range! When we eventually do speak with a trailer salesman, I’ll certainly be asking about designing one’s own layout.
Regardless of whether that is an option, I do know for a fact that many aspects of RVs are available as options – things like solar panels, recliners, ovens, etc. If you find a quality RV with a basic layout that you do like, then it is probable that you can switch out anything you do not like. It’s worth asking!
It’s just as well we didn’t find “the one”, as we are likely going to wait until we start collecting Social Security before making the financial plunge. Perhaps by then we’ll have the opportunity to actually experience driving/towing a trailer to make absolutely certain we won’t have regrets.
The Vehicle You Tow With is Important
Perhaps you’re not aware, but it’s quite difficult to experience driving/towing a RENTAL RV trailer unless you have a tow vehicle already – which we do not! We are currently looking for an SUV that will tow a lightweight RV. Baby steps! Once we have the vehicle, we will likely use a service like RV Share in order to rent an RV trailer to test our driving/towing comfort level and complete our research.
Research Final Thoughts About the Best RV for Retired Couples
As we plod through our baby steps in our quest for the best RV for retired couples, we’re getting closer and closer to making our final, painstaking decision. Stay tuned for updates on our progress! Please subscribe if you’d like to be notified of new articles. I give an absolute no spam promise.
If you’re a retiree considering the RV lifestyle, we encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Have you tried renting an RV or staying in alternative accommodations? What were your highlights and challenges?
Your insights could inspire and guide others on a similar path!
Happy trails:-)
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