Heading into summer 2024, temporary housing rental costs are skyrocketing, so travel is getting (more) expensive. Paired with continued post-COVID market adjustment, the current state of affairs in the travel industry leaves some travelers wondering if it’s time to hang it up.

Don’t give up yet! It might just be the perfect time to consider traveling differently. There are some distinct advantages to utilizing a vehicle that allows you to say, “Home is where I park it!”

5 benefits of RV Living as a Travel Nurse:

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Compared to finding temporary housing, RV living is typically cheaper.

Only one “park” fee typically includes water, power, and the spot per month

Housing costs continue to increase nationally, and rental prices for mid to long-term temporary housing have risen consequently. According to an article from the National Association of Realtors online magazine, the top ten largest metro areas in the US saw upwards of a 14.8% increase at the end of 2023. It’s no surprise that the rental market reflects it with the current average, around $2183 per month, according to Zillow. These statistics apply to more long-term housing, of course, and any experienced traveler will tell you that temporary housing required by traveling healthcare providers will typically be higher.

Directly compared to the average cost range of an RV park between $500 – $1200 monthly, it seems like a no-brainer. You do need to keep in mind there are additional costs to consider, though:

RV payment
Tow-vehicle payment, if needed
insurance
Gas
Propane

Lower your overhead

Consider buying a used RV to decrease your payment. Trailers and motorhomes are notorious for decreasing in value, quickly losing as much as 45% of their value after only 5 years, depending on the type of RV.

Pro-tip: Purchase a used RV customized by other travelers for full-time living who are exiting the RV life. These rigs often have considerable add-ons, such as full solar packages and luxury items you won’t find elsewhere, and can save you considerable cash to boot!

Keep the fuel costs down by signing up for a fuel or fleet card and earning points while decreasing costs at the pumps. Open Roads is a program we use to save on diesel fuel. It even gets you into the fast-pumping truck lanes!

Staying closer to your home destination and keeping miles down will also help, but traveling to new destinations could be more fun.

Propane is used for heating, cooking, and, on some models, even running refrigerators. These costs are mostly mitigated when staying at an RV park, as most things switch to electric power when you’re plugged in. Skip the heating costs by using the RV to chase those 70° weather locations!

Pick the right type of Rig

If you’re a single traveler opting for something more conservative in size will also keep the payment and fuel costs down. Some RVs can cost as much or more than your average home, such as this 45ft Toy-Hauler or a large Class A diesel-pusher. Going smaller will also save you on park spots as larger sites with bigger electrical hookups will be more expensive.

Keep in mind if you choose a trailer-type RV you’ll need something that can safely pull it, while if you go the route of a drivable RV you’ll still need something to get you to work and back.

2. Flexibility and Mobility

The ability to quickly and easily relocate between assignments is unparalleled within the RV community. Being able to travel with your belongings and not worry about finding housing takes significant stress off the traveler. Sure, you’ll need to find RV parks but that can be as simple as a quick Google search and performing a little research to learn what areas of the country cater more to RVers.

Spoiler Alert: The majority of RV park locations reside in the Southwestern part of the country but certainly don’t count other areas out.

3. Comfort and Convenience

Your home goes with you! You’ll have all the comfort and convenience of having your own things at your fingertips. There’s nothing quite like sleeping on your own bed, using your own shower, sitting at your own table in your own kitchen. (even if it is a little tiny)

No more worrying about if the place will be clean, the AC/heater working, hot water running, or if they can take pets.

Got problems with the RV park where you’re staying? Unplug and drive down to the next one!

4. Community and Camaraderie

Checking off your list has never been easier

Find other Travel nurses within my RV park
Getting together to hang out and spill some tea!
Make new friends and lasting connections

The travel nurse lifestyle creates an instant connection that is only further solidified when its paired with RV living! You’ll find others who have chosen this unique way to travel easy to talk to and genuinely interested in how it’s going for you. RVers love to compare rigs and talk about places where they’ve been. Make sure to ask when checking into a new RV park if there are other travel nurses there – the answer is almost always YES!

