There’s little argument that BC is one of the most beautiful, varied and dynamic places in Canada, and there’s no better way to experience the province up close and personal than in a campervan. From the pristine wildness of northern BC, to the sand and sun of the Okanagan, and from the towering steel and glass of the Lower Mainland, to the towering stands of Douglas fir on Vancouver Island, BC has something to satisfy every taste and interest.
The joy of RVing, being able to enjoy the comforts of home in a mobile package, is one of the best ways of experiencing BC on your own terms. When travelling in a campervan in BC, there are typically four primary camping options available: (1) Making use of the provincial campgrounds operated by BC Parks. (2) Visiting a Parks Canada federally-operated campground. (3) Locating a privately owned, or municipally operated campground, or (4) Finding established recreation sites that permit overnight camping, such as those operated by Trails BC.
British Columbia is spectacularly suited to campervan tourism. The province is home to literally tens of thousands of kilometers of roadways ranging from industrial tracks to multi-lane freeways. BC also boasts more than 1,500 established campgrounds, each as unique and offering as varied a range of services as the groups or individuals who operate them. To get the most out of a campervan experience, especially if new to this exciting form of tourism, here are a few handy hints to help make the undertaking more enjoyable.
Before heading out on the open road, pack up all of the gear you’re planning on taking along to determine how much physical space it will actually take up. A vehicle such as a campervan has only a limited amount of storage space so it’s important to know beforehand what’s coming along for the ride. When packing an RV always place the heavier items down low, with the lighter items higher up. Taking this step will help keep them steady when travelling and ideally reduce the chance of material shifting around when moving.
Once you’re on the go, and you’ve planned your first few destinations, it’s a good idea to have a couple of day’s worth of meals planned and ready for use. A good trick is to prepare a few meals at home before you go so you won’t have to be searching for stores or supplies, especially when travelling through unfamiliar territory. It’s also useful to have some ‘pit stop’ items, such as instant coffee, tea bags, canned or condensed milk, bottled water and whatever favorite snacks you like, close at hand when you need to take a break from driving.
Part of the attraction of a campervan adventure is the ability it provides for the traveler to essentially be a self-contained little world, complete with all of the comforts and entertainment the users so desire. By stocking up on basic supplies, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and other groceries, the motorist can roam to their heart’s content while avoiding having to eat out all of the time, which will help keep the show on the road and save you some money at the same time.
These are just a few suggestions to help make a campervan journey in BC more enjoyable and problem-free. When starting to make holiday plans do a little online research and see what other suggestions the more experienced RV enthusiasts have to offer. A little planning before turning the key in the ignition will go a long way toward making the trip even more of a success.
