What does RV stand for? RV stands for recreational vehicle, a vehicle with living space built in, such as beds, a small kitchen and often a bathroom, made for travel and camping. The term covers both motorhomes you drive and trailers you tow behind a truck or car.
RV is a general term, not a company name. You will see it on campground signs ("RV sites with hookups"), on highway rest areas, in dealer lots and in insurance forms. People also use it as a short word for the lifestyle, as in "we are RVing out west this summer."
Quick facts
Stands for
Recreational vehicleType
Initialism, said letter by letterIncludes
Motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, campervansPlural
RVsAs a verb
RVing, to travel in an RVOther meanings
Right ventricle (medicine), research vessel (ships)Related terms
What does RV stand for? The two words
Recreational means the vehicle is for leisure, such as vacations, weekend trips and camping, rather than for hauling freight or carrying passengers for pay. Vehicle covers anything on wheels, whether it has its own engine or not. Put together, an RV is a vehicle you can live in for a while when you are away from home.
Since people say "R V," one letter at a time, RV is an initialism. The basics of that label are in what is an acronym.
Kinds of RVs, from big to small
| Type | Drives or tows? | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome | Drives | The largest kind, built on a bus or truck frame with a flat front |
| Class B (camper van) | Drives | A van fitted with a bed and small kitchen; easiest to park |
| Class C motorhome | Drives | Built on a truck cab, often with a bed over the driver area |
| Travel trailer | Tows | Hooks to a hitch on the back of a truck or SUV |
| Fifth wheel | Tows | Connects to a hitch inside a pickup truck bed |
| Pop up camper | Tows | Folds down low for towing and opens up at camp |
| Truck camper | Rides in the truck bed | A small unit that sits on a pickup |
The class letters for motorhomes are an industry habit, not a legal grade. Class B is smaller than Class C, which surprises many first time buyers.
Words you will hear at an RV park
- Hookups: connections for power, water and sewer at a campsite. "Full hookups" means all three.
- Boondocking: camping with no hookups, using only the RV's own tanks and batteries.
- Pull through site: a spot you can drive into and out of without backing up.
- Black and gray tanks: the tanks that hold toilet waste and sink or shower water.
- Toad: a small car towed behind a motorhome for side trips.
A campground sign: "RV sites 1 to 40, 30 and 50 amp. Tents use Loop C." The numbers tell you which power plug each site has, so you know if your RV's cord will fit.
Driving, licensing and other practical points
In most states, a regular driver's license is enough for a personal RV. A few states ask for a special license or an added endorsement for the heaviest motorhomes or long trailer combinations, so check with your state's licensing office before a big rental. A CDL is generally a rule for commercial drivers, not for families on vacation.
RVs need their own insurance and registration, just like cars, and towables need working lights and brakes that meet state rules. Height matters too: low bridges and drive thru roofs can be a problem for a tall motorhome.
Other things RV can mean
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Right ventricle | "RV function normal" on a heart scan report |
| Ships and science | Research vessel | Often written R/V before a ship's name |
| Lung tests | Residual volume | Air left in the lungs after breathing out fully |
On a travel site, a campground or a car lot, RV always means recreational vehicle.
Using RV in sentences
- "We rented an RV for the drive to the national parks."
- "The lot has spaces for RVs and buses."
- "They have been full time RVers for three years."
- "RV parking is behind the visitor center."
Write RV in capitals with no periods. The plural is RVs; skip the apostrophe. Because R is said "ar," use "an": "an RV trip." Vehicle name stories are collected under brand name acronyms, alongside many company letters.
Questions people ask
What is the full form, and what does RV stand for?
The RV full form is recreational vehicle. It describes motorhomes and towable trailers with living space for travel.
Is a camper van an RV?
Yes. A camper van is usually called a Class B motorhome, the smallest kind of drivable RV.
What is the difference between an RV and a trailer?
A trailer is one kind of RV, the kind that has no engine and must be towed. Motorhomes are RVs that you drive.
Do I need a special license to drive an RV?
Usually not for personal use, but a few states require a special license or endorsement for very heavy RVs. Check your state's rules before you drive one.
Is it an RV or a RV?
Write an RV. Spoken aloud, R sounds like ar, and that opening vowel calls for an, as in an RV park.