5. Adventure and Exploration

The unique advantage of picking up and rolling out means it’s easy to visit places while on contract

Make sure to keep your RV spot so you’ve got a place to easily return to.

Travel to new places between contracts
- Visit family and friends

Bring it all together by setting goals related to your travel! Even the trip to the next contract or back home can be an adventure by choosing unexplored routes and visiting places you didn’t have an excuse to see before.

Come to TravCon 2024 to learn more!

This article barely scratches the surface. If you’d like to learn more about what RV living as a traveler is like, make your way to Las Vegas for the 2024 TravCon in September! There, you’ll have the opportunity to meet my wife and me and learn about No Ordinary Path. We’re a family known for our RV adventures and expertise in the RV travel nurse community. We’ll have two speaking engagements about RV living and traveling with a family and there’ll be plenty of opportunity for questions. We’ll be hanging out, walking around, and passing out SWAG the whole week. We hope to see you there!

We hope you found this article on RV living helpful. Do you use an RV while on travel assignments? Do you have any tips or tricks for making RV living easier? Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

In recent years, full-time RV living has taken the world by storm. All it takes is a few scrolls on Instagram or TikTok before you see a post of someone living this lifestyle. Most of the time, people rave about living in an RV and seem incredibly content in their choice to downsize and live in a tiny home on wheels.

Oscar and I decided early in our travel nursing journey that RV living was the right move for us, but we have learned a lot along the way. Most of these things we wish we knew before we got started. Hopefully, this article can shed some light on what it is really like living in an RV and what you should definitely know before jumping into becoming a full-time RVer.

It isn’t cheap

A big reason Oscar and I chose to live this lifestyle was because we thought that it would be cheaper in the long run. For the most part, we were right; however…we were also very wrong. RV living, like most things, can be as luxurious or as basic as you want. To get started, you will need to have or invest in a great towing vehicle. We started out with Oscar’s relatively new Chevrolet Silverado because we weren’t ready to invest in a bigger and more powerful vehicle at the time.

Our Silverado gave us a good 6-8 months before it finally gave out on us. We learned from that point forward that diesel trucks really are the best way to go if you want something that is going to last and get the towing job done well. These vehicles do NOT come cheap, though and we sort of begrudgingly went through with the purchase because we knew we would be living in the RV for years to come, and to us, it was more than worth the investment.

Choose your RV

Next up, of course, you will need to choose your RV. Again, you can go as basic or luxurious as you want, so this is up to your preference. However, be prepared to spend a decent amount. After all, this is going to be your home, and you don’t want to get something you end up hating. For this reason, make sure you look at RVs in person! This gives you the opportunity to walk around the inside and get a good feel for the size of the RV. Trust me; this is a step you do not want to miss! Pictures only do a trailer so much justice. I would recommend using a website like rvtrader.com to compare the different costs of the RV model you like in different states (our exact RV model costs double in Virginia than it did in Texas!).

Let’s talk accessories.

Boy, you can really go all out with this part. However, there are some basics you will certainly need, and that’ll cost you a few hundred dollars. Some RV shops include these items with the purchase of your RV, which is a major plus, but not always. These basics include two sewer hoses (in case one isn’t long enough to reach the sewer connection at the RV park), plastic sewer hose support (this is where your sewer hose will sit when it’s connected), 3 water hoses (a heated one – you can find these on amazon – hopefully we will have a store up soon where we can link these items!, a spare water hose, and one to flush out black water tank – make sure you NEVER use the black water tank hose for your regular drinking water!), water pressure regulator (controls the water pressure coming into the RV), and power chord for electricity and surge protector.

It would also be a good idea to have an adapter for 30/50 amp service (these come in handy when you park at an RV site that only has 30 amp service and your setup is 30 or 50 amp). 50 amp service is better because it allows you to run multiple electronics/ACs at once without tripping the breaker, but not all RV parks have this service.

