My daughter is off to middle school this fall, and to celebrate, we did the most American thing you could do: we rented an RV from RVshare to explore the America West via Route 66. Ever since Matilda was little and called them “house cars,” she has been dying to hit the road in an RV. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about piloting a massive vehicle, but my partner took the wheel, and we quickly learned you don't even need a special license! Plus, our hosts were incredibly lovely, generously spending time walking us through all the ins and outs of RV life.Going into it, we wondered: Are we actually RV people? Spoiler alert: Yes, yes we are.New to RV life? Here are beginner tips and our guide to the America West!RV Rental TipsSelect the RV Type: There are so many different types of RVs out there and it can be hard to choose which is best for you, but let's start with the basics. You'll need to ask yourself if you'd like to tow or drive the unit you want to rent. Travel trailers are towable RVs that you can hitch to the back of your vehicle, and units like Class As, Class Bs, and Class Cs are all drivable units that don't require towing mechanisms.Consider Sleeping Arrangements: Again, you'll need to take a good look at the group you're traveling with to make sure the unit you're renting has enough sleeping space. The owner of the unit will clearly state the exact number of people the unit can sleep so you can know right off the bat. Keep in mind that many RVs have conversions throughout the vehicle to create additional sleeping space such as dinette conversions, sleeper sofas, pop-ups, slideouts, and more. Ours slept 8, which was more than enough for our pack of three. It was also pet-friendly!Compare Pricing: Once you've decided on the type of RV you want to rent, it's time to select your perfect rental. Price is a big factor to anyone looking to rent. RVshare gives you the option to filter by minimum and maximum price to find an RV within your ideal price range. Book Early: Road trips will most certainly be on the rise this summer as flight prices are high due to gas prices so you'll want to book your RV rental in advance to make sure you are locked in for your trip (and make sure to check the owner's cancellation policy before you book).Day 1: Phoenix to Flagstaff
Drive Time: ~2 hoursWhere We Stayed: Flagstaff Mountain Campground (Pro tip: Book your campgrounds in advance!)Let’s talk about gas. Yes, fuel prices are painful right now. But coming from California, where filling up feels like a luxury sport, road-tripping through the American West actually felt like a massive discount. For our five-day trip, we spent less than $600 total on fuel. When you factor in the skyrocketing cost of airline tickets for three, plus airport logistics, we saved a lot. And by swapping hotels for campgrounds, our lodging costs were pretty affordable and so fun! They were way more bougie than I expected. We picked up our rig in Phoenix. Conveniently, there was a Costco right across the street, which was perfect for stocking up the RV's full-size fridge with meals we could later cook on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave on our RV. This also helped us save so much on food. From Phoenix, we drove two hours north to Flagstaff.Our first campsite was way more modern than I ever expected; the bathrooms and showers actually had heated marble floors! It was also within easy walking distance of downtown Flagstaff, a charming area packed with a local bookstore and shops, lively restaurants, and cozy cafes.It was such a treat to unplug and talk to fellow travelers. Every campground felt clean, safe, and quiet. One major perk of RVing over hotel-hopping? We never had to pack up our bags to move to the next spot. I kept stressing that we needed to pack, only to happily remember we could just get up and go.As for our "house car," it was fully loaded: an indoor and outdoor shower, indoor and outdoor TVs, cozy bunk beds, and a private queen-size bed in a separate bedroom. It was so nice not to have to use gas station restrooms! And the campgrounds had all the hookups we needed. (This part was actually not bad at all, even though it was a concern that it could be gross. Everything hooks up neatly as long as you follow simple instructions).Day 2: Flagstaff to Grand CanyonDrive Time: ~1-3 hoursWhere We Stayed: Kaibab Camper Village (near Jacob Lake)The next morning, we made the three-hour trek to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. You can explore the Southern Rim, which is closer by about an hour, and more accessible, developed, and popular. There's also the iconic blue-green waters of Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Reservation south of the canyon. On the way to the North Rim, we stopped at the historic Navajo Bridge, which had stunning views over the Colorado River.Kaibab Camper Village was far more remote than our first stop, but stunningly beautiful. Choosing the North Rim allowed us to see a much quieter, less crowded part of the Canyon. However, because the winding roads to some of the more popular lookouts, like Point Imperial and Angel Point, were closed to larger vehicles, I suggest a Class B RV or smaller. Our camping neighbors had an extra vehicle that was attached to their RV, which would also get you to those photo-worthy spots. On my bucket list for next time: Booking a UTV tour to the nearby slot canyons, like Antelope Canyon. Unfortunately, they weren't running the day we visited.Instead, we leaned into camp life. We cooked a great dinner, roasted s'mores, and stayed up playing Pictionary and board games we had fun picking out at the Flagstaff Goodwill, next door to our campsite there.Day 3: Grand Canyon to Zion National ParkDrive Time: ~2 hoursWhere We Stayed: Zion River ResortI was so surprised by how close all of these massive landmarks are to one another! It took us just two hours to reach Zion. The drive so far was majestic, from massive red rock to lush, green forest. We saw so many deer. By day three, we realized driving an RV is actually a breeze on the open interstates — it’s only the more populated areas like Phoenix that get a bit stressful. The campgrounds also make it incredibly easy to just pull in, park, and hook up your water and electricity.We stayed at the Zion River Resort, which featured a great pool and a clean, welcoming vibe. Watching kids safely riding their bikes around made the park feel like its own little village.Zion itself is one of the most beautiful places I have ever traveled to, and navigating it via RV was seamless. We found easy street parking in Springdale right across from the park shuttle. We spent most of our day hiking the famous Narrows. Wading through the calm, cool waters of the Virgin River flanked by towering canyon walls felt incredibly serene. (Pro-tip: definitely bring closed-toe water shoes, or rent them right at the park entrance!) If you have more time, you can also secure a permit to hike Angels Landing, drive the breathtaking Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to the scenic Zion Canyon.Beat from a full day of hiking, we opted to cook dinner back at the RV, even though Springdale was full of cute restaurants right outside the park gates.Day 4: Zion to Las VegasDrive Time: ~2.5 hoursWhere We Stayed: Oasis Las Vegas RV ResortI thought Las Vegas would be a flashy, fun finale for our road trip, but it was intensely hot, and I forgot just how far apart the casinos actually are. It's fine for an all-adult trip, but not ideal with an 11-year-old in tow. That said, we caught an amazing Mat Franco magic show that ended up being the absolute highlight of M’s trip! Our campground was close to the strip and had a pool, but it wasn't as charming as the other campgrounds we stayed. Looking back, I almost wish I had routed us through Great Basin National Park before heading back to Phoenix. We'll just have to save Great Basin for our next RV adventure!Follow us on Pinterest for more travel inspo, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter!
