Tips for RV Camping on a Budget
If current gas and food prices have you feeling down, you're not alone! Many Americans are searching for ways to save money and tighten the budget this year due to inflation. If you own a travel trailer, fifth wheel or toy hauler you might be tempted to think that now is the time to cut back on camping plans this summer, or you may even be considering selling your RV. If you do decide that now is the time to sell, we would love to help you, but for most of us we would much rather keep making family memories in our RVs. We have compiled a list of ways to scale back on camping costs, without scaling back on family fun and adventure.
Carrie Feneis, Parts, Service and RV Guru Extraordinaire at Price Right RV Dealerships in Michigan, shares her top recommendations for camping on a budget
Here are Carrie's top tips for stretching your dollar when camping with your RV:
Start with a plan. Review your budget from last year or make a list of travel expenses that you generally incur. Do you have a seasonal site, or do you like to visit a variety of campgrounds? Write down your top 3 expenses from camping which are typically the 3 F's: fuel, food and fees (campsite fees). Knowing what you spent last year will help you plan ahead knowing that you'll likely be paying more in each of these categories.
Know how to tow: Make sure to use a weight distribution hitch and go the speed limit. Scaling back on speed might cost you a few extra minutes but not putting the pedal to the metal will definitely save on gas.
Did someone say FREE? Utilizing what the campground offers for fun that is included in the cost of your stay is a great way to save money. Hiking is free. Swimming at local beaches is free. Cornhole at the campsite is free. Rock hounding and beach combing are free. Many campgrounds have an area to borrow books, puzzles and crafts.
Scale back on restaurants and takeout: Cooking over the fire in cast iron is one of the best parts of camping. I personally make a baked pasta dish over the fire or on the grill that is always a hit! Use 1 box of uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs (or Italian sausage links) a jar of pasta sauce, one jar of water (fill up the pasta jar with water after pouring it into your pan). Mix all together in a disposable baking pan and cook on the grill until pasta is done. (Pasta will absorb all the water and cook perfectly!) Add shredded cheese on top and cook until melted- it's delicious! There are MANY camping recipes like this on Pinterest, it just takes a little time to plan, and can be a fun way to get the whole family involved in meals.
Make sure you have the right RV for your family: RV prices are really good right now, with many new RVs starting at less than $200/mo. You may have purchased your RV when prices were higher, or maybe you no longer need the same amount of space. Price Right has a great selection of new travel trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers on sale right now, many of which are deeply discounted. We also have a large selection of preowned RVs. Trade-ins of any kind are always considered- let us know if you're thinking about making a trade!
Utilize Technology. We recommend using mobile apps like Gas Buddy and Upside to save money on gas. You can also utilize apps to help you find campgrounds that are closer to home that you may not have been aware of. Some of our favorites are RVLife, Harvest Hosts, ToGo RV, and Campspot.
If you have favorite money-saving or camping apps, please send us a message or share on our social media. We'd love to share your ideas!
We hope you found this list to be helpful, and we would love the opportunity to talk with you more about your RV options. We know you have plenty of choices when it comes to RV dealers, but we are proud to say that there’s no one like us in this business if you value authenticity and integrity. We hope to see you soon at Price Right RV in DeWitt or Sterling Heights!