How to Get Mail on the Road (Travel Nurse & RVer Guide)

noordinarypath
Oct 1
5 min read

If you’re a travel healthcare pro (or RV family) bouncing between assignments, mail can feel… tricky. Good news: you’ve got options. From true mail-forwarding services to short-term solutions you can spin up at each contract. Below is what’s worked for us, plus alternatives many travelers use.

Quick note for travel nurses: your tax home situation matters for stipends and deductions and is usually your Permament Address. In general, your “tax home” is your main place of business, not necessarily where your family lives and the 1-year rule affects whether an assignment is temporary (travel assignment) vs. indefinite. Always get tax advice for your situation. IRS+2IRS+2

Option 1a: Use Your Apartment Address/RV Park (with caveats)

Best for: When your park or furnished housing allows mail or packages to be received on-site.

How it works:

Ask the office/host what they accept: letters, packages, or both. Many parks will accept packages only (UPS/FedEx) and not USPS letters. Policies vary, so call ahead and note any name/lot-# formatting they require. Guides for RVers often recommend confirming campground mail procedures in advance to avoid misroutes or returns. Escapees+1

Pros: Super convenient; no extra mailbox to open.

Cons: Some parks won’t accept mail; letters may be refused; hours/hold windows depend on the office.

Option 1b: Friend/Family + Periodic Forwarding

Best for: Keeping a stable “home base” (aka tax home) and only forwarding what you actually need.

How it works:

Keep your primary mailing address at home (e.g., parents or a rented room you legitimately maintain).
Have your person collect mail, text you a photo of what arrived, and send bundles to your current address when needed.
Pair this with a temporary local delivery point (UPS Store box, general delivery, etc.).

Pros: Free or close to it; preserves your home-base documentation.

Cons: Requires a reliable helper; time lag for packages.

Option 2: Virtual Mailbox with Scanning (a.k.a. “Digital Mailroom”)

Best for: When you don’t have a local helper and want all mail forwarded to a service that scans envelopes (and contents on request), then forwards what you choose anywhere you are.

How it works:

Pick a virtual mailbox provider in your preferred city (or near your tax home). You’ll get a real street address; they receive your mail, scan the outside, and on your approval, open/scan contents or forward the physical item. We used Traveling Mailbox.

Pros: You can triage remotely; searchable PDFs; forward only what you need; consistent address even as you move.

Cons: Monthly fees + per-scan/forward charges; choose a reputable location (some are inside pack/ship stores with varying hours).

Setup tips:

Complete USPS Form 1583 (the provider will guide you).
Update senders that matter (banks, licenses, boards) and set email alerts so you don’t miss time-sensitive items.
If you’re maintaining a tax home, keep that address for official “home base” records and use the virtual mailbox for convenience—talk to your tax pro if unsure. (See IRS Pub 463 on tax home/temporary assignments.) Postal Explorer

Option 3: UPS Store Mailbox (our go-to during contracts)

Best for: Each 8–13 week assignment where you want a real street address (not a P.O. Box) that accepts all carriers.

You can rent 3 months at a time and start receiving immediately.
Most locations accept packages from any carrier and notify you when something arrives. The UPS Store+2UPS+2

Pros: Real street address; works with carriers that won’t ship to P.O. Boxes; easy hand-off to next traveler or store staff.

Cons: Paid service; you’ll change addresses every contract.

Pro tip: As soon as you know your assignment address, open a UPS mailbox online/over the phone and send your family/friends that address for one-off forwards.

Option 4: USPS General Delivery (great while in transit)

Best for: Those “between housing” weeks when you don’t have an address yet.

How it works:

Use the main post office in the city (not all accept General Delivery).
Call the postmaster to confirm they receive General Delivery.
Address format:
YOUR NAME GENERAL DELIVERY CITY, ST ZIP+4
(USPS prefers “GENERAL DELIVERY” spelled out in caps.) Postal Explorer
Bring your ID to pick up. USPS says General Delivery is intended for customers without a permanent address (temporary). USPS FAQs

Pros: Free; perfect bridge while moving.

Cons: Some offices don’t accept it; packages routed via UPS/FedEx may require handoffs (call ahead).

Option 5: Amazon Locker / Counter + Ship-to-Store

Best for: One-off orders you need in a specific town/date window.

Amazon Locker/Counter: Eligible items only; you typically have 3 calendar days to pick up. Size/weight limits apply (e.g., many Lockers: ≤10 lb, 16×12×14"). About Amazon+1
Retail “ship to store” (Walmart, Cabela’s, etc.): Order online, choose store pickup, and collect when you pass through. (Policies vary; Walmart often cancels if not picked up promptly; Cabela’s shows free pickup with variable timelines.) Walmart.com +1

Pros: No “address” needed; secure pickup.

Cons: Item eligibility/size limits; hold windows vary; not ideal for routine mail.

Option 6: USPS Temporary Change of Address (short, defined spans)

Best for: A single contract where you want all mail forwarded from home for a set window (2 weeks–6 months, extendable up to 12 months total for a temporary move). USPS Movers Guide

Set start/end dates online.
If you need longer, USPS also offers Extended Mail Forwarding (paid) after the standard period. USPS+1

Pros: Simple, official, time-boxed; everything forwards.

Cons: Forwarding is slower; not ideal if you keep lots of online orders or change cities mid-contract.

Option 7: USPS Premium Forwarding Service – Residential (PFS-R)

Best for: You want USPS to collect everything at home and send it weekly in a single Priority Mail bundle to wherever you are.

Weekly bundle with a fee: currently $27.80/week, plus $24.70 online enrollment (slightly more if you enroll in person). USPS

Pros: One dependable weekly shipment; can change destination as you move.

Cons: Adds up cost-wise; still a weekly cadence (not daily).

Option 8: Full Mail-Forwarding + Domicile Services

Best for: Full-time RVers/vanlifers without a fixed home base who want to establish domicile (common states: TX, SD, FL) and get robust scanning/forwarding. This is NOT a good option for Travel Nurses unless you plan to change your tax home.

Popular providers travelers mention:

Escapees Mail Service (TX/SD/FL domicile options). escapeesmailservice.com +1
America’s Mailbox (SD domicile, vehicle registration help). Americas Mailbox+1
St. Brendan’s Isle (FL specialist with virtual mailbox). sbimailservice.com +1

Pros: A true long-term solution; great scanning & forwarding controls; state-specific domicile guidance.

Cons: Monthly costs; domicile changes can have downstream effects (licenses, insurance, taxes, especially for travel nurses).

Quick Decision Guide

I have a tax home and just need delivery at each assignment: UPS Store mailbox (plus the Family-Forward combo).
I’m between addresses for a week or two: USPS General Delivery. Postal Explorer
I need one package while passing through town: Amazon Locker/Counter or a retailer’s ship-to-store. About Amazon+1
I want all mail routed to me for one contract: Temporary Change of Address (or PFS-R if you want weekly bundled Priority Mail). USPS Movers Guide+1 or use a digital mail forwarding service.
We’re full-time and want to change domicile: Consider Escapees / America’s Mailbox / St. Brendan’s Isle. escapeesmailservice.com +2Americas Mailbox+2

Little Gotchas (so you’re not surprised)

P.O. Boxes: Some carriers and senders won’t ship to P.O. Boxes. Use UPS Store or General Delivery instead. The UPS Store
Hold windows vary: Amazon Locker (3 days), Walmart/Cabela’s and other retailers set their own pickup deadlines; always read your pickup email. About Amazon+1
Forwarding ≠ instant: USPS forwarding can add days; Premium Forwarding batches weekly with a set fee. USPS