After purchasing your new or used RV or motorhome, gas, maintenance, food and campsite fees are really all you need to spend money on during your travels. You never have to worry about lodging.
Since purchasing a motorhome can come with a hefty price tag, saving money wherever possible is important!
Here’s a list of tips from savvy road trippers about getting the most bang for your buck while traveling the open road:
Tip #1: Sign up for an RV memberships
There are many different membership clubs that offer discounts to RV’ers! These memberships tend to be very affordable and a great investment (after a night or two the cost is usually reclaimed). Below is a list of some of some good ones.
Harvest Hosts: Perfect for the wine connoisseurs, at just $44 dollars a year you can stay at a winery or farm. Harvest Hosts allow you to stay a maximum of 24 hours at a time; however, depending on the host you may be able to stay longer. Using Harvest Hosts can be a great way to stop somewhere unique, meet new friends and get an affordable rest-in. If you’re interested, you can join online or call 928-277-1661.
Good Sam: This membership only costs $25 dollars annually. With a Good Sam card you can save 10% at over 2,100 RV parks and campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada. Select gas stations will offer savings as well.
Passport America: With the passport America card you can save up to 50% on certain RV stays. This membership costs just $44 a year and you can save money if you purchase 2 or 3 years at a time.
Family Motor Coach Association: FMCA is the nation’s largest association in the world for RV and motorhome owners. Memberships cost $50 for the first year and $40 for the following years. There are a multitude of benefits to becoming an FMCA member. Roadside assistance, RV insurance, a monthly subscription to an RV magazine and discounts at member campgrounds are just some of the perks.
Thousand Trails: This association is not to be missed for the serious RV or motorhomer. At $545 dollars per year, your membership will include unlimited overnight stays at Thousand Trails campgrounds, RV storage and discounts at Encore RV resorts, and more. The price is steep, but well worth it if you’re a long-term road warrior.
Tip #2: Research, research, research!
The more you go online and research the destinations you are interested in traveling to, the better chance you have at saving some bucks. Websites such as www.campendium.com, www.freecampsites.net, and www.allstays.com are great places to find cheap or free places to stay.
Tip #3: Stay at campgrounds longer
If you are looking to check out a particular spot for an extended period of time, booking for several weeks or months can save you quite a bit of cash. Campsites and RV parks often discount longer stays. Paying weekly versus nightly is usually a better deal.
Tip #4: Boondocking
“Boondocking” is a term used for parking your motorhome or RV in a location legally that is free. Places such as bureaus of land management, national forests, a friend’s place, even certain Walmart locations are free but do not provide hookups.
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