*This article is in collaboration with RVshare.*
Ever dreamed of booking an RV to do a cross-country road trip? Or even taking it to the next level and seeing all the best National Parks along the way?
Now is the time to start planning, friends! Road trip season will be here before you know it, so there’s no better time to plan your trip on a budget.
Ways to save on your National Park RV trip
If you’re not careful, your RV vacation could end up being just as expensive as booking hotels. Don’t worry though — we’ve got you covered today with smart ways to save on your National Park RV trip. It all starts with your RV booking.
Book your RV rental with a peer-to-peer marketplace
Booking your RV through a peer-to-peer marketplace like RVshare allows you to connect directly with a private RV owner. They rent you their RV when they’re not using it, you get to skip on the formality of going with a professional agency.
Most of the time this can save you considerable money per night, but be sure to do some research. The best RV owners will keep their prices competitive, but some may price higher than market. Knowing the market rate going in is key to finding a great deal.
Understand how much RV you’ll need
Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, bigger is usually more expensive, both when it comes to your per night rental fee and when it comes to paying for campgrounds along the way. Here are the three most common types of RV listings you’ll see:
- Class A: This is probably what most people think of when they hear “RV”. It’s that massive bus-like thing, usually complete with bedroom(s), a full kitchen and a functioning toilet. They’re harder to drive, way luxe, and actually can’t be taken everywhere you want to visit — especially in National Parks that have size or clearance restrictions. They’re so big that they can sometimes be restrictive. Plus, they tend to be the most expensive.
- Class B: Class B RVs are essentially campervans. While there is some variation, they tend to be built on a van chassis, and are great if you’re making the trip with just a couple of people. Spaces are likely to be multifunctional. For example, the kitchenette might double as the sleeping space depending on how you have things folded.
- Class C: If you thought Class C would be smaller than Class B, you’d be wrong! Instead, Class C is somwhere between Class A and Class B. They’re easier to maneuver than Class A and are allowed at more campgrounds, but they can also fit more people in them than a Class B camper van and are more likely to have separate spaces for things like cooking and sleeping.
If you’re traveling with a family of 8, maybe you need a Class A vehicle. But if you don’t, scaling down to Class B or Class C can save you some serious cash.
Get free admission and half-off National Park campsites
TIP: We’ve got a whole article on how to get free admission to National Parks here on Femme Frugality. Be sure to check it out.
If you’re visiting more than one National Park on your RV vacation, you’re probably going to want to look into the America the Beautiful pass. It does come with a fee, but the fee is usually cheaper than paying for multiple National Park admissions — especially once you hit the 3x-admission-paying level.
Some populations get free park admission for no fee. You’ll have to get the appropriate pass to claim the discount. But after that, no admission fees for you. This discount applies to:
- Veterans.
- Families with fourth graders. (Random, but true. If you’re making your trip in the summer, it applies to those who just finished fourth grade and are heading into their fifth grade year.)
- Federal lands volunteers with 250+ hours of service under their belts.
Now, while you will get free park admission, none of these categories include discounted camping. However…
These populations get half-off camping fees at National Parks
If someone in your vehicle is disabled, they qualify for the Access Pass, which is a free lifetime pass that gives them free park admission and 50% off camping site fees at National Parks.
Seniors ages 62+ have to pay for their cards (anywhere between $20 to $80 depending on whether you want it to be an annual pass or a lifetime one), but after that they do get into National Parks sans admission and they get 50% off campground fees.
PRO TIP: Accessible RVs are a thing! Here’s where you can find some great options.
Park outside the park, then catch a free shuttle in
While there are RV campsites at many a National Park, they’re not typically free. Paying for them can really eat away at your savings, and they do tend to book up a long way out.
Another potentially more affordable option is setting up camp outside of the park, then catching a free shuttle in to see the sites. Not all National Parks run these free shuttle services, but some do.
Free campsites aren’t as likely to have electricity or other utility hookups, so you’ll might end up wanting to pay at key stops along your journey. But for those nights when you just want to save your budget, here are some ways to find free campsites nearby National Parks.
TIP: All of these strategies require a good bit of prior research. Don’t plan them on the fly, or you might be left disappointed!
Look for BLM lands or National Forests
You’re not likely to find hookups on Bureau of Land Management lands or in National Forests, but you are generally allowed to camp there for free on sections that are designated as dispersed campgrounds. (The same is usually true if you can find dispersed campgrounds inside of National Parks, to be fair.)
You will want to do your research before you plan to use this strategy. Dispersed camping usually doesn’t come with fees, but you want to check first. Even though you may be allowed to stay overnight for free, you may still need a permit to do something like light a fire.
Exchange labor for a free stay
If you’ve got a little time built into your schedule, some campgrounds like KOA sites will let you stay for a discounted rate (or even free) in exchange for some work. This is known as ‘work camping’ or ‘work kamping.’ Sometimes, these gigs will even pay some type of wage in addition to the discounted camping fee, but each site is usually run independently, so you’ll want to check with the manager first.
Related: Acadia National Park on a Budget
Check out RV membership clubs
There are RV membership clubs that charge a low fee for you to gain access to the club members’ private property to park overnight. These tend to be one-night gigs, and they don’t often include hookups. But if you can find one close enough to a National Park to catch a shuttle, they can save you a bit of money.
Find a parking lot (and get permission)
A lot of times, if you can find a big box store like Walmart or Target, they’ll let you park in their lot overnight for no fees. Same goes with truck stops or really anywhere with a massive parking lot.
It’s imperative to get permission first, though. And it’s better to pick a place that’s close to a hotel or somewhere else that the National Park’s free shuttle is likely to visit.