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Cheap RV Travel Tips – Making RV Travel Affordable
We love to travel in our Recreational Vehicle, as much as we possibly can. Even though traveling by RV is a great way to save money, especially with a family, the expenses can however, add up very quickly. Below, I’ve listed just a few …
Cheap RV Travel Tips
that we’ve picked up along the way over the years. Just a few things to help make your RV road, a little more budget friendly!
If you’re like us and living on a tight budget, there are many ways, to help reduce the cost of travel. Traveling in your Recreational Vehicle can be more affordable, with a few; budget friendly tips and tricks along the way.
I’ve put together and {just as an example}, an itinerary of ours, taken on a road trip a number of seasons ago. It’s what we did on one of our many camping trips heading down south, into the United States, from our home in; British Columbia, Canada.
It’s a sample, showing a look at how we traveled on this particular journey, which helped reduce our road trip travel costs, along the way.
Cheap RV Travel Tips & Tricks
The two major costs associated with RV travel are of course; Fuel and Campground stays. Let’s have a look at fuel costs first and what we discovered is, the best way to help you; Save Money, on the road.
On this journey we traveled in our 25 foot Class C Motor home and when fully loaded, I am lucky to average 14 miles per gallon. For those of you with larger and much heavier rigs, your miles per gallon and cost of fuel, can be significantly higher.
This especially so, if you’re running a gas engine and not diesel. The best way to save money, is to make sure your unit is serviced prior to departure. This includes, making sure your tires are; properly inflated.
Under inflated tires can reduce your miles per gallon rating and can cause more serious problems such as; blow outs on the road.
Cheap RV Travel Tips – GasBuddy App
If you’re not already using the website GasBuddy, then you should … right away!
This is an excellent travel website and app, where you can check the latest; {real time prices of gasoline} at stations, all throughout North America.
Just by checking daily gas prices here, we saved at least 10 cents per gallon on average, during our trip. One thing we notice in the United States when traveling, is just how widely gas prices vary, from station to station, compared to that in Canada.
Be sure to check out my post below, for more detailed information on this excellent; money saving platform. They also have an App you can conveniently download, on to your cellphone.
Finding The Best Gas Prices In America – GasBuddy
The site updates constantly, with viewers submitting the real time price at the pump, they’ve just used. Detailed information and maps will direct you to the station, that’s offering the; lowest prices at that time.
What’s great about this, is that it’s absolutely – Free!
I would say this is the best of my {Cheap RV Travel Tips}, to help save you money on the road. We use it constantly, even when traveling around in our car at home.
Free & Low Cost Overnight RV Camping
Within the last few years, we have really enjoyed staying at select; Casino Resort Hotels in the United States. Especially Resorts, that offer complimentary; overnight RV Parking.
On a few occasions, we’ve also chosen quick overnight stays at friendly and secure; shopping centers, with 24 hour security on site.
We very rarely will stay overnight at Wal-Mart shopping centers, unless it’s absolutely necessary. There are many {Camping World Centers} for example, that will allow you to park overnight, in their lots. We’ve stayed on a couple of occasions at the …
Tacoma Camping World Store
in the State of Washington off Interstate 5, as an example.
These overnight spots, are a great way to save money while on the road. It definitely helps offset the cost of travel, on the way to your final destination. We always like to shop at these establishments when traveling in our RV, so its … Win Win!
There are also many wonderful Casino Resorts that have onsite RV Parks, attached to them. Many of these parks offer some excellent overnight rates, for their full hook-up sites. A little added incentive to entice travelers to perhaps enjoy a little gambling, as well as food and drink, at their resorts.
Works for me!
We now have our favorites on the road and always look forward to their superb; Vegas style buffet specials, when stopping over for the night.
On one of our last trips home from the …
NASCAR Races at Phoenix International Raceway
we decided to head home by way of the California and Oregon Coast. We wanted to avoid the heavy, non-stop Interstate Highway traffic.
Were we ever shocked to find out the cost for a stay in California’s State Parks. $35+usd funds for a {dry campsite} and this trip was taken a number of seasons ago. For us Canadians and with the exchange rate, this is a huge expense for a … dry site!
Hellooo California, it’s no wonder people are looking for alternative camping when traveling, such as; Walmart lots, shopping centers, rest stops and such.
Oregon State Parks are by far superior to most found anywhere, we’ve traveled in the United States. Their Parks are absolutely beautiful, well maintained and very affordable for camping. As well, most of their parks include; water and electricity at all sites, and are open year round!
Way to go Oregon!
There are many camping resource sites to choose from on the internet. I always visit a few camping forums online, to gather some helpful tips and suggestions. From; where to stay, what to see and the best way to travel to a specific destination.
These sites can be very helpful, particularly when traveling to new and unfamiliar destinations.
As a {Good Sam Club} member, they have an excellent forum to ask questions to other members, on pretty much about anything to do with; RVing and Camping.
A great resource for all campers!
Here’s an example of one of our trips leaving from British Columbia, and making our way south at a leisurely pace. Our final destination…
Phoenix International Raceway in Goodyear, Arizona.
Day 1 – British Columbia To Tulalip Washington
We started on our way in the late evening as usual, to avoid lineups at the; Canada/USA Border. Our first stop is at the Tulalip Resort Casino Hotel located in Tulalip, Washington.
It’s just a 2 hour drive south of the U.S/Canada border crossing.
A beautiful resort, offering free overnight parking for self-contained recreational vehicles, in a designated area behind the hotel. Here you can enjoy all the amenities inside the Casino Resort, should you choose to do so.
