Our Top Tips for Working on the Road

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Full time RV travel is a dream for many. The biggest obstacle that many have to overcome before hitting the road full time? Finding work that will allow them to travel and then finding ways to actually work on the road in a way that works for them and their families.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these challenges. In this article I will cover some of the best tips I’ve learned while working on the road. Whether you still need to find a job that allows you to travel or you need to improve how you work while enjoying RV living, this is the article for you.

Finding Work on the Road

First, let’s address the issue of actually finding work that will allow you to travel. Most full time traveling families rely on remote work, i.e. jobs they can do from the comfort of their RV homes using a computer and the internet. This is what I do and what I would recommend doing if you want total freedom. You can do freelance work (writing, editing, graphic design, etc) or find work-from-home jobs on sites like Indeed.

If remote work isn’t for you, there are other options. I’ve met traveling families who do pipeline work, travel nursing, and work camping. Pretty much any job that will allow you to work a short-term contract would work. Consider seasonal work in resort towns, on farms, or at amusement parks. Think about what kinds of businesses might hire a short-term employee and start applying. From there, you can simply follow the work.

Want more specific suggestions? We have a whole article about finding work that will work for full time travelers.

Staying Connected for Work

Let’s say you choose a remote job, or maybe you just need to stay connected to find new job opportunities and send in applications. Either way, staying connected to the internet is an important aspect of working on the road. Fortunately, having a good internet connection wherever you roam is now totally possible.

The best options are:

• Starlink satellite internet
• Multiple hotspots from different carriers, along with a cell booster

We have Starlink and have never been unable to connect, but have had some trouble when parked in valleys and under trees. The hotspot option also works fairly well, but may leave you without connection in areas that don’t have any cell coverage at all.

Some people have a combination of both to ensure they always have coverage. This is probably the best route if your job relies on a strong internet connection and you won’t be able to get up and go if you find that a particular campsite doesn’t offer good coverage.

Setting Up an RV Office Space

Another thing you’ll need to consider if you’re working from your RV is where in your RV you will get things done. For some, the dining table is good enough, and they just move their work off of the table at the end of the day. That said, most people prefer to have some sort of dedicated RV office space.

There are a number of options for making an RV office space that works for you. Some of my favorite ideas include…

• Dedicating the mid-bunk bedroom as an office.
• Creating an office space in the master bedroom.
• Making an extra bathroom into an office (yes, I have seen someone do this).
• Setting up a Clam tent to use as an office.
• Buying a small RV (such as a truck camper) to use as an office outside of the primary trailer.
• Getting rid of the dining table or couch to make room for a desk.

Finding ways to make certain spaces multi-functional is a great way to ensure you have space for work and play. You might make a desk that can fold away, invest in a foldable office chair, or mount a monitor to the wall to double as a TV.

Balancing Work with RV Life

Finally, you will need to figure out a good work/life balance while on the road. This is sometimes a lot trickier than it seems. After all, there is only so much time in a day, and finding a way to squeeze in work, school, chores, friends, fun, and travel can feel very overwhelming.

This is the thing my family struggles with most, but we have come up with some systems and tools that do help.

Stay Longer

The easiest way to ensure you have enough time for everything is, of course, to claim it for yourself by staying in each location longer. Fast travel may seem like a good idea when you’re booking it, but in reality, it can get really stressful when you’re trying to balance work and life.

We like to stay in each place we visit for at least two to three weeks, and sometimes we will stay for a month or more. When we can’t stay in a place for long, we schedule longer stays on either side of it in order to ensure we have enough time to catch up on work, school, and other responsibilities.

Get Up Early (or Stay Up Late)

At the beginning of our RV travels, I did most of my work late at night after our son had gone to bed. This was awesome because it allowed us to use our mornings for school and chores and then go exploring during the day. Of course, there was a bit of balancing involved because I did have to sleep, but this worked well for that particular situation.

I’ve also met some people who will wake up super early before their kids get up and get all of their work for the day done as soon as they can so they have the rest of the day free. I could see this working equally well (or maybe even better!) since most people are better able to focus in the morning. Unfortunately, I am not a morning person so it’d never work well for me personally.

The point is, if you can wake up early or stay up late and finish your work while the rest of the world sleeps, do that. It’ll give you a nice chunk of time for exploring each day.

Plan Work-Heavy Days

As my work has shifted and evolved, it’s become less and less possible for me to do all of it late at night. These days, I do things a bit differently. Instead of working a little each day, I do all of my work in just three (sometimes four) days a week. This works out because it gives us three or four full days for exploring and adventures.

Of course, this does require my husband to be on solo parent duty on my heavy work days, but he is able and willing to do this and it works well for us.

Work Efficiently

If you do project work like I do, it pays to work efficiently. In these cases, the more efficient you are, the sooner you’ll finish your tasks and the sooner you’ll be able to go out and play. Think outside the box and find systems that work for you to make your work as efficient as possible.

Some examples of this are:

• Keeping a planner that tells you exactly what needs to be done on a given day.
• Automating or delegating repetitive tasks whenever possible.
• Using the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes “on” and a 5-minute break, alternating). For many, this helps maintain focus.
• Batching similar work together so you don’t need to switch modes and refocus constantly during work times.
• Avoiding meetings that could be an email whenever you can.

Set Boundaries

No matter when you decide to be in work mode, it is important that you set boundaries for yourself and only allow yourself to work during those times. Don’t set meetings, answer phone calls, or answer email messages outside of the hours you set for yourself. Value your family time and be fully engaged in spending time with your family when you aren’t working.

Create a Family Calendar

Last but not least, I highly recommend creating a family calendar that stays on your RV wall where everyone can see it. Add everything to this calendar, including work hours, school assignments, outings, travel days, etc. This will ensure everyone is on the same page and help you avoid double-booking.

Ready to put these tips to good use? Start searching for that perfect on-the-road job and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

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