Drew Barrymore does everything from acting and producing to running a business and hosting her own TV show. But did you know she loves to RV?
Yes! In fact, our favorite ray of sunshine loves the feeling of freedom when she’s on the road.
We wanted to hear more, so we dug into Drew’s story to get the details of her RVing past.
Let’s jump in!
Drew Barrymore Loves Life on the Road
Drew began RVing when she was 19 years old. On one trip, she and longtime friend Nancy Juvonen rented a Class C RV, packed up their two pups, and hit the road.
They had no itinerary, often flipping a coin at intersections to determine their route. On that trip, they visited deserts and mountains, Dollywood and New Orleans, and everything between.
Drew fell in love with the freedom RVing provides when traveling. In the last 25+ years, Drew has traveled across America in an RV multiple times. She loves every part of life on the road. Drew points out that the freedom to choose every aspect of the trip is one of her favorite things. “It is the essence of freedom. You like a place. You stay. You don’t. You leave.”
Before the first episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” aired, she knew she’d want to incorporate her love of RVing. It took two seasons, but she finally secured a partnership with Go RVing.
She and co-host Ross Mathews rented an RV to travel from Dallas to Waco to meet with The Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. Along the way, they played road trip games, talked about their favorite movies, and stopped at Harris Bar-b-que in Cedar Hill, Texas.
More About Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore was born into a family that has been acting for over 400 years. Her father, John Drew Barrymore, was an accomplished actor, and her mother, Jaid Barrymore, an aspiring actress.
At 11 months, Drew was acting in her first television commercial. By seven, she starred in “E.T.”, the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. Producers tasked her as the comedic relief in the movie, and she proved she was capable with her incredible improvisation skills.
In 1995, Drew and her friend Nancy Juvonen (RV friend) started Flower Films. In 2000, her second production, “Charlie’s Angels,” became a massive success for the budding company. “Charlie’s Angels” grossed over $264 million globally.
Drew received a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in Grey Gardens. She has been nominated for several other awards, including Emmys. Drew was the youngest person ever to host Saturday Night Live and was the first female to host six times.
In 2012, Drew began her most treasured role, mom. Daughter Olive was born in 2012, and Frankie was born in 2014. Drew feels it’s crucial to raise them traditionally, steering clear of her parents’ mistakes.
Motherhood isn’t the only career on Drew’s plate. She hosts The Drew Barrymore Show and runs Flower Beauty. In addition to that, she has a home line at Walmart that includes wall art, paints, and furnishings. She certainly lives a full life!
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Does RVing Truly Mean Being Free?
In so many ways, Drew’s right. RVing gives you the freedom to travel where you want and move when you feel like it. It frees you from hotels or Airbnbs, letting you sleep in the comfort of your own bed. And, if you’re RVing full time, you may have sold your home and let go of property taxes and HOA rules.
But there are still rules and regulations for every campsite across America. Whether it’s a state or national park campground or a private campground, each space has its own rules to follow.
RVing isn’t necessarily more affordable than living in a sticks-and-bricks home either. Depending on the park’s location and quality, site costs can vary from $20 to over $100 per night. The costs to repair your RV or tow vehicles can also add up over time.
RV life certainly isn’t a constant vacation. It’s essential to continue generating income to pay for site fees, food, repairs and maintenance, and fun. You’ll also need to take time to maintain and possibly repair your home away from home, so it’s ready to go and safe to drive.
Sometimes the campgrounds are dated, or the sites are super small and tight. You don’t have the freedom to change their space, but you do have the freedom to move campgrounds or sites if needed.
Tips for Enjoying Life on the Road
There are so many ways to make your trips more enjoyable. We’re sure Drew Barrymore knows these by now, but we thought we’d share them with you.
Know the dimensions of your RV. Sometimes, dealers change the RV, such as adding a fan, so it could become a little taller or heavier than the manufacturer’s information shows.
These numbers are crucial on many roadways. Use RV-safe driving apps to avoid getting yourself into a position you can’t get out of, like low bridges.
Travel days can be exhausting, so try not to drive for too long. Traveling during daylight hours can make your trip much safer for you and your passengers. Be sure to arrive before sunset to give yourself ample time to set up using daylight.
Plan ahead as much as possible. Try to map out the campground using satellite views to gauge how well you’ll fit through the park. This may even give you a good idea of how much you may have to level your RV when you arrive.
You can also do some meal prep ahead of time, so you’ll spend less time prepping and more time eating and sightseeing.
Keep distractions to a minimum when you’re on the road. But by all means, enjoy the scenery. Take your time and have a plan B in case anything goes wrong. But again, enjoy the journey. It’s half the fun!
Pro Tip: Use our RV & Camping Trip Guides to make RVing easy!
Discover the Essence of Freedom Like Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore is a fantastic spokesperson for RV life. She has traveled cross-country more times than most of us may ever get the chance to. As a mom, she’s also shown her children the beauty this country holds around every twist and turn.
With RVing comes great freedom in that you can move your space wherever you like, whenever you want. It allows you to see parts of the country where a hotel may not exist. It gives you the flexibility of napping wherever you’ve parked, even if that’s inside a national park!
What do you think? Is RVing the “essence of freedom?” Let us know what you think!
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