RV Camping Vs Tent Camping , Which Is Better?

One of the most enjoyable outdoor activities to do is camping during the holidays when you are accompanied by those you love. However, you need to have a temporary form of accommodation, such as camping in an RV or a tent, during the camping period to protect you against the harsh weather.

The big question is which do you prefer between camping in a tent or in an RV? It depends. Tent camping offers real camping , exploration and improvisation of essential, while while RV camping offers a modern camping accompanied with luxury and advanced comfort when interacting with nature.

This guide seeks to enlighten you on

a. General overview of tent and RV camping

b. The meaning of RV camping

  • What makes a great campground
  • Whether or not RV camping is worth it
  • Limitation of RV camping

c. The meaning of tent camping

  • Suitable places to pitch your tent
  • Advantages and disadvantages of tent camping
  • Conclusion of which one is better between tent or RV camping

d. Tent camping upgrade to a crazy small tiny RV (Video)

General Overview

If you enjoy camping while enjoying and exploring the nature as well as improvising and implementing ideas to solve issues, then camping in a tent would suit you the most.

However, if you prefer to enjoy all the luxury you had at home such as using a toilet instead of using a bush, then camping in an RV would be most suitable for you.

Keep in mind that when you choose to do tent camping, you are likely to get lots of inconvenience such as not being able to use your laptop when power is off since you lack a charging place.

So, you actually have to deprive yourself a number of privileges. Besides, you tend to enjoy nature maximally.

On the other hand, camping in an RV allows you to camp while using common home essentials. In fact, RVers can still work while on camping if their jobs allow remote working due to privileges such a power source availability in the RV.

Whichever camping method you decide, you need to engage in fun activities to prevent boredom, create memories, and enjoy the moments. Learn this 41 categories of fun activities you can engage in while camping.

To make an informed decision on which one is better best on what you desire, let’s explore both types of camping.

What Means RV Camping?

RV camping implies the use of a locomotive, recreational vehicle, to do camping. Some people may argue that RV camping is not real camping.

However, for the lovers of luxury and those who would like to explore nature at the most comfort, then camping in a recreational vehicle is a good idea. One form of camping in RV is boondocking.

Generally, you need to plan for your trip in order to carry all essentials you may need during camping as well as have some ideas of trouble shooting problems likely to face while on an RV such as hot water not heating up.

With an RV, you need to secure a place where you will do camping and perhaps park the RV since not all places allow RVs to be parked. Even for a new bie you can learn and even camp like a pro who does full time RVing.

What Makes a Great Campground?

Most RV campgrounds charge you when you camp in that site. However, a few campsites are free. In the free campgrounds you would often have to sort yourself with power supply, sewer, and water among others which are often provided for in a paid campground.

Paid campground charges vary and you need to choose based on your budget. Other than pricing, consider issues such as


Is the campsite in the most desired place for you. I mean, are the trees too dense that obstruct you to view nature or the parking place is much far from the essential facilities such as power source for plugging in?

Keep in mind that selecting the best location to camp can go a long way to enhance your overall experience in the camp.

Hook ups

You may consider availability of full hookups to power your RV especially if you will be camping for more days. Hookups would provide you with enough power for all your essentials as you camp and issues of power won’t be a problem.

Although, full hookups makes a campsite much expensive but worth trying if you have lots of electronics to be powered.

RV Length

The size of the RV should comfortable fit during entry, exit and even in the place designated for parking.

It is because, if your RV is much longer that the designated place you may interfere with the comfort of your neighbors and that is the last thing you may wish to enter in complicit with other people while camping.

How to Park the RV

You may notice that some campsites have specific way that you ought to park your RV in a site such as back-in or pull-thru techniques. You need to consider a site in which you can comfortably park since we all have our own preferences.

Parking terrain

The parking place ought to be as flat as possible. Keep in mind that to enhance proper working of some of your appliances such as the fridge, the RV ought to be parked in a leveled ground lest you risk damaging your appliances.

Forms of entertainment

It is an optional consideration. However, you may consider what other benefits a site offers to enhance your enjoyment during camping. Different camping grounds have varying forms of entertainment including nature such as wild reserves, historical sites, or playgrounds just to mention a few.

