Twenty-eight years ago, while traveling across country by RV, Zoe Swanagon and Lovern King rarely saw other women traveling alone with recreational vehicles. They also found that RV parks and camp activities were usually aimed at couples.
In 1991, while attending an RV rally in California, they posted a notice for a meeting of independent women RVers. The turnout was so large that another was promptly scheduled for the next day. At these meetings, women expressed their loneliness on the road and their desire to make connections with other women. Thus was born the now-popular group, RVing Women.
The group, the only international support network solely for the woman RV enthusiast, now numbers more than 2,000 members. They range in age from 20s to 80s with most between 50 and 70. About one-third are retired or semi-retired. Most members own motorhomes, followed in order by vans, fifth wheels, travel trailers, tent trailers and campers. Some don’t own an RV, but are interested in learning more about the lifestyle, staying at motels when attending club events.
Many members are newly widowed, facing the challenge of RVing alone for the first time. Some are still married, but travel without their husbands who are unable or don’t care to travel. Others travel alone or with a friend.
RVW’s chapters hold monthly rallies during the travel season. Each fall they have a national convention, rotated among eastern, middle, and western United States. They also sponsor caravans.
National rallies include educational seminars with topics including personal safety and preventive maintenance. Social and recreational activities are also included.
For membership information visit the club’s website RVingWomen.org.
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We have belonged to RVW for many years. Our first conference was in 1998. From there the two of us were going to Newfoundland. Some gals asked what we were doing and 4 rigs ended up going up the Eastern Seaboard – we even went to Labrador! It was an amazing trip.
This year, Barb (my wife) taught Basic and Advanced RV Maintenance for the second time. The first time 35 women studied – this time 70! Barb is a Nationally Registered/Certified RV Technician and a great teacher.
RVing Women is an inclusive organization. Solo female RVers were unusual at that time and lesbian couple RVers were even more so. We shared road and camping safety tips, how to talk to RV repair folks… all kinds of topics. To fill a niche, RVW was created and has since grown to include all women who want to RV or do RV. We have chapters all over the US and Canada, we do rally and conferences and boy is there lots of laughing involved!
Female RVers are a huge and growing segment of the RV industry. RVing Women assists all of us gals with how to’s and what to’s and where to’s, with lots of hugs thrown in! I’m so proud to be a member of RVing Women!
Hi, Jackie!
Do a Google search for +women +traveling +alone +RV. There are groups for women, solos, and women bloggers who are very helpful.
I’m hoping to get on the road in the next year as a full-time solo
Happy trails to you!
Cindy,
I have heard of it. But the club is not very visible when I poke around the web. I’ll write about it again one day.
Chuck/editor