Another great basic to have is a water filter that you will connect to your heated water hose/freshwater drinking hose. Some other basic things you should have on hand are an extra extension cord, tools such as a power drill and toolkit that comes with screwdrivers/ratchets, and level/leveling blocks to ensure your RV is not tilting to one side.

Lastly, let’s talk about the cost of an RV spot.

This is going to depend highly on where you are and at which time of the year. For example, RV parks in Florida during the month of December will cost a lot more than an RV spot in a colder place during the winter. The same applies for summertime and spots up north (think Washington, Idaho, etc.). RV parks can charge up to $3,000 monthly for a spot in these desirable locations. However, keep in mind that furnished places can cost just about as much, so you aren’t really losing too much money there. Plus, you don’t have to worry about moving in and out of your RV – you’re already moved in!

Spots can be hard to find

@thattravelnursecouple
rvtravelhack rvtravels rvtravelnurse hatetravelnursing rvtravelnurses rvparky rvparks travelnursing travelnursecouple ertravelnurse
♬ Stories 2 – Danilo Stankovic

Speaking of RV parks, let’s talk about finding one. Due to the recent increase in people purchasing RVs and wanting to live this lifestyle, RV parks have been filling up faster than ever. This poses a unique challenge to travel nurses, especially because this can make or break whether you take an assignment in a certain place.

For our summer assignment last year in Eastern Washington, I must’ve called 15-20 RV parks multiple times in hopes of finding a spot. It wasn’t until the 3^rd time I called a specific RV park that I was able to secure us a spot. Even still, the RV park was ~30 min away from the hospital, but we were even willing to drive further just to have a spot. Be prepared for long commutes to and from work in certain areas if RV parks are hard to come by.

I’m not sure why we didn’t think this would be an issue before we decided to embark on our RV adventure, but I am here to tell you that it has been stressful at times finding us spots on the road and while on assignment. This may mean you need to look at the types of places you want to work and perhaps consider working there during a shoulder season (aka not a tourist season!) in order to easily find a spot. You can also search Facebook groups for private listings as well if you get really desperate.

Learning curves galore

Thankfully, Oscar has taken on much of the learning curves that we have experienced since living in our RV full time, but I am here to tell you that there has been A LOT of learning.

Some of the learning includes:

learning how to prep the inside and outside for long travels
how to get the RV hooked up and secured before towing
how to drive and park the trailer (this is a huge one and one I have yet to partake in!)
how to perform the required maintenance
figuring out how often to dump your black and gray tanks
understanding what blank and gray tanks even are
having the right tools/accessories to keep our RV functioning appropriately
troubleshooting when things go wrong
and the list goes on and on.

There are tons of resources available to help you on this new journey (YouTube, for instance), but really the best way to learn is to just get on the road and start doing it yourself! An important thing to remember is to be patient with yourself and allow yourself the time to learn these new skills. You aren’t going to understand it all in one day so take as much time as you need!

Another important tip: RVs are not always made very well. This is an unfortunate truth, but something good to know regardless. It doesn’t always matter what type or brand of trailer you get; sometimes, they are just not made well. Therefore, it’s not a matter of if things will break, but when! Don’t get discouraged when this happens, but learn to roll with the punches. This is the only way you are going to survive RV life!

You will need to downsize… A LOT

This should come as no surprise to most of you, but it is still something that I am reminded of almost daily. You really don’t realize how much you have until you are forced to live out of small closets and storage bins! Luckily for us, the RV we chose has a great amount of storage, so that has helped. However, it still can only handle one season’s wardrobe at a time – our home back in Texas serves as our major “storage unit” where we keep all off-season clothing, but not everyone has this option.

If RV living is something you are serious about, I invite you to go through all your things now and donate what you don’t use on a daily/weekly basis. In doing so, you are setting yourself up for success when you do finally move into your RV. It’s been incredibly nice to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, but we are still guilty of filling our RV up more than we should from time to time. We are still learning!

