Renting an RV for the First Time: Our Arizona Family Road Trip Itinerary

We had talked about taking an RV trip as a family for a while, but if I’m being honest, it always felt a little intimidating. Driving it, booking it, figuring out where to stay, it seemed like a lot for first-time renters. But after finally giving it a try, it ended up being one of the easiest and most memorable trips we’ve taken as a family!

For our first RV adventure, we planned a simple Arizona road trip: we picked up our RV in Phoenix, spent time camping in Tucson, and finished the trip in Tombstone just a short walk from historic downtown.

If you’ve ever wondered what renting an RV for the first time is actually like, here’s how our trip went and what we learned along the way.

Booking Our First RV Trip On Outdoorsy

As first-time RV renters, we wanted the booking process to be as simple as possible. That’s why we decided to rent through Outdoorsy.

Outdoorsy connects travelers with RV owners, so there are tons of different RV options depending on your comfort level, travel style, and family size.

One of the things that helped us the most when deciding which RV to book was the reviews. Seeing other families share their experiences gave us a lot of confidence that we were choosing the right RV for our trip.

The filters also made it easy to narrow things down by size, sleeping space, and amenities, which was really helpful as first-time renters trying to figure out what would work best for our family.

If you’re thinking about planning your own RV trip, you can book and use our code AZFAMILY10 for 10% off your Outdoorsy rental.

Our Southern Arizona Itinerary

One thing we quickly realized about RV travel is that you don’t have to drive far to have a great trip. In fact, slowing down and keeping the itinerary simple made the experience even better.

Here’s the route we followed for our first RV road trip.

We started our trip in Phoenix where we picked up the RV. The owner walked us through everything we needed to know before we hit the road, which made us feel so much more comfortable as first-time RV travelers.

Within minutes, the kids had already picked their favorite sleeping spots and were excited to start the trip. We made them take turns sleeping above the driver's and passengers seats because obviously that was the coolest spot.

Once we got on the road, it didn’t take long for us to realize that RV travel with kids has some major advantages, especially having snacks, bathroom breaks, and a place to relax right there with you. If you're brand new at this you might be wondering like I was - YES you can move around while driving. You can make snacks, go to the bathroom, tend to the kids, etc. I made my kids sit down and be buckled and the baby in his car seat for the most part but it was nice we could walk and stretch out.

Our first stop was Tucson, where we stayed at a beautiful campground and settled into RV life for the first time. I'm SO happy we booked campgrounds for our first time in an RV. Once you get there, hooking up the sewage, power and water is actually really easy. We stayed at KOA campground and seriously, 5 stars - it was incredible!

Our final stop was Tombstone, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip.

We found an RV park just a few minutes’ walk from historic downtown, which meant we could explore the town without constantly loading everyone into the car.

Being able to walk straight from our RV into town made the whole experience feel slower and more relaxed.

Trips like this always remind me that the best family vacations aren’t about packing in as much as possible, they’re about the time you spend together along the way.

These are the kinds of trips that turn into core memories.

Tips for Renting an RV for the First Time

If you're thinking about renting an RV for the first time, here are a few things that helped make our trip smooth:

• Read the reviews before booking and choose a size you will feel comfortable driving.

• There is not a lot of space so pack in packing cubes.

• Book campgrounds ahead of time so you don't have to worry about your tanks being low, or having enough generator power.

• Plan shorter driving days for your first trip

• Book early if you're planning a summer trip - They are already selling out for this summer and the best RV's will go first.

• Book an RV that has solar power or a generator you can run while driving. Things that made our trip easier and more enjoyable:

Packing Cubes are a must. Our portable grill - a must have for any outdoor adventures.

A Travel Stroller that's small enough to pack.

The Tonies Box is what kept my 1 and 6 year old entertained for the driving portion.