[Editor Note: As the new year begins, SeniorsSkiing.com is again asking our readers to contribute to support our online magazine. Yes, we have grown in the number of subscribers and advertisers. But our expenses have also grown. You can help us defray some of these expenses by helping us out with a donation.  This year, we have a mix of premiums for different level of donations, including stickers, sew-on patches, our new SeniorsSkiing.com ball cap. All donors will be entered into a drawing for a pair of bamboo Polar Poles to be drawn in late March.  You can donate by clicking here.]


For The Peripatetic Skier, Adventure Awaits In A “Mobile AirBNB” With Wheels.

[Editor Note: This article was written by Bill Widmer, a former full-time RVer and skiing enthusiast. He’s also a content creator, travel lover, and co-host of the Better Life Better Business podcast.]

A rolling hotel. An adventure to some, a frugal alternative to others. Credit: Frank Valentine, Upsplash

Have you ever taken a ski trip in an RV?

If not, maybe you should try it! In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to rent an RV for your next ski trip, why you should go this way, and some suggestions on where to stay.

Taking an RV allows you to have a little tiny slice of home with you and can be way more affordable than booking a room at a resort.

RVing offers the flexibility to stay at one ski resort or to visit several. You get the convenience of being able to explore on your terms while still having the comforts of home.

The Best RVs for Cold Weather & Snow

Given that most RVs have very little insulation and not all of them have great heat, you have to choose wisely. Here are some of the best RVs to make your ski trip memorable (and not freeze your butt off):

  1. The Jayco Redhawk 26XD.  It has a pretty decent furnace (30-BTU auto-ignition) and a six-gallon water heater.
  2. The Lance 4 Seasons Travel Trailer.  This bad boy is heavily insulated to keep you warm, even if it is frigid cold outside. It also has a winterized hot water heater so you aren’t stuck with cold showers!
  3. The Forest River Arctic Wolf is great if you get one with the extreme weather package. It comes with a heavy duty furnace, an enclosed and heated underbelly, and an insulated upper decking.
  4. The Jayco 327CKTS Eagle is another awesome snow option. It comes with dual pane windows to keep in the warmth and a tankless water heater with thermostat for hot showers to warm up on demand!
  5. The Keystone Montana is a luxury fifth wheel that has insulated everything from the slide out floors to the walls to the underbelly. Pair that with a high-powered furnace and you will stay nice and toasty.

How to Rent a Winter-Ready RV

If you don’t want to buy one of the above RVs (they are pretty expensive if you’re not going to use them often), renting is your best bet.

We recommend renting from a reputable peer-to-peer RV rental company, such as Outdoorsy or RVshare.

Try searching for any of the five RVs listed above. If you can’t find any of those models in the area you want to stay, search for Amenities > Heater. That’s the key ingredient you are going to need in a winter RV rental.

You can also search for handicap access if you need it. But make sure you ask the owner if their RV is winter-friendly. They are the best judge to help you decide on which camper to rent. You can message them right through the rental site or even call them if they listed their phone number.

If you need more options, click here to see a list of other winter-ready RV models.

Five Campgrounds to Stay At For Skiing

Wondering where to stay during your RV ski trip? Here are five RV campgrounds that are on or near senior-friendly ski resorts (campground on left, ski resort on right):

And that’s all there is to it! It’s an adventure and, for some, a way of life. Perhaps you’ll get the urge to go RVing on other vacations, or take it up as a lifestyle. Many seniors have hit the road and found communities of like-minded folks. Click here for more information on RVing.

If you RV, chances are you won’t be alone. Credit: Practical Motorhome

2 Comments

  1. Hi,
    We own a 36′ Winnebago and drive it five or six thousand miles a year on DRY roads. Yet, I know there are many RV parks near ski areas and lots of people drive to Mammoth and June Mountain in their RVs.

    Due to a family emergency, we lived in ours in the southern Sierra Nevada during the winter and while we made it work, it was an experience i don’t want to reenact. There’s no way I’d take it into snow country for several reasons. Here’s why. One, the systems – mostly plumbing – are susceptible to freezing. Two, heating. Without an insulated floor, the coach gets cold inside and it is hard to keep it warm when it is around zero outside.

    The thought of driving it on a snowy road is something i don’t want to contemplate and then, having to fit it with chains, OMG!!!

    If you want to drive an RV into the mountains on a snow covered road, thou art braver than I!!!

  2. we drive a large 4×4 truck and 4 season camper to Stevens Pass Resort every weekend and thoroughly love rv’ing in the winter. BUT we have propane heat, a battery, propane/electric refrigerator-freezer, LED lights and can be “off the grid ” for up to 4 days (and my husband uses a CPAP machine every night. Last night it was about 15 degrees.
    4-Season rv’s are well insulated, dual pane windows and all of our plumbing is heated. We carry extra jugs of water for “just in case”. There is nothing better than baking pizza in a snowstorm!

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