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Let’s face it, asking an RVer about their trip planning timeline is like asking about their favorite chili recipe—everyone has a strong opinion, and they’re all convinced their way is the only right way.
This topic strikes at the very heart of the RV lifestyle debate: are you a meticulous planner who books sites the moment they open, or a free spirit who turns the key and sees where the road takes you? We recently posed this burning question to our newsletter readers in an exclusive poll, and the results are in, revealing a fascinating split in our community’s travel psyche.
We’re diving into those findings today to see just how far ahead the average RVer likes to plot their course. A huge thank you to everyone who voted and made these insights possible—if you missed this one, be sure to subscribe so you can weigh in on future polls and help steer the conversation!
The votes have been tallied, and the preferences of our reader community are perfectly, and hilariously, polarized. Not a single soul voted for the last-minute options, which tells you everything you need to know about the type of people who read RV newsletters.
The Great RV Planning Divide
Here is how the planning preferences broke down, presented in a clear chart. The battle for supremacy was a close one between two very distinct philosophies.
| Planning Timeline | Percentage of Votes |
|---|---|
| Same day | 0% |
| 1 week ahead | 0% |
| 1 month ahead | 54% |
| 6+ months ahead | 46% |
As you can see, “1 month ahead” and “6+ months ahead” were the only contenders that showed up to the fight. The “same day” and “one week” planners were apparently too busy spontaneously finding a Walmart parking lot for the night to bother voting.
The One-Month Masterminds
This group, our slight majority, represents the pragmatic sweet spot. They’ve learned from the one time they tried to be spontaneous and ended up “boondocking” in a Cracker Barrel lot next to a roaring diesel generator all night. A month gives them just enough time to research, book a decent site with actual hookups, and maybe even print out a few maps as a ceremonial gesture. They are planners, but with a casual flair, leaving room for a detour to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine if the mood strikes.
The Six-Month+ Strategic Commanders
These RVers didn’t just vote; they had this poll marked on their calendar six months ago. For them, planning is the hobby. They know the exact second state park reservations open online and have browsers on three different devices ready to refresh. Their RV’s itinerary is color-coded, laminated, and synchronized to the family’s Google Calendar. To them, “winging it” is deciding between the 10:15 AM or 10:30 AM departure slot. Their motto: “Failure to plan is planning to find a ‘Site Full’ sign.”
Why These Results Make Perfect Sense
The complete absence of votes for short-term planning is the most telling part. It highlights that our core community of engaged newsletter readers are, by nature, information-seekers and preparers. People who sign up for RV tips are precisely the folks who want to optimize their experience, which inherently requires some forethought. The near-even split between one-month and six-month planners reflects the core tension of modern RVing: the dream of freedom versus the reality of fierce competition for premium campsites. The six-month faction has been burned by scarcity and will never be caught without a reservation again.
The one-month crew is likely a mix of those traveling in the off-season, those with flexible schedules, or masters of the cancellation list who thrive on a slightly more adrenaline-fueled planning process. Ultimately, the results prove that while the spirit of adventure is alive and well, the smart RVer knows a little planning is the price of admission for a good night’s sleep—preferably not in a truck stop.