If you intend to camp with your children, selecting a campsite with diverse playgrounds and playing facilities would make the camping experience more memorable. So, choose a facilities that would bring about a thrilling experience.

Is RV Camping Worth It?

Actually, you may need to weigh the pros and cons of camping in an RV for you to make an informed decision on whether or not camping in an RV is worth it. Camping in RV brings about

Cover against harsh weather

With an RV, you enjoy the warmth just as in your home. The RV protect you against rains, extreme temperatures, and allows you to modify the environmental temperatures if you have an AC. So, you won’t freeze even when outside weather is quite cold.

Ease of movement

While camping in an RV, there is no struggles with packing and unpacking your essentials and you can freely move around with what you love anytime you desire.

Sufficient living space

In an RV you have a living space just as your home. In fact, the living space contains home amenities to enhance your camping experience

Sufficient storage

Most RV offer sufficient extra storage space other than amenities space. You can pack more items that want to use during camping. Besides, the storage space allows more room to stock souvenirs you obtain during the camping trip.

Limitation When Camping With RV

Despite RV camping being enjoyable, you are likely to face the following limitations if you choose to camp in an RV. It is because you will experience

1.Additional cost

Both buying and renting RV is expensive. Also, you need to purchase fuel, pay for campgrounds, pay for parking space, get insurance, and have emergency money in case you encounter a problem such as a flat tire that need a replacement.

2. Limited camping experience

I consider RV camping not a real camping. It is because you enjoy most if not all benefits you have at home in the RV, it does not make much difference being in the wild.

So, you lack exploration techniques or improvising since you have all what you need in the RV.

3. Inflexible

Towing large trailers is cumbersome but you got no option but do it. Also, you are limited in locations to go since the trailer ought to be running on a much leveled terrain.

So, if you may wish to have a better view of a site such as a cave, you will have to park the RV much far and walk.

What is Tent Camping?

Tent camping can be considered as a real camping since you experience nature as it is. You sleep on the ground, and sometimes harsh weather such as wind and cold is likely to interfere with your comfort and you are forced to be more creative than ever.

Tent camping entails camping while the main shelter is a tent that is well fixed in the ground. The aim of undertaking a camping in a tent enhances family bonding, team work, and enhances collaboration in order to make the experience thrilling and memorable.

Unlike in an RV that is equipped with home tools you may need, when you are doing a tent camping you need to pack and carry all the essentials you may need. In the instance you forget something and you are out in the camping grounds, then you may need to improvise a tool to get a task done.

Tent camping requires you to have a tent as well as the tools you need to get it fixed. You need a cooking gear, food, water, personal items, and warm covers such as blankets to protect yourselves from the cold.

Where Is the Coolest Place You Have Pitched A Tent?

The place where you pitch your tent would go a long way in contributing to the overall experience in tent camping. Be sure to select the best place where you are likely to have the most comfort while in the tent. When choosing the best place to pitch your tent, think of

Sun exposure

Selecting a place that is likely to have a shed against the scorching sun rays would prevent you from heat discomfort, and damages from harmful sun rays such as sun burns and premature aging.

Snow areas

For those desiring to camp in snow, be sure to pick a place that is not a bowl or a steep valley in a mountain as these places are probe to avalance. Also, do not pitch near trees surrounded with heavy snow. You may need to buy a tent suitable for winter that is rigid to snow and strong winds.


Be sure to select a place where rain water is less likely to flood your tent. A much raised surface would go along way in preventing flooding. Grass tends to be soggy with water and tress would be dripping water more house even when the rains have stopped. So, get a much clear place.

Water surfaces

It can be thrilling to have an aquatic glimpse in the comfort of your tent. However, it is not a good idea to pitch the tent near water bodies such as river, lakes, and ponds since the place is more vulnerable to flooding.  Getting water proof tends would also protect the interior from water damages from the rains.

Ground terrain

Pitch your tent in a leveled ground. It is because since you will be spending a night bed rest in the tent, you won’t enjoy your sleep if you sleep in uneven grounds.

So, select a place that is not rocky and sticking objects from the ground. Also, do not lay the tent over cracks and crevices as they are vulnerable to insects and snakes. Ensure no hole exists.

Also, do not select a valley since strong winds and floods are likely to sweep you away. The cooking place ought to be much further away from the tent to prevent the risk of the tent catching fire while you are asleep.

