Friend groups
Road trip through America with friends: one RV or two, decide together, share the costs.
A road trip through America or Canada with friends is the classic among group trips: driving Route 66, doing the big parks in one sprint or looping the Canadian Rockies with a group that cooks for itself, drives itself and sits around the campfire in the evening. The RV makes it practical — no hotel rooms to divide, no restaurants for eight to find — and the costs shared across the group often come out lower than expected.
The trickiest part of a group trip is not the route but the decision-making: who picks the stops, who drives, who pays for what. On this page we bring together the routes, guides and parks that work well for a group of friends, plus the tips that prevent most of the arguments — and how Kamptribe supports planning together.
How to plan it
- 1
One large RV or two smaller ones?
With four, one RV is often fine; with six or more it gets tight on sleeping spots, seats with seat belts and bathroom time. Two smaller RVs give freedom — one group sleeps in, the other walks the sunrise — and fit more campgrounds and park roads. Against that stand higher costs and the hassle of two vehicles. Look closely at the sleeping layout: a large model often has one real bed and a few converted sofas, and not everyone wants to sleep on a sofa for two weeks.
Kamptribe supports multiple RVs in one trip and one budget, so you can set both scenarios side by side before you choose.
- 2
Share the costs fairly
Agree in advance how you share: RV and insurance per head, fuel and campgrounds from a joint pot, food and drink per person or together. Put every item in the Kamptribe budget and check along the way who has advanced what. Whoever put the RV on their card does not want to be chasing their money at the end; the deposit held on someone's credit card belongs in that conversation too.
- 3
Decide together, not in the group chat
Invite everyone into the trip in Kamptribe: as editor if they get to help build it, as viewer if they mainly want to follow along. Put comments on stops — we really need two nights here, this detour is too long — so the discussion sits with the place and does not vanish somewhere in a group chat.
Appoint one person to make the final call on reservations and deadlines, otherwise everyone waits for everyone.
- 4
Book group sites or adjacent sites
Many campgrounds in and around the national parks have group sites for larger parties, and at ordinary campgrounds you can often reserve two adjacent sites. Search Recreation.gov or Parks Canada by campground name and check the maximum length and number of vehicles per site — two RVs on one site is not allowed everywhere. Respect the quiet hours; a group of friends around the campfire gets loud faster than you think, and the etiquette guide tells you how to keep the neighbours on side.
- 5
Take turns driving
Put all drivers on the rental contract — extra drivers often cost something, but it is worth it — and agree who drives on which day. A large RV is more tiring than it looks, especially in mountains and wind, so two hours per driver and then swapping keeps everyone fresh. Whoever is not driving navigates or handles the music; whoever drank in the evening does not drive the next morning.
Check the minimum age for drivers with the rental company; in North America it is often higher than you expect.
Routes that fit
- 10 daysUnited States
National parks sprint
Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce → Grand Canyon
Maximum wow per mile
Starts in Las Vegas (LAS)
View route → - 18 daysUnited States
Route 66 classic
Chicago → St. Louis → Amarillo → Albuquerque → Flagstaff → Santa Monica
The great American road trip
View route → - 14 daysCanada
Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies
Vancouver → Whistler → Jasper → Banff → Calgary
From the Pacific to the glaciers
Starts in Vancouver (YVR)
View route →
Guides that fit
- First-time RV families
RV campground etiquette and hookups, explained
What are full hookups, and how do we not annoy the neighbours at the campground?
Read guide - Families, couples and groups of friends
What does an RV trip through America cost? Realistic ranges for 2, 3 and 4 weeks
What will an RV trip through America cost our group — and which levers can we actually pull?
Read guide - Families, couples and groups of friends
Renting an RV in America and Canada: which rental company, which size and what to watch for?
How do we choose the right RV and rental company in America or Canada, and what do we need sorted before pickup?
Read guide
Parks that fit
- United States
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, bison and campfires at altitude — the park that lives up to its reputation with kids.
View the park - United States
Grand Canyon National Park
One of the greatest views on earth — with a South Rim that is surprisingly family-friendly.
View the park - Canada
Banff National Park
Turquoise lakes, glaciers and an RV trip that is beautiful before you even enter the park.
View the park
Frequently asked questions
How many people fit in an RV?
Large models advertise six to eight sleeping spots, but count the seats with seat belts and the bathroom time too. Comfortable travel is usually four per RV; from six upwards a second RV becomes worth considering.
How do we share the costs without arguments?
Agree on the split in advance, put every item in the shared Kamptribe budget and settle up along the way instead of at the end. The guide on what an RV trip costs gives an indication of the big items.
Can part of the group start and others join later?
Yes, but keep it simple: everyone who will ever drive on the rental contract, and a clear place and day to join, for example a city with an airport on the route. Put the joining stop in the planner so the driving days before and after add up.