3 Fantastic Road Trips Where You Can Stay In Stationary RVs

Does embarking on an RV road trip sound appealing to you — until you actually think about getting behind the wheel and driving one of these big boys?

No problem, an easy solution exists.

RV owners who rent out their RVs for self-drive vacations through rental companies such as Outdoorsy and RVshare will also deliver their vehicles to campsites across the country so renters can enjoy a “stationary RV stay.” Think of it as the RV version of Airbnb. These accommodating owners handle all the setting up, too — meaning they back the RV into the site, connect the sewer hoses, hook up the electricity, make sure the cable TV works (where it's available) and, in most cases, make the beds. All you have to do is show up at your site for some socially distanced camping you'll surely find far more comfortable than overnighting in a tent.

Sixty percent of Outdoorsy's RV owners offer this delivery service to clients, according to Jen Young, the company's cofounder. Renters may be nervous about driving the vehicles, she says, “or just want to show up to their campsite without having to worry about anything."

This “stationary” trip can make for a very relaxing vacation, notes Jason Epperson, who lives in an RV with his family and hosts the RV Miles podcast. “You have the owners there to set things up for you, so they can walk you through the systems — like where to turn on the water heater and how to flush the toilet — so you don't have to think about those things during your vacation,” says Epperson.

"It's almost like renting a cabin,” he adds. “You go to a campground and you can experience the national park or state park without the hassle of having to set anything up."

Owners’ policies vary when it comes to delivery fees and how far they'll drive to make a delivery. Some include delivery in the rental price, and some charge based on delivery distance, which often ranges from $50 to $250, according to Outdoorsy.

You're responsible for booking your RV campsites and will need your own vehicle to get between destinations if you plan to make multiple stops.

I recently road-tripped with my family from St. Augustine, Florida, south to the Florida Keys, staying in three different RVs that were already set up at our campsites when we arrived.

The owners and I agreed ahead of time on when to meet at the sites to do walk-throughs of the RVs. They explained such details as the size of the black water tank and how long it might last before needing to be emptied (longer than you'd think!), and how all the RV's switches and buttons for lighting and appliances worked. That left our family free to get down to the joys of camp life — fishing from campground docks and making s'mores around a campfire before going to sleep in the comfortable beds on wheels.

Below, I share my Florida itinerary for a stationary RV trip followed by a more urban Southern California RV itinerary and an RV state park adventure through central Arizona. All of the campgrounds are close to major cities with inventory for RV deliveries.

Grab your car keys and get ready for some RV fun that requires only that you show up and get comfortable.

Road Trip 1: Florida's East Coast and the Keys

Take an East Coast adventure down the Sunshine State's Atlantic flank, visiting the nation's oldest city, exploring the Treasure Coast, then winding things down in the Florida Keys. You'll stay in three different campgrounds.

Begin: Near St. Augustine

Getting there: Fly into Jacksonville International Airport, then drive 50 miles south on Interstate 95 to St. Augustine.

The campground: North Beach Camp Resort, a real find, is located on a barrier island between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in Vilano Beach, just a 10-minute drive northeast from downtown St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city.

At the camp: Beach fun awaits just across the street. If you're an angler, try your luck casting for spotted sea trout at the riverside dock. Or, on the nearby riverbank, catch the sunset and dine on fresh seafood at Aunt Kate's restaurant, taking a seat at one of its outdoor tables. Try the scallops — blackened, broiled, fried or grilled.

Away from camp: At the Guana Tolomato Mantanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, an incredible preservation area about 5 miles north of the campground, hunt for shark's teeth on a rugged stretch of empty beach backed by Florida's tallest sand dunes. The undeveloped beach looks just as it must have when Ponce de Leon (commemorated with a statue here) first sighted Florida's eastern shores more than 500 years ago.

Next stop: Stuart

Getting there: Drive another 215 miles south on I-95.

The campground: Get close to nature at Phipps Park Campground, on Florida's Treasure Coast, which takes in Martin County as well as St. Lucie and Indian River counties to the north. Perched on a levee, the campsites overlook a wild stretch of the Okeechobee Waterway, a true slice of undeveloped Florida lined with palm trees (and surely loaded with alligators, too).

At the camp: In this setting heavy on nature, just relax and take in a different, non-beach perspective on Florida. At the waterway's edge, stroll along boardwalks and pathways to spot alligators and wading birds such as great blue herons and egrets.

Away from camp: Visit the Florida Oceanographic Society Coastal Center, a 57-acre nature center on Hutchinson Island, 19 miles northeast of Phipps Park. Nature trails lead to the Indian River Lagoon and a boardwalk where you can spot rescued nurse sharks, rays and sea turtles.

Final stop: Florida Keys

Getting there: From Stuart, it's roughly 200 miles south along I-95 and the Florida Turnpike to reach the heart of the Florida Keys near Islamorada, 80 miles northeast of Key West.

The campground: At the hidden Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina, just off the Overseas Highway about 12 miles south of Islamorada, you'll be within feet of the water's edge at your RV site.

At the camp: Enjoy hotel-style amenities, including an on-site marina, playground, tiki bar and outdoor swimming pool overlooking the ocean.

Away from camp: Get comfy in the outdoor beer garden at the Florida Keys Brewing Company on Islamorada and sample flights of tropical fruit-infused craft beers brewed on-site. If you're hungry, a food truck serves up tasty tacos. Flowering plants shade the picnic tables.

Check out the other two suggested road trips from AARP here.