Dating as a Full-Time RVer: Can It be Done?

Dating as a Full-Time RVer

So, you’re a nomad or wannabe nomad that plans to date on the road. Maybe you even hope to find a life partner. I’ve done the nomadic dating scene, but I must warn you that as a full-time RVer, you should be prepared for an even harder dating life than usual.

Can you date? Sure thing.

Can you find a significant other? Well, that might be a little more complicated. It depends on if you want to remain a nomad or you’re content settling back down in one place.

Let’s talk about how you can date on the road and what it’s like, first.

How to Date as a Nomad

I am a single 40-something chick who has been full-time RVing for over three years. During this time, I have had dates but only one short-term boyfriend.

So how does one date on the road, especially when moving frequently? I boondock full-time, which means I must move about every two to three weeks depending on where I am. My moves are not usually within the same town, city, or area. They are quite often over 150 miles, which isn’t conducive for dating long-term. At least not if the other person is living in a traditional manner with a mortgage or rent payment.

How does a nomad find dates? If you are above the age of, say, 30ish, then you likely aren’t going to be looking for anyone in a bar. So, where? It’s hard to meet locals when you are not involved in the community and have no friends in town.

First, you can join RVing clubs. The kind of clubs that get together and have rallies. Get on Instagram and start using RVing and nomadic related hashtags. You never know who might be 5 sites down from you or even just a 30 minute drive away! Friend people with similar interests. They may have a single friend.

Another convenient way to find dates is online dating.

Tinder and Bumble are two of the most widely used dating sites in the country. Are they perfect? Uhhh, not by a long stretch.

Girls, (and guys, I guess…) it’s no secret that some of the users are just looking for a hookup. If that’s not what you are looking for, it’s not hard to weed them out with a few questions or by using your intuition. (Or some by just looking at their photos, LOL!)

I had a boyfriend for about 6 months and we met through Tinder. No, he wasn’t my favorite BF, but we did date. We literally broke up over an argument over the Kardashians. Let’s just say he wasn’t for me.

Dating websites can also work if you are serious about finding a significant other. Match, OK Cupid and more out there can help introduce you to the local flavor.

Dating as a Full-Time RVer: Can It be Done? 1

Online Dating Downsides

Not every guy or girl on there will be your ideal date. Not by a long shot. With the dating apps, I have found that the more rural of an area I am in, the fewer prospects I have. This makes sense since I am in a less populated area. Unfortunately, I am in less populated areas a lot.

Sometimes, I give up on using dating apps for their given purpose and just use them as entertainment. Why? Because some dudes just have no idea.

They post some terrible photos- close-up selfies, bathroom selfies, whole body tattoos, scary looking photos. These have zero appeal to me.

So yeah, it can be wildly entertaining yet scary. At the same time,  it’s frustrating because there’s not a big pool from which to choose.

So yes, dating apps can find you dates. But you will likely have to swipe left a lot to find even a possible match, especially if you are over 40-ish. I’ve come across a few nomadic wanderers on the apps. They are few and far between. Let’s get into nomads looking to date other nomads.

Dating Other Nomads

Yes, it’s possible. I know of quite a few full-time nomad friends who have dated or just hooked up. But how many of them have turned into a relationship? I currently only know of two couples in over three years. That’s all. 

Dating is not too hard. Finding a significant other in a full-time nomad is much harder. If you are also someone who wants to remain a nomad, you have whittled down the pool of potential partners down to a very small segment of the population. 

Most people out there living this life are already coupled up. Many others only do it as a means to find the “perfect” place to settle down. 

Singles? Much less than half of the many full-timers are single. And now probably only half of those will even begin to qualify as a potential mate for you (unless you’re bisexual). 

Out of that small pool, you have to find one that you are attracted to, who is attracted to you, who is of an appropriate age, who you get along with, and yada, yada, yada. Good luck with that! 

The point is that looking for a nomad who wants to stay that way is like finding a needle in a haystack. Do-able but difficult.

Kelly Beasley looking out over the the water

What's the Verdict?

There are slim pickings out there, folks. So now you know. Dating on the road is not a walk in the park. It’s doable using friends, online dating, and you could try mingling with locals at concerts, farmers markets, etc. 

However, if you want to date another nomad who wants to remain a nomad, the challenge is real. It can happen, I’m just telling you it’s not likely going to be easy and it might even not happen. You had better be happy being a solo, and just being with yourself before you take off. Or you may not last long as a solo nomad. Good luck out there!

Kelly Beasley

Author

Kelly Beasley

Kelly Beasley is co-founder of Camp Addict, an educational guide for using all things RVing. She tells of her blunders and goofs and successes on the road at RvChickadee.com. She has been full-time for almost 3.5 years now with no intentions of stopping.

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Dating as a full-time RVer

17 Responses to “Dating as a Full-Time RVer: Can It be Done?

  • Yes, you are spot on! I refuse to use dating apps due to the false personalities protrayed.

    • Yep. Half the time I don’t get past a few messages back and forth. I can tell if they are going to endlessly message, so I just delete. Or I stop messaging. If they wanna continue and try to meet they will be proactive. Who knows if they are bots. And what even IS the point of bots?!? ?????

  • Kelly Beasley
    Robert Gilman
    5 years ago

    Hi jelly ?.
    I enjoyed reading your thoughts and experiences on the nomadic dating scene. I’m a traveling nurse full time rv’g since June. My first priority is to see all the national parks and explore our beautiful country. Being alone, I obviously want to share these experiences with others and hopefully find a soulmate who shares these same desires. Currently I’ve had success meeting people through RVillage. Seems. Like a safe friendly group. As you mention, many are couples. I am optimistic however and will continue posting, seeing who’s interested in visiting the nearest park. Also I’ve signed up for the xscapers New Year’s Eve convergence so I’m excited to see where that Takes me. Good luck and keep on sharing and exploring. Bob Gilman ?

