RV Books — The Best Guides, Journals, and Travel Books for RV Life
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RV books are still relevant, even in today’s world.
Most information is at the tip of your fingers — pick up your phone, type in a question, and you have an answer in seconds. We are grateful for that technology every day on the road. But there have been many times in our RV travels when internet and cell phone service were not an option. There are a lot of dead spots across the United States, and most camping spots have little to no signal.
After being “in the dark” a couple of times with no service, we decided it was time to invest in a few RV books to have on standby. We cannot tell you how many times these books have helped us out along the way. And honestly, even when we have internet, there is something about sitting at a campsite with an ice cold beverage and a good book that no phone screen can replace.
Below you will find our complete list of recommended RV books — campground guides, travel planners, RV living guides, inspiring travel stories, and journals to record your own adventures. We have organized them by category so you can find exactly what you need.
RV Books by Category
- Campground & Travel Guides
- RV Living & Beginner Guides
- Travel Stories & Inspiration
- Journals & Logbooks
- Our RV Books — By Tony & Gina
- Why We Still Carry Physical RV Books
Campground & Travel Guides
These are the RV books we reach for when we are planning a trip or need to find a campground, dump station, or services along the way. A good campground guide is worth its weight when you are in a dead zone with no cell signal.
Good Sam Campground & Coupon Guide
The only print directory for RV parks and campgrounds in North America, with over 12,000 locations listed across the United States and Canada. Includes Good Sam’s exclusive 10/10/10 rating system, discount coupons, RV park amenities, GPS coordinates, and state-by-state maps. We carry a copy in the fifth wheel at all times — it has saved us more than once when our phones had zero bars.
A comprehensive guide to every national park in the United States with full-color photos, detailed maps, historical background, and practical information on camping, trails, and recreation areas. We have used this book to plan trips to parks we never would have known about otherwise.
50 States, 5,000 Ideas — National Geographic
This beautifully illustrated book showcases the best travel experiences in every state — national parks, beaches, historic sites, dude ranches, hidden museums, and more. Perfect for the “where should we go next?” conversations we have at the campfire.
Next Exit — Interstate Highway Guide
The most complete guide to USA Interstate Highway exit services ever printed. Gas, food, lodging, shopping — find everything you need through the windshield, not the rear view mirror. Updated annually, this is the golden standard for finding services at every interstate exit. Essential for long-haul RV travel days.
A compilation created by a real RV traveler who outlines the qualities of each campground. This directory includes contact information, operation days, pricing, total spaces, and more. A solid companion to have alongside the Good Sam guide.
RV Living & Beginner Guides
If you are new to RV life — or thinking about making the leap — these RV books will save you time, money, and frustration. We wish we had read most of these before our first trip instead of learning everything the hard way.
A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV — Alyssa Padgett
A practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone exploring the RV lifestyle. Covers choosing an RV, setting up camp, managing mail on the road, budgeting for full-time travel, and all the things nobody tells you before you buy. Alyssa and her husband Heath have been full-timing since 2015 — she writes from real experience.
Your personal guide to understanding and enjoying your RV. Mark Polk is an RV expert who turns complex RV systems into easy-to-understand explanations. Covers everything from electrical and plumbing systems to towing, maintenance, and safety. A great reference to keep in your RV for when something goes wrong and you need to troubleshoot.
Living the RV Life — Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road
Whether you are downsizing, thrill-seeking, or anything in between, this book helps you figure out if the RV lifestyle is right for you. Both inspirational and practical — covers budgeting, choosing an RV, working on the road, and making the transition from a traditional home to life on wheels.
RV Camping — RV Living for Beginners
Covers 19 essential items to have with you, how to get the best price on an RV, what to do if you get sick far from healthcare, how to make money while traveling, and the top 3 destinations for RVers. Includes helpful pictures throughout. One of the more affordable RV books on this list and a solid starting point for beginners.
Travel Stories & Inspiration
Sometimes you do not need a how-to guide — you need a good story that reminds you why you love this lifestyle. These RV books are the ones we read for fun and inspiration when we want to dream about the next adventure.
David Rich and his wife Mary went on a seventeen-year journey that took them through 170 countries and every continent except Antarctica — in an RV. This book explains exactly how they did it, what it costs to live and travel in an RV abroad, how to buy and sell an RV in a foreign country, how to stay healthy, and how to camp for free.
The story of one couple’s decision to quit their jobs and hit the open road in an RV. If you are on the fence about making the leap to full-time RV life, this book might be the push you need. Honest, relatable, and inspiring.
