How Escapees RV Club Brings RV Community Together
Let’s face it: RVing can be lonely. A nomadic community – or lack thereof – can completely make or break someone’s full-time RVing experience. Whether you’re preparing to hit the road or are a seasoned traveler, are full-time or part-time, having a community of like minds is essential.
Even if you’re traveling with your family, life on the road can feel lonely and isolating without the presence and support of like-minded friends. Friends and family back home are great, but they can’t relate to many of the situations, challenges, and exciting experiences that full-time (and part-time) RVers experience.
Escapees RV Club is a total support network for all RVers – with a huge emphasis on community.
Read on to learn how to connect with the best RV community on the road today!
A Desire for Nomadic Community Started It All
Escapees RV Club was founded on July 4th, 1978 by Joe and Kay Peterson. It all began with an idea and a desire for a like-minded community in a time when full-time RVing wasn’t popular and methods of communication were minimal.
In the 70’s, the only methods of keeping in touch with people was postal mail and landline telephones. There was no internet and no cell phones to keep a community connected.
Escapees RV Club was started as a newsletter. The newsletter was a means of sharing tips and information that were relevant to full-time RVers of all ages and to stay connected with club members.
From day one, community has been at the heart of Escapees RV Club. In fact, Escapees was even named by some of the first club members!
The club grew rapidly. By the 80’s, the newsletter was a full-blown magazine, there were national Escapees RV Club events, chapters and rallies popping up all over the place, the start of the Escapees Parks system, and new services being added constantly.
Sharing and Caring is the Escapees RV Community Motto
“Sharing and Caring” quickly became the Club’s official motto shortly after being founded.
Two of the greatest desires that full-time RVers were looking for at the time were the ability to share questions and solutions and to make strong connections with other people living the RV lifestyle.
Escapees RV Club members are known for going out of their way to help each other out.
The Escapees RV community is truly like family. As many Escapees members say: “When you see an Escapees [bumper] sticker, you know you’ve found a friend.”
Although our RV community is made up of varying personality types and varying interests, we all have one thing in common: we are all freedom driven.
An RV Community That’s 70,000+ Members Strong
Over time, Escapees RV Club has exploded into a full-service RV Club for all RVers regardless of full- or part-time status, age, or rig type.
Club membership comes with many benefits from helpful RV services and discounts, RV education through boot camps and classes, a mail service, RV advocacy, and so much more. At the heart of everything Escapees has to offer is a focus on community. This club would not exist without the amazing community it has today – and the community would not exist without the many opportunities to come together, both in-person and online, and in our earlier days, by mail!
How To Get Involved With The Escapees RV Club Community
With over 70,000 members, there are many different personality types, ages, and interests that make up the greater Escapees RV Club community.
No matter your age, RV type, interests, or full- or part-time RVing status, you’re sure to find a place for you in this RV community. Here are the many different ways you can get involved.
Escapees RV Club Events
There is an Escapees RV Club event for everyone. Whether you’re just starting out and are looking for an educational experience, want to visit bucket-list destinations, make friends and explore different regions, caravan to Mexico or take a cruise to Alaska – we have all that, and so much more!
We have RV events all over the country in virtually every month of the year. Although the pandemic halted our in-person events, we look forward to the day we can get back into the full RV event swing! (By the way, we’re coming up on that swing really soon! Check out this recent Virtual Campfire with our event directors to see what’s ahead for 2021 and 2022.)
Escapees RV Club events are the best way to meet like-minded people. Many attendees of Escapees or Xscapers events make life-long friends, and even choose to travel together, exploring the country together and coming back to events again and again.
Escapade
Escapade is the Escapees RV Club’s international RV rally. Escapade was the first RV event hosted by Escapees starting in 1979 with just 24 families!
Today, thousands of RVers from all over flock to gather at Escapade to make friends, learn about RVing and the RV lifestyle, and so much more.
Escapade is a 5-day event that features nationally known speakers, first-rate educational seminars, professional entertainment, an RV marketplace, RVers Boot Camp, and so much more!
Even though education is the main focus of Escapade, when asked, the friendships made and experiences shared are the biggest reason RVers return, year after year. You can learn more about Escapade here.
The 60th Escapade in 2021 is taking place in Rock Springs, Wyoming, from July 18-23rd. Visit the Escapade website here.
