Frank wanted to hit the road in an RV long before he retired from the military to save money & basically have our BAH pay off our camper so we could hit the road at retirement, but I couldn't fathom that. However, a year after he retired we hit the road fulltime on the adventure that has brought us where we are today.

There are however, lots of military families doing just that today! The allure of RV life for both military families and retirees offers freedom, flexibility, and adventure. Learn the benefits, costs, and tips for owning an RV for both PCS travel, Duty stations and into retirement

Active Duty Full-time RV Living

The variety of RVs available can be overwhelming. A common mistake is purchasing one that is too large or heavy for your vehicle to tow. Along with understanding your vehicle’s payload, consider how many people will be living in the RV. The opposite is also true. Buying a too small RV for your family can put added stressors on your military lifestyle. Spece can feel cramped & overwhelmed amid the responsibilities of military life.

If it’s just you and your spouse, you can skip the models with bunk beds. You’ll probably want to ensure the underbelly of the RV is insulated for cold weather or labeled “all-season.” Insufficient insulation can lead to high heating costs during winter, even in warmer climates like Florida’s. 

If you are RVing with a family a bunk model or toy hauler are popular for families. Just make sure you have enough truck to haul it and that the RV you purchase is rated for fulltime living so you don't void your warranty.

Living in an RV often means downsizing your belongings. Take the time to embrace a minimalist lifestyle and learn to prioritize what you truly need.

While living in an RV, you may need to consider what to do with your other household goods. You may need a nearby storage unit for seasonal items, or you might decide to downsize even further. Even if you sell off some of your belongings, you might want to keep some of the kids’ toys — for both inside and outside play. Rainy days in small living quarters can be challenging. 

Of course, the heart of successful RV living — especially for military families is smart planning.

Smaller refrigerators and pantry spaces may require more frequent grocery trips, depending on family size. There are lots of portable internet solutions today that travel with you to avoid the “adventure” of trying to stream your favorite show while parked in a field, hoping the Wi-Fi won’t cut out on you. Starlink, hotspots, and branded internet options from Techno RV are among a few of our top picks.  

If your RV even has a washer and dryer, you’ll be doing laundry every two days, possibly in a machine that’s about the size of a shoebox. Going somewhere to do laundry, even at campgrounds that have them on site, can be expensive.

Don't forget to check with your campground about receiving mail and packages. If they don’t allow it, you may need to rent a mailbox or set up a more permanent legal domicile.

As your home on wheels, RV repairs can be costly, especially if you need someone to come to your campsite to do them. Put aside 10-15% of your RV’s value annually for maintenance and repairs.

Regular upkeep, such as maintianing the roof to prevent leaks, can easily run a few thousand per year. For major repairs that require a visit to a service shop, it may be best to find a mobile technician near you on RV Help.

Roof repairs can be an unexpected cost as well. There are mobile RV Roofing Companies that come to you. This way, you are not paying for additional lodging and food costs you may incur if you had to drop your home on wheels off at a shop for repairs. 

A lot of bases have hard water. Invest in a good water filter system or quality filters for your freshwater hose. Prices vary based on the type and brand you choose, but having clean water is essential for your health and comfort. Both inside & outside water filters are an essetial part of RV living.

Another critical item is a high-quality surge protector that tracks energy consumption. This will also help protect your RV’s electrical system during storms with power surges. 

Don't forget... it's not a traditional sticks & bricks so you will need to regularly dump and flush your holding tanks. A poop pyramid can be a nightmare but there are even companies that handle those type of issues right on sight. Kleen Tank offers a free recipe to keep your tanks working well and smelling fresh!

A Bachelor or Bachlorette Pad

I recently read a story of a single guy that fulltimed out of an rv at Fort Irwin for about a year and a half. He stated that the experience wasn't very glamorous.

While Fort Irwin does have a good rv park, and it's actually affordable, but that also means its in high demand. Often duty stations like that can easily have a  3-4 months+ waitlist just to find a place to park the rig. That means you can sometimes save money vs BAH, but the expenses in other areas can be substantially higher than normal. Food & laundry costs are just a few places this can impact your wallet.

In terms of weather, Fort Irwin is located in the middle of the Mohave desert, so temperatures can get pretty extreme. Keeping any rv comfortably cool in that climate can present an entire pandoras box of additional challenges. Other duty stations may not have any year your RV campground options based on weather patterns. Extremely hot and extremely cold places are not quite as RV friendly. Something else to consider is when living full-time time you may have more things than a usual vacation RV'er.

Many posts & bases do not have on base rv parks, and some of them don't allow long-term stays. This means you're searching for an RV park off base. This could mean a longer commute to work & more in fuel & meaintence costs. Many people think staying in an RV means you are saving a bunch of money, but often a cheap apartment can easily be less than what a military memer is paying at an RV park.

Campers don't have great resale value, so while the army, in theory was paying off his camper, he ended up losing money on it in the end.

