10 Ways to Stay Active on the Road

When you spend a lot of your time driving from place to place, you may find it difficult to stay active. But even on the days you drive, you can find some way to get out and stretch your legs.

No matter what your fitness level is, you should actively seek out ways to stay in shape while traveling. We’ve listed several ways to stay active on the road that work for almost anyone who travels regularly to ensure that you can stay adventuring as long as possible.

Related Read: Campground and RV Fitness Guide

Here are 10 ways to stay active on the road!

1. Take a Walk.

We’ll start with something easy. When you’re on the road all day, it’s important to get out and walk around for a little bit. Whether you’re at the gas station or just set up camp at a KOA, take a brisk walk down and around the property before hitting the hay.

2. Pack Some Weights.
You won’t always have access to a gym while on the road. But who says you can’t bring the gym with you? Make a stop at a local Walmart or Target to grab two small dumbbells. Shove them under the bed or in a cabinet while you travel. You’ll now have your own equipment with you so you can workout wherever you find yourself.

3. Hike It Out.
Hiking is a great way to get in a good workout. You can hike for miles or take a nature trail at National Parks to get the blood pumping. Not only will your body feel better, but you’ll see beautiful mountains, rivers, deserts, and more. Some of the best places to check out for hiking can be found here. You can also find trails near you with the AllTrails app, too.

Related Read: Hiking Activities to Keep Kids Interested

4. Bike Around.
Bicycling is a common activity for RVers. You can mountain bike, take a stroll through a park, or cycle to and from the grocery store. No matter how you ride, you’ll be glad you did!

If you don’t like to bike around, be sure to check out Facebook for groups of bikers in your area to join them on rides or at events while you’re in town!

5. Play with Your (Fur) Kids.
Remember the last time you played with a child or a dog? You probably wore yourself out a lot faster than you’d like to say. If you don’t have kids or pets, take some time at your next stop to volunteer at a local animal shelter or children’s program. You’ll stay on your feet and be making a difference at the same time.

Want to find a local rescue or shelter that needs some help while you’re around? Here’s a list of sites to help you find volunteer opportunities near you.
https://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://createthegood.org/
https://www.unitedway.org/get-involved/volunteer

6. YouTube a Workout.
No need to hire a personal trainer. Search YouTube for workouts you can do in your rig. From weight lifting to yoga, you can find some great exercises for you to try online. Some of the best YouTube channels for exercise are:

• Yoga with Adriene (all levels)

• Grow Young Fitness (Senior Exercises)

• Walk at Home Media (Walking Exercises)

7. Stretch It Out.
Stretching is something that we often forget about after we get out of our Physical Education classes, but it’s an important part of being able to stay active. Stretching burns calories and gives you more flexibility that allows you to bend over, reach up, and turn around.

Stretching can be as quick as 5 minutes a day to over 30 minutes a day. The more you stretch, the stronger you’ll feel and become, too.

A few simple stretches that work well for any fitness level can be found here.

8. Sign Up for a Race.
Some people travel just to participate in events and races. All over the country, you can find walking and running races that allow you to stay active and give you something to train for all year long.

From color runs to Turkey Trots, you can find a race or event almost every weekend somewhere. Here are a few links you can check out for walking and running races in the area:
https://www.active.com/walking
https://www.active.com/running

9. Clean Up the Outdoors.
We’ve all been around campgrounds and National Parks where trash was thrown everywhere. Many don’t realize that the shortest trails often have the most litter because they are frequented by more visitors.

Instead of focusing on the distance of your hike or walk, try to pick up as much litter as you can and haul it back to a trash can. Not only will you be getting your steps in for the day, but you’ll be doing something good for the environment around you.

10. Try Something New.
Travel gives you so many opportunities to experience new things, but have you thought about trying out a new class or guided activity in the place you’re visiting? You may not have a home or a regular routine, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying something that you may fall in love with.

Activities you can try all over the country include:

• Bouldering or Rock Climbing

• Mountain Biking or Cycling

• Kickboxing

• Skiing & Snowboarding

• Kayaking/Canoeing

• Intramural Sports (if you’re in one place for a while)

You can find most of these activities indoors and outdoors, too. There are gyms popping up all over the country that offer outdoor activities inside for year-round training.

A great way to find new classes or activities in your area is to look through coupon apps like Groupon to find cheap classes for you to take while you’re in the city.

Get Out and Go Do!
No matter what you try or what your level of fitness is, just know that taking a step forward is a step in the right direction. You don’t have to be an extreme athlete to stay healthy on the road, just get out there and go do!