Long drives, campfire snacks, and zero routine — sound familiar? Here's how RVers can stay fit without a gym or a perfect day. 

Traveling full-time with an RV gives us so much to look forward to. But at the same time, it also has us sitting in one position more, not moving and stretching, and in time that will take a toll on the body. Our bodies need that movement just as much as it needs the relaxation of sitting on a beach or near a campfire. Incorporating movement into everything we do is the best way to staying “fit” and having fun.

Ways to Stay “Fit”

No matter where you go or how you travel there are ways to keep the body strong and young.

• Intense activities like boxing, running, mountain biking, Zumba, or hiking are great ways to increase cardio, break a sweat faster, and increase your pace over time.

But at the same time, they are also more prone to injuries, especially in the knees and ankles. These workouts allow you to get it done faster and see the results quicker, unlike the low tense activities.

• Low tense activities like walking, biking, Yoga, Pilates, chair exercises, or lifting weights are done at a slower pace with more stretching and careful consideration of the movement, which decreases the risk of injury, but doesn’t count it out.

They also allow more time for breathing in between each movement. Even stair climbing can be a great low tense workout.

Staying “fit” out on the road doesn’t need to be something that will require a constant schedule or quick result. You can also do fun things like:

• swimming
• paddleboarding
• kayaking
• Canoeing
• Snorkeling
• Hiking
• Skiing or snowboarding depending on where you camp.

These are fun activities to do that may help you feel like you are not doing a workout. Not to mention they sometimes have better views

than just working out around the campsite or running/walking the same loops.

Motivation

Staying on track is always the hardest part because we live in a world with so many distractions. Like most things in life, we must be motivated to staying “fit”. We must plan and schedule when and where to do the workout, how long to do it, and how often.



If you’re anything like me, scheduling and staying motivated are the hardest part of any of this. I try to schedule in my head, but staying motivated, especially with family distraction, space, and sometimes weather is also my downfall.

Most campgrounds have a monthly schedule that shows workout days, use that as a motivation as well to get out and get moving.

Sometimes doing it with a group is all the motivation that you need after getting the courage to attend first. Some also have a fitness room or rec room that can be used for workout area, take advantage of them.

Also, local communities often have daily runs or Yoga in the park. Research the area of your next campsite and find out if they do any, then use that as motivation as well.

Healthy Habits

Staying “fit” is not just about exercise. It also includes:

• Getting the proper sleep
• hydration
• eating habits
• Stretching.

Each of these habits plays the biggest role in trying to accomplish the goals we set aside for ourselves. Without the proper amount of sleep, we tend to feel more sluggish and tired and therefore not always able to complete the workout to the best of our abilities.

Eating habits and hydration, again, help keep the body full of energy and less fatigue. Add stretching before and after will help reduce soreness, tightness, and muscle injuries.



You don’t want to jump into something that may be more than what you are used to and then be down for a couple days because you overexerted your energy, ask me how I know, lol. Find something that you enjoy and use that to begin. Set the pace and go have fun with it!

Ashley Gallaher - Campfires & Motors

Ashley Gallaher is a full-time RVer and co-creator of Campfires and Motors.

She's passionate about integrating fitness into life on the road and shows her community that staying healthy while traveling is less about perfect conditions and more about consistent choices.

Don't forget to follow  their journey on YouTube at Campfires & Motors - YouTube