Planning an RV trip with your family (or even just by yourself) is a great option when it comes to travel plans. RV trips give you full control over your itinerary, allowing you to plan everything from when you want to leave to where you want to have stopovers. If this has piqued your interest, keep reading below for a few tips on budgeting for your very first RV trip. Renting an RV As a general rule, RV costs depend on the particular model's class and age. The class of an RV refers to the build of the RV itself: Class A means an RV was built with an extremely strong frame and has quality interiors. Class B RVs are smaller but still have enough standing room and space for things like a kitchen and a shower, while those that are Class C are a compromise of both types in a smaller and budget-friendly build. Of course, the newer the RV means the more expensive it will be to rent. As a general rule, a new Class A RV should cost $300 to 400 a night while a new Class C costs $225 to $350 a night. Gas Gas is one of the biggest considerations you'll have to make when budgeting for your RV trip. Regardless of the type of RV you'll rent, it's safe to say that this will be one of the bigger items you spend on. In her first RV trip, writer Sophie-Claire Hoeller notes that she spent $235.42 on gas during the five days she was on the road. She does point out that this wasn't as much as she was expecting to spend on gas, but spending over $250 is something that you definitely should account for. Food Who can forget about food costs? On average, when budgeting for family trips, food for a typical four-day trip can cost around $155 per person, with around $27 going on restaurant meals. However, the beauty of RV travel is the ability to just bring your own groceries and save on costs, giving you more control over the cost of food. This doesn't mean to say that you shouldn't eat out at all — one of the great things about traveling is sampling local cuisine and getting a taste for what the locals eat. In reality, your RV trip will probably consist of a mix of cooking your own food and dining out. Campground fees RVs can't just park anywhere, which is why you'll have to account for campground fees in your budget. There's always the option to boondock and go off the grid where you won't have to pay any campground fees, but that might not be a feasible option depending on your location. If that's the case, our post on how to budget for full-time RV life highlights that campsite prices can range anywhere from $25 to $350 a night. These average prices vary widely because of location and resort ammenties, which is why it's worth planning out your route in advance so you can estimate how much time you're spending at any one campground and factor these costs in accordingly. Other costs These are the four main costs to take into consideration, but you also have to account for things like laundry at a local laundromat or staying at a campground with laundry facilities (depending on how long your trip is) and budget for souvenirs or adventure items like zip line tours or boat tours. If you've been bit by the travel bug, an RV trip may be just what you need. Although it's going to cost you just like any other trip, the flexibility you have when it comes to exploring with your RV makes all the planning worth it in the end. exclusively written for rvingusa.com by River Jiselle

With so many ways to make full-time life on the road affordable, more people than ever are starting the RV Dream. We’ve got a few tips to help you put more money towards the things you enjoy! Living in an RV can be considerably cheaper than living in a house or apartment. Then again, it can get away from you very quickly, racking up exorbitant costs. It is so tempting to pick up every cool RV gadget that hits the market but all things are best in moderation. It may seem like fun to “fly by the seat of your pants” and run without any planning, but that could be set you up for some major expenses. While you may not need to cut back now, there may be a time that you do – or you may just prefer the simple, frugal lifestyle.Plan Your RV TripUsing a trip planner and having a set route with reservations at your favorite RV Resorts is essential to staying on budget and will keep you on course. This allows you plenty of time to read RV Resort and Campground reviews and make sure you don’t end up unhappy and out in the cold as a result of the surge in campground bookings and availability as more people hit the road. You can make sure that the place you are headed has everything you need amenities wise to make your family happy- including things like dog parks, wi-fi, and a relaxing pool!Join an RV ClubIf you are like me, you don’t really give much thought to an RV club – until you need an RV club. The right club can save you a tremendous amount of money each year from discounts are preferred retailers to free or discounted camping to free lock-out help should you find yourself on the wrong side of a locked RV door. Review your options and choose wisely, but more often than not, a good club can save you some serious cash.Plan your Meals and Shop SmartPlanning your meals, even a few days or a week in advance can save you money. Beyond that, here are my tips – and my husband and I eat fresh food, nothing processed, and keep our food costs way down.Check for sales before you go shopping. You can search online for sales flyers in your area. Check the sales and you can even plan your meals around what is available for cheap.Buy local, buy fresh. Local farmer’s markets are great places to pick up fresh, local foods that are in season. They tend to be less expensive and taste way better, plus you support local farmers. We are currently near Charleston and when we want shrimp we just go down to the pier and buy shrimp right off the boats for a fraction of what we would pay in the market. Read: The Ultimate Guide to Farmers MarketsUse coupons – but only for things you will actually use. Don’t buy something just because you have a great coupon.Take inventory of your pantry, freezer and refrigerator before you go shopping.Don’t over shop; buy only what you will consume.Buy fresh green onions and bell peppers on sale, chop them then put them in a freezer bag and freeze them.Don’t eat out very often.Use Strategies to Save on FuelCertain gas stations, have rewards programs, while other companies run promotions from time to time. Credit card companies offer cash back for fuel and some gas cards give discounts on fuel purchases. Read: 10 Tips for Boosting your RV MPG. Look around, research, the deals are there. Other things you can do:Consider longer term stays in one place. Many places offer weekly and monthly discounts plus you save money on fuel because you aren’t moving about. This essentially kills two birds with one stone.Keep your RV properly maintained. Keeping your tires at the proper pressure and your vehicle tuned up will help give you better gas mileage.Drop some weight – in your RV, that is. The more weight you are pulling, the harder your rig has to work and the more fuel it uses. Remember, simplify!Lighten up that lead foot. The faster you drive, the worse your gas mileage will be. Take some time to smell the roses and slow down a bit.Shop Smart for Household ItemsWhen you start to actually move into your RV, there are two things you need to consider: 1. The space in an RV is VERY limited, and 2. Extra, unnecessary stuff in your RV means extra weight which means poor gas mileage. When you are getting ready to move into your RV and hit the road, try these tips:Use items from your home first. There is no need to go out and buy items if you already have them in your home (and they will work just fine). Make a list of household items that you will need and then “go shopping” in your own kitchen, pantry, and garage.Hit the thrift stores. Once you’ve exhausted your home inventory, go to some thrift stores to pick up items that you still need. Other resources include yard sales, classified ads, and Freecycle.org.Think before you buy. Before you purchase that adorable tea pot, think about where you will store it, how it will be used, and if it has any practical applications. If it is just a decoration, skip it. Look for items that do double duty, even decorations.Simplify. Decluttering is often a painful process, but you will be much happier if you just bite the bullet and go for it.I would love to hear some of your money saving tips for the RV life. What’s your best one?

