If you’re considering an RV rental for events, like a sporting event or concert, you’re in the right place — and you have the right idea. RV camping at events puts you up close and personal with the action and is also an affordable way to stay, especially once costs are split across your camping party. You can relax and socialize in your own private space, which also comes equipped with a kitchen so you can cook your favorite meals yourself.
In this article, we’ll walk you through first-time RV rental tips with a special focus on what you need to know to best enjoy events. We’re talking tailgating, skipping hotel surge prices, choosing the right type of RV for the job, and so much more. Let’s go!
Why Rent an RV for Events?
Renting an RV for an event, such as a big game or can’t-miss concert, allows you to:
- Stay close to the action
- Skip hotel shortages and surge pricing
- Enjoy a built-in space for relaxing, cooking, and socializing
What kinds of events, you ask? RVs are ideal accommodations for:
- Music festivals
- NASCAR races
- Baseball games
- State fairs
- RV shows
- And so much more!
From brewer’s festivals to rodeos and beyond, there are so many events worth renting an RV for. Finding something to go to usually isn’t the problem — it’s figuring out the RV itself.
Which is exactly why we’re here.
What First-Time RV Renters Should Know Before Booking
First-timers, we’ve got your back. Here’s what you need to know before booking your first-ever RV rental for your favorite event.
Choose the Right Type of RV
When you first encounter the world of RVing, it may sound a bit like alphabet soup. Class A? Class B? Where do travel trailers fit in? All fair questions.
There are basically two different types of RVs: motorcoaches (which you can drive), and travel trailers (which are towed behind another vehicle, usually a pickup truck).
Motorcoaches come in three different “classes:”
- Class A motorhomes, the big, bus-style coaches you might associate with celebrities
- Class B vans, also known as camper vans — smaller, more nimble vehicles good for stealth camping on city blocks or off-the-grid boondocking
- Class C motorhomes, which are built onto a pickup truck chassis and are often easier for beginners to drive
Meanwhile, travel trailers come in a wide variety of sizes, but all pretty much work the same: they need to be towed behind a vehicle. Some are tiny with pop-up canvas sides, and some are enormous fifth-wheel trailers with lots of slide-outs.
So how do you choose? It really all depends on two main factors:
- The size of your group (if you’ve got a big travel party, you’ll likely want a bigger rig for everyone to be comfortable)
- The parking space available at your event (some arenas have restrictions on RV length) or chosen campground
Fortunately, every RVshare listing specifies how many people can sleep comfortably in a given rental vehicle, and any size restrictions are usually listed prominently on event camping or campground webpages.
Check Event Rules and RV Policies
Along with size restrictions, it’s important to be familiar with the overall event rules and policies around RVs. First of all, for example, you’ll want to double-check that on-site RV parking is allowed in the first place; many events offer space for this, but some do not.
On the event website, you should discover if the RV parking area offers hookups, or if it’ll be “dry camping,” i.e., camping without electricity or water connections. In that case, you’ll want to be prepared by filling your water tank before you arrive, and aligning your expectations with reality around electricity availability during your stay.
One way you can get electricity even without shore power: using the onboard generator. Most motorhomes and many travel trailers have one. However, this is another thing you’ll want to check with the event organizer about, as some camping areas have rules surrounding when you can use the generator. They’re noisy, so they may not be available to you during any dedicated quiet hours.
Finally (and this one’s easy to overlook), be sure you check into the specified arrival and departure times for your event’s camping area. They may open their gates well ahead of the scheduled event, but may also require you to leave by a certain specified time once the event is over. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you avoid feeling rushed or behind (or, worst of all, missing the event that was the whole point of the trip in the first place!).
Book Early for Popular Events
While one of the major benefits of RV rentals for events is getting to skip out on the insane surge pricing that can occur with hotels, rental cars, and other travel services surrounding events, even rental RVs can sell out quickly if it’s a high-demand event — and the same is true of RV parking spots on-site (or in surrounding campgrounds).