Note:
You must pre-register at the customer service desk located inside the casino resort’s; front entrance. We always enjoyed their Dinner Buffet!
Camping Fee Day 1 – Free
Day 2 – Tulalip Washington To Eugene Oregon
As a result of suggestions received on the forums as mentioned above, we decided to make our way,
to the Valley River Center Mall in Eugene, Oregon. This is a relatively easy, but extremely busy and noisy drive down the Interstate 5 Highway, for about 325 miles for the day.
There were two reasons for choosing this destination. First, the shopping center offered free overnight camping in a designated area, complete with 24 hour security patrols on site.
The second reason is that we wanted to do some shopping the next morning. The State of Oregon has – No Sales Tax!
A perfect overnight stay and with a lovely walkway along the river, directly behind our RV. Security staff were very friendly and checked you in, upon arrival.
Camping Fee Day 2 – Free
Update
From reading the latest forum updates, it appears that they no longer allow; overnight RV parking at the Mall. Be sure to check with Mall Security before arriving to confirm this.
You don’t want to be awakened overnight asking you to vacate.
Day 3 – Eugene Oregon To Klamath Falls
Our chosen destination for the next leg of the trip was the Kla-Mo-Ya Casino, located approximately 22 miles north of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This is a small Casino and made for a pleasant overnight stop. It’s located directly off the highway.
This was a relatively small casino, compared to all the others. There’s a service station and store on site as well. It has a huge parking lot for overnight parking, for self-contained units.
During our stay, the Casino restaurant offered a {97 cent breakfast special}, for the month of October. Can’t beat that!
Camping Fee Day 3 – Free
Day 4 – Klamath Falls To Reno Nevada
Moving right along the next morning, we were headed for Nevada’s Biggest Little City … Reno!
This was another easy drive of about 254 miles, or about 5 hours to get there. After searching the internet, we discovered the; Grand Sierra Resort Casino Hotel.
This resort offers a very affordable full hook-up RV park located right on site. To make things even better, the campground was offering a wonderful discount, at the time of our stay.
Because of this amazing deal and the wonderful facilities, we opted for a; 2 night stay, to enjoy the area and relax. The resort allowed registered campers to use their beautiful outdoor pool facilities, as well as their fitness room inside the hotel.
Be sure to check out my Grand Sierra Resort Hotel Review
for more detailed information, and pictures of our stay.
Camping Fee Day 4 & 5 – $44
Cheap RV Travel Tips – Day 6 Reno To Las Vegas Nevada
We were on our way to visit family who had flown down, and to attend the {NHRA Drag Races}, in Las Vegas. On this year, we chose to make our way via Las Vegas, as other family members were in the city, at the same time.
As well, we had purchased tickets to attend the races at …
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
As in recent years, we always chose Sam’s Town Casino Hotel and RV Park, which is located away from the busy Las Vegas Strip. Also, because of the many conveniences this resort hotel, has to offer.
The RV Park was taken over by KOA (Kampgrounds of America) in recent years so the rates, are typical of a larger; franchise RV Park resort.
This hotel offered a free shuttle bus service to the Las Vegas Strip, and to Freemont Street.
A wonderful addition it offers its guests.
Camping Fee Day 6 thru 9 – 4 nights stay $100
Two Free Days In Laughlin Nevada
Laughlin Nevada Skyline
Having lots of time, we decided to make our way to Laughlin, Nevada. The city is located just 100 miles, to the south of Las Vegas. We enjoyed 2 free nights of {Casino Camping}, at two different resorts, located in the area.
The first night was out of town, just to the south at a resort called … The AVI Casino Resort Hotel. A beautiful property located on the Colorado River, complete with; Movie Theaters and more!
There was an open lot for self-contained RV’s, where we even enjoyed complimentary; wi-fi in our motor home. There was also a nice KOA full facility campground on the property. Their fees for their campground were very reasonable, compared to other parks in the area.
We had a nice relaxing 2 night stay!
The next night we opted to head into town (Laughlin), and enjoyed parking at the; Riverside Resort Casino Hotel. You can register in the hotel and park your RV in a designated parking lot,
complete with a nice river view!
Camping Fee Day 10 & 11 – Free
Phoenix International Raceway
From here, it was on to our final destination in Arizona; Phoenix International Raceway. This is about a 215 mile drive, or about 4 hours in length.
We enjoyed our annual weekend of NASCAR Racing, with a; reserved designated camping space, right at the track. You are welcome to stay in your site for; 7 days total, if one wishes.
Our stay included 5 nights camping, at the track.
Leaving the race track after the weekend, we made our way west back to the coast, with overnight stays at a {County Park} right at the beach. This is for self-contained units only, parking roadside, adjacent to the beach. These sites are located alongside the main road for $28, at the time of our stay.
There is a {California State Park} just down the road, with rates at $35 during our stay. Our final night was at a beautiful Oregon State Park, on the coast for just; $24 including; water, power and free shower facilities!
You can make travel in your RV more affordable if you wish, with a little planning, before your departure and by following a few of my cheap rv travel tips and tricks.
Have a look at this other excellent website, that has to do with everything camping. It’s another superb and very reputable resource, to check out for great tips and information.
Go RVing
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Safe and Healthy Travels!
It has been a few seasons since our last visit, so if you have any updated information, you would like to pass on, please do send me an email {Contact Me} and I will be sure to add it to this post. 🧐
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