It is possible to save money while RVing and still have fun! RV camping is a truly magical experience. If you are a lover of travel and the outdoors, the lifestyle RV camping affords is a really unique way to enjoy elements of both. Plus, it is a really comfortable way to enjoy camping as you can bring along many more creature comforts than you are able to with regular tent camping or backpacking. If you are curious about RV camping but have yet to commit due to whatever reason, hopefully your time spent on the RVingUSA.com site will help point you in the right direction. I promise you won’t be disappointed with whatever extent you choose to pursue RVing. If you think RV camping is an expensive endeavor and that’s what keeping you from pursuing it, you’d be surprised at how affordable it actually can be. Yes, you have the initial expense of an RV, but once you have that figured out your only other expenses are gas, food, and the cost of the campgrounds. This style of adventuring can be far more affordable than other forms of travel or vacation, believe it or not. Once you get the hang of it, you can even save money while out on the road if you have a remote income or enough in the bank for some long-term travel. Pinching pennies doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice any of the fun involved with the pursuit, however. Here is a look at how to save money and still have plenty of fun while RV camping. Plan Ahead and Be Prepared As with any sort of travel, the more you can plan ahead and be prepared, the more you’ll be able to deal with any sudden issues or concerns that pop up that can lead to added costs. With RV camping one of the biggest things you can do ahead of time is make sure your vehicle is running well and any maintenance issues are addressed before hand. This can save you some serious cash in the long run as a breakdown in the middle of nowhere can lead to an expensive tow bill. If the issue was something that could have been prevented with routine checkups, you’ll be kicking yourself when you have to pay the bill out on the road. I’d also recommend bringing a good set of tools so you can fix any small repairs yourself while out and about. Even if you are not an experience mechanic, having tools on board can allow easy fixes to be addressed and save you the money that you would pay a mechanic. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had friendly people with far more mechanical knowledge and experience lend a hand when the RV is broken down. Fellow RVers are always happy to help and good Samaritans still exists everywhere. Related Read: RV Living: Necessary Tools and How to Store Them You should also make sure your rig is stocked with the staples – any basic food and supplies that you can think of. It’s a lot cheaper to purchase these items at a big box store back home than at an RV campground. It might not seem like much, but these items add up over time. You have plenty of room on your RV so bring along the essentials including: canned food, cleaning supplies, condiments, cooking utensils, and any other basic necessity. Cut Out the Extras When trying to save money, it pays to cut out any extra expense that you really don’t need. Instead of going out for coffee every day, bring along your favorite beans and brewing method. Rather than eating expensive food from the general store or visiting a local restaurant, stop by a grocery store and cook your own delicious food. You don’t have to by the latest and greatest camping gadgets or inventions to have a great time, stick to the basic, people have been doing that a long time! You should also take into consideration the costs of an RV campground. You might not need to use full hookups at every stay and could get away with paying a cheaper fee rather than pay the cost for full use of electrical and water. This can save you on average $10 or more and if you add that up over a couple of weeks or months, you can see how easy it is to start saving. You can also save some money by choosing cheaper RV campgrounds. If you don’t need all of the amenities of a full-fledge RV resort, choose a more basic option that will also be more affordable. Build A Budget Oh budgeting. It is definitely not one of my favorite activities but even though I avoided the process of it early on in my RVing life, nowadays I would never leave home without one. By building a proper budget, you can get a rough idea of all of the expenses you’ll have over the course of a trip. Looking at these type of things on paper can be a big benefit and allow you to cut out unnecessary expenses before you leave town. Budgets don’t have to be followed exactly so don’t get down on yourself if you go over slightly. It’s a good habit to get in to and can save some serious cash over the course of your RV adventures. You can be as loose or as exact with an RV trip budget as you want to be, the practice and habit is more important than the final result. Related Read: Budgeting Expenses as a Fulltime RVer In the grand scheme of things, small steps towards cutting costs can pay dividends in the long run. A few bucks saved here and there and turn into hundreds which can turn into thousands over time. You don’t have to break the bank to go out RVing. It really can be a budget travel style if you follow the tips above and make a steady effort to cut out some extra costs. And that doesn’t mean that you will miss out on any of the fun!