Split Duty Stations

An assignment to Edwards Air Force Base can be the capstone of a career for many in military aviation. But facing a “decades-long, chronic” housing shortage and sky-high rents around the remote desert base in southern California, some military families there are cramming into RVs to make ends meet or so the spouse can have a spot to hang his cover.

Because of long waits for housing some families split up during duty station where the active duty spouse takes a camper due to base housing  shortages & higher cost of living.

Some duty stations have a shortage of well over 300 unaccompanied accommodations based on the total number of active duty members assigned. Department of Defense policy sets a goal at all U.S. bases to have just 10% of an installation’s population housed on base, with the remaining given extra pay, known as Basic Allowance for Housing, to find housing in local communities, or pay for an RV spot for the AD member, with, or without their family.

When Frank retired we spent the last 4 months apart. We bought a home in California to prepare for retirement and he stayed in bachelor housing down at the base during the week. At that time, we once again considered a camper but had difficulty justifying the added costs in Oceanside. Believe it or not, the bachelor military quarters were a more affordable option even back then.

Using Your RV for PCS Moves

The very 1st time we used an RV to move from one duty station to another I was pregnant with our 3rd child. I thought - lets take 2 weeks to get to Twenty Nine Palms from Fort Knox Kentucky. Our kids were 6 & 1. What could go wrong?

We already homeschooled our oldest so a plan was in motion. I bought an older camper that was a barren shell and we got to work. After all, it was an adventure. It included educational stops to learn more about Abe Lincoln, Little House on the Prarie, The painted desert and the grand canyon.

What I didn't research (keep in mind this was in 2000 and nobody we knew was doing this back then) was that we might blow not one but TWO tires  along the way.

My husband was SO smart. This meant that we could drive through the Mojave desert, and after we left Williams, Arizona, I would think the town of Twenty=Nine palms was a booming metropolis. But boy, after 14 days in a 10' deer lease camper without a bathroom, I was more than ready to move into a rental.

Campers have come a long way since then, and you can make quite the adventure moving between duty stations.

Can you use your camper to move from one duty station to another?

If you're doing a personally procured move (PPM, formerly known as a DITY move) and you have a motor home or camper, this might be the perfect time for a cross-country adventure.

PCSing with your RV is one way to make your PPM affordable and fun. Staying in military campgrounds and RV parks can save you money, ultimately allowing you to pocket what's left from your PCS travel reimbursement! Military Campgrounds and RV parks are often located on or nearby military bases and managed by MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation). They offer many amenities for less than the cost of a civilian campground and a fraction of the cost of a hotel.

They may not be on your route, however. Finding affordable camping options as you travel with privately owned campgrounds is one option.  Many KOA campgrounds offer a military discount to honor and thank those currently serving or veterans. The period for the discount differs based on each campground’s specific camping season and regulations. Some may offer the military discount year-round, while others may offer it from April to October because that is the time the campground is open during the year.

Military National Park Pass

You can easily obtained in person Military Lifetime Pass at Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.This pass covers entrance fees at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites. With it you will be admitted with the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.

If you purchase from the USGS Store, your name will be printed on your pass. There is a $10 fee to order your pass online. Each lifetime pass covers entrance fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (or passholder and up to three adults at sites that charge per person) at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and are able to present one of the following valid non-expired forms of identification when entering or using federal lands.

• Department of Defense Identification Card (DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, or Next Generation USID replacement)
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card
• Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S.driver’s license or identification card

There are senior and Access passes that offer discounts on camping and other expanded ammenties at many National Parks.  Some Military members may also qualify for one of those passes.

FamCamp Options

Are you wondering if you’re allowed to utilize military campgrounds?

As a veteran or active duty service member, it can be hard to understand exactly what benefits you qualify for, and many times you’ll even find unclear information. 

Military campgrounds are located at various military bases all across the U.S. In fact, there are over 250 military campgrounds in total. While not every state has one, they make do make it a bit easier to find a place to stay when traveling across the country.

Each base tends to have its own rules regarding checking in, fees, and even who can stay. Sometimes, two campgrounds located on the same base will have different rules. Because of this, it’s important to call ahead to find out all their requirements. 

Unfortunately, being a veteran with an honorable discharge does not automatically qualify you to stay at military campgrounds. In fact, many military bases have their own specific rules. However, each one generally allows the following:

• Military retirees & dependents
• National Guard members & dependents
• Reservists & dependents
• Active duty service members, their spouses or minor dependents
• Service-connected disabled veterans
• Recipients of the Medal of Honor
• Purple Heart-awarded veterans
• Surviving family member of a service member killed in action
• Retired Defense Department civilian worker or sponsored by an eligible member

Military campgrounds are not free, but they can offer steep discounts and higher-quality facilities. You can expect to pay anywhere between $25 to $60 per night. 

For A listing of Military Run campgrounds click the button below.

Challenges of RV life as a Military Family

The base housing office will often tell a family that their wait would not be more than two weeks. Instead, military families are often told after they arrive that it could be up to 12 months from when you arrive to the new duty station. This can leave families scrambling for a place to stay. At least having an RV you have a home on wheels.