It isn’t as scary as we thought.

Finally, I wish we knew just how much we love living this way before getting started. Like everything, there are pros and cons to full-time RV living, but for us, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. We have learned so much about ourselves, about each other, how to problem solve, how to not sweat the small things, and how to enjoy the moment so much more.

We have realized we don’t need a lot to live a happy, fulfilled lifestyle. There is something special about knowing you have your home with you wherever you go, and it brings a sense of comfort and consistency to a travel nurse’s ever-changing and sometimes chaotic life. I can honestly say that after a year of living this way, I can’t imagine our travel nurse experience any other way. This lifestyle is certainly not for everyone, but one thing is for sure: it is definitely for us!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

Travel nursing can take sightseeing to a whole new level, considering the different states you get to work in. While it has some great pros, it also comes with a set of cons. That said, you have to weigh them to see what works for you before choosing.

If you love to travel and see new places, travel nursing can be the choice of work for you, but if being outdoors and on the move is not your cup of tea, you should stick to a permanent residence as you tend to your nursing duties.

Pros

Travel nursing has its share of benefits, especially on your finances and enabling enjoying different cultures while on the job.

Flexibility

While a travel nurse does not get to apply for paid-off days, you can arrange your calendar so that you can be on vacation during the summer. The flexibility ensures that you control the time you are available to work. If you want to work six months or ten months, that’s entirely up to you.

Great Pay

Traveling nurses enjoy impressive compensation packages wherever they go to work. Chances are, when an institution is looking for more staff, you will receive a higher salary package. With travel nursing, you can earn a six-figure salary.

Avoid Work Politics

Given that you will be working on a contract basis, you will not be staying at one place for a long time. By the time you get used to people, your time will be up in that institution and on your way to vacation or a different institution.

Travel with Your Belongings

One of the major advantages of travel nursing is the provision of traveling with your belongings. Think of it as having your home, whichever state you work in. The principles of packing or unpacking your belongings, similar to when you say in a motel or apartment, do not apply to travel nursing.

Job Security

Travel nurses are always in demand. Whether a certain place faces shortages of nurses, chances are, with the right experience, you will get the job. The security reduces the uncertainty of you being out of a job.

You Get to Travel

Traveling and enjoying your new location is a plus for travel nursing. You can choose an activity that will take your mind off of work and help you relax on your off days. If you love to ride bikes, remember to bring one along. In case you don’t have one, think of buying it.

While scouring the internet, we realized that many people don’t know how to select a bike that fits their needs and financial standing. From tire sizes to disc brakes, you can choose the perfect bike for yourself. Fortunately, we found a great list of rugged gravel bikes under $1000. Other useful links include:

Cons

Even though travel nursing has some awesome pros, it also has cons that you should bear in mind when you contemplate joining other traveling nurses.

Varying Pay Rates

Since you will be working in different states, your pay will vary greatly and lead to differences when filing your taxes. Such a situation can be daunting, and you might need to hire a professional to file your confusing taxes.

Unfamiliar Environments

With the movement from one state to another, no place will be familiar like home. The constant change of locations will always expose you to new areas where you have never been. If you love adventure, this might not be so bad, but you will need some time to familiarize yourself.

License Issues

Licensing can be tricky to deal with when working in multiple states. The application and approval can be quite a process when submitting verification documents. The process can be quite daunting in instances where you cannot use a compact license but have to apply for a new one.

Final Thoughts

If you are an outdoorsy person, travel nursing can be a suitable job. Considering the job’s flexibility, you can choose which activities to engage in. Whether you want to go camping or to the beach, you choose your location when applying for the job.

If you get rough terrain, get yourself a gravel bike that will help you navigate as you go sightseeing and enjoy yourself.

We hope you enjoyed this article on the pros and cons of RV travel nursing. Do you currently use your RV for your travel nursing assignments? Comment some pros and cons of RV travel nursing you have found, below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

The following article is provided by Katy, who works as a travel nurse and lives in an RV. Katy describes what things the travel nurse may look for in RV park Amenities.

