Books You Must Read If You Want a Taste of the RV Lifestyle

What better way to educate yourself on the topic of the RV lifestyle than immersing yourself in some RV books?

Although the internet may be more convenient and readily available, faster and easier doesn’t always equal better. There’s something special and timeless about accessing information through books. You get a more personalized response to the question you have and often some unique stories and perspectives as well.

So, let’s take a more in-depth look at how these top 10 books can provide you with a wealth of knowledge about the RV lifestyle.

1. A Beginners Guide to Living in an RV

What if you decided to explore all 50 states on your honeymoon? Why choose a traditional getaway to the tropics when you can roam the roads of your motherland? To make this idea even wilder, why not experience your adventures in an RV? 

For Heath and Alyssa Padgett, the answers to why they should follow through with this dream far outweighed why they shouldn’t. They started when the craze for RVs and the lifestyle wasn’t nearly as prominent then as it is today.

The Padgetts enjoyed many ups and downs on their new journey. Their book answers many common questions and talks about everything from tips and tricks for finding reliable internet on the road to the breakdown of costs related to this way of living.

There’s a reason this choice sits at the top of our list for RV books we believe you should read. The author, Alyssa, writes informatively and humorously because, as you can imagine, embarking on a new chapter with no experience is bound to come with its share of peaks and valleys.

2. Snowbird Travel Guide: Arizona

Of all the RV books on our list, this is one of our favorites. We may be a little biased though since we co-created this with our friends!

So many in the RVing community reside in cold climates. Sometimes, it feels as the other three seasons go by quickly, and winter tends to drag its feet. You might abandon your cold climate during winter and travel somewhere warm. In that case, you might adopt the endearing term of “snowbird.”

When you become a snowbird, how are you supposed to know what areas to visit and where you should steer clear? 

The Snowbird Travel Guide: Arizona will direct you to all the right places throughout this famous state. It doesn’t matter if you prefer camping among the bare cactus land or luxurious campground in Sedona–it will help you find winter grounds for you. 

3. Live Camp Work

If you want to learn about the ins and outs of workamping, this is one of the best RV books for you. 

The author, Sharee Collier, delves into the details about some of the most common questions regarding workamping. For example, she discusses where and how you can find workamping jobs from over 1,000 different employees. She even shares popular myths and mistakes associated with workamping ventures.

Sharee and her husband have been traveling with their four children for the last several years. When they began this journey, they lived the rat race that many of us knew before becoming obsessed with RV life. One day it hit them that they wanted to live a life of exploration and adventure.

They had three choices of where to live: at the beach, in an RV, or on a sailboat. After some exploration, they chose the RV and haven’t looked back.

4. Chasing Rainbows

As a co-founder of the Escapees RV Club in 1978, Kay Peterson shares a compilation of the various people, places, and personal thoughts regarding what drove her to the RV lifestyle.

Kay and her husband Joe share similar reasoning for pursuing freedom through travel. Like so many who tire of the day-to-day monotony of corporate America and all it entails, they sold their home in southern California and moved straight into a travel trailer with young children and a cat.

Much like Sharee Collier and her family, Kay Peterson and her husband worked 52 different jobs in 27 states for 10+ years. From Maine’s coast to Alaska’s open lands, Kay and her family witnessed firsthand sights and sounds many of us can only dream about.

Chasing Rainbows is one of our favorite RV books when we need a good dose of inspiration and positivity.

5. Mobile Solar Power Made Easy

This choice sits on our list as one of the more informative RV books we recommend.

If you’re considering boondocking, you might wonder if installing solar power on your RV will be beneficial. Mobile Solar Power Made Easy is a do-it-yourself, step-by-step instruction manual that can enhance your skills and knowledge. 

The pictures are significant, and you can use the book as a go-to guide when you’re in a jam, or you can use it as a glossary to all things solar power. You’ll be searching solar tips on Google less frequently with this book in your library. 

6. Full-Time RV Finance

Full-Time RV Finance by Sean and Julie Chickery can answer all things money-related regarding RV living.

In this book, you’ll discover tips on saving for an RV, building a full-time budget, and even making and saving money while you’re on the road. Their approach is practical, realistic, and critical to consider when you begin this unconventional way of living.

The content is exclusive to no one; therefore, anyone considering or currently living the RV lifestyle can benefit from reading this book.

7. The Mobile Internet Handbook

One of the first and most significant questions new RVers have is how I can get reliable internet?

The Mobile Internet Handbook by Chris Dunphy and Cherie Ve Ard can answer that before you hit the road. Along with figuring out ways to make money while traveling, internet dependability is second in importance.

Regardless of your comfort with technology, this book will answer all your questions. The authors make a conscious effort to balance the complex language with basic terminology most of us are familiar with through the book.

8. Be a Nomad Change Your Life

Robin Barrett, author of Be a Nomad Change Your Life, chose to step away from the traditional workforce and pursue a life of travel and writing. Her book boasts over 600 five-star ratings on Amazon. She’s also written an additional three books with excellent reviews.

Reading this book will provide you with potentially new tools and insights. Tidbits included in this book are helpful links such as job and financial resources, traveling with pets, finding discount travel memberships, and free camping. Who doesn’t love free camping?

If you want to know whether or not the nomad lifestyle suits you, we recommend checking out Robin’s books.

9. Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century

Recently made into a movie, Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century is a raw and upfront depiction of a generation gravitating towards the nomadic lifestyle.

It highlights the way the 2008 financial collapse impacted more Americans than we might have initially realized. Author Jessica Bruder takes us on a journey of the many ways in which the recession impacted people from all walks of life. 

Bruder joins Linda May, whose employment history includes Home Depot clerk and general contractor. Linda nicknamed her vehicle “Van Halen.” The movie follows May as she ventures into the RVing world, working various jobs as she meets and reunites with friends in the desert.

Linda’s story is striking, and the tales among fellow RVers are touching. If you’re seeking an unfiltered view of the RV lifestyle, we recommend adding this to your list of must-read RV books.

10. The Simple Life Guide to RV Living

Like so many of us who feel trapped and uncomfortable before we venture off into RV living, we often live in such a way that supports society’s beliefs. It turns out that way of living is not for everyone.

The Simple Life Guide to RV Living by Gary Collins explores not only his personal story but also sheds light on some of the most common obstacles we face before transitioning to RV living. Within these pages, you’ll find tips for decluttering and downsizing, ways to cope with challenges during the transition, and even details about how he’s running his business remotely from the road.

In general, the fewer things and debt you have before making the transition, the better off you’ll be. Making this a reality is not always practical, but it does help. Gary breaks down some ways to achieve a nomadic lifestyle by eliminating excess possessions and financial obligations.

So, if you’re even thinking about making the change, we recommend checking out this book.

Which RVing Books Do You Love? 

When you want trustworthy information that’s not straight from the internet, consider opening up one of the books on this list. 

Each book has a personal perspective with valuable experience, knowledge, and insight across a wide range of subjects. Along the way, providing undeniable humor, sincerity, honesty, and enlightenment into a way of living is unfamiliar to so many.

With a little bit of courage, grace, and determination, we hope you find this list of resources constructive and helpful in achieving your dream toward a positive and meaningful way of life.

Have you read any RVing books you love?