On a Roll

As camping makes a comeback in the time of COVID-19, Mississippi RV parks promise plenty of family fun.

- KELLI BOZEMAN

Melanie and John Lauderdale of Jackson got their first taste of RV camping last summer when they rented a rolling camper for a trip to Tennessee and Alabama with their two children. “It just sounded like something fun to try—something different than the usual vacation,” says John.

It only took one trip for the family to get hooked on the unique style of adventure that RV travel offers. The Lauderdales soon bought their own RV and began hitting the open road around the state. A recent trip to the Gulf Coast got them close to the beach without worries of pandemic-related travel problems, and they’re already planning to venture further afield to Pensacola’s Blue Angels Weekend in July 2021.

“With lots of things shut down, the fact that we’re in a self-contained unit means we can go anywhere we want to go and not worry about what might not be open,” John says. “We can cook all of our own meals and just enjoy being together.”

The Lauderdale are among a growing number of Mississippi families looking to RV travel as a safe option amid lingering COVID-19 concerns. With fuel prices low and campers offering more amenities than ever, the RV Industry Association released a study in June indicating that 46 million Americans plan to take an RV trip in the next 12 months.