Dang RV

I have been getting a lot of questions recently about discount camping and clubs, particularly for full-timers. Now that I have a few years on the road as a full-timer under my belt , perhaps it is time to go over my experiences with them. If one is going to be a full-time RVer, discounts are essential. As campground prices to rent a piece of dirt continue to rise and in some places cost more than a motel room, it is getting harder and harder to live on the road. Since my RV is my home, my view of campground fees and what is affordable is quite different from the weekender. A weekender sees them as an entertainment or discretionary expense. I view those fees the same as rent on an apartment or a home mortgage. Just as with rent or a mortgage, they must be reasonable and not constantly take too much of my income.

The first saving tip I can offer is to stay longer and always ask if there is a weekly or monthly rate. There usually is in private parks. The monthly rates can be very good.

Compare parks in the area and the costs. While 2 parks may have the same or similar price, if park A costs X + electric and park B costs just X, well you get the picture. Does one park provide free WIFI while the other charges for it?

Compare amenities. Do you really need a swimming pool or clubhouse if you don’t regularly use them or are at a place with lots of tourist things to do? Parks with fewer amenities are sometimes cheaper.  To my surprise, I found a park I was going to pass up because it does not have sewer hookups but, lo and behold, they have free honey wagon service 3 days a week which is just fine.  Most parks will charge for honey wagon service but they still may be worth it. The park also will accept mail and is in an area notorious for huge crowds January-February and very long lines at the post office. That is certainly an amenity to consider. Speaking of amenities, if you are only staying 1 or 2 nights or even a week, do you really need to pay for sewer hookups? Many campgrounds offer electric+water only sites which are cheaper. It may not be a huge savings but a couple bucks here and there really do add up over a year.

Another great tip is camp in the best places out-of-season. For instance, I was able to spend a week in the Florida Keys in November one year at a cost I could afford and the weather was gorgeous the whole time. I could not possibly afford to pay double what I paid had I gone in December which begins the Winter RV snowbird season. Sure you don’t want to roast in southern climates in the Summer or freeze in northern climates in the Winter but take advantage of Spring and Fall. You may also find fewer crowds at those times.

The cost of state parks has risen quite a lot to the point where they charge as much for partial or no hookups as you may pay for full hookups in a private park. They also do not have discounts (some do honor senior and handicapped discount passes for state residents only). Compared to a private park with a discount or a weekly/monthly rate, state parks are no longer a deal. I rarely stay at them anymore. That is not to say you should never check them out. The cost to camp in some areas such as the Florida Keys is so ridiculously high that the state parks are the better deal there in-season though they are so full that you have to reserve a site a year in advance to get in. I have used them anytime in Massachusetts too.

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