Forum Discussion

Lisa_Boyer's avatar
Lisa_Boyer
Explorer
Aug 04, 2018

Newbie

Ok...so we are hitting the road. Purchasing a Class A, sold our home, everything is in storage, now what, lol

We are doing this because our house sold faster then anticipated, and we haven't found one we like, in an area we want to be in. So, we thought what better way to find that perfect place, then to visit it.

My question is, we are on a fixed income, and don't want to spend it all on camping fees, how or where do people stay to avoid this? We applied for a Disabled Vet pass through the state of Wa, but I'm still not through all the fine print to see where this comes in handy. Can you share please where the best places are to park a few days at a time, and not drain the bank account?
  • From your post, it sounds like you are a vet. Often, military bases offer famcamps, camping areas for vets. I don't know if they are free or if they charge a fee. Most who have stayed there seem to feel they are well equipped and in good shape. Also, consider getting a Senior Pass for the National Parks, if you don't have it yet, for reduced camping fees in these areas.
  • freecampsites.net,allstays.com are two good sites for finding low cost or free camping.
  • Staying a month at a private RV park gets a significantly reduced rate over the daily rate (usually plus electric), plus you can reduce your fuel costs by sitting still for awhile.
  • BLM land (free), State Parks and National Parks are cheaper than private campgrounds. Walmart and other like places when your just stopping for the night. Get yourself some camping apps, Allstays is one and there is one for free camping.
  • Lisa Boyer wrote:
    My question is, we are on a fixed income, and don't want to spend it all on camping fees, how or where do people stay to avoid this?


    Take a look at this article:

    Stealth Camping With A Truck Camper

    Don't worry about the "Truck Camper" part, the principles apply to all types of RVs.
  • Welcome to the forum. how far are you going to want to be traveling? You ask a very broad question without a lot of information.
  • All Corps of Engineers parks offer those with Senior Pass 1/2 off fees. Often have great sites for $7-$12/night.

    We use membership parks - often you can find a used membership that will help you save a lot of money. If you are on the west coast, membership parks make sense for fulltimers.

    Use Passport America for 1/2 off fees at parks all over the country. Often have restrictions, so make sure you read the restrictions for each individual park.

    We belong to Escapees and use their parks (and the Co-Op parks) whenever we can.

    Look for city/county parks and fairgrounds.

    I recommend AllStays app for smart phones for places to stay.

    Barb
  • Get an Inter-Agency Senior Pass from the feds and stay at USFS, COE, NPS, BLM, USFWS campgrounds for half price.
  • Start signing up for camp hosting. Oregon at least asks for a 30 day commitment. Free full gookup site in exchange for 20 hours per week per person 5 days a week. Gives you plenty of time tosee the area and decide what you like and dont like. Most state park system are always looking for good honest people to do a little work.