Staying healthy is a priority regardless of your living situation. Whether you live in a sticks-and-bricks house or RV full-time, it’s important to make time for yourself and your wellbeing. If you do reside full-time in an RV, living in 300 square feet is no excuse to not get your body moving. Here are six ways to stay fit while RVing, ranging in skill and difficulty. We’ve given each its own adventure rating from light (1) to intense (5) levels of exercise. How would you rate them?
Biking
Adventure Level: 2
Whether it’s on a mountain, around town, or even around the campground, biking is always a great workout. It gets the heart pumping and is also a wonderful way to check out the surrounding area where you are camping. For a gentler ride, consider an electric bike to assist in propulsion. Learn How to Know Which E-Bike is Right for You.
Biking can be a fun workout for the entire family or the perfect opportunity to clear your mind on a solo ride. Not sure how to travel with a bicycle in tow? A bike rack can easily mount onto the bumper or rear hitch of your rig.
Find a bike to take on an RV trip.
Hiking
Adventure Level: 2
There is no better way to get outside and see this beautiful country than by hiking. Hiking allows you to access vistas and scenes not a lot of people get to see. It is also a great workout!
Burn some calories, stretch your legs, and get to know a place even better by getting out and taking a hike. Whether it’s a short stroll or a strenuous hike, a summer hike or a winter hike, it’s great for your body and mind. So grab your favorite hiking gear and hit the trail.
Find the right hiking poles and hiking apparel to get started.
Open Air Yoga
Adventure Level: 1
Open-air yoga is the perfect way to exercise the body and relax the mind while full-time RVing. It takes up very little space so it is something that can be done outdoors on nice days or even indoors when the weather isn’t ideal. Yoga is a healthy practice you can continue regardless of your location.
All you need is enough space for your yoga mat! Not sure where to start with yoga? Try attending a class in the local area where you’re camping, or find a video online and set up your yoga practice at the campsite. There are a number of free resources online to get you started on your yoga journey.
Check out these additional tips on how to have a healthy RV trip!
ATVing
Adventure Level: 5
For an exciting way to burn off the calories from the campfire cuisine you consumed the night before, try ATVing. It doesn’t feel like exercise at first thanks to the thrill speeding over bumps and through muddy trails brings, but the constant movement will have you sweating in no time.
Exercise doesn’t always have to feel like a chore. In fact, you’re more likely to stick with an activity if you’re having fun while doing it. So be active and have fun when you take a ride on an ATV. After all, laughter is quite the core workout.
Discover these awesome ATVs and where to take them!
Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
Adventure Level: 3
If you’re looking for a full-body workout that delivers results without the stress of reps, then look at getting a stand-up paddleboard. Not only will you improve your core strength, but you’ll find that the benefits stretch through every part of your body — physically and mentally.
By using a SUP as your exercise of choice, you’ll find that it helps reduce stress levels, enhances joint stability, increases balance, and is overall a perfect low-impact workout. Plus, you get to be on the water in some of the most amazing SUP destinations our country has to offer.
Find stand-up paddleboards that store in your RV.
Kayaking
Adventure Level: 4
It may come as a surprise to some people, but kayaking is one of the best cardio workouts. It’s true. The best part? Kayaking is repetitive in the best way. You’re constantly moving your arms to propel the kayak forward but since your view is changing with every stroke the activity never gets boring.
As if you need more reasons to try kayaking as your primary source of exercise, it’s a peaceful activity that helps clear your mind. By kayaking, you’re exploring a place in a unique and exciting way — you’ll never look at your list of destinations the same again.
Find kayaks to inspire your next trip.
Bonus: 3 More Ways to Exercise on the Road!
Of course, the six suggestions above aren’t the only ways to stay fit and healthy while RVing. Here are three more ways RVers fit in exercise and achieve their health goals while on the road.
Exercise Videos
Long gone are the days of jazzercise videos on VHS, but that doesn’t mean exercise videos no longer exist. Using your smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can easily find resources online to guide your workout. Stream a workout using a wifi or cell booster. Or, download the video for offline use and workout any time.
YouTube is filled with free videos to get you moving, or you can pay for a more structured series of workouts that can be tailor-made to fit your health goals. Guided workout videos are a great way to exercise if you’re not sure where to start or need a little bit of motivation.
Travel Gym
If you think you don’t have room in your home on wheels for a home gym, think again! You really don’t need much to get your body moving and have a successful workout. Dumbbells can be used in a number of ways to assist in a full-body workout and don’t need to take up much storage space.
An exercise mat can be used for situps, pushups, or stretching. Stretch and resistance bands fold up and store easily in a drawer. With just a few workout staples, you can stay fit without even leaving your campsite.
Find health and fitness gear to create your own traveling home gym.
Gym Membership
Don’t want to give up that regular gym membership while you travel? You don’t have to! There are many gyms with locations nationwide where your membership can be used. For example, YMCA and Planet Fitness have gyms in almost every state in the U.S., and memberships are honored at every location.
Heading to the gym for your workout is a great way to get out of your rig and spend time focused on yourself. A gym membership can also come with other perks such as daycare, showers, and free Wi-Fi.
If exercising is a priority, there really is no excuse for skipping a workout just because you RV full-time. It doesn’t take much to stay healthy and have fun at the same time. Make sure to keep your body in shape so you are able to enjoy all of the beautiful places you visit while living the RV travel lifestyle dream.
How do you stay in shape while on the road? Leave a comment below!