The hard truth of living in the landscape at a duty station like Edwards Air Force Base or even Twenty-Nine Palms are famous for, the high Mojave desert, summer temperatures can easily reach 115 degrees. This means you probably need to buy a third air conditioning unit or portable swamp cooler because FamCamp has no covered parking for the RVs.

Heat isn't the only risk. If the wind blows just right, you may even lose power. Many military families choose to add a solar panel or have a generator to kept the refrigerator running to stay ahead of power outages like that.

Weather restrictions can impact duty stations as well. Many campgrounds in the northern areas shut down by November 1 and do not reopen until spring. This is true in locations where you may be stationed. You may be able to find a private location to park your RV but cold weather camping comes with an entirely new set of risks and challenges.

Depending on the time of year, you may find planning your journey has its own set of challenges. Many RVers plan their trips weeks and even months ahead of time. This may be especially true if you end up PCSing over a big holiday weekend or if you are trying to visit a hotspot destination like Yellowstone or Yosemite.

Education Options for School Age Children

If you have children, check the school district’s policy for registration using the campground address, which may impact which school your child goes to. If your kids need transportation, ask whether the school bus will pick them up from the campground. Some school systems have even developed a plan for students from military families, so check to see what kind of support the local schools offer.

There are also so many different ways to explore homeschooling or even virtual school options as a military family, which will provide more consistency if your family plans to relocate more often. Most areas have local homeschool groups & co-ops that you can easily get involved with at each duty station and roadschooling options get even better when you are on leave or for a weekend getaway on a holiday weekend!

Community & Connection are a critical part of the military lifestyle. Even more so when you are living in an RV. That's why I created a safe space for military families choosing to embrace this lifestyle years ago.

Retired from the Military? What's next?

Adjusting to civilian life after the military has its challenges, and finding affordable housing can be at the top of the list. With the prices of traditional, brick and mortar homes on the rise, RVs provide a cost-effective and sustainable housing option for veterans and retirees & give families, like ours, an affordable way to explore the country with our kids after our military spouse retires as an active duty member.

RV life can allow veterans and their families a way to reduce living expenses while maximizing life experiences, all on a fixed income! In fact, our entire first year on the road,  we did manage to pinch our pennies to make this life work on just Frank's retirement income. 

By choosing the RV lifestyle, many veterans and their families can live in locations with more amenities and activities than a typical neighborhood.  There’s also freedom to travel the country or to follow the seasons. There are even workcamping opportunities that can help you off-set the cost of the RV lifestyle. Most campgrounds are always on the lookout for military veterans to bring on their team.

Full-time nomadic travel may not be the way to save money, but for us,  it's all about the experiences! 

Travel Discounts for Military Members

There’s a good chance your military family was used to the hustle-and-bustle travel lifestyle long before the pandemic started, and in 2020 travel restrictions were extra brutal on morale. Many people hit the road as wanderlust took over, and took to the open road, bursting with pent-up travel energy as both full-time & seasonal RVers.

One of the perks of military life is the abundance of discounted military travel options, from discounts on hotel stays and RV rentals to slashed prices on airfare and event tickets. There are definitely more than a few ways to save some money during vacation or even PCS travel.

Stephanie Montague is the founder of the military travel website Poppin' Smoke. She created Poppin' Smoke to encourage members of the military community, particularly retirees, to use the benefits they earned through their service to travel and explore new adventures post-retirement.

Poppin' Smoke is full of information about flying Space-A, using military recreation facilities, and accessing other benefits that facilitate travel. It also has general travel-related content, and Stephanie shares a lot of stories and interviews from fellow retirees who travel or live abroad.

Some Final Ghoughts On The Mobile Military Life

Eventually, you may need to relocate out of the RV, so plan ahead for your exit strategy. Whether you intend to sell your RV or transition back to a traditional home, consider the costs associated with selling or storing your RV when you’re done living in it full-time. 

Transitioning to short-term, or even full-time, RV living can be an exciting adventure, especially for military families looking for flexibility, freedom, and a few less cardboard boxes on PCS day. With thoughtful financial planning, realistic budgeting, and a clear understanding of the costs that come with life on the road — including campground fees, fuel, maintenance, and surprise tire blowouts — you can make RV living not just doable, but truly sustainable. Planning ahead means fewer financial surprises and more room in the budget for the things that matter — like fancy beach chairs, local eats, and ice maker. 

Embrace the journey. Every mile is a new opportunity to make memories, meet people from all walks of life, and teach your kids geography the hands-on way.

And as you navigate those compact living quarters — where the dining table doubles as a classroom, work desk, and game night central — don’t forget to give yourself some grace. It won’t always be smooth sailing; things will rattle, someone will hit their head on a cabinet, and your budget will occasionally be tested by yet another sewer hose upgrade.

If you can laugh often, adapt to change as the seasoned military family you are, and keep in mind that you’ve handled PCSs, deployments, and base housing before, RV life could become a fun memory for you.