    • Kelly Beasley
      Leslie Martin
      5 years ago

      Hi Bob,

      Couple questions for ya. I’m in the researching phase of RVing full time travel nursing and planning on heading out in 3 years, I have to wait for my son to graduate high school….bummer….I want to go NOW! LOL How are how you’re finding travel nursing and full time RVing? How much time do you take off between contracts? I will be traveling alone and want to have plenty of time for travel in between working, I’m hoping to be able to take off at least 2 months in between contracts…..feasible you think? Are you pretty successful finding contracts in the areas you want to travel to? Do you follow the weather or find it difficult to land a job in the south in winter and north in summer?

      Thanks for any info you can share! 🙂

      Leslie

      • My son just graduated HS also-I am months away from getting the road full time with my RV…..lets connect sometime.

        Talk soon,
        Jeff

      • Kelly Beasley
        bob gilman
        2 years ago

        hi leslie.. not sure if i replied to you back then (3 yrs ago).. sorry if i didn’t!!! have you started traveling? have you gone to Travcon? Please let me know.. you can reach me at bobg187@gmail.com i’m happy to provide info as i;ve traveled as a nurse since 2005!! and for the past 4 years as a full time rv traveler 🙂
        bob

    • Sorry I didn’t see your message so long ago, Robert. Glad to hear you are getting out! Hope you enjoyed the NYE convergence and are doing well with your traveling jobs and dating scene!

  • Hey, Job!?
    Good on ya- you stationary very much for work? I haven’t met but one couple on rvillage. I meet people mostly through xscapers. But I should probably spread my wings some. But xscapers takes up a good portion of my time, especially seeing friends who are xscapers NOT during convergences. Anyhoo, thanks for reading!!

  • Kelly Beasley
    Adrienne
    5 years ago

    Ckeck out the WINs. It is a singles RV club that travel in various circuits all over North America

  • Interesting…I’m ready to just be solo and stay solo for a couple years or so, maybe longer bc this time I wanna be friends for awhile only no hanky Panky at all…and just focus on me. I’ve been with a me, me, me guy for 17 yrs and I’ve had quite enough of that crap….?

  • Kelly Beasley
    Chris Conklin
    4 years ago

    Not meaning any offense here but your article appears to have such a negative tone to it. Perhaps there needs to be more single mingles at rally and bash type of events. Even if there is no perfect match established, solo nomads can at least network and become great friends with each other. For me personally, I would enjoy connecting with other who have desires to travel and workcamp in areas which are not necessarily open to single/solo/individuals. Besides, it is nice to be able to spend time with others, explore adventures without being a 3rd wheel sort of thing. I think we all pretty much know what doesn’t work…how about what does work and what opportunities may be out there for “real” people who love the full time RV life. Like to see the glass more than half full vs half empty, etc.
    My food for thought on the subject 🙂

    • Chris- I hear you about the tone of the article, and thank you for your two cents! But the hard truth is that it is very hard to date/find a partner on the road. Getting ‘laid’ happens and is much easier. I can’t paint a pretty picture about dating on the road for people. The article wasn’t about hanging out with other solo’s on the road. I do that and I hang with couples too. Xscapers has definitely widened my world as far as knowing a lot of people out here! And recently I’ve been wanting to open my world up to other RVing groups as well.

      So that should broaden friend circle as well. I have been interested in a few guys I’ve met… it just wasn’t ever reciprocated. That’s life. The pool is simply smaller if you’re looking for a nomadic partner.

      But we aren’t out here to find a partner, that’s the beauty of it. We are out here for the experiences, the journey, and the friends made along the way! Good luck to you and your endeavors.

  • Kelly Beasley
    russell
    4 years ago

    hi Kelly, think your right the pool is small and hard to meet a single woman who like camping full time, well i should say it’s hard for me.i’m not a good talker around new people it take me some time to warm up to people i don’t know but then again maybe i’ve just come across the right person “friend” i guess. i’ve been tent camping all my life, now i got a 5th wheel and the past 5 years have been great i had a girl friend for 3 of them years is was great too but when i started talking about going full time after that 4 or 5 months we broke up and now on my own camping it’s just not the same as having a better half will have a friend to talk and do thing’s with, sitting at camp site with just me. myself and i (lol) plus this didn’t bother be before when i was solo camping. i just camp at camp sites at lakes but when i retire in 3 years and go full time i will enjoy camping under the stars as much as i do well in the trailer (lol) but outside right. i have took to much of your time, happy camping

  • Kelly Beasley
    Kenneth
    2 years ago

    I still can’t cheat. Of course i am still a man and i still like women but at a distance. Wife for 56 years died 2 years ago. Have not been inside our home since then. I’ve decided to use my travel trailer to “get away” and be a nomad for my remaining time breathing. For a long time i forgot to eat so lost a lot of weight. My doctor got me going again so have gained almost 25 pounds in the last year, now 130 pounds. feel more like doing stuff again. I have one son who will take the house and things inside and do what he wants with it.

  • Kelly Beasley
    Richard Weir
    2 years ago

    Hello Kelly. I agree with most of what you said. It is very difficult. I am not looking for a hook up I’m not even sure what I’m looking for other than she should be physically fit as I like to kayak and hike. I guess when I meet her she will know and I will know 😊

  • I would like to find a wonderful women that loves to travel and that does camp all the time and show me the places to go and do things togeather im retired older man that feel like cooped up in the Urban life wanting to see more than the same ol streets day after day for 22 years I worked out of Suitcase life so it’s hard for me to live full-time in one place so I Envy your lifestyle traveling all over

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