When it comes to freedom, flexibility and fun, there’s simply no other style of travel that can quite match RVing. The RV lifestyle combines the spontaneity and adventure of traveling with all the creature comforts of home in a way that you simply can’t imitate in a trip on a car, train, or plane.
Still, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing—and too much driving is a surefire way to feel cranky and exhausted by the time you roll up to your destination. The same can be said about arriving late (especially after dark) or making a too-quick turnaround, which robs you of the opportunity to fully explore the place you just landed.
All of this is where the 3-3-3 rule for RVing comes in. This simple, easy-to-remember guideline can help RVers (like you!) create more enjoyable, less stressful road trips.
In this article, we’ll cover what the 3-3-3 rule is, why it works, and how to use it to plan your next RV adventure. Ready? Let’s hit the road!
The 3-3-3 Rule for RVing Explained
The 3-3-3 rule covers three of the primary aspects of the RV lifestyle: drive time, arrival time, and how long you’ll stay at your destination.
Put simply, the 3-3-3 rule states:
- 300 miles: Drive no more than 300 miles in a day.
- 3 p.m.: Aim to arrive at your campground or destination by 3 p.m.
- 3 nights: Stay at least 3 nights in one place before moving on.
Why It Exists
The 3-3-3 rule for RVing exists, in short, to make trips better. It’s designed to prevent road fatigue, give you enough daylight to set up (and enjoy) your campsite, and ensure you actually explore and experience your stops instead of constantly rushing on to the next thing.
Variations of the Rule
While the 3-3-3 rule for RVing is a useful rule of thumb for most RV travelers, there are other variations of the rule for those whose needs differ. Consider, for example, the 2-2-2 rule or 4-4-4 rule, as outlined below.
- 2-2-2 Rule: Drive 200 miles, arrive by 2 p.m., stay 2 nights. (This one’s popular among travelers who have to limit their drive time due to physical ability or fatigue, for example—or travelers who like to make the most of each day of their trip, with a nice early arrival time.)
- 4-4-4 Rule: Drive 400 miles, arrive by 4 p.m., stay 4 nights. (This variation works well for drivers who are happy to cover more ground in exchange for more time spent exploring the destination.)
Of course, one of the best parts of RVing is that you are, ultimately, the captain of your own adventure — so if these don’t feel quite right, either, you can always custom-craft your own rule. For example, if you’re trying to cover a long distance, maybe you’ll abide by a 4-3-2 rule: Drive 400 miles, arrive by 3 p.m., and stay at least 2 nights. Obviously, you can create your own variations to your heart’s content, but for many RV travelers, 3-3-3 is a great starting point.
Why the 3-3-3 Rule Works for RV Travel
There are—appropriately—three main reasons the 3-3-3 rule works so well for RV travelers. Let’s take a look at each below.
Reduces Driver Fatigue
Even if you really, really love road trips—and we’re RVers too, so we get it—driving just is tiring. That’s especially true when you’re driving a large RV, which takes more concentration than a car. When you’re trying to make a long-distance RV trip, it can be easy to let the miles sneak up on you, and then you might suddenly find yourself burnt out when you reach your destination. (Which, after all, you were supposed to be there to enjoy!) Additionally, staying to a limit of 300 miles—which takes about five hours of driving at 60 miles per hour on average—helps ensure you stay alert, awake, and safe on the road.
Makes Campground Setup Easier
There’s nothing worse than arriving after dark, hungry and tired, and realizing you still have to set up your campsite before you can even start to think about dinner—or a good night’s rest. Arriving by 3 p.m. means you’ll have daylight hours to check into the campground, get your rig leveled out and set up, and settle in for a relaxed first evening at your destination.
Allows More Time to Explore
The whole point of RVing in the first place is to enjoy and explore the places you’ll stop along the way, right? Giving yourself three nights in each destination gives you time to sightsee and get a true feel for the area—along with providing plenty of downtime, rest, and maybe even some empty, unplanned hours for serendipitous exploration.
How to Apply the 3-3-3 Rule to Your RV Trips
Feeling like the 3-3-3 rule might improve your RV trips—but not sure where to start when it comes to implementing it on your next drive? It’s as simple as three easy steps!
1. Plan Your Route
While the 3-3-3 rule for RVing can provide you more time and energy to explore your destinations, it does require some upfront planning. Primarily, you’ll want to take the time to chunk out your road trip into 300-mile increments from the very start.
An RV-friendly GPS app or mapping tool can help you set realistic travel goals. For instance, Roadtrippers is a great resource that has built in intel on campgrounds, attractions, and wilderness areas to add to your trip along the way. However, you could also easily use the map app built into your phone.