Booking early is key. Getting your trip planned well in advance means:
- A better selection of RVs to choose from
- Lower prices on both the RV rental and sometimes even the campsite
- Preferred campsite location, whether you’re staying on-site at the event venue or in a nearby public or private campground
How to Plan Your RV Trip to an Event
Now that you’ve got the RV itself on lock, let’s transition to other planning factors around the trip, such as the route, the packing list, and the campsite.
Reserve Your Campsite or Parking Pass
As mentioned above, you may be able to stay on-site at the event venue — or in a nearby campground. It’s easy to find available campgrounds in the area where the event will be; you can simply google “city name + RV campgrounds” and you should get a great list. (We also list lots of great campgrounds across the country here at RVshare; for instance, here are the top-10 campgrounds in the Houston area and the top-10 campgrounds in Portland, Oregon.)
Whether you’re parking on-site or camping nearby, though, you’ll want to reserve your campsite or parking pass as soon as you can. That’s doubly true if you’re planning to stay on-site. While lots of campgrounds will likely be busy around the event dates, the on-site parking passes usually go the quickest, and you may benefit from lower prices at surrounding campgrounds if you move fast.
Map Your Route Ahead of Time
You’ve got the RV booked and you know where you’ll be sleeping. Now for the real fun: mapping the way there.
Chances are you already know how to organize an incredible road trip, adding in worthy stops like roadside attractions or great restaurants along the way. But traveling in an RV is just a little bit different. Along with adding in these fun stops, you’ll also want to:
- Avoid low-clearance, narrow, or unpaved roads, especially if you’re traveling in a big Class A motorhome (CoPilot RV and RoadTrippers can both help you with RV-specific filters and features)
- Plan fuel stops for larger vehicles (truck stops are great for RVers)
- Expect event traffic delays — and factor them in when you’re allotting how much time you’ll spend on the road
Pack Smart for Event Camping
No matter how you’re traveling, any ttrip is only as good as its packing list. For an RV trip to an event, your essentials checklist includes:
- Tailgating accoutrement, such as folding chairs and an outdoor grill
- Power cords and adapters so you can keep your phone charged (including a portable power bank if you’ll be dry camping)
- Food and drinks to keep the party going all weekend long
- Weather-appropriate gear for long days spent outside
Be sure to double-check your rental listing so you can understand what basics, like sheets or towels, are included, and which you’ll be expected to bring along for yourself. Your rental RV may also come stocked with kitchen basics such as pots, pans, serveware and cutlery, but again, you’ll want to check your specific listing.
What to Expect When You Arrive
Arriving is exciting! When you get there, you’ll likely find a friendly representative who can help you check in and show you where your campsite is. They may also be able to help you navigate tight parking arrangements or back-in spaces, which can present a challenge (but a totally overcomeable one!) to newbies.
The main rule of thumb: If you need help, ask. Everyone was a new RVer at some point. You’ll likely find that the people around you will be more than happy to connect.
RV Camping Tips for Popular Event Types
Next up: some top tips for specific, popular types of events that people commonly RV to. Here’s what you need to know.
Music Festivals
Music festivals are one of the most common (and exciting) places to RV. However, you’ll want to be prepared for:
- Limited hookups. At most fests, dry camping is the name of the game, and generator use is discouraged. (You may be able to find electricity hookups, but they may also come only with a significantly upgraded and more expensive parking pass.)
- Lots of noise and late-night activity. Obviously, that’s kind of the entire point of a music festival — but if you want to get your beauty sleep, bring earplugs!
- The need for portable power solutions such as cell phone power banks (some fests also offer charging stations).
- To pack out everything you pack in, including garbage.
Sporting Events and Tailgating
Game on! If you’re RVing to a sporting event and hosting a tailgating party, we recommend that you:
- Arrive early to secure the best spot in the lot.
- Set up your outdoor area to encourage guests to mingle and enjoy the party vibe.
