RV-Friendly Hobbies: Fun Ways to Stay Active & Entertained on the Road
- Jordan Concannon
- Apr 6, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 6, 2025
Whether you're full-timing in your RV or just hitting the road for long stretches at a time, one of the questions that often comes up is: What do you do all day? While traveling in an RV offers unparalleled freedom and adventure, it can also leave you searching for meaningful ways to stay mentally stimulated, physically active, and creatively fulfilled. As mobile RV technicians and full-time RVers ourselves, we’ve learned the value of developing RV-friendly hobbies that work well with a compact lifestyle and ever-changing backdrop.
In this guide, we're diving deep into the world of hobbies that not only fit within the limited space of a camper or travel trailer but also enhance your time on the road. These are more than just ways to pass time—they’re activities that can improve your mental health, strengthen your relationships, bring structure to your days, and even offer the chance to earn income or build community.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we personally use and trust.
🗂 Click to Skip Ahead:
Creative Hobbies for RVers
Fitness and Active Living on the Road
Hobbies that Connect You with Nature
Educational and Skill-Building Activities
Social & Community-Driven Hobbies
RV-Friendly Hobbies for Kids and Families
Building a Hobby Space in Your RV
Final Thoughts from the Road
🎨 Creative Hobbies for RVers
Sketching & Watercolors
You don’t need to be a professional artist to enjoy capturing what you see around you. Imagine sitting near your campsite in the Hoh Rainforest of Washington, surrounded by moss-draped trees, and sketching a scene with watercolor washes of green and misty gray. All you need is a compact sketchbook, travel-size watercolor tin (like this Winsor & Newton pocket set), and a water brush. Getting started costs under $30. It’s a peaceful, meditative activity that gives you a visual record of your travels.
Photography
With today’s smartphone cameras, almost anyone can take beautiful pictures. But for those who want to go deeper, a mirrorless camera like the Canon EOS M50 can capture the light streaming through mountain valleys or the patterns of desert sands in ways you’ll treasure forever. Consider starting with the basics: light, composition, and storytelling. Join online forums like Reddit’s r/photography or Instagram photo challenges to stay inspired. Starter cost: $0 (with your phone) to $500+ (with gear).
Journaling & Blogging
Writing about your journey can be both therapeutic and purposeful. We use journals to record mileage, favorite campsites, funny moments, and lessons learned. Want to start a blog? Platforms like WordPress or Wix offer simple templates for travel blogging. Journaling supplies can cost $5–$20, while launching a blog might cost $100/year for a domain and hosting.
Crochet & Fiber Arts
Projects like socks, hats, or small blankets are easy to tuck away in a basket under the dinette. We met a full-time RVer who crocheted potholders and sold them at local farmers markets! All you need is a set of hooks, yarn, and a simple pattern from Etsy or Ravelry. Starter cost: around $15–$30.
🏃♂️ Fitness and Active Living on the Road
Walking & Hiking
We’ve made it a daily goal to take a long walk in every location we camp. In Arkansas, we explored Devil’s Den State Park’s sandstone crests. In Minnesota, we strolled along the Mississippi River trails. Hiking apps like AllTrails or Gaia GPS help you find local paths that match your fitness level. Shoes and a water bottle are your biggest investments: ~$50–$120.
Yoga & Stretching
A yoga mat unrolls on your outdoor mat or even inside the camper. Streaming platforms like Yoga with Adriene offer free guided practices tailored to road warriors. We love doing sunrise stretches in places like Lake Ouachita, Arkansas. Starter gear: just a yoga mat (~$25).
Bodyweight Strength Training
Use what you have! Picnic benches for step-ups, resistance bands for squats, trailer stairs for incline pushups. Apps like FitOn and Nike Training Club provide structured routines. Keep a pair of resistance bands tucked in your RV’s gear bin. Startup cost: $10–$30.
Biking
Folding bikes or e-bikes (like Rad Power Bikes) allow you to explore towns, trails, and even run errands without moving your rig. In Texas Hill Country, we biked through wineries and historic backroads. Entry cost varies: Folding bikes ~$300+, e-bikes $1,000+.