Point To Note

The good thing is that commonly used campsite have factored in the above considerations and you will simply have to get your gear and take yourself to camp without extra stress of where to pitch your tent.

Having the right gear to use in tent camping is essential. The choice of the tents is key since the tent is where you will take shelter as well as temporarily store your belongings while camping.

Tent as Part of your Gear

The choice of tents depends with the number of occupants to use, the event, your budget, and also weather conditions among other.

The following are some commonly used tents:

  • Pop-up tents
  • Semi-geodesic tents
  • Geodesic tents
  • Vis-à-vis tent
  • Tunnel tents
  • Inflatable tents
  • Dome tents
  • Frame tents
  • Bell tents
  • Ridge tents

Advantages of Tent Camping

Easily Suits your budget

Unlike RV camping, tent camping is much affordable. In fact, tent camping can easily fit your budget with minimal to no strains. You simply require basic essential some of which you already have them in your home such as pillow, blankets, cooking gear, and you buy a tent.


With tent camping, you can easily change locations of where you are pitching the tent to have a better scenic view of the campsite. Besides, since with tent camping the luggage you carry ought to be minimal, movement becomes much easier.

Tent camping is the real camping

Other than exploring nature as well as improvising tools, tent camping limits distractions. With no electricity to watch video, TV, or play video games, you have no option but engage in outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, and entertaining your eyes with nature’s scenic beauty.

Easy to Manage

Tent can easily be packed and unpacked. Its maintenance is also easy and you may incur little to no cost especially if you can do most of tent work such as pitching on your own. Furthermore, the gears used for tent camping are quite little and small in size making transportation easy.

Disadvantages of Tent Camping


Harsh weather is likely to increase discomfort such as extreme cold during the nights and you cannot light a fire since it is raining outside. Also, if you have pitched your tent under a tree strong winds can easily break a branch.

The tree can fall on you and you may likely get hurt. So be observant of the place you intent to take shelter. Besides, you have to shower outside as well as make the bushes your toilet.

Limited food

Since you have no refrigeration and limited storage, the food you carry would be limited. Mostly, you will have to do canned food or dry food that you will cook while camping.

Perishable foods are likely to go bad. Besides, the smell of food can attract wild animals such as baboons that would definitely interfere with your comfort.

Maintaining hygiene can be an uphill task

Since you are out in the bush, cleanliness is likely to be an issue. Some campground have a common place for washing dishes although some do not have them. The hustle to get water to clean up will force you to buy ready made food rather than do cooking.

Wrap it Up

Now you have a basic overview of RV camping and Tent camping. Furthermore, be sure to equip yourself with safety tips while camping whichever method you prefer to use while camping.

Now, let’s get down to the actual debate on which one is better than the other.

Debate: When Out in Recreational Nature, Do You Prefer Tents or RV’s?

More often, the debate would often be biased as it is subjective to suit one needs. Besides, some people have experience or rely of other people experience to make a choice. If you desire a modern form of camping, then RV is the best choice. Tent camping offers a traditional way of camping.

However, both are a good way to camp but what ought to inform your choice include but not limited to

1. Your budget:

Tent camping is much cheaper and affordable to RV camping unless you own the RV and you do not need to rent the RV. In order to rent or buy an RV, compare various RV brands to make an informed decision.

2. Ease of setting and taking down the camping gear:

RV has everything in place and easy to start using immediately compared to setting a tent.

3. Comfort and luxury needed:

RV offers the most comfort and luxury just as your home. In tent camping you may have to forgo most comfort and luxury to remain with only survival essentials.

4. Safety and protection:

RV offers much more protection against harsh weather and wild animals intrusion compared to a tent.

5. Shelter essential:

RV contains most is not all home essential but a tent accommodates only what you need the most.

6. The need for real camping:

tent camping is the real camping

Tent camping upgrade to a crazy small tiny RV (Video)

It is common that most RVers including those RVing full time had once engaged in tent camping. Thus, many have upgraded from doing tent camping to RV camping. Besides, if you are operating on a small budget as a tent camper you can still afford to live in a small RV such as a teardrop camper. Watch this video and see a tent camper upgrading to tiny RV.

Upgrade from Tent Camping

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