Those who have invested in an RV may worry about the cost of hitting the open road. Luckily for them, RVing is one of the most economical ways to travel! Here are some things you can do to make RVing even cheaper, and save money easily.
Budgeting
When are you budgeting for your RV adventure, it is important to factor in the cost of things like,
- Fuel
- Food and drink
- RV supplies
- Campsite fee
- Entertainment
- Souvenirs and gifts
- Insurance fees
- Maintenance fees
While one of the main perks of RVing is the ability to make spontaneous decisions about your itinerary, these last-minute changes can often end up costing you a lot of money in gas and camping fees. Taking a detour to see something you hadn’t planned on seeing, while fun, should be counted as an extra expense on top of what you’ve budgeted for. The best way to alleviate budget worries is to plan your trip and expenses before you head out. This being said, you can also budget for a few spontaneous diversions as long as you take them into account in your overall travel budget!
Choosing your campsite
The more amenities a campground has, the more expensive it is. While planning your trip, look for campsites that only provide the services you’ll need. Clubhouses, Wi-Fi, full hook ups, and other amenities all increase the price of your stay.
Boondocking is the cheapest way to camp. Also referred to as “dry camping” boondocking is camping without water, sewer, or electrical connections. You can even find free campsites on websites like Boondockerswelcome.com, freecampsites.net, and harvesthosts.com.
You can also pay a fee to join a membership club for campers! By paying for a membership with a club you can receive discounts at participating campgrounds.
Preventative maintenance will save you money!
Getting a professional to inspect your RV before leaving is both important and a huge money saver. Finding potential issues and fixing them before leaving will minimize the risk of your RV breaking down on the road and thereby requiring costly emergency repairs. Even so, it’s a good idea to budget for repairs along the way, just in case. Especially for longer trips!
Use your RV kitchen and save on food costs!
Chances are, your RV probably has a kitchen. So save money and make dinner right at your campsite! You can meal prep before your camping trip with cheap and simple freezer recipes, or if your campsite has a grill use it to make foil packs or cook meat you can use in future meals. Embrace being on the road by grocery shopping at local farmers markets and purchase fresh seasonal produce.
Our blog has many delicious recipes to try on your next camping trip!
Go camping during the off season
We have a long list of campgrounds in BC and Alberta, and a lot of them are open year round!
Many campgrounds lower their rates during the off season. It will be less busy, so it is very likely the best campsites will be available for you!
Cut down on fuel cost
Fuel costs can add up quickly while you are camping and travelling. You can reduce the amount you spend on fuel by driving slowly and keeping the RPM’s low to improve fuel mileage. Use WAZE or a similar navigator to avoid traffic, cutting down on time spent idling. Roadtrippers is a fantastic tool to help plan the best route and attractions for your road trip, and use GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas stations near you.