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A Beginner's Guide To Backyard RV Camping

Jul. 7 2020 Travel Tips By Allan Dale RVs & Trailers

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Your backyard is a perfect spot for a family RV adventure. It's not the most typical camping destination, but it offers a unique vacation experience. Keep reading to learn more about this off-the-beaten-path approach. If you want more RV camping trips or want to explore RVs for sale in Alberta, visit Allan Dale Trailers & RVs. We carry many models, including travel trailers and motorhomes. We are based in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta, and proudly serve those throughout Alberta.

Reasons To Go Camping In Your Backyard

Setting up your RV in your backyard is a non-traditional approach that offers many benefits. There are many reasons to choose this adventure:

  • spend less money than you would on a traditional vacation (or no money at all)
  • give young children a low-stakes way to explore RV travel, allowing you to comfortably work up to traditional RV trips
  • enjoy a vacation experience when campsites are shut down or booked out
  • enjoy a smoother trip with easier packing/unpacking, no travel time, and so on

Packing For The Backyard Camping Trip

Sure, everything you need is inside your home. But the backyard camping trip will be more fun if you limit trips inside. Try to treat this experience the same as you would any other RV trip. Gather up all of your supplies inside your RV. That way, everyone can be fully immersed in the outdoor experience (rather than running back inside every few hours for something).

Your packing list should include:

  • enough food for meals and snacks
  • sealed containers for food to help avoid attracting pests and wildlife
  • your normal plates and utensils to avoid creating unnecessary plastic waste
  • candles or flashlights to create a fake fire (if you are unable to light a real fire)
  • bug repellent
  • layers of clothing so you can adjust to changing temperatures
  • items for family fun, such as board games

Inviting Others

A backyard RV camping trip lends itself well to including others. Maybe Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't want to go on a traditional several day RV road trip. But they can spend all day joining the family on outdoor backyard adventures, then spend the night inside your home in comfortable beds. 

Or maybe your children's friends wouldn't want to go on a traditional RV trip because it's too long away from home. But a one-day camping trip in their hometown is very approachable! See if any of your kids' friends want to join in an unforgettable at-home sleepover.

You can even bring your pets more easily than you would on a traditional RV trip. Maybe you normally need to leave your dog or cat behind. With a backyard trip, they can enjoy joining in on the fun.

Embrace The Outdoor Activities

Yes, you may still be within your home's Wi-Fi signal. But that doesn't mean everyone should spend the time on their screens. Focus on reconnecting with nature and with each other instead.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy, including:

  • collecting nature samples to use in an art project, such as pressing flowers onto scrap booking paper or creating nature rubbings with crayons
  • board games
  • playing guitar or ukulele and singing campfire songs
  • hiking to a nearby park (bonus points if you get the kids to navigate using a map)
  • scavenger hunt for a list of nature items
  • turn your lawn into a Twister board. All you need is to cut a circle out of cardboard (such as a pizza box) to use as a template. Then spray the colored circles using contractor's marking spray paint, which will wash out and avoid damaging your grass.

The fun doesn't stop once the sun goes down. There are also nighttime activities, such as:

  • stargazing and trying to find constellations
  • taking turns hiding an item and searching for it using flashlights (you may need to give hints or limit the searching to a smaller area)
  • use flashlights to make shadow puppets on the RV walls

We hope you enjoyed this guide to backyard RV camping! For more trip ideas or to shop travel trailers and motorhomes for sale in Alberta, head over to Allan Dale Trailers & RVs. Our expert staff can help you find whatever you need, so stop by and visit our dealership today. You'll find us in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta. We also proudly serve those throughout Alberta.