- Consider food prep ahead of time. The venue may have policies around outdoor grilling, for example, that could cramp your style… but not if you’ve made something amazing beforehand.
- Keep an eye on venue alcohol restrictions, too. A tailgate party may seem like a moot point without a beer in hand, but some venues don’t allow open containers.
Races (NASCAR, IndyCar, etc.)
Talk about a classic experience. If you’re lucky enough to get to take a rental RV to a race, here’s what you need to know.
- These races require multi-day camping setups — so if you don’t have hookups, be prepared to be out of power for a longer time (and make sure you have plenty of water onboard)
- If you can, arriving early can help you find the best site to view the race from (although there’s usually not a bad seat in the house)
- Be prepared for dust and changing weather conditions. Those cars can kick up some serious debris, and while rain can halt a race, you’ll still need to deal with it as a camper.
Fairs and Local Events
Smaller local events, fairs, and one-offs can still be great opportunities to camp. At these events, be prepared for:
- Smaller spaces, which can also mean easier logistics for campers. (You likely won’t have to navigate a complex map, just one big field of rigs.)
- Family-friendly setups that mean the happy sound of kids running around.
- Flexible schedules that mean you won’t have to feel pressed for time to see and do it all (and can come and go more leniently).
First-Time RV Rental Mistakes to Avoid
Okay, all great information, you might be thinking. But what are the things that veteran RVers wish someone had told them before their first trip?
Some of the highest-key first-timer RV rental mistakes to avoid include:
- Not checking power compatibility. Some rigs take 30 amps, and some take 50 — and you may be stuck in the dark (literally) if you don’t check which setup is available ahead of time.
- Overpacking — or underpacking, which is less common but just as annoying. Again, we recommend taking a close look at your RV rental listing and only bringing what you know you’ll need for the specific amount of days you’ll be staying.
- Ignoring water and waste tank limits. Talk about a mess! Having an onboard plumbing system does come with its limitations. You’ll want to know how much your gray wastewater tank (which catches sink draining) and black wastewater tank (which catches toilet draining) hold, to arrive with them empty, and to make sure your potable water is full.
- Not understanding how to use the generator. Ask the person you’re renting from to give you a demonstration. That’s the surest-fire way to ensure you aren’t stuck without electricity when you most want it!
RV Setup Basics for Event Camping
The good news: Most even campsites are pretty basic, which means setup is pretty basic, too. Still, there are a few steps that’ll help ensure a sweet and comfortable stay.
- Leveling your RV. It seems like a small step, but it punches above its weight class in terms of comfort. Bring along leveling blocks and chocks to help ensure your RV is in the right position, which will both help you sleep better and ensure your appliances run correctly.
- Connecting to shore power (if it’s available). This is where you’ll want to understand the difference between 30 amps and 50 amps!
- Connecting to the water and sewer (if they’re available — which they likely won’t be, if you’re parking on-site at the event). A water and sewer connection allow you to basically use your RV’s plumbing system as you would one connected to a city sewer, but chances are you’re probably going to have to manage your water and wastewater tanks without hookups (i.e., not use too much water and overfill or totally drain your tanks).
How RVshare Makes Event Travel Easier
Renting with RVshare really is a game-changer, whether you’re RVing to a sporting event or a music festival. We offer a wide selection of RVs nationwide (and are one of the only platforms where you can choose from such an extensive range of classes and sizes), and you can even have your RV delivered and set-up on site ahead of time.
Our platform also offers built-in protection for both renters and rentees as well as roadside support so you’re covered every step of the way. It’s flexible and affordable, and no matter where in the U.S. you’re starting from and where you’re going, there’s a great RVshare vehicle near you.
Ready for Your First RV Event Experience?
With all these tips on board (along with your tailgating stuff and foam finger), you’re ready to tackle your first-ever RV rental event experience with confidence. Renting from RVshare means convenience, flexibility, and the ultimate freedom to travel your way. Explore RV rentals for your upcoming event today!