2. Book Ahead When Possible
Since you’ll know where you’re going to be each night, it’s a good idea to book ahead if and when possible. Campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially during peak season, and reserving ahead of time ensures you won’t be stranded on the side of the road.
However, another benefit of the 3-3-3 rule is that arriving earlier in the day (by 3 p.m.) usually means you’ll have a better choice of available campsites for any first-come, first-served campgrounds.
3. Stay Flexible
Remember: The whole point of RVing is to enjoy an adventure at your own pace. So although the 3-3-3 rule can be helpful, it’s meant to be a guideline rather than a strict ordinance. As we mentioned above, you can feel free to adjust the rule based on your travel style, destination, and timeline, for example, among other factors. And remember: Some things probably won’t go according to plan. That’s just the rules of the road!
Benefits of Following the 3-3-3 Rule
Along with what we’ve discussed above, following the 3-3-3 rule can bring some additional benefits into your travel days—and some big ones, at that. Consider, for example, the following:
- You’ll travel safer. Less time driving means less fatigue means fewer mistakes on the road.
- You’ll get to set up your campsite, stress-free. No rushing to find a site in the dark and leveling your rig while you’re starving.
- You’ll have more time for fun. Explore attractions instead of spending all day, every day driving!
- You can enjoy a balanced pace. The 3-3-3 rule is especially perfect for full-time RVers who want to keep from burning out so they can enjoy the footloose and fancy-free lifestyle for, well, a lifetime.
When You Might Adjust the 3-3-3 Rule
As helpful as the 3-3-3 rule is, there are also some great reasons to adjust it depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with your trip, how much time you have, and more. Here are three cases in which you might want to adjust the 3-3-3 rule for RVing.
Short Weekend Trips
Sometimes, you’re just heading out for a quick weekend trip—but you still want to cover some serious ground. In this situation, you may want to drive a longer distance in exchange for getting to your destination and staying there.
Deadlines and Events
Whether it’s a family visit, an RV rally, a concert, or another event you’ve been looking forward to, sometimes, you just have to get where you’re going, fast—which could mean longer driving days and shorter stays in destinations along the way.
Personal Preference
Maybe you prefer the slower pace offered by the 2-2-2 rule (or something closer to it), or maybe you’re young, spry and happy to push a 400+ mile day. Either way, your personal preferences are a perfectly appropriate reason to shift the rules around!
Tips for Making the Most of the 3-3-3 Rule
Having just a few insider tips ahead of time can go a long way toward making the most of the 3-3-3 rule. Here are our best ones.
- Create a pre-arrival checklist to speed up setup. Even with the additional daylight time, it’s nice to get setup out of the way so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your campsite.
- Plan rest stops for meals, fuel, and stretching. A shorter driving day can help reduce fatigue, but it’s still important to stop along the way to keep your body and vehicle fueled and happy.
- Research attractions within a short drive of your campsite. Make the most of each stay by diving into all the cool things to see and do within easy driving distance.
- Use the extra time at camp to relax, hike, or meet other RVers. Especially the last one. In any campground, you have neighbors—might as well act neighborly and help bring campgrounds a community vibe!
Frequently Asked Questions About the 3-3-3 Rule
Here are some of your most frequently asked questions about the 3-3-3 rule, answered.
Is the 3-3-3 rule strict?
Not at all! The whole point of the 3-3-3 rule is to reduce stress, so if you’re taking it too seriously, it’ll backfire. Instead, think of it as a flexible guideline you can easily adjust to fit your comfort levels, trip goals, and other circumstances.
What’s the difference between the 3-3-3 and 2-2-2 rule?
The 2-2-2 rule is, essentially, a slower-paced version of the 3-3-3 rule: You’ll drive only 200 miles each day, arrive by 2 p.m., and stay 2 nights in your destination. Following this rule will slow down the pace of your travel, but do wonders to decrease your road fatigue and help you have plenty of time to enjoy each destination.
Do full-time RVers follow the 3-3-3 rule?
The 3-3-3 rule is actually especially well-suited to full-time RVers, who are at a higher risk of burning out on driving and constantly moving. Long-term travel is a privilege, but it can also be exhausting. By following the 3-3-3 rule, full-timers know they’ll always have plenty of down time, no matter where they’re going.
How do you plan routes that follow the rule?
It’s easy! Simply map your trip as you usually would with a GPS map or planning app, and look at what destinations and cities are nearby every 300 or so miles along the way. You can also use this time to scout out fuel stops, restaurants you might want to try, and sightseeing opportunities. Modern technology makes it so easy!The 3-3-3 rule for RVing is a simple but powerful way to make road trips less stressful and more enjoyable. By limiting your drive to 300 miles, arriving by 3 p.m., and staying 3 nights, you’ll create a balanced pace that allows for both safe travel and meaningful experiences.
