No Reservations? No Problem. How to Wing Your Next RV Trip | Ep. 59

If you’ve ever been told you have to book your RV trip five or six months in advance—or risk ending up in a Walmart parking lot—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: winging it can lead to some of your best travel memories.

This summer, we’re heading out east—Nova Scotia and PEI—and we’ve only booked one night so far. Just one. At a brewery. And we’re not stressed about it. Not even a little.

Let’s talk about why.

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Why We’re Winging It

Our summer trip begins with a stop in Ottawa for our daughter’s national dance competition. While that part of the journey involves a hotel stay, the second we’re done, we’re hitching up and heading east—with no firm plan beyond a single Harvest Hosts night at a riverside brewery in New Brunswick.

We’re calling this a hybrid RV trip: some anchors, some freedom, and a whole lot of possibility.

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Tools to Help You Wing It

Winging it doesn’t mean flying blind. These tools help us find last-minute campsites, boondocking spots, and off-grid gems:

• RV Parky: Our go-to free app for both overnight and extended stays in Canada and the U.S.
• Harvest Hosts: Overnight stays at wineries, farms, and breweries.
• Terego: Canada’s version of Harvest Hosts, popular in Eastern Canada.
• iOverlander: Great for rest stops, municipal dump stations, and boondocking info.
• AllStays Pro: Best for dump stations and amenities across North America.

Pro Tip: Leave reviews! Share your travel dates, how full the place was, and if it was quiet or busy. Your quick note might help the next RVer avoid stress (or find a gem!).

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Don’t Forget Preventative Maintenance

Before hitting the road, make sure your rig is in tip-top shape. Nancy from Niagara Trailers gave us a great reminder: “Seals and wheels.”

Get your bearings greased and checked
Inspect your roof and trim seals
Avoid water damage and roadside disasters before they happen

Preventative maintenance isn’t just smart—it keeps your adventure rolling without delays.

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Anchor Nights vs. Spontaneous Stays

We’re not against booking—far from it. In fact, we recommend choosing a few “anchor nights” at high-demand or must-see destinations. But everything else? Leave it open!

Here’s how we balance it:

• Book ahead: Long weekends, national/provincial parks, or that perfect lakefront site.
• Wing it: Travel days, mid-week stops, or lesser-known gems.

Case in point: We checked Fundy National Park in May—months after booking opened—and there were still several sites available. Not everything sells out in 10 minutes!

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Why Winging It Works

Traveling with kids (or cranky adults—like us!) means flexibility matters. Sometimes the weather turns. Sometimes someone gets carsick. Sometimes you find a cool monument or a diner you didn’t expect.

Winging it lets you follow the magic.

Some of our best stays? A diner in White River, Ontario. A late-night stop in Colorado where the owner guided us in during a thunderstorm. A Route 66 campground that left a cone with our name on it when we arrived after hours.

None of that came from a spreadsheet.

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Change One Thing

We get it—stepping outside your usual comfort zone can be intimidating. So here’s our challenge to you:

Change just one thing.

• Always book provincial parks? Try a Harvest Hosts stay.
• Never boondocked before? Try a truck stop or municipal lot.
• Always plan every night? Leave one or two unbooked and see what happens.

You might discover something amazing.

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Help Us Out!

This trip is being built as we go, and we’d love your help:

• Got a favorite lobster roll, apple pie, or coffee spot in the Maritimes?
• Know a secret beach or off-the-map fishing village?
• Have a can’t-miss tip for traveling PEI or coastal Nova Scotia?

Tell us! Email us at hello@rvcanucks.com or message us on Instagram.

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Follow the Journey

We’ll be filming this trip from the road—sharing the good, the bad, and the cranky (because let’s be honest, it happens). Subscribe to the podcast or YouTube channel to join us as we RV without reservations.

And remember: You don’t need a perfect plan to have a perfect trip.

Sponsored By: Niagara Trailers 

This episode is brought to you by Niagara Trailers, celebrating 50 years of RV adventures. Come check out new layouts, clear pricing, and meet the friendly folks who make trailer shopping feel easy.