🌲 Hobbies that Connect You with Nature
Birdwatching
We first discovered birdwatching in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest, where we spotted red-headed woodpeckers and great crested flycatchers. Use a basic pair of binoculars (~$40) and an app like Merlin Bird ID. Keep a regional birding book handy to mark sightings by state. It’s peaceful, educational, and endlessly rewarding.
Foraging
In Missouri, we learned to identify wild chanterelle mushrooms and edible greens with the help of a local guidebook. Foraging requires safety knowledge—never eat what you can’t ID with 100% certainty. Pair a mushroom ID guide (~$15), gloves, and a basket for a wholesome, hands-on hobby.
Stargazing
Camped in Nebraska far from city lights, we witnessed the Milky Way in full clarity. Download an app like SkyView or Star Walk to map constellations. A beginner telescope or just a reclining chair and warm blanket work wonders. Entry cost: $0–$100.
🧠 Educational and Skill-Building Activities
Online Learning
We’ve completed courses in solar installation, digital marketing, and even RV appliance repair using Udemy and Coursera. Mobile internet helps, but you can also download content offline. Cost: Free–$50 per course.
Reading & Audiobooks
E-books from your library via Libby or hardbacks swapped at campground lending libraries make reading accessible. We rotate between RV systems manuals and fiction. Kindle Paperwhites are a great space-saving option. Startup cost: $0–$130.
RV Maintenance
When our water heater stopped igniting, Zhangwei diagnosed and fixed it using a YouTube tutorial and multimeter. Start with a basic toolkit and service manuals. Learn by doing! Estimated cost: $50–$100 for tools, confidence: priceless.
🤝 Social & Community-Driven Hobbies
Campground Happy Hours
We’ve met lifelong friends just by sharing a drink and a story around the fire. Host a s’mores night or bring a six-pack to a picnic table. You never know who might need company.
Volunteering
Campground hosting or trail cleanup in Nebraska’s state parks gave us purpose and connection. Many host gigs provide free hookups in exchange for service. Find opportunities through Volunteer.gov or Workamping groups. Cost: $0.
Social Media Content Creation
Share your lifestyle and build a following. Even if you’re not aiming for influencer status, documenting your journey can bring joy and connection. A tripod and phone are enough to start. Cost: ~$20–$100.
Games
We keep Uno, Skip-Bo, and a deck of cards in a drawer for rainy nights. Games create connection and routine. You don’t need much—just a fun mindset. Starter cost: ~$10–$20.
👨👩👦 RV-Friendly Hobbies for Kids & Families
Nature Journaling
Let your child draw a toad they spotted in Arkansas or a strange leaf from a Louisiana swamp. Use prompts or sticker sets for inspiration. Start-up cost: ~$10.
Scavenger Hunts
Make it simple: “Find something blue, smooth, alive, tall.” Change it by region. Great for hikes, campgrounds, or rest stops. Free fun.
Campfire Cooking
Let kids build their own foil packets or help mix pancake batter. It teaches life skills and creates family rituals. Invest in marshmallow roasting sticks and cast iron pans: ~$25–$40.
Storytelling & Puppet Shows
Use a flashlight and fingers to make shadow puppets. Or act out a story you made up that day. Encourages imagination with no gear required.
🧰 Building a Hobby Space in Your RV
Even in a 22-foot camper, we’ve carved out hobby zones:
Hang art supplies in mesh pouches on the wall
Store yarn or journals in bins under the dinette
Mount folding hooks or pegboards inside cabinet doors
Keep hobby items in color-coded bags for quick access
A little creativity goes a long way. Designate a place for inspiration and hobbies won’t feel like clutter.
🛻 Final Thoughts from the Road
Your hobbies reflect how you live, not just how you pass time. For RVers, hobbies help build structure, community, wellness, and joy.
Whether you're birdwatching with your kids, learning how to solar wire your rig, or sketching the sunrise over the Ozarks — each activity becomes a memory tied to the road.
We’ve learned that hobbies aren’t a luxury. They’re a way of rooting yourself while moving every few weeks.
So take your time exploring. Try something new. And if you need help fixing your RV systems along the way, Rolling Rabbit RV Repair is always here to help.
Until next time, Jordan @ Rolling Rabbit RV Repair🐰
📍 Omaha, Nebraska
📞 (Text/call 402 - 699 - 4053 to schedule a service!)
Comments