Fuel and CG discounts

[way2roll]

Next year we will be taking an extended trip all over the US. Probably 2-3 months. I know there are clubs you can belong to to get discounts on diesel and campgrounds. I know it's a broad question but what are some of the ones that would benefit a trip like that?

[way2roll]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll have to look into these suggestions. Some aren't applicable - we aren't seniors and we aren't military, but most should be helpful. We will be camping in the FW in my signature.

[RetiredRealtorR]

agesilaus wrote:

small coupon on the bottom right corner front page of the weekly flyer.

Well that explains that, the last time I looked at the Weekly Flyer was during Silent Cal's term of office...heh

They're on a rack as soon as you walk in the door (also online!) -- check it out......save some $$$

[agesilaus]

small coupon on the bottom right corner front page of the weekly flyer.

Well that explains that, the last time I looked at the Weekly Flyer was during Silent Cal's term of office...heh

[RetiredRealtorR]

agesilaus wrote:

A1ARealtorRick wrote:
I know in Wilmington you have Publix supermarkets, so I'm sure you're aware of their "gas card weekends" where with every $50 food purchase you can buy a $50 gas card for $40. That, of course, is a 20% discount -- probably substantially more than any 'club' would offer you. Just be sure to buy a gas card from a brand that typically has diesel, like Shell. We usually head out on our trips with at least 20 - 30 cards that we've accumulated. BTW, at least at Shell stations, Fuel Rewards will take another 5 cents off per gallon -- not much, but it all adds up.

Must be a local thing, I've never seen it in our local Publix stores and my SIL works at one.

We lived in St Augustine before moving to Gulf Shores -- all the Publix stores around there offered it, and prior to that, Orlando. They don't make a big deal of it (naturally) but when they have it there's a small coupon on the bottom right corner front page of the weekly flyer.

[agesilaus]

+1 on the TSD Logistics program for Loves, T/A.

I thought there were several reports that Loves refuses to honor TSD anymore once they figured out that some people using it were not truckers. But maybe TSD got that fixed since I don't see a mention of it online. They do give you a big discount.

[agesilaus]

A1ARealtorRick wrote:
I know in Wilmington you have Publix supermarkets, so I'm sure you're aware of their "gas card weekends" where with every $50 food purchase you can buy a $50 gas card for $40. That, of course, is a 20% discount -- probably substantially more than any 'club' would offer you. Just be sure to buy a gas card from a brand that typically has diesel, like Shell. We usually head out on our trips with at least 20 - 30 cards that we've accumulated. BTW, at least at Shell stations, Fuel Rewards will take another 5 cents off per gallon -- not much, but it all adds up.

Must be a local thing, I've never seen it in our local Publix stores and my SIL works at one.

[RetiredRealtorR]

I know in Wilmington you have Publix supermarkets, so I'm sure you're aware of their "gas card weekends" where with every $50 food purchase you can buy a $50 gas card for $40. That, of course, is a 20% discount -- probably substantially more than any 'club' would offer you. Just be sure to buy a gas card from a brand that typically has diesel, like Shell. We usually head out on our trips with at least 20 - 30 cards that we've accumulated. BTW, at least at Shell stations, Fuel Rewards will take another 5 cents off per gallon -- not much, but it all adds up.

[arhayes]

You don't say what type of rig you will be using. But, if you will be using Truckstops. +1 on the TSD Logistics program for Loves, T/A. It allows you to use the truck lanes WITHOUT having to go inside and stand in line for pre-authorization, and the discount gets fuel down to about what you could buy it at local gas stations (Truck stops are typicaly 25-40 cents a gallon above the local market). The two best discounts IMO are the Annual (lifetime if you're senior) Parks pass and Passport America. You can use Recreation.gov to book campsites in National Parks and Corps of Engineer parks nationwide with your parks pass. PA takes a little planning, but you can save money using them. Have fun!

[Lwiddis]

You might save five bucks but camp in a place without a view or trees that’s noisy. Don’t fence me in!

[bukhrn]

agesilaus wrote:
BUKHRN: I'm sure you are right about PPA being 50% off they are the best of the private clubs. I'll have to remain skeptical about finding one outside most major NP. But I checked and found one PPA in the vicinity of YNP/Tetons and RMNP, none around Glacier that I noticed. Part of my confusion stems from RVTW using the same, or at least very close, icons for most federal cg and for PPA parks. A US flag. So it can be tough to find a PPA park especially around big parks since there are usually many USFS cg.

Yes they can be hard to find around the more popular parks, but that is where the Senior Pass becomes Invaluable.
At Glacier, we stayed at Two Medicine on the East side, first come first serve, had to play the Vulture game, pull in early, then roam around checking site posts to see when someone is checking out, be ready to jump as they are leaving. Absolutely loved the place.

[agesilaus]

BUKHRN: I'm sure you are right about PPA being 50% off they are the best of the private clubs. I'll have to remain skeptical about finding one outside most major NP. But I checked and found one PPA in the vicinity of YNP/Tetons and RMNP, none around Glacier that I noticed. Part of my confusion stems from RVTW using the same, or at least very close, icons for most federal cg and for PPA parks. A US flag. So it can be tough to find a PPA park especially around big parks since there are usually many USFS cg.

[bukhrn]

In addition to GS, many CG's will also give 10% discount for AAA, AARP, or Military.

[Durb]

I don't know if your travels will take you to the Northwest and this is kind of a stretch. Costco diesel is inexpensive from the outset and you get an extra 4% off with a Costco credit card. It is the only place I buy my fuel but I don't travel nationally. Not every Costco has diesel and you will have to do some research to pick your places. I guess this may help as Costco probably qualifies as a "club".

Filled both tanks yesterday at $209.9 per gallon. Extra 4% brought it down to $201.5 per. On a recent trip to the coast, diesel was in the low threes. Big difference.

[bukhrn]

bukhrn wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
The best discount card is the one of the several US annual or lifetime park passes. The Access Pass is best if you can qualify. No cost and lifetime, gives you free entrance to parks and 50% off camping in any federal campground.
TRUE, we use this one the most.

Good Sams gives you a laughable discount at some fuel stops, but those places are so grossly overpriced that the discount is worthless. I think it is 7 cents a gal while the diesel was priced 50 cents a gallon above other stations. GS also gives a 10% discount on camping at one of their many parks with is more useful.

PPA Passport America gives a one third discount for one or two days with a lot of exceptions. But they have fewer parks and they are not often near major attractions. But it will pay for itself quickly if you use it. We stayed at 37 places this summer and I think we used a PPA park once.

Not really sure where you got only a one third discount, we've always got 50% discount with PPA, and with 1600 +/- CG's, we've never had a problem finding one, some are near major attractions, one that comes quickly to mind was at Gettysburg, literally across the street fro the battlefield. You are correct, at $44. it quickly pays for it's self, often in the first stay.
Some do have exceptions, some have no exceptions, be sure to check their website before booking.
T



Escapees gives I think a 15% discount at a very limited number of parks. We never seen one actually.

Boondocking gives a 100% discount, no card needed. But getting to the point where you can do it for 3 or 4 days has its own one time costs.

Mostly East of the Rockies the Corp of Engineer(COE or they called them USACE) CG are excellent parks and cheap especially if you have one of the federal passes. Most are water/electric tho. FHU is unusual. The Forest Service has a lot of parks but most don't have utilities tho some do. They are cheap.