RVing instead of flying this summer? What to know before you go

It's a comforting thought amid lingering pandemic concerns: Your own bed. Your own food. Your own bathroom. Summer vacationers, leery of crowd-drawing attractions (and the flights needed to get there), have spawned a new type of customer at RV dealerships:  "COVID campers."

A 4,500-person survey by private campground giant KOA also points to more first-timers taking a turn in the captain's seat. Among people who have never considered camping before, KOA reports, "One-third of leisure travelers say they are now interested in taking an outdoorsy vacation. About 19% want to go RVing, 21% will sleep in a tent and the remainder will rent a cabin."

One of their top reasons: It's easier to practice social distancing.

If you're among them, our resident RV enthusiasts and the experts at Camping World suggest these worry less, live more tips for your new RV adventure:

1. Study up! Staying in an RV requires a different skillset than checking into a hotel. Among things you'll need to understand: how to use the power generator and freshwater/wastewater management systems and how to level the vehicle if your camping spot slopes. You even need to buy special RV toilet paper!
2. Keep your first trip short. You'll appreciate honing your skills on familiar roads. Practice a bit before loading up the whole family. That might include maneuvering and backing up in an empty parking lot (like you did when you first learned to drive a car) to get a feel for how your RV handles and its blind spots and braking.
3. Plan fewer activities than you would for a hotel vacation. RVing takes more work before you hit the road, and you'll need extra time to punch through your to-do list. (Did I remember to pull in the steps?)
4. Consider getting an RV-specific GPS. It will help you avoid routes with tight curves and low bridges.
5. Make and verify reservations. Although camping is now reopened in many Oregon and Washington state parks, select sites must operate at reduced capacity and some remain restricted to day use only or have short reservation windows.
6. Social responsibility still applies. Whether you're hanging at your campsite, exploring trails or stocking up on s'mores supplies at a small-town grocery store, wear your face mask if you can't reasonably expect to stay six feet away from others. Keep your hand sanitizer handy, too, since some campground facilities remain closed.
7. Insure your vehicle, even if you're renting it. Before you pick up the keys – whether you're buying or renting – call your local PEMCO agent or 1-800-GO-PEMCO. You can add coverage for a newly purchased RV to your PEMCO Auto policy (and in some situations, we may refer you to PEMCO Insurance Agency for coverage through one of its partners that specialize in RVs). Your PEMCO Auto policy also may provide limited coverage for RVs you rent; however, we recommend you consider adding insurance through your rental agency and budget for it as part of your trip.