I absolutely adore RV travel. One of the things I love most about it is that it allows us to travel all over the country without spending a fortune.
That said, we do use some tricks to ensure we stay well within our budget while enjoying seeing the sights.
Want to make sure you don’t spend too much as you’re out exploring in your RV? Here are five great ways RVers can cut costs without sacrificing comfort at all.
1. Use Memberships for Discounted Campgrounds
First and foremost, I highly recommend looking for ways to save on camping fees.
Camping fees in high-end RV parks are ridiculous, and if we’re being honest, even state parks can get pricey.
That said, there are a number of ways to make this budget-line item a whole lot smaller, or even cut it completely.
Here’s how I go about doing that:
Camping Memberships
Okay, I love our camping memberships and they have been amazing for saving money while living on the road.
The main membership we use is Thousand Trails, which allows us to camp all across the country for the cost of the membership without any additional fees.
Thousand Trails is definitely best if you’re traveling full-time. Other memberships we have used that might be better for a part timer include:
Free and Cheap Campgrounds
We’ve also found a surprising number of free and super cheap campgrounds during our travels.
A lot of these are in the middle of the country, and many include things like potable water, electric hookups, and/or dump stations.
Usually these are found in city parks or county parks, and we’ve paid anything from $0 a night to $10 a night.
I recommend using RV LIFE Campgrounds to search for free and cheap campgrounds in the area you plan to visit.
Boondocking and Dry Camping
Of course, boondocking (aka dry camping) is also an option.
We invested in a small solar setup and a generator so we could stay off-grid for several nights without a problem.
Boondocking spots can be found on BLM land and Forest Service Land.
You can also dry camp on private property using a membership such as Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome.
2. Cook More Meals in the RV
Fun fact: I absolutely hate cooking and I adore eating out. I also understand that eating out is insanely expensive, and most of the time is not actually worth the cost.
It’s also not the healthiest option in the world. Therefore, we try our best to eat mostly out of our own fridge and pantry.
Here are some of the ways I keep myself on track in this area:
Meal Plan
I always, always have to have a plan for each meal. If I don’t have a plan, I am much more likely to run through a drive-thru to avoid thinking about what to eat.
We meal plan at the beginning of the week and make a shopping trip to grab everything we need so we have no excuse to skip cooking in our RV.
Meal Prep
It has also helped us to meal prep. After grocery shopping, we take the time to cut veggies, marinate meats, pre-cook meats, and bag ingredients together.
This results in a whole bunch of super easy, time-saving, dump-and-start meals.
Having these on hand means I’ll be way more likely to cook at home on any given night.
Use the Slow Cooker
Often we are out all day sightseeing, and I don’t have the time or energy to cook once we get back to the RV. This is where the slow cooker comes into play.
If dinner has been simmering in the slow cooker all day, it’s ready to go when we get home and I can feed my hungry kids quickly, easily, and without any fuss.
Pack Lunches and Snacks
If we get hungry while we’re out and about and we don’t have anything on hand, we’re going to eat out.
For this reason, I make a point of packing snacks and lunches for every single outing we go on.
Keeping sandwich stuff, small bags of chips, and grab-and-go fruit on hand makes this super easy to do, and we save a small fortune by skipping the fast food.
3. Plan Efficient Travel Routes
If you travel regularly, you’ve probably noticed you spend a big chunk of your budget on fuel for your RV. Honestly, this is going to be the case no matter what.
That said, there are ways to cut fuel costs a bit, and if you want to take lots of trips, these simple tricks are well worth using in order to save some money on gas or diesel.
Here are my top tips for planning fuel efficient travels:
Explore Locally
You might be surprised just how much there is to see and do within a couple hours of your home. Try planning some trips closer to home this summer.
You’ll get your travel fix without spending so much on fuel for the RV.
Use Gas Apps
No matter where you decide to go, use gas apps such as GasBuddy to check fuel prices before you fill up.
