How does RVing affect your budget?

[Carpediem]

My wife and I are considering purchasing a class C RV in retirement and taking a few driving trips each year. For those of you who currently do something similar, how do the trips affect your monthly budget/spending? I realize we'll be spending more on gas but what about other items such as groceries, eating out, etc.? And what about the cost of utilities at your stick house? Do they go down much while you're on the road?

 

[MBAustin]

We don't take extensive trips, but the biggest expense when we do is the gas for the RV (ours gets ~9 mpg). We usually stay at relatively inexpensive public parks (Corps of Engineers and state parks are our favorites) so that's under $25/night. We rarely eat out when in the RV and I cook dinner from scratch every night, albeit a little simpler than at home, so if anything our food bill is probably a little less when traveling. We did see a significant dip in our utility bills the one time we took a 3 week trip in August - left the A/C set at 80 and had a very small electric bill - but not enough of a difference to offset the gas by any means.

So for us, I'd say other than gas, it's pretty much a wash. Oh, and we don't order from Amazon while on the road

 

[REWahoo]

Our most recent 3 week RV trip saw our overall spending for the month go up about $1,200, about 75% of that was for fuel and campsite rental. We saved about $100 in utilities.

Note the cost of fuel is low at the moment. Back when it was significantly higher we would have spent at least $400 more.

 

[Nemo2]

Take advantage of free overnighting in Walmart parking lots when you're on the road, (the rigs will all be gathered in one corner, away from the store), even better when it's a 24 hour store (if they still have them, it's been over 15 years for me).

 

[flyingaway]

Does Walmart have RV hookups?

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

My wife and I are considering purchasing a class C RV in retirement and taking a few driving trips each year. For those of you who currently do something similar, how do the trips affect your monthly budget/spending? I realize we'll be spending more on gas but what about other items such as groceries, eating out, etc.? And what about the cost of utilities at your stick house? Do they go down much while you're on the road?

Don't get me wrong...the people here are GREAT, but your question would probably be better answered on a forum like iRV2 Forums

I would make the comparison that if someone came along in the RV forum and asked about early retirement, I would send them here.

 

[harley]

Don't get me wrong...the people here are GREAT, but your question would probably be better answered on a forum like iRV2 Forums

I would make the comparison that if someone came along in the RV forum and asked about early retirement, I would send them here.

You're probably right, but I ask a lot of not-totally-related-to-ER questions here. Sometimes you get more balanced answers from people who aren't involved in the holy wars that occur on specific topic forums. For example, asking the RVers about carrying a mortgage or not might be safer than asking it here.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

You're probably right, but I ask a lot of not-totally-related-to-ER questions here. Sometimes you get more balanced answers from people who aren't involved in the holy wars that occur on specific topic forums. For example, asking the RVers about carrying a mortgage or not might be safer than asking it here.

Very true. I just wanted to point out that there are quite a few really good forums out there that could help the OP out.

 

[Carpediem]

The reason I asked the RV question here was I wanted to hear answers from the perspective of those who had ER-ed and were monitoring their spending budgets. Thank you for the link to the other forum though.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

The reason I asked the RV question here was I wanted to hear answers from the perspective of those who had ER-ed and were monitoring their spending budgets. Thank you for the link to the other forum though.

Yep..this is not a bad place to ask. There are several users on the forum I shared that are indeed ER'ed and many of them have blogs that detail the budgets very specifically. I have not seen anyone here that does that. That doesn't mean there isn't anyone here who *has* done that, I just am not familiar.

 

[REWahoo]

Does Walmart have RV hookups?

No, but many allow you to park overnight in their parking lot. Some have restrictions against it due to city ordinances, some for other reasons, so you'll need to check with the individual store to be sure.

 

[Nemo2]

Some have restrictions against it due to city ordinances, some for other reasons

Galveston comes to mind.

 

[doneat54]

We bought a travel trailer in April and took 4 trips this past summer. In 2006 we did a 6week, 9500 mile cross country tip in a Class C. If you do not account for the cost of the RV in your comparison, for us:

Compared to staying home: Not much. Even say a full 30 days out of the year of park fees, gas and food ABOVE what we would have spent if we stayed at home those 30 days, not enough to really move the needle. If we are at home we DO go out to dinner often (1-2 times a week) and usually drop $75-$125 on a meal on average. And when camping, we usually buy some pretty good "grillables" and drink. But we also favor state and national parks with pretty low campsite fees.

Compared to for the same day vacationing elsewhere: Way less. One of our rules for vacation is do, eat and drink what you want (or it's not really vacation, right?) So compared to nice hotels, resorts and dining out 2-3 times a day, RV ing is way less $$. We bring our dogs (so don't pay for boarding) and usually spend the days hiking or kayaking so it is seldom boring. And of course you can't compare the cost of gas (even at 12MPG) to buying plane tickets.

