If you’ve ever wondered what first-time travel trailer camping is really like, let me tell you — it’s not always the smooth-sailing adventure you imagine.
My first solo trip, with just me and my dog Rocky, was filled with chaos, unexpected challenges, and some serious lessons in patience.
From dog drama to realizing I forgot key essentials, this day was one for the books!
Keep reading to catch the highlights of my adventure or watch the full video below.
Setting Out on My First Solo Adventure
It all started with me feeling both excited and a little bit nervous. Backing up a trailer for the first time? No practice whatsoever.
But, I grabbed everything I needed (hitch, locks, toolbox, you name it) and headed off to pick up my camper. The plan was to get on the road early, but, in true first-time fashion, I ended up leaving an hour and a half later than planned.
Rocky and I were on our way to Arrowhead Campground near Uwharrie National Forest, but it wasn’t long before chaos struck.
Rocky’s Little Surprise
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any crazier, my rescue pup Rocky decided to add his own twist to the travel plans.
Rocky, who hasn’t had car anxiety in years, decided this trip was the perfect time to make an exception.
Instead of a casual bowel movement on his bed, he decided that this new adventure was too much to bear as he released diarrhea all over his bed in the back of my Jeep Wrangler.
All I could do was find the closest gas station with a pull through that could accommodate my travel trailer and think through my best options.
Let’s just say, cleaning up after an anxious dog’s widespread accident was not on my list of things to do that day.
But with a trash bag, an onslaught of confused onlookers, and a bit of determination, I pressed on.
And although I chose a pull-through parking option, a semi-truck had a similar idea, forcing me to get some backing-up practice. Who knew that would be my confidence booster?
With Rocky now empty (thank goodness!), we were back on the road.
Backing Up (And Backing Down)
When we finally made it to the campsite, I was tired, hungry, and beyond ready to just park the camper and settle in.
But of course, that’s when I hit my next challenge — backing into an extremely tight and narrow campsite.
As someone with zero trailer-backing experience, let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty.
Thankfully, a kind stranger saw me struggling and stepped in to help, saving me from what could have been a half-hour of frustration.
After I repeatedly praised the kind human who lent a much needed hand, I started setting up camp — from setting up my new light and dark green checkered outdoor rug to unpacking my kitchen table. When I shifted my focus to the interior of my camper, I was greeted with a haphazard pile of sheets and pillows in a frumpy mountain on the floor. I decided to make my bed for the first time and leave the rest of the mess for tomorrow.
As I settled in, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to have arrived without issue. But I was definitely cranky and ready to eat before unwinding down after a hectic day of first-time travel trailer camping.
Forgetting the Essentials
Tingling with energy and an increasingly hungry stomach, I shifted focus to the kitchen to take inventory of what I had available to cook my first meal. As I checked the cabinets, I realized I’d forgotten a few key things.
No table, no plates — just me, a picnic table, and some wooden bowls.
That’s a minor challenge, but what really put a damper on my day was that my brand new GoPro fell off my car and cracked just a couple of hours into my first camping trip.
On top of that, I’d forgotten to turn on my fridge, so my cold food storage was reliant on my YETI cooler on a warm summer night.
But in the spirit of rolling with the punches, I decided to just make do. Solo travel is all about adapting, right?
Exhausted, I considered driving to grab ice at a gas station up the road but ultimately chose to embrace the imperfections of the day and prep for my first sleep under the stars.
Solo travel — and first-time travel trailer camping — is never perfect, but that’s what makes it memorable.
Dinner Dilemmas
As the sun began to set and hunger pangs kicked in, I faced yet another challenge: figuring out how to use my gas stove top while dodging rain drops.
Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.
Instead of eating mac and cheese, I pivoted my dinner plans to my backup plan: Mountain House Chicken and Dumplings. I had a feeling that things wouldn’t go according to plan and I absolutely hate being stuck without food.
Did I mention I also thought to pack an electric kettle?
It may not have been the gourmet meal I envisioned, but it was delicious and warm nonetheless so you will hear no complaints from me.
Lessons in First-Time Travel Trailer Camping
By the time I crawled into bed that night, I felt a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
I was also beaming with excitement because 8 months ago, buying a camper was a pipe dream.
As I laid my head down inside my little traveling home on wheels, I realized that this was just the beginning of an adventure that made me feel like a little kid again.
Sure, the day had been chaotic, but there was something rewarding about facing all of these challenges head-on.
Solo travel in a camper trailer forces you to rely on yourself and think quickly on your feet. With no one else to problem-solve for you, you learn how resourceful and capable you truly are.
This trip showed me that first-time travel trailer camping is more than just an adventure — it’s a learning experience that pushes you to discover not only how to handle challenges but also how to find humor in them.
There’s something deeply rewarding about facing obstacles on your own and coming out stronger on the other side.
Wrapping Up Day One
As day one of my camping trip came to an end, I reflected on all the chaos that unfolded — from Rocky’s unfortunate mishap to my failed parking experience and cooking challenges.
Despite everything that went wrong (or maybe because of it), I felt invigorated and ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.
Solo travel teaches us patience and resilience; sometimes the best memories come from moments that don’t go as planned.
Key Takeaways
- Embrace the chaos: First-time travel trailer camping will test your patience. Be ready for surprises and learn to laugh through the chaos.
- Take it slow: Allow yourself time to adjust and appreciate your surroundings; rushing leads to stress which leads to frustration and more mistakes.
- Solo travel is a learning experience: With no one else to rely on, you’ll discover just how resourceful and resilient you are — and that’s a powerful feeling.
- Pack carefully: It’s easy to forget essentials like ice or a table, but you’ll always find a way to make it work. Flexibility is key!
- Roll with the punches: No matter how many things go wrong, there’s always a silver lining. Embrace the journey and learn to appreciate the little victories.
- Kindness matters: Sometimes strangers can be your biggest allies when navigating new experiences.
So, that was day one of my first solo camping trip with a travel trailer. It was a messy, chaotic adventure, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Stay tuned for day two, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel to follow along on the journey!
[…] I’ll admit, my first trip was a bit of a whirlwind. While it was packed with unforgettable lessons, I also left behind half the things I needed. To help you avoid the same chaos, I’ve put together a list of essential first-time travel trailer must-haves. […]