RV Living: The RVing Lifestyle
A 2-in-1 step-by-step guide for anyone looking to transition from ordinary life to life on the road. Covers starting your motorhome adventure, full-time nomad living, RV retirement, camping, and boondocking.
Journals & Logbooks
We are big believers in writing things down. After a year of traveling, the campgrounds and campsites start to blur together. A good RV journal helps you remember which site had the best sunset view, which park to avoid, and what hookups were available. Plus, it is a wonderful keepsake to look back on years later. These are some of our favorite RV books for keeping a record of your travels.
Space to record hookups available, bathhouse conditions, amenities, road conditions, campsite conditions, management info, booking and cancellation notes, local area notes, sightseeing notes, and more. A great companion for keeping track of everywhere you have been.
Adventure is Calling — Camping Journal & RV Travel Planner
A road trip planner and camping journal in one. Helps you organize trips before you leave and record memories once you arrive.
Our Camping Adventures — Camping Journal & RV Travel Logbook
Another solid journal option for families and couples who want to capture their camping memories in one organized place.
Our RV Books — By Tony & Gina
We created these ourselves. After years of scribbling notes on napkins and forgetting which campground had the best hot showers, we designed the journals and logbooks we wished existed when we started traveling.
RV Notebook Journal — Important RV Shit I Can Never Remember
Our original and still our best seller. A no-nonsense journal for all the RV details that slip your mind — measurements, part numbers, maintenance schedules, campground notes, and everything else you swear you will remember but never do.
RV Notebook Journal — Open Journal Format
Same concept, open format. Blank and wide-ruled pages for people who prefer a less structured approach to journaling on the road.
Camping Journal & RV Travel Logbook
Our go-to travel logbook. Space to record each stop — campground name, site number, hookups, what you liked, what you did not. After a year of traveling, you will have a complete record of every park you visited.
Camping Journal & Travel Logbook
Similar to our RV-focused logbook but designed for all types of camping — tent, RV, van life, whatever your style.
Camping Shit To Always Remember Logbook
For the campers who appreciate a little humor with their planning. Practical logbook with a personality.
RV Notebook Journal with Prompts for Writing
Guided prompts to help you capture your thoughts and memories on the road. Great if you want to journal but never know what to write about.
Routine maintenance checklist and repair record for your RV. Track oil changes, tire rotations, appliance servicing, and repairs so nothing falls through the cracks. Your RV is your home — treat it like one.
Take Me To The Mountains — Camping Journal
For the mountain-loving campers. A journal designed to capture those high-altitude adventures.
Adventure is Waiting — Get Outside — Camping Journal
An inspiring camping journal for anyone who believes the best stories start with “remember that time we…”
RV Journal: RV Trailer Travel Log Record Camping Diary
A dedicated RV travel diary for recording every stop on your journey.
We believe the RV community is for everyone. This journal celebrates that.
Law of Attraction Planner: Manifest Your Dreams
Not RV-specific, but a planner Gina created based on the principles that helped us design the life we wanted. Sometimes the road trip starts with deciding where you want to go — in all senses of the word.
Why We Still Carry Physical RV Books
We get asked this a lot — why carry physical RV books when you have a phone?
Because phones die. Cell service disappears. Campground WiFi is unreliable at best. And when you are in the middle of a national forest with no signal, trying to figure out where the nearest dump station is, a Good Sam guide in your cabinet is worth more than every app on your phone.
Beyond the practical side, there is something we genuinely enjoy about flipping through a travel book at the campsite. It slows you down. You discover places you never would have searched for online. You stumble across a park in a state you had no plans to visit, and suddenly your next trip is taking shape.
RV books are not outdated. They are a different kind of tool — one that works everywhere, never needs charging, and often leads to better discoveries than scrolling through search results.
If you are building your RV library, start with a campground guide and a journal. Those two RV books alone will make your travels better.
More RV Resources
- RV Camping Checklist — The Complete Packing Guide
- The Best RV Newbie Tips
- Boondocking — What Is It and How to Get Started
- Free Camping — Resources for RV Boondocking
- Florida RV Parks — Our Top 5 Favorites
- Best RV WiFi Solutions
- Tips to Stay Safe While Boondocking
Happy reading and happy travels.
— Tony & Gina
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. Links to our own journals and logbooks are direct product links, not affiliate links. Thank you for supporting RV Boondocker.
