How Full-Time Travelers Handle Mail and Domicile — and Why We Chose Escapees
Introduction
When we first hit the road, we were so focused on campgrounds, internet, and making sure we didn’t forget the coffee pot, that we completely overlooked something important: mail. You don’t exactly have a mailbox parked outside your RV spot at Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. Bills still show up, banks still send new cards, and apparently, junk mail will follow you anywhere (credit card offers really are the most loyal companions).
That’s when we discovered Escapees RV Club. What started as a quick Google search for “RV mail forwarding” turned into one of the most important services we’ve signed up for as full-time travelers.
What Is Domicile and Why RVers Need It
Here’s the thing: even when you live full-time in an RV, the law says you still need a permanent legal address. This is your domicile — the place the government recognizes as “home.” It determines:
Where you pay (or don’t pay) state income tax.
Where you register your vehicles.
Which insurance rates apply to you.
Where you get to vote.
In short: it matters.
For us, sticking with Florida was a no-brainer. We were already residents, and it came with great perks: no state income tax, RV-friendly policies, and those sweet Florida resident discounts at theme parks. Plus, we just love Florida.
💡 Did You Know? Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are the big three domicile states for RVers. Why? They have no state income tax and are known for being RV-friendly when it comes to registration and insurance.
How Escapees Mail Forwarding Works (and Why We Love It)
So, how does it actually work when your “house” has wheels?
Escapees makes the process simple:
You get a real street address (not a P.O. Box).
All your mail goes to Escapees first.
Their team scans the envelopes* so you can see what’s arrived.
You decide whether to forward it, hold it, or shred it.
But here’s the fun twist: depending on which state you choose for your domicile, the setup looks a little different.
The Three Scenarios
Texas Domicile
You get one address in Texas.
It’s both your mailing address and your domicile address. Easy.
Florida Domicile
You get two addresses.
Your Florida address is your official domicile address (for registration, W2s, taxes, etc.).
Your Texas address is your mailing address. Important documents sent to Florida automatically get forwarded to Texas for scanning and processing.
South Dakota Domicile
Same idea as Florida.
Your South Dakota address is your domicile, and your Texas address is for mail.
Anything official sent to South Dakota gets routed through Texas for processing.
We opted for the *scanning feature, which is basically our digital junk filter. Escapees will scan each piece of mail so you can see what arrives. Most of what arrives gets shredded before we ship anything to us. But when something important shows up? It’s fast. Our new debit cards arrived at Escapees, we spotted the envelope in the scans, and had it sent directly to our campground — FedEx 2nd Day. It felt like Christmas morning for RVers.
Mail Forwarding Services Compared
Here’s a quick look at Escapees versus other providers — plus General Delivery:
Tap/Click image to zoom in.
Our Take on the Competition
Traveling Mailbox / iPostal1 → Great for digital nomads, but don’t expect DMV or voter registration help.
St. Brendan’s Isle → Excellent for boaters and sailors; works for RVers too, but not built around the lifestyle.
America’s Mailbox → Popular with RVers (especially in South Dakota), but doesn’t come with the community Escapees offers.
Good Sam Mail Service → Handy if you’re already a Good Sam member, but the service feels limited compared to Escapees.
General Delivery (USPS) → Free and useful in a pinch, but not reliable enough for full-time RVers.
Escapees, on the other hand, is an all-in-one solution. It handles mail, domicile, and connects you with a huge RV community that’s been thriving for decades.
Tips for Making the Most of Escapees
Digitize everything possible — bills, statements, subscriptions. It keeps your physical mail light.
Don’t rely on it for packages — send Amazon and UPS orders to your campground directly.
Be patient with scans — sometimes it takes a couple of days for them to show up.
Know the routing — remember, all roads (or at least all mail) lead to Texas first.
💡 Pro Tip: Updating your address with banks, insurance, and memberships only takes about an hour or two. Do it once, and you’re set.
Our Takeaway
At the end of the day, Escapees doesn’t just forward our mail — it gives us something bigger: peace of mind. We know our legal address is set, our important mail will reach us, and we’re free to focus on the adventure ahead.
For anyone just starting out, we’d recommend Escapees as the default choice. It’s not just about handling envelopes — it’s about having a trusted home base for your life on the road.
As we like to say:
Escapees mail and domicile service gives us peace of mind knowing we’ve satisfied the law with a home address — and that our mail will arrive promptly.
Ready to Try Escapees?
If you’re ready to simplify your mail forwarding and domicile setup, we highly recommend Escapees RV Club. It’s the service we use and trust, and it’s made a huge difference in keeping us organized on the road.
💡 Note: Escapees RV Club is now part of the Harvest Hosts family. While they’re under the same company, Escapees continues to operate with its own dedicated services, resources, and community for RVers.
By using our referral link, you’ll be supporting our journey (at no extra cost to you!) while also joining a community that’s been serving RVers for decades.
This post is part of our RV Life 101 series — a beginner-friendly guide to the essentials of RV living.
👉 See all RV Life 101 posts here