 

[doneat54]

And BTW, if you even think you might like/want to try RV'ing, by all means do. Even just rent one if you don't want to commit (although don't plan a high mileage trip with a rental, it can get real expensive). You will either love it or hate it, and will be able to tell which by the 2nd or third day. Also note that there are huge differences between RV parks. From huge mega, screaming kids and waterslides and golf carts everywhere; to secluded state and national parks limited or no hookups, nature type places.

 

[Teacher Terry]

WE took a month trip a year ago. WE went from NV to TX, KS, CO, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and home. We spent 6k and most was gas and RV sites. We paid anywhere from 55-75/night. I cooked most meals. We usually go to see the sights or visit friends so can't use the cheaper state parks. When we are at friends we park in their driveway of course. I decided that no more long trips. For the same amount of $ we can take a 2 week cruise and be pampered.

 

[REWahoo]

WE went from NV to TX, KS, CO, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and home...We paid anywhere from 55-75/night.

Once again, I say wow. $55/night in TX or KS is a shock.

CO parks and parks near big tourist attractions like Yellowstone are definitely expensive, but other than a few "resort" parks or franchised (and overpriced) KOA and Jellystone campgrounds, it is rare to find commercial parks charging $40 or more in TX or KS. $36/night seems to be the prevalent rate.

But then maybe you stayed in unadvertised parks, unavailable to riff-raff like me.

 

[Teacher Terry]

We did not stay in any parks in KS-parked on friend's property, and in TX only 1 or 2 nights and then again used friends. So prices were mostly in the other states. One issue we have is that we have 4 dogs ( 1-big and 3 tiny at 5lbs). Many places have a 2 dog rule. We bought the RV because of the dogs. So sometimes if I call they make an exception and other times no. So that limits some of the places we can stay.

 

[Teacher Terry]

We stayed in the national parks and YS was 55/night and GT 75.00/night.

 

[Walt34]

.... even better when it's a 24 hour store (if they still have them, it's been over 15 years for me).

Several around here are 24-hour stores.

 

[boaski]

I belong to this sight and a r/v forum.The cost of food and stuff is going to be the same. Camp ground fees are going to average about 35.00 a night. I believe corps of engineer parks if your over 65 are like 20.00. The big costs are buying one, gas and maintenance. The only thing you will be saving at home is turning the havc up or down and putting the water heater on vacation which I do not think is that significant

 

[REWahoo]

I believe corps of engineer parks if your over 65 are like 20.00.

Even better than $20! I'm staying at two different CoE parks later this month for $13/night. (62 or over with a Golden Age pass provides a 50% discount.)

 

[RonBoyd]

Our last "high cost" trip was a year ago when we took two 17-year old girls with us to California towing a pop-up trailer. (We had a break-in in Vallejo and had to replace a window and we had two flat tires -- the first ever and blame it on the girls overloading the vehicle <chuckle>) This is the breakdown of expenses:

Travel Expenses Report
07/28/2015 - 08/15/2015

Cultural Events

08/02/2015 Forestiere Underground Garden 40.00
08/02/2015 Fresno Chaffee Zoo 17.00
08/04/2015 San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour 139.96
08/05/2015 Six Flags - Vallejo CA 138.34
08/06/2015 Blue & Gold Fleet - San Francisco - Ferry Boat 53.60
08/11/2015 San Diego Zoo (KOA at San Diego Metro) 184.99

Cultural Events - TOTAL $ 573.89

Gasoline

07/28/2015 Stateline Station - Beulah WY 64.29
07/28/2015 Flying J - Gillette WY 19.26
07/29/2015 Flying J - Rock Springs WY 37.25
07/29/2015 Flying J - Casper WY 33.70
07/30/2015 Pilot - Carlin NV 47.83
07/31/2015 Flying J - Lake Point UT 54.02
07/31/2015 Flying J - Fernley NV 53.35
07/31/2015 Sierra Station - Jamestown CA 45.38
07/31/2015 Sierra Station - Jamestown CA 19.37
08/02/2015 Snappy Foods - Fresno CA 76.42
08/05/2015 Flying J - Lodi CA 54.07
08/08/2015 Gomez Gasoline - Watsonville CA 82.57
08/08/2015 Chevron - Paso Robles CA 65.66
08/10/2015 El Segundo Chevron - El Segundo CA 93.79
08/13/2015 Golden Acorn Travel Center - Campo CA 75.00
08/13/2015 Shell - Chino Valley AZ 67.62
08/13/2015 Giant - Yuma AZ 36.92
08/14/2015 Chevron - Kaventa AZ 56.95
08/15/2015 Pilot - Grand Junction CO 59.27

