One of the most commonly asked questions from people looking to hit the road long-term is how to get mail. In this day and age, a lot of things don’t actually have to be sent via snail mail, meaning you might be able to request email instead in many cases.
That said, there are some things you’ll need to have physical copies of. Fortunately, there are solutions that will allow you to receive those types of documents when you need them.
If you are looking to travel for extended periods of time and need to know about receiving mail while RVing, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive right in and discuss the ins and outs of this process.
Enlist a Friend
The first option is to enlist a friend or family member for help. If you won’t be moving into your RV full-time, you might be able to continue to have your mail delivered to your stationary home. This would mean you would need your friend to pick up your mail for you while you were away.
That said, if you plan to live in your RV all the time and will no longer have a stationary home, this plan won’t work. In this case, you will need someone to receive your mail at their home and hold onto it for you, either sending it your way when you request it or simply putting it away until you visit again.
Sign Up for a Forwarding Service
Another option is to sign up for a mail forwarding service. These services provide you with a physical street address that can be used even for things that a post office box won’t work for. You have all your mail sent to this address, and the service holds your things for you until you are ready to have it sent to wherever you happen to be staying. Some services will throw out junk mail for you, and some allow you to view your letters online.
A mail forwarding service is your best bet if you don’t have a friend or family member willing to help out, or if you don’t feel comfortable having your mail sent to another person’s home. It’s also a fantastic option if you’ll be traveling full-time and wish to change your domicile state, as most mail forwarding services make this process very easy.
Some of the most popular mail forwarding services include the following:
- Escapees RV Club — Florida or Texas address
- Good Sam Mail Service — Florida address
- St. Brendan’s Isle — Florida address
- My RV Mail — Florida address
- Texas Home Base — Texas address
- U.S. Global Mail — Texas address
- Dakota Post — South Dakota address
- Your Best Address — South Dakota address
Get Your Mail at an RV Park
The options above are great, but they still require you to have your mail sent to wherever you’re camping. Fortunately, many RV parks are happy to accept packages for guests, meaning you can receive the items collected by your friends or mail service, as well as packages from Amazon and other online retailers.
All that said, it is always a good idea to call ahead and check before having anything sent to a campground or RV park. When you call, ask if the park is willing to receive your package, what address you should use, how long they are willing to hold packages, and if they charge a fee for having mail sent to their office.
If you choose to have mail sent to an RV park, be sure to pick it up promptly and thank the staff for handling your mail. After all, this is a perk we long-term travelers would like to hold onto.
Use General Delivery
The final option comes into play if you happen to be boondocking or staying at a park that doesn’t receive packages. General Delivery allows you to have items delivered to a nearby post office where you can pick it up yourself. This is a good option for packages of regular mail sent by a friend or mail forwarding service, but can also be used when ordering items online.
Mail sent this way is usually held for 10 days, and those picking up packages sent via General Delivery will need an ID to do so. It’s also important to note that some cities have multiple post offices, meaning you will want to confirm which post office your package is going to before leaving to pick it up.
To have General Delivery mail sent, address it as follows:
Name
General Delivery
City, State, Zip Code
Amazon Lockers
If it’s an Amazon package you’re looking to receive, you could always try an Amazon Locker. These lockers are scattered all over the country, making it easy to find a convenient pick-up location. Packages from Amazon are left in your assigned locker and you are given three days to pick them up. Can’t make it in those three days? The packages are automatically returned for a full refund.
This is an awesome way for RVers to receive online orders, as 1) it’s free, 2) there’s no standing in line at the post office, 3) the hours are long, and 4) you can avoid the hassle of searching for an RV park that will allow you to receive packages.
As you can see, finding way to get letters and packages while on the road might be a little bit more complicated, but is totally doable. Ready to give it a try? Start planning your long-term RV trip today!
