How do you define too expensive?
A lot of posts involving multiple RVing issues involve people saying this or that is overpriced. How do you make that determination? There are posts where people say they won't stop at a certain fue...
Forum Discussion
On gas: Rule no.1 - avoid Shell stations. Have never had a problem with no-name gas and will fill up at one if convenient and cheaper. We use gasbuddy if on an unfamiliar route with few stations. Since we typically get around 6-8 mpg, we won't drive very far just to get a lower price. Sometimes you are simply faced with paying more or running dry. Lowest price through 7 western states this summer was in Or. ($2.19 IIRC) and after 4500+ miles no issues whatsoever with finding decently priced gas, but you have to be prepared to pay more in some areas regardless. You can drive many miles some places, like the Or. Coast, and the price is the same everywhere. Be glad, very glad that you don't have to pay Can. gas prices which around here is currently about $3.85 USD/gal ($1.27 Can/liter). If you can't afford the gas whatever the price is, you shouldn't be RV-ing.
On CGs: We use a membership CG org. and not including annual dues, don't pay extra per night and can stay in the system non-stop (max. 21 days per location). On our 21 day, 4500+ mile summer trip, we stayed in 3 private CGs and 2 casinos one night each and the balance were free to us. Stayed in a KOA in Utah which was excellent (super clean washrooms) except for being near the freeway - something like $50/night. With private places, we try and find one that gets us a discount through Good Sam or via our CG membership org. If just over-nighting, will look for a low cost CG depending on condition/reviews. What through us off this summer was forest fires near Yellowstone NP and we bailed out of a 2 day stay at a KOA there and had to pay a cancellation fee. Managed to find a new place to overnight for around $30 en route to a CG we already had 2 nights booked at and added a 3rd night no problem there (one of our "free" CGs). DW pre-books every trip we go on, long or short and for longer trips does all research for a CGs en route online.
We've done 58 nights this year so far and at an avg. of $50/night could have been about $3,000 but have only put out around something like $700 incl. our annual membership dues. DW, being accountant, LOVES saving money and that kinda money really adds up over time.
Besides gas and CG cost, food can be a big cost. On short trips, we always food shop after we cross into the US but almost always seem to overbuy and overspend. On a road trip it is SO tempting to eat out a lot. Food cost has been the hardest thing for us to control and it takes discipline. Still working on it... :(
westernrvparkowner: would love to stay at one of your RV parks someday if I only knew where they are... :h
On CGs: We use a membership CG org. and not including annual dues, don't pay extra per night and can stay in the system non-stop (max. 21 days per location). On our 21 day, 4500+ mile summer trip, we stayed in 3 private CGs and 2 casinos one night each and the balance were free to us. Stayed in a KOA in Utah which was excellent (super clean washrooms) except for being near the freeway - something like $50/night. With private places, we try and find one that gets us a discount through Good Sam or via our CG membership org. If just over-nighting, will look for a low cost CG depending on condition/reviews. What through us off this summer was forest fires near Yellowstone NP and we bailed out of a 2 day stay at a KOA there and had to pay a cancellation fee. Managed to find a new place to overnight for around $30 en route to a CG we already had 2 nights booked at and added a 3rd night no problem there (one of our "free" CGs). DW pre-books every trip we go on, long or short and for longer trips does all research for a CGs en route online.
We've done 58 nights this year so far and at an avg. of $50/night could have been about $3,000 but have only put out around something like $700 incl. our annual membership dues. DW, being accountant, LOVES saving money and that kinda money really adds up over time.
Besides gas and CG cost, food can be a big cost. On short trips, we always food shop after we cross into the US but almost always seem to overbuy and overspend. On a road trip it is SO tempting to eat out a lot. Food cost has been the hardest thing for us to control and it takes discipline. Still working on it... :(
westernrvparkowner: would love to stay at one of your RV parks someday if I only knew where they are... :h
