Is RV Life Worth It for Families? Our Truth After 6 Years on the Road

Six years ago, we packed up our lives, grabbed our kids and dogs, and moved into an RV full-time. It felt exciting, unknown, and somewhat wild at the time. We didn’t know what to expect—we just wanted something different.

After hundreds of travel days, countless campground setups, and more lessons learned than we can count, we’ve started to reflect on that original choice.

And the big question we found ourselves asking was this: Is RV life worth it? If we had to start over, would we still choose RV life?

This lifestyle has changed how we live, parent, work, and see the world. So today, we’re looking back at where we started, how it’s evolved, and whether we’d do it all again.

Spoiler: We won’t make you wait for the answer—yes, we’d choose RV life again. But it’s been a journey full of surprises, growth, and a few lessons learned the hard way.

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Why we hit the road in the first place

We wanted more time together as a family, not just weekends and evenings after work and school. We wanted to see the country and experience new places instead of just dreaming about them from behind a desk. We tried to break out of the traditional routine and do something hard—something that would grow us.

We imagined hiking through national parks, homeschooling outside, cooking dinner with open windows, and seeing new places every week. We were chasing something meaningful: freedom, connection, and a lifestyle that made space for what matters most.

What RV life has looked like

Our expectations met reality in many ways—but in just as many, they didn’t.

We’ve had those magical moments that made us pause and say, “This is exactly why we chose this.” We’ve had some seriously incredible views, taken detours we didn’t plan but ended up loving, and watched our kids grow up in a life that’s always shifting—and honestly, we wouldn’t trade any of it. We’ve built memories in places most people only pass through, and some memories are so unexpected they feel like a bonus gift from the road.

But along with the beauty came the challenges.

Working full-time on the road is still… work. Sometimes, the flexibility we dreamed about feels buried under real-life work, school, chores, and, and… This lifestyle didn’t magically erase the stress—it just moved it into different corners of our lives.

Then there’s the behind-the-scenes reality no one puts on Instagram. RV repairs, routine maintenance, planning routes, constantly troubleshooting something rattling or leaking—a mental load never entirely goes away. Every travel day takes more coordination than we thought, and while we’ve gotten better at it, it still takes a toll.

And, of course, space. Or, more accurately—lack of it. Living in about 300 square feet with kids and dogs means privacy is a luxury, and noise is a guarantee. We’ve had to learn a new kind of patience and a new kind of dance—literally—just to move through the rig without bumping into each other (or someone holding a bowl of cereal).

Still, despite the surprises, the breakdowns, and the tight quarters, we’ve gained far more than we ever imagined.

Being together this much—really together—has reshaped our relationships in the best ways. We’ve learned how to function as a team, communicate better (even if it’s not always graceful), and slow down and enjoy the moments we used to rush past.

Some of our most unforgettable experiences have happened in the most unexpected ways. We’ve seen wild horses wander past our site. We’ve watched desert storms from our windows. We’ve shared sunrises over mountain ridges and met fellow travelers with the most amazing stories.

We no longer believe that “more” means better. We’ve discovered how to live with less and still feel like we have everything we need. The space we used to fill with stuff is now filled with time, presence, and connection.

RV life changed our address AND our mindset—and that’s a big part of why we still believe RV life is worth it. It invited us to focus more on experiences than possessions, peace than perfection, and more on who we’re with than where we are.

So, Is RV Life Worth It?

If we were starting over today, would we still hit the road?

For us, absolutely. It comes with challenges, but every mile and moment has brought something meaningful. We’d still choose RV life—just with a bit more margin and fewer expectations.

Early on, we felt this urgency to keep moving—to see everything, to do it “right,” to ensure we weren’t missing out. But some of our best memories have come from the times we stayed still. Slower stretches let us settle in, wander without a plan, and connect with where we were. If we could do it all again, we’d choose more of that. We’d build more breathing room between travel days, more margin in our routines, and more time to simply be.

RV life is incredible but can also be exhausting when you don’t give yourself space to rest. And honestly, we’d offer ourselves more grace. We came into this lifestyle expecting everything to line up perfectly. But RV life didn’t give us perfection—it gave us growth. Messy, beautiful, sometimes frustrating growth. If we had known that initially, we might’ve stressed a little less and embraced the chaos more.

This lifestyle has also changed how we think and live beyond the campground. We’ve learned that less really can be more. Having fewer things and fewer distractions makes more space for the good stuff—connection, presence, and peace. We’ve learned that flexibility is a gift. Plans change, things break, and not everything goes as you imagined. But sometimes, the detour turns out better than the plan.

Home isn’t about a physical address anymore. It’s a feeling. It’s the people you’re with and the atmosphere you create—whether in a mountain view campsite or a Walmart parking lot. And we’ve learned that hard things bring people closer. Whether fixing a busted toilet or carving out a few times in a tiny space with kids, we’ve grown stronger through every challenge.

So yes—we’d choose RV life again. Maybe slower. Maybe wiser. But absolutely, wholeheartedly yes.

Would you do it?

RV life isn’t always glamorous. It’s not always easy. But for us, it’s been worth it. And it’s still worth it.

If you’re out there wondering whether this lifestyle is right for you—or if you’ve been on the road for years and you’re just pausing to reflect—maybe it’s time to ask yourself the same question: Would I still choose this if I had to start over?

And maybe, like us, the answer isn’t perfect. Perhaps it comes with caveats. But if the heart of your “why” still holds, that’s probably your answer.

So yes—we’d do it again. And again. And again. With fewer expectations, more patience, and hopefully, fewer plumbing emergencies.

Want more behind-the-scenes stories like this one? Join our email crew at thefaiolas.com/email to get RV life tips, ExploreMore gear drops, and our favorite little moments from the road (the ones we don’t always post online).

Let us know—would you still choose RV life? Do you think RV life is worth it?