RV Park amenities, what to look for and why you may need them

RV parks vary greatly in what they offer in the way of amenities. Everyone is unique in what they want and what they cannot live without. Following is a list of amenities that some parks offer and why you may need them.

30/50 amp service. Be sure that you specify what amp service you need. Some parks have only 30 amps or have a limited number of 50 amp spaces.

Pull though sites versus back in sites. This will be a personal preference. We like the back in sites because we love to leave the back window blinds open and look outside. Look at a park map to see what would be behind your space.

WIFI. This is an easy one. While some, but not all, parks offer WIFI, there may be limitations. Be sure and ask about those if this is something that you really need. Some parks offer WIFI for free and others require you to pay extra for it. Some parks also offer a computer near the office as an alternative to free WIFI.

Cable. Like WIFI some parks offer it for free and others require you to pay extra. We have a satellite dish installed so this is not mandatory for us.

Pool and hot tub. For me a hot tub is a must if I am going to pay more money for an RV space. Most RV’s do not have a bath tub and after a 12 hour shift a soak in a hot tub feels wonderful. Some questions to ask about the pool and hot tub. Is it indoors or outdoors? Is it heated? What are the hours? Is it seasonal or open all year?

On site laundry. Our rig has a washer and dryer on board but our last RV did not. If your RV does not have laundry facilities this will be a big one for you.

Exercise Room. The parks that offer exercise rooms vary greatly in what they offer. Some have a treadmill and a bike and that’s it, while others have a complete workout station. Check the website for pictures or ask about what is there.

Showers. While most people shower in their RV’s, there are times when you may want to use the showers at the park.

Dog Run. I do not have any animals with me, but if you do, you will need to ask about this. Most parks have rules about animals being on a leash. Some parks also have an area where your pet can run free without a leash. A dog wash station is an added bonus in some places.

Concrete pads. If I am paying extra I want a concrete area. Not only for the RV to sit on but for chairs, table, grills, etc. If the park has concrete slabs for RV’s and then grass, ask where you can set up your outdoor space. Some parks do not allow you to put anything on the grass and although it looks pretty, you have a limited amount of outside area to be in. In our current park there is limited grass and no concrete. We have a large outdoor rug purchased at an RV store to set up our outdoor space on.

BBQ’s and open fires. I have never had a problem using my propane grill, but during fire season charcoal grills are sometimes banned. Some parks have fire rings that allow open fires. These are usually found in state parks although some parks in country settings have them also.

Playground. If you have children, this will be a must for you. A nice safe area for the children to get outside and run around will be high on your list.

Propane filling station. It is a nice perk to have. I have been at a park where you can set your bottles out and they will pick up, fill them, and return them to your site.

Washing your car or RV. Most parks have rules against washing your car at your site, but most have some alternative to getting your RV clean. We have had some that encourage you to do it yourself, some that have an RV washing area and some that require you to hire someone to come out and do it.

Social gatherings. Large parks tend to have social events scheduled, such as karaoke, bingo, happy hours, and pot lucks. If you are a social person this is a great way to meet others in the park and can be lots of fun.

This list covers the most common amenities but is sure to look at web pages of the parks you are considering for more.

5 benefits of RV Living as a Travel Nurse:

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Lower your overhead

Pick the right type of Rig

2. Flexibility and Mobility

3. Comfort and Convenience

4. Community and Camaraderie

5. Adventure and Exploration

Come to TravCon 2024 to learn more!

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

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It isn’t cheap

Choose your RV

Let’s talk accessories.

Lastly, let’s talk about the cost of an RV spot.

Spots can be hard to find

Learning curves galore

You will need to downsize… A LOT

It isn’t as scary as we thought.

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Pros

Flexibility

Great Pay

Avoid Work Politics

Travel with Your Belongings

Job Security

You Get to Travel

Cons

Varying Pay Rates

Unfamiliar Environments

License Issues

Final Thoughts

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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