Robin Buck, a full-time RVer and travel blogger, shares 6 easy ways you can save money while RVing. In addition to these 6 tips, you can get amazing benefits and discounts by joining the AIM Club.
Hitting the road in your RV is a great way to explore the outdoors and have amazing adventures. In our five years of traveling, we have seen stunning parks and landscapes, explored new cities, visited famous landmarks, and met many new friends along the way. We love this lifestyle of freedom where we can go wherever we want and enjoy making memories. However, sometimes the costs associated with RVing can quickly add up. Here are 6 tips we have learned to help keep our adventures both affordable and fun.
Getting There
Your RV does a great job of taking you on your exciting journeys, but the fuel to get you there can be one of the major expenses of traveling. However, with careful planning you can maximize your fuel savings in several ways. Fuel efficiency can be improved by driving at moderate speeds (we go 63-65 mph) and keeping your tires properly inflated. Also, optimizing your route will minimize unnecessary miles. We use a planner like RV Life Trip Wizard to find the most efficient driving route while also taking into account our vehicle’s height and weight to avoid low clearances.
Another way to save money is to use a gas card or app. Gas Buddy is a free app that helps you locate gas stations and see current gas prices so you can find the best deal. This is best for fueling a car, but you can find excellent diesel prices occasionally…if your rig can get into the station. The Open Roads app and associated EFS card has saved us a lot of money on buying fuel for our big rig. This debit card is accepted at most major truck stops and gives you discounted rates on diesel fuel. The Mud Flap app is a third option and works for those that are traveling in the areas where it is available.
I hear that AIM Club has also just introduced a fuel card option with Techno RV.
Keeping your RV in good working order can help to prevent expensive repairs on the road. Just as with car maintenance, keeping up with your RV maintenance is key for smooth travels. Make sure you follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for regular preventative maintenance like oil changes, HVAC servicing, and checking tire wear. You always want to address minor issues before they become major problems!
Staying There
Even though we are eager to get the most out of our travels, we have learned that slowing down and spending more time in an area works well for conserving costs. When you stay longer at a destination, you save money on gas because you are not driving as often. Instead of just seeing a few key attractions and moving on, it gives you time to explore the whole region and maybe discover some hidden gems you might not have seen on a quick visit. Another plus is having time to rest and relax along the way, so you have more energy for fun adventures.
Additional savings can be had by taking advantage of reduced camping rates for longer stays. Many campgrounds offer discounts for staying a week or a month (or more) at a time. There are also discount clubs like Good Sam, KOA, and Escapees which offer special member savings at campgrounds. Other organizations like Thousand Trails have their own campground system where membership can get you free or discounted rates. We have also found that many campgrounds offer a veterans discount for those who have served our country.
Memberships in Harvest Host and Boondockers Welcome are becoming more popular these days. For an annual fee, you can stay overnight at a business or private property that allows RV parking. These unique locations usually offer only boondocking, or dry camping, where you provide your own electricity and water. It can save the money you would have spent on a campground for a quick stop as you pass through an area. Many people also boondock on public lands as well, from BLM land to state or city parks.
Where and When You Go There
Visiting a destination in the “shoulder seasons” is another great travel tip. By going in the spring or fall you can avoid the summertime when tourists are out in force. Not only will you have less crowds to deal with, but often the price of goods and services are reduced as well due to less demand. If your schedule is flexible, this can be a great way to save expenses.
Something else we do is avoid staying in large cities. Not only is it pricier, but many times we don’t want to drive our RV on crowded streets or worry about finding campgrounds that can accommodate our big rig. Instead, we will stay in an outlying area or suburb of a city we want to visit. The campgrounds cost less, and we enjoy taking public transportation into the city to explore. Our recent trip to Philadelphia is a prime example of having all the fun but none of the traffic headache since we rode the TRAM into town to sightsee.
Eating There
Whether you are in an RV or a house, eating out frequently can take a “bite” out of your budget. We certainly enjoy trying the cuisine of a new area we are visiting but try to limit restaurant meals to once or twice a week. We get recommendations from locals and choose carefully to make the most of our special meals out. This not only keeps expenses down but our waistlines too!
For other times, we cook our meals in the RV. Making food at home tends to be healthier because you control the ingredients and the portion size. You can cook using your RV kitchen, outdoor grill, or even a crockpot or Instapot. Keeping groceries on hand makes meals at home not only convenient but also cheaper than going out.
Having Fun There
When you travel to explore a new area, you naturally want to see and do lots of activities there. While you can spend lots of money on attractions, there are usually many things that you can visit at low cost or even for free. We often check with the visitor center for brochures and advice on the best places to go. Many times, they will have discount coupons for popular tourist destinations.
We also like going outside to take in the surroundings and enjoy nature. It’s a fun way to stay healthy and active. Go on a nature walk, ride your bike, visit a local park, browse a farmer’s market, or visit the beach for no-cost fun for all ages. We make it a point to stop at any national parks along our travel route. The National Parks Pass offers real cost savings and allows entry into any of the 423 sites around the country.
Budgeting
Even with all these tips, the best advice for saving money must start with budgeting. Having an accurate picture of your finances will help you make informed decisions so that you can travel within your means. A detailed written budget should include all your expected expenses for fuel, campgrounds, maintenance, insurance, and daily living. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are many budgeting sites online that can help you.
Once you know your ongoing expenses, you can better manage your money for the extra things you want to do on the road. Although you may not be able to see and do everything, budgeting can make sure you get the bucket list items. By using these 6 easy tips, you can reduce unnecessary costs and still savor the beauty of the journey. After all, it’s the journey not just the destination that makes the trip so rich and rewarding. Wishing you many happy adventures and new memories on the road!
Robin and her husband, Mike, are Air Force veterans and empty nesters who have been traveling full-time in their Entegra Anthem motorhome for 5 years. Always ready to explore, they love nature and wildlife, meeting new friends and discovering America one stop at a time. Robin writes about their travel adventures, RVing tips, and the full-time RV lifestyle on her blog RVing with Robin.