Hangouts
Escapees Hangouts were started in 2019 for RVers to hang out, share experiences, and make new friends.
Hangouts welcome a community of active RV enthusiasts and feature a schedule with choices of organized activities. There is also plenty of opportunities for socializing and spontaneous activities – these events are intentionall very laid back and fun!
Hangouts are typically 5 to 10 days long and usually take place at a campground with full or partial hookups.
Some things you can expect at a Hangout are included or optional excursions like hiking, kayaking, cycling, breweries and wineries, foodie tours, local festivals, and more. You can also expect group campfires, happy hours, and potluck meals.
Previous hangouts have included participating in the Walldogs Mural Festival in Keene, New Hampshire, a National Park volunteer cleanup crew at Carlsbad Caverns, a Hangout in Maine picking blueberries, exploring Acadia National Park and eating lobster, and more!
Head-Out Programs
Escapees Head-Out Program, also known as HOPs, are all-inclusive excursions that target unique locations, special events, and theme-related activities.
Some of the past HOPs have gone to the Rose Parade, where attendees helped decorate the floats, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, white-water rafting, and ATV riding. The HOPs have also cruised to Alaska, Cuba, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and the Panama Canal, to name a few. There is even a trip to Ireland scheduled for 2022!
The club does all the work: from planning the itinerary, securing local tour guides, buses, events, and activities to making the reservations for campgrounds, restaurants, and organizing many of the meals. All you do is register and show up!
Escapees RV Club Chapters
In addition to national Club events, Escapees RV Club has several regional chapters for members based in certain geographical locations. Chapters are member-led and run and have their own events, luncheons, campouts, and more.
Escapees Chapters welcome RVers traveling through the region, part-timers who live in the region, and even non-members. Whether you attend a luncheon or an outing, you’ll have the opportunity to have your questions answered, share RV tips, and make new friends who RV and live in your area.
Escapees RV Club BoFs
BoF stands for “Birds of a Feather” – and like the saying goes: ‘birds of a feather flock together’. Escapees BoF groups are interest-based groups created and run by members of the Escapees RV Club community.
BoF groups are not geographically based in one-location, but they are each centered around a specific interest or group of interests.
There are dozens of BoF groups for many different kinds of interests! Examples include Boomers, Friends of Bill W, Boondockers, Pet Lovers, Photographers, Traveling Yogis, Jeepers, Low Carb Lifestyle, Nomadic Families, SOLOs, and so many more.
Because each BoF is member-led and run, each different group has a different style of communicating and getting together.
Many BoFs have get-togethers and will also meet up at national events. Some BoFs choose to keep in touch via their own websites, email lists, and some have their own Facebook groups.
You can learn more about BoFs here. If you’d like to see all current BoF groups or learn how to get in touch with the organizer, log in to your member dashboard and visit this link.
Don’t see a BoF for you but have interest in starting one? You can do that, too!
Xscapers RV Community
Xscapers is a community within Escapees RV Club dedicated to the working RVer and those raising families on the road. But anyone can be an Xscaper, regardless of age or work status. As some members say, being an Xscaper is about the mindset!
Xscapers have a passion for an active and free-spirited life of travel and adventure… and they sure love and know how to have a good time!
Xscapers was launched in 2015 and was inspired by the Club’s original roots of services and support for working-aged RVers and those raising families on the road.
All Xscapers are members of Escapees RV Club, but not all Escapees members choose to be designated as Xscapers.
Xscapers has events called Convergences all over the country throughout the year.
Once a year is the biggest Xscapers event of all: the Annual Bash.
Xscapers Convergences
Xscapers Convergences started as a small gathering of like-minded RVers at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in 2015. At the very first Convergence, there were only 18 Xscaper RVs.
Xscapers has exploded in popularity and size, with over 400 RVs in attendance at the 2020 Annual Bash!
Xscapers Convergences are social events that are meant to get people involved. You’ll find typical rally activities at an Xscapers Convergence, but there are many things that make these events unique.
Some things you can expect at a Convergence are group cookouts with many grills burning at once, guacamole recipe contests, margarita throwdown contests, off-roading trips, impromptu hikes and dog walks, games, happy hours, rig tours, lot crawls, movies and karaoke nights, dance parties that last into the wee hours, and so much more.