Gasoline - TOTAL $ 1,042.72

Hotel

07/28/2015 Green Tree's Crazy Woman Campground - Gillette WY 41.00
07/29/2015 KOA at Salt Lake City UT 49.65
07/31/2015 KOA at Yosemite/Mariposa CA 62.55
07/31/2015 KOA at Yosemite/Mariposa CA 62.55
08/02/2015 Merced River Resort - Delhi CA 31.50
08/03/2015 Dockweiler RV Park - Playa del Mar CA 75.00
08/05/2015 Tradewinds RV Park - Vallejo CA 70.00
08/07/2015 Betabel RV Park - San Juan Bautista CA 43.74
08/08/2015 Californian RV Resort - Acton CA 21.00
08/10/2015 Dockweiler RV Park - Playa del Mar CA 60.00
08/11/2015 KOA at San Diego Metro - San Diego CA (Actual cost $134.64) 84.64
08/13/2015 Grand Canyon Railway RV Park - Williams AZ 55.13
08/14/2015 Blue Mountain RV Park - Blanding UT 48.72
08/15/2015 KOA at Silt/Colorado River CO (Actual Cost - $46.28) 21.28

Hotel - TOTAL $ 726.76

Meals

07/28/2015 Old Chicago - Gillette WY 127.89
07/28/2015 Walmart - Gillette WY 13.96
07/29/2015 KOA at Salt Lake City UT 2.98
07/30/2015 The Wok - Fallon NV 170.83
07/30/2015 Walmart - Fallon NV 29.46
08/05/2015 Walmart - Suisun City CA 33.15
08/05/2015 Subway - Vallejo CA 29.10
08/06/2015 Hard Rock Cafe - San Francisco CA 124.99
08/06/2015 Waffle Cone Shop - Ice Cream 24.00
08/06/2015 Gas and Shop - Ice 2.60
08/06/2015 Chowders - Coffee 2.18
08/07/2015 Safeway - Santa Cruz CA 33.48
08/10/2015 KFC - Torrance CA 45.22
08/10/2015 Walmart - Torrance CA 28.96
08/12/2015 San Diego Zoo - Safari Kitchen 72.88
08/14/2015 Clark's Market - Williams AZ 11.81
08/15/2015 Walmart - Rifle CO 11.97

Meals - TOTAL $ 765.46

Other
08/07/2015 High Speed Auto Glass - Vallejo CA 250.00
08/13/2015 C & S Tires - Bouse AZ - Roadside Service 71.50
08/15/2015 Chips Grand Tire Co. - Moab UT 62.55

Other - TOTAL $ 384.05

Parking
08/05/2015 Six Flags - Vallejo CA - Parking 25.00
08/06/2015 City of Vallejo - Parking 5.00

Parking - TOTAL $ 30.00

Toll Roads
08/07/2015 San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge 15.00

Toll Roads - TOTAL $ 15.00

Travel - TOTAL $ 3,537.88

 

[Bamaman]

We're leaving tomorrow for our fifth wheel trailer in the North Georgia Mountains--where it's stored.

Cost: $30 to move our trailer on a campsite and back to storage.
$60 gasoline to drive there.
Food is a fixed expense--same price whether there or at home.

That's it. The yearly dues at the campground are $410, and we can stay for 14 days for free. We feel very fortunate to have our RV and this place to go to even if it's 300 miles each way.

 

[38Chevy454]

I view the RV as travel and vacation expense, rather than alternative to house expenses. As several have said, you might save a small amount on utilities at home by not being there. Now if you have no "sticks and bricks" permanent home (as the full time RVers call it), then you can have some pretty low costs of living expenses.

For me the RV allows me to go places and do things that I can't do with hotels and restaurants. I typically stay in state parks or similar, sometimes boondocking for free, and overnight in truck stops or Wal-Mart type places when on the road.

Only eat out when traveling on the road for convenience, other wise the grill is fired up and something good cooking when camped. Cold beer always available in the frig. Camping location scenery beats most any hotel. It's more of a lifestyle choice than a money saving choice.

 

[REWahoo]

I view the RV as travel and vacation expense, rather than alternative to house expenses. As several have said, you might save a small amount on utilities at home by not being there. Now if you have no "sticks and bricks" permanent home (as the full time RVers call it), then you can have some pretty low costs of living expenses.

For me the RV allows me to go places and do things that I can't do with hotels and restaurants. I typically stay in state parks or similar, sometimes boondocking for free, and overnight in truck stops or Wal-Mart type places when on the road.

Only eat out when traveling on the road for convenience, other wise the grill is fired up and something good cooking when camped. Cold beer always available in the frig. Camping location scenery beats most any hotel. It's more of a lifestyle choice than a money saving choice.

^ What he said.

Plus there is the added benefit of knowing who slept in your bed last night.