This will help ensure you get the best price possible, something that is especially helpful in a gas-guzzling vehicle like a motorhome or large truck.
Use Fuel Savings Programs
It’s also possible to sign up for programs that will save you money on fuel. In fact, many chain gas stations offers a worthwhile rewards program.
Find the Most Fuel-Efficient Route
Of course, it also helps to save fuel by choosing the most fuel efficient route. RV LIFE Trip Wizard is your best bet for this.
Just enter your RV’s measurements and your preferences, and Trip Wizard will make sure the route you choose is RV-friendly in addition to being fuel-efficient.
Stay Longer
If you’re a full-time traveler, you can cut your monthly fuel budget by staying in one place a bit longer. If you only move the RV once a month, you’ll fill up a lot less.
You’ll also give yourself more time to see each area you visit and you might even save money by taking advantage of monthly campground rates.
4. Take Advantage of Free or Low-Cost Sightseeing
Obviously, you’re going to want to see and do stuff while you’re out exploring. This doesn’t have to mean spending a small fortune on admission fees.
There are a number of ways to save money while sightseeing—so many in fact that we rarely spend money on admission fees, and when we do, we never pay full price.
Here are my top tips for saving money on attractions and sightseeing:
Look for Freebies
I always like to use the internet to find free attractions everywhere we go.
Many small towns offer a free museum and free classes to visitors, and festivals are always a super fun way to get plugged into the community.
Of course, there is usually some outdoor fun to enjoy for free as well.
Invest in Reciprocal Memberships
One of the neatest things we’ve found while traveling? Reciprocal memberships.
They can help cut costs, and there are a huge number of these to choose from, and the one that is best for you may not be best for the next person.
Some of our favorites include:
Search for Discounts
Once in a while we will come across an attraction that we just HAVE to see, but doesn’t happen to be included with any of our reciprocal memberships.
In these cases, I always search for discounts.
Sometimes there are tickets available for free from local libraries. Other times, there are special homeschooler rates, teacher discounts, or discount days.
Do some digging and find out what discounts are available (and that you qualify for) before you pay full price.
5. Perform Maintenance Yourself
Last but not least, I highly recommend doing your own maintenance and basic RV repairs in order to avoid paying ridiculous amounts to an RV tech or repair shop.
To be honest, I’m not even a very handy person and I’m able to take care of most maintenance and repair tasks that our RV requires. You can, too.
Here are my top tips for maintaining and repairing your own RV:
Gather the Right Tools
Clearly, you will need to have the right tools to do the jobs that need doing.
Make sure you have a good, solid tool kit in your RV and don’t be afraid to add to it as needed.
Make Use of YouTube
YouTube is my best friend when it comes to RV repairs and maintenance. I have learned pretty much everything I know about caring for an RV from YouTube.
Whether you need to know how to reseal your roof, how to replace your toilet, or how to fix your slideout, YouTube will help.
Ask Other RVers for Help
We’ve also turned to other RVers for help on a few occasions. Just a couple of months ago, some RV friends helped us install a new water heater.
We’ve had a total stranger help us rewire an electric tongue jack on a travel trailer, and another helpful stranger replaced our trailer’s shorepower plug and ended up becoming a good friend.
If you don’t think you can handle a job, ask a neighbor for help. You’d be surprised how helpful most RVers are, and you might just end up with a new friend!
Stay on Top of Preventative Maintenance
Finally, make sure to stay on top of all preventative maintenance.
Making sure your tires are in good shape will prevent a blowout, which could otherwise cost you hundreds, and resealing your roof will prevent water damage that might cost thousands.
RV LIFE Maintenance is a fantastic tool to keep track of necessary tasks.
Add these simple hacks to your travel routine and you’ll be living it up while saving a small fortune.
These are my top five ways RVers can cut costs without giving up creature comforts. What are yours? Hit us up in the comments.
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