Activities at Xscapers Convergences are planned around the workday hours, so those that are working from the road can get work done but also participate.
Convergences are typically smaller events with a cap on how many people can register, and they almost always sell out quickly. The benefit of these smaller events is that attendees have more time to socialize with one another and make lasting friendships.
Xscapers Annual Bash
Annual Bash is the big kahuna of the Xscapers Convergences, and it truly is a bash!
Annual Bash is a 10-day-long event that takes place once a year and has hundreds of attendees. Unlike regular Xscapers Convergences, the activities at Annual Bash go from sunup to way past sundown. As Xscapers like to say: ‘This Ain’t Your Grandma’s RV Rally!’
Annual Bash days are filled with speakers covering all topics RV and RV life related like boondocking, solar, working from the road, raising kids on the road, cooking, hobbies, and more.
The evenings are filled with a mobile party like you’ve never seen before. Dance the night away at a rave, rock out to classic rock and 80’s bands, attend a prom, participate in games, throw down on the margarita or guacamole contests, or so much more! There are activities for the kids, too. Learn more about Annual Bash here.
Virtual Events
Escapees RV Club has virtual events that are free for anyone to attend. Topics for virtual events are a wide variety about all-things RVing!
From virtual happy hours to rig tours to educational webinars, you’re sure to find something for you with the virtual events.
Escapees RV Club Virtual Community
In addition to meeting up in-person at Escapees RV events, rallies, chapter events, and more, you can also connect online through the virtual communities.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are one of the most valuable ways to connect with like-minds and fellow RVers, and the Escapees RV community is no exception!
In Facebook groups, you can ask questions and get help, get RV route advice, make plans to meet-up with fellow members, share your experiences, make new friends, and so much more.
Members of Escapees RV Club can join the SKPs group on Facebook, where members share their travels, ask questions and share solutions, talk about events and RV life, and so much more. Visit the SKPs Facebook Group here.
The Xscapers Facebook group is open to club members and the general public, to get a feel for the Club and the interactions. The Xscapers group is a great community of people sharing questions, tips, and solutions about all things RV life, working from the road, traveling, boondocking, raising families, and so much more. Visit the Xscapers Facebook Group here.
In addition to the Club’s Facebook Groups, you’ll also find Facebook groups for different Chapters and BoF’s depending on the individual group’s communication preferences.
RV Network Forum
Escapees RV Club hosts a discussion forum online that is used much like Facebook groups.
On RVNetwork.com, you can register and participate in many different threads about all things RVing and RV life. The discussion forum is an invaluable place to get answers to all your RVing and travel-related questions and make new friends while doing it.
Escapees C.A.R.E.
Another way you can get involved in the Escapees RV Club community is through the Escapees C.A.R.E. Center.
The CARE Center is a non-profit corporation that is run by a volunteer board of directors, located in Livingston, Texas. The CARE mission is to provide professional assistance at affordable prices for members whose travels are permanently ended because of age or temporarily halted because of health problems.
Escapees members can help CARE with monetary donations or through a donation of your time as a volunteer. When you volunteer at CARE, you’ll have the opportunity to help the non-profit as well as meet other Escapees members during your stay in Livingston. Learn more about CARE here.
Stay Connected With The RV Community
We live in the digital age, and the best way to stay connected with the Escapees RV Club community is through the internet. From social media to the email list, there are many ways to get connected with the Club, community, and learn about events online.
Sign up for Escapees Club News here.
Sign up for Xscapers News here.
Also, you can follow along on our Instagram Profiles and Facebook Pages to get important updates regarding Club News, Events, and so much more.
Find Your Community On The Road
If you’re looking for your community of like-minded friends on the road, be sure to check out the many events and resources shared here in this article.
The best place to start is online! Join the Facebook groups and join the conversation. Pick an event that piques your interest!
Even the most introverted nomads need community. Attend an event and make a point to get yourself involved in group activities… you’ll be glad you did!
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I just signed up for the “Escapees RV Club’s” annual membership. I have been perusing the website and I did not not much diversity. Is the club welcoming to everyone?
Hi Christopher! Welcome to Escapees 🙂
Yes, we are definitely welcoming to everyone. We have members from lots of different backgrounds, interests, lifestyles, and more. Our events and services are inclusive and open to anyone.