How to Plan an RV Trip for Any Budget and Schedule
How to Plan an RV Trip for Any Budget and Schedule
RV trips are great for any budget and schedule. Whether you can only travel on weekends, the benefits are exponential, especially if you are visiting multiple locations at a time. Most people have a dream of traveling around in an RV, but two things stop them – their schedule and their budget.
However, having a budget or working around a schedule does not cancel out your chance to have a fantastic RV trip. Sure, it might take a little extra planning and consideration, but it will all be worth it in the end.
Here are our top tips for planning an RV trip for any budget or schedule.
The Schedule
We all have busy schedules, some more so than others. Sure, it might be great to take a gap year or use your retirement to travel the world in an RV, but that’s not the case for everybody.
Some of us have work or family commitments that we need to work around.
The best way to plan your trip on a tight schedule is to understand that RV road trips come in two parts: traveling days and stationary days.
Travel days usually take the entire day including, check-in time and check out times, sleeping and eating.
Obviously, the shorter the trip, the quicker the travel days will be. Depending on road conditions and traffic, 800 miles would take about 8 hours in an RV.
Try to leave in the morning, and arrive at night – it will help you make the most of your other days.
Obviously, you won’t travel for 8 hours straight. So, split them up into a few days and check in at other places. 800 miles will probably take about 4 days. This means that as a general rule of thumb 400 miles will be doable in a weekend.
Make sure that when you are planning your schedule, you take into consideration everything. This includes:
- Fuel Stops
- Checking in
- Checking out
- Eating
- Sleeping
- Rest stops
- Any maintenance issues that might occur
Break Out the Maps and Plan
If you are on a tight budget or timeline, you want to have a plan on where you want to go and what you want to see. From there you can decide how you will accomplish your goals.
The best way to make sure that everyone in your party can have a great trip is to travel to an action-packed destination where you can find a little bit of everything in one area.
For those who want to get a fantastic experience and not have to traveling in between destinations, choose a beachfront location with nearby attractions. If you can stay in a central location designed for RV travel. Popular tourist destinations often have a scenic route, a quieter road where you can travel slower and take in the stunning surroundings. These places often offer many activities in one central location giving you the best value for your money and time.
Renting an RV on a Budget
When you can’t afford to purchase an RV but want to enjoy the perks that RV life has to offer, you can always rent one. Renting an RV is a great option for those who don’t camp a lot or don’t have room to store an RV, when not in use.
Depending on the size of your family, and the amenities you want included, there is something available for every budget. Some RV rental companies offer customers great packages that include: free roadside assistance, insurance, cleaning services, just to name a few. Check out Outdoorsy for instance.
The absolute best way to stick to a budget is to plan ahead. This kind of cancels out the possibility of having a spontaneous trip but it doesn’t mean that it won’t be super magical or amazing.
You should plan everything from the stops you’ll make, the fuel you’ll buy and the food you’ll get. Planning ahead is the most important thing, really.
Food and fuel are incredible ways to save some of your money too. The beauty of having an RV is that you can store and cook your own food, this will save you tons of money. Eating out all the time when you’re traveling can cost you hundreds of dollars. Bringing your own food and cooking it in your RV can cut this cost drastically – not to mention, it’s a lot healthier.
It’s also useful to be aware that some fuel stops are more expensive than others. If you can, make sure you have enough to last you the entire journey. Also, the heavier the RV, the more fuel you will use, so, pack light and efficiently. This is a skill.
We probably don’t need to tell you, but to save on a fuel, you should obviously take the shortest route. This links to our point about planning ahead – always know your routes.
The Perks of Traveling By RV
Money Saving
One of the main reasons people like to travel by RV is that is saves a ton of money on hotel rooms, especially when you are visiting multiple destinations. You also have the ability to save money eating in, versus dining out, for three meals a day.
When traveling, the three biggest expenses are: flights, hotels, and food. When you travel by RV, all of these expenses are condensed as you can drive where you want to go, sleep in your RV, and cook meals there as well.
For those on a budget, this form of traveling is a great alternative and can enhance your memory-making experiences.
Flexibility
When travelling by RV no one dictates schedule but you. There’s no check-in or check-out time, you can stop wherever and whenever you want to spend the night, to take some pictures or to rest. You can even change your plan as you go, stay a few more days on a place or skip another.
Spectacular Sceneries
Travelling overland instead of flying gives you a unique point of view and access to remote places. You will be able to stay in places you would have never imagined possible. Travelling with RV gives you access to front-row seats to sceneries a hotel room would never beat.
Luggage
Another advantage of travelling by RV is that there is no restrictions with luggage. Nobody will charge you for the extra pound, you set the limit on how many things you want to pack. As an added bonus, you don’t have to worry about leaving items behind when traveling between destinations; you take everything with you as you go! No more lost items in hotel rooms.
We hope this little hints and tips will help you book your RV around a budget or schedule. If you have any other suggestions let us know, we’re always looking for new ways to go on quick, cheap, but fantastic RV trips.
There are so many great places to travel. When traveling by RV you can maximize your experience, regardless of your budget or schedule, and still make wonderful memories in the process.