Relearning How to Camp: Why Modern RVing Looks Nothing Like It Used To
When I was a kid, “camping” meant three things: a tent that always leaked, a cooler full of half-melted ice, and a radio that only worked when you stood in exactly the right spot. We camped because it was affordable, and honestly, because it was all we knew. And we loved it.
But things have changed, and in the best way possible.
Today, camping doesn't always look like fire rings and gravel pads. For many RVers, it looks like sipping wine at sunset outside a vineyard in Wisconsin. Or waking up to the quiet clucking of chickens on a farm in North Dakota. Or even parking next to a WWII-era aircraft hangar and talking with a veteran over morning coffee.
Camping is evolving, and a lot of us are relearning what it means to really get away.
It’s Not About Roughing It Anymore
For a long time, the badge of honor in camping was how much you could suffer. No hot water? Tough it out. Mosquitos? Welcome to nature. But more and more, we’re seeing a shift, not toward luxury or excess, but toward comfort, intentionality, and experience.
Modern RVers are looking for peace, space, and something meaningful to walk away with. They want to support small businesses. They want their kids to remember more than just who had the best marshmallow roasting stick. They want connection, to people, to places, and to the moment.
And they want to feel safe doing it.
A New Kind of Camping
When you pull into a farm, winery, or historic property that welcomes RVers, the vibe is different. There's no rush to back into your site between two strangers. No cords snaking across gravel. No lines for the bathroom or generators humming through the night.
Instead, there’s someone waving as you arrive. Maybe a glass of cider handed to you before you even finish leveling your rig. Maybe it’s just silence, a rare and welcome gift, and a sky full of stars that reminds you why you left home in the first place.
These aren’t “campsites.” These are experiences.
We’re Not Just Campers Anymore, We’re Travelers
That’s the other shift we’ve noticed. People are no longer just going to one place and staying put for a week. They’re road-tripping across regions, stopping in small towns they’ve never heard of, finding joy in the unexpected.
They’re travelers, curious, open, and often surprised by how good it feels to slow down.
It’s not about checking into a resort or seeing the biggest tourist attraction. It’s about discovering the hidden apple orchard, the fourth-generation cheesemaker, the lavender field run by a retired teacher and her goats.
These are the places that stick with you. And honestly, they’re the stories we end up telling the most.
We’re Still Learning, And That’s the Best Part
There’s something exciting about being part of this shift. Even those of us who’ve been around RVs for decades are still discovering how different the experience can be when you rethink the destination, and the journey.
It’s not about doing it the “right” way. It’s about doing it your way. Staying somewhere that brings a smile to your face. Meeting people you never would have crossed paths with otherwise. And waking up feeling like you’re part of something a little bigger than just a road trip.
We’re all relearning how to camp, and the future of camping looks pretty incredible from here.
