RVing can be one way to take a budget friendly road trip. You’ll save on hotel rooms. You can save on food. And you’ll be able to stay in the same room each night without having to pack and unpack as much each day.
As you look at how to take a budget friendly road trip, there are several things to consider. Here are the top tips to saving money on your next big road trip – especially if it’s a budget friendly RV road trip!
- Weigh renting vs. buying an RV
- Maintain your RV
- Pack your own food
- Use a gas app
- Plan your route
- Go for fewer amenities
- Travel in the off-season
- Find alternatives to more popular places
- Check visitor centers and tourism offices
- Pick your priorities
1. Weigh renting vs. buying an RV
You’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of renting vs. buying an RV.
If this is your first time taking a budget-friendly road trip in an RV, you’ll likely want to rent one to try out a few times before committing to a purchase. When you do rent an RV, there are a few things you can do to keep the cost down.
- Renting for longer can bring you discounts. Some RVshare owners offer weekly or monthly discounts. If you’re considering a longer road trip, you may be able to get a lower rate each night this way.
- Consider the size you need. Smaller campers and trailers will cost less. Carefully consider how much room you actually need for yourself and your fellow travelers.
- Don’t forget transportation once you’ve set up camp. If you’re renting a large Class A or Class C camper, you may need to tow a vehicle behind to use once you’ve set up your rig. If you’re using a Class B campervan, you can simply drive that around during the day and set it up each night to camp. And if you have a trailer, you can use the towing vehicle once you’ve set up camp. If you do have to tow a separate vehicle behind your rig, remember that this will affect your gas mileage on your trip.
2. Maintain your RV
If you do buy or already own an RV, be sure to keep up on maintenance between trips! Getting regular oil changes, checking your tire pressure, and getting your rig serviced will keep it running better. It will also lessen the chances of your vehicle breaking down on the road and the expensive repairs that might entail.
3. Pack your own food
One of the big advantages of having an RV is your ability to bring along and make your own food! Grocery shopping and prepping your own food will cut down on restaurant costs. It can also be a healthier option while you’re on the road. Whether you bring along a portable grill, use a campsite fire ring, or use your RV’s kitchen, there are lots of ways to cook a meal on the road. Even when you’re not set up to camp, you’ll have space to store fresh fruits and veggies for snacks, and a convenient place to make lunch when you’re on the road.
4. Use a gas app
RVs use a lot of gas! One way to have a more budget friendly road trip is by finding the cheapest gas along your route. GasBuddy will help you find the cheapest gas along your road trip. You can plan out your gas stops ahead of time…or you can enter your current location to find the cheapest gas nearby.
5. Plan your route
A little bit of planning ahead of time can also mean big savings! Here are a few things to consider when planning out your budget friendly road trip.
- Research your route and destination. See if there are attractions on the way or at your destination that are free to visit. Also, check whether attractions offer free or discounted days or discounts for certain ages or professions. Sometimes you can save by purchasing tickets online ahead of time, or you can find coupon codes for attractions.
- Investigate where to eat and stay. Make campground reservations ahead of time so you know where you’ll be staying and how much it will cost. Look up places to eat and any other activities you anticipate doing.
- Consider annual or multi-day passes. If your road trip will take you to several national or state parks, it may be cheaper to purchase an annual pass. Also, if you’re going to spend several days at an attraction, like Disney World, you may be able to get a discount on multi-day passes.
- Consider campground memberships. If you will be staying at a lot of campgrounds, you may also want to look into a membership at a place like Harvest Hosts or Good Sam. You can also look into the KOA Rewards program if you want to stay in lots of KOA campgrounds.
6. Go for fewer amenities
As with many things, the nicer the campground where you stay, the more expensive it will be! If you want full hookups, a clubhouse, a pool, bike or boat rentals, and other perks, it will cost more. A bare-bones campground will be considerably less expensive. If you can boondock without any hookups, you can also find places to camp for free.
7. Travel in the off-season
You may find cheaper prices for attractions, restaurants, and campgrounds if you don’t visit an area during its peak tourist season. Many places will charge less when there are fewer people about. However, you’ll want to make sure the places you want to stay, eat, and visit are actually open. Some shops and restaurants will take the off-season as a chance to close for inventory or to take their own vacations.
8. Find alternatives to more popular places
Consider a state park near a popular national park, or a lesser-known beach near one where everyone vacations. If you can find a place that’s less trendy, or not currently Instagram-famous, you’re more likely to get fewer crowds and great deals.
9. Check visitor centers and tourism offices
Stop in at town visitor centers or tourism offices. You’ll often find brochures and discount booklets for town activities, restaurants, and shops. You can also ask the volunteers at the office where they like to eat, or what they personally recommend.
10. Pick your priorities
Decide ahead of time where you want to spend your money. If you want cash for Disneyland then plan to save money on your trip down and back. If your priority is gourmet food, then skimp on lodging and attractions. Whatever you pick make sure that it’s important to the whole family. That way your road trip is sure to be a success.
If you are traveling with children, make sure you explain to them when and where you will be spending money. If they’re old enough, let them help you stretch the family budget by calculating your gas mileage and expenses. Get the whole family involved and make it a game.
Hopefully, this article has helped you to plan a budget friendly road trip for you and your family!
