How to SAVE MONEY on an RV Road Trip

The more you save, the more you can travel! That's why you need these tips on how to save money on an RV road trip…

To us, there's nothing better than an RV road trip. But, between campground fees, food, fuel, and other expenses, the dollars really add up over several weeks or months on the move.

Thankfully, it is possible to significantly cut costs and save money while still enjoying RV life to the fullest.

In this article, we explore effective tips for budget-friendly RV travel. With a little planning and flexibility, you can enjoy an affordable RV adventure.

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Tips for Saving Money on an RV Road Trip

We'll cover membership discounts, free camping options, apps to track spending, fuel-saving techniques, and more. All of which can save you quite bit upfront and a lot in the long run!

1. Use Reciprocal Memberships

RVers can SAVE BIG with reciprocal memberships that give you free or discounted access to a network of museums, zoos, and more! 

Reciprocal memberships is a collaboration of cultural institutions that extend member benefits to their network. So, for instance, a reciprocal membership with one museum is like having a membership with all museums in its network.

Benefits may include free or discounted admission, merchandise discounts, special newsletters, and other great deals. Learn more about reciprocal memberships for museums, zoos, and more…

2. Use Fuel Discount Cards

Whether your RV runs on diesel or gas, fuel costs are a big part of your travel budget. RV fuel discount cards and programs help you stretch those dollars farther.

The benefits range from discounted gas prices to multiple ways to save at specific locations. Some cards require an upfront fee or annual membership fee, while others are free to join.

We created a list of the best RV fuel cards and programs that's definitely worth checking out. Many save you $0.30/gallon or more!

3. Learn More About Boondocking

Boondocking is a style of camping that doesn't require using utilities or hookups. It's often done in remote areas, like public lands, thus saving you from nightly campground fees. It is a great way to stretch your RV trip budget, and enjoy a more secluded RV lifestyle.

Boondocking is our preferred RV lifestyle for many reasons! It gives us more flexibility when traveling, avoids crowded campgrounds, and saves us money. It's perfect for us, and you should learn more to see if boondocking is right for you.

We have a LOT of resources on boondocking for you to learn more:

• Beginner's Guide to Boondocking
• How to Find Boondocking Sites
• How Safe Is Boondocking? 10 Expert Tips and Techniques
• 75 Favorite US Boondocking Destinations (by State)

There are a few different forms of boondocking, too, which we'll cover more of later in this list.

4. Try RV Overnights

Have you heard of RV Overnights? They’re NOT like other overnight programs. At just $49 a year – that's HALF what competitors charge – and they offer MORE of everything RVers need. AND With this LINK and with this code you get $20 OFF – RVLDEAL

RV Overnights connect you with 14 different categories of hosts – that's nearly THREE TIMES more options than other programs! From wineries and breweries to farms, golf courses, and animal rescues – they've reinvented overnight parking.

Their industry-leading app features 27 search filters and 14 map layers to find exactly what you need. Need real help? Unlike their competitors, they're always available by phone – real people, real support, whenever you need it. Start HERE to get set up!

5. Plan Your Camping Menu (Including Snacks)

Plan out your meals and snacks to avoid overspending at stores and restaurants. Proper planning and prepping meals in advance go a long way in saving money on a road trip.

Plus, it will help you eat healthier, giving you more energy to enjoy your adventures.

Meal planning can be a pain, which is why we created a sister site to RV Lifestyle, called CampingFoodRecipes.com. We add new recipes every week specifically designed for camping. That means minimal ingredients with maximum flavor!

We also account for leftovers or using the same ingredients for multiple recipes, like our 3 Grilled Sandwich Recipes, Leftover Mac & Cheese Casserole, and Leftover Hamburger Patties Casserole.

6. Use a Budget App to Track Expenses

The best way to avoid overspending on your RV road trip is to track your spending!

Most RVers finish a trip with only a vague sense of what it cost. Fuel, campground fees, dining, groceries, activities, propane, dump stations – the expenses add up across dozens of individual transactions and there is rarely one place where it all comes together into a clear picture. This tool fixes that.

The RV Trip Budget Planner is a browser-based web app (NOT a mobile app) built specifically for how RVers spend money on the road. Set your total trip budget before you leave, log expenses by category as you travel, and see a running total and per-day cost average at any point in the trip. No spreadsheet setup. No app store download. Just open it in your browser and start tracking.

Developed by Mike and Jennifer Wendland, full-time RVers with 15 years on the road and hosts of the longest-running RV lifestyle podcast in the United States. This is the budgeting tool they built because nothing else tracked RV expenses the way RVers actually incur them.

You can see all the web apps being built right here!

7. Get an America the Beautiful Pass

Hands down, the best value in the RVing world is the National Parks Senior Pass, officially known as the America the Beautiful Pass. If you are 62 years or older, getting this $80 lifetime pass is a no-brainer.

Seniors gain access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six Federal agencies for one low price. Jennifer and I have gotten our money's worth on our annual pass 10 times over!

If you're not a senior citizen, you can get other America the Beautiful passes that are also well worth the money! (That link takes you to a questionnaire that helps you determine which pass is best for you.)

Pass types include:

• Access Pass
• Lifetime Military Pass
• Annual Military Pass
• 4th Grad Pass
• Volunteer Pass

8. Improve Your Gas Mileage

We already discussed saving on fuel prices, but you can also reduce your fuel usage to save money. Some quick tricks to employ:

• Slow acceleration
• Cruising speeds between 50-60 mph
• Lighter loads (i.e. don't fill the fresh water tank until you're near your destination)
• Check and maintain proper tire pressure

Here are some more tips from REAL RVers on how to get better gas mileage in your RV…

9. Try Moochdocking & Lotdocking

Moochdocking and lotdocking are forms of boondocking. Moochdocking is when you “camp” at a friend or family member’s house. Sometimes, you can hook up to their electric or water, so it's not as self-contained as typical boondocking. Other times, it's nothing more than a parking space.

There are some Moochdocking Pros and Cons to be aware of, and it's always nice to repay your family for their hospitality one way or another.

Lotdocking, also commonly known as Wallydocking, is when you overnight in a commercial parking lot, like Walmart or Cracker Barrel. Truck stops and rest stops count, too. Some churches also welcome RVers to overnight in their parking lots (when you ask permission).

When lotdocking, be sure to follow the unwritten rules:

• 7 Unwritten Rules for RV Parking Overnight at Truck Stops
• 7 Unwritten Rules for Parking Overnight at Cracker Barrel
• 7 Unwritten Rules for RVers Parking Overnight at Walmart

TWO Helpful EBOOKS in this RV Lifestyle Bundle!

Beginners Guide to Boondocking (one of our most popular ebooks) and one of our newest ebooks, The Ultimate Guide to Free and Cheap RV Camping!

ebook #1: Beginners Guide to Boondocking

We created a 65+-page downloadable digital guide to help you understand the nuances that come with boondocking, the most common boondocking problems, and what you need to do to get your rig “boondocking-ready.”

ebook #2: The Ultimate Guide to Free and Cheap RV Camping

Buckle up because here is everything you need to know on how to find cheap or free RV camping sites in the 33-page EBOOK.

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Curious about the gear, gadgets, accessories, and RV products Mike & Jennifer use and recommend?

On this RV Lifestyle Travel blog, our RV Podcast and our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel, we mention all sorts of RV-related products and gear that we use, So we created a special page that links to them. We update this all the time.  CLICK HERE to go to it directly.

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