Cost of RVing

[voodoo101]

"Across the country, campground prices generally start at around $20 a night and rarely exceed $75. The average RV spot, with power and water hookups, will run about $30, according to J.D. Power. Any way you slice it, that’s a significant savings over the typical vacation." From a news article by Camping World.

https://blog.campingworld.com/travel-different/is-rv-camping-the-best-way-to-travel/

Not sure where she is finding those rates starting a $20 and averaging $30.

[valhalla360]

Reisender wrote:
I would say we find campgrounds more in the mid 40’s on average. Not complaining. Just an observation.

That's pretty consistent from what we've seen.

We recently got back from a 7 month loop of the country over the winter. Stayed in 40 campgrounds. I did a quick look at our schedule and counted 18 campgrounds (mix of commercial & govt) that were $22 or less.

There were a couple that were just OK for an overnight but most were fine.

If you do a week or a month, that usually drags the cost down substantially over the nightly rate.

[dalenoel]

There is a JD Power article from 2017 that shows these costs.

https://wandrlymagazine.com/article/rv-camping-cost-per-night/

Most of the article that refers to the $30/night also only refer to Camping World and their input to the RV world.

Interesting read but not today's reality.

[SDcampowneroper]

You eat everywhere, so cooking at or in in your RV cuts that cost by 80% the same as it would be at home over restaurants. Fuel, what would you spend at home to go about life?
Site fees - heres the big question

In the ARVC and Good Sam profile, that exclude membership and longer than weeklong visits, giving better rates to monthlies and seasonals, so as to give an overnight stay basis complicated by the average of on and off season rates, and further complicated by discounts that may or not apply,
Yeah, you could make it on $ 30-40/ night in nice camps if you travel in shoulder and off season, in the hinterland -- in the coastal states, add a lot. Double in any season.
If you dont need premium sites like pull thrus, are adventurous, it can be as low as free on public lands where you can subsist on your in house systems. For this xyou must know your tank and batteriy limits
$30 / is about the average nightly fee reported for private/ public in season partially seviced in the mid section of the USA

[wanderingaimles]

Just checked in with FHU (30 amp) on Ocracoke Island, thought it was reasonable at $50 a night. Nags Head and Hatteras were over $100 most around $125.

[CavemanCharlie]

Campgrounds around here are 25-35 dollars a night. But, that is just for electric hook up and occasionally water.

But,, they are CAMPgrounds !! Not camping resorts with all sorts of extras. You get a spot on a lake or river with electric , a fire pit, usually a place to swim or fish, (if your lucky a dock) some hiking trails, a bathroom and shower, sometimes a dump station, sometimes a place to launch a boat, and generally a place to set around the fire with family and a few friends and have fun outdoors.

If you want swimming pools, wi-fi, and stuff like that, then you are not going to get that for 25-35 bucks.

[docsouce]

My wife and I are heading out on June 20 for 3 or 4 months in our 26ft class C on an E-450 chassis no tow.. So let's "estimate" per day costs. Some days will be more some less. No breakdowns. $80 for gas. We do 175 to 225 miles per day 8 mpg. $45 per day for a campsite. $25 per day for food. Looks like $150 per day. If we are taking a few days off..... $45 for a campsite and 25 for food. Our food not restaurant bought...... This is the number I'm using right now, but gas is going through the roof, so is food. So who knows. When I get back in September I'll post the real numbers. Should be interesting.

[lbrjet]

How does stuff like that even get published.

[goducks10]

Maybe thats why we like dry camping.
$18.60 a night. Senior Agency Lifetime Pass cuts it to $47.99 for 4 nights. Online fee and tax included.
Thats about what we pay for one night anyplace other than a Ore St park.

[wa8yxm]

One thing Wife and I did was sign up for a couple of campground memberships.
These memberships give you access to the company's campgrounds for a flat rate a month. depending on the package 2 weeks in one week out (or 3 and one, I had the basic) As a result with two Campground about 60 Miles apart summer I paid about 100/month for parking (That includes the gas to shuttle back and forth) and abou 200 in the winter (3 campgrounds forming a triangle 17 miles on a side drive time)

You can often buy a membership for reduced price via one or another brokerage house by the way ... one of mine is so listed (the other is not) You can google for the brokerage places.

Or you can take a tour and pay full price.

I suggest at least one membership if only to cut down on the cost

Plus of membership.. Low cost parking (Generally around 50/month) on the 2/1 plan. Downside. 50/month if you use it. and 50/month if you do not. You still have to pay.

Downside two. The one I kept the "Jewel" park (about 3 miles from where I'm sitting) is amazing. Very nice, very modern 5 swimming pools for example.

The other parks in this system are good. but not that good.
The other park most all the campgrounds need a bit of 'er.. TLC.

So look before you leap.

[Rick_Jay]

Wow!!! Those sound like the rates when we started, back in 2004. One nice, private, campground up in New Hampshire which we get to when we can, used to be about $40/night including 4 kids and the dog for a site overlooking the lake and full hookups (50A). Now it's a bit over $100/night.

In addition to the base rates rising, it is becoming increasingly common for campgrounds to limit the base rate to 2 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children, or some such. Additional daily charges apply if you have 3 or more kids. Dogs are extra at some campgrounds.

I'm not blaming them, they have to make a living and here in the Northeast, it's a pretty short season from May 15 - Oct. 15, usually.

I agree that if one tries to "save money" RV'ing, it's going to be a struggle. It's a lifestyle. It isn't for everyone, but those who love it know it's worth every penny with the memories that are made! 🙂

~Rick

ON EDIT: It just hit me....what the heck does J.D. Power know about Camping and RV'ing? Apparently not much. LOL

[RetiredRealtorR]

That certainly would be a significant savings . . . IF it were factual, and IF your RV was paid for, and IF it got better than 8 mpg, and IF gas/fuel prices quit going up, and IF ....... well, point made.

Anybody that RV's to "save money" is fooling themselves. We do it because we love it. Period.

[Reisender]

I would say we find campgrounds more in the mid 40’s on average. Not complaining. Just an observation.

[toedtoes]

Of course they also forgot to account for the additional costs of buying that RV, a tow vehicle or toad, additional registrations and insurance, new tires every 5-7 years, fuel costs, and so on.

Just another article that is selling an idea with no clue what it really entails.

[K_Charles]

They make it sound like everyone should have an RV, good add for someone selling RVs.

[happynow]

That information must be atleast 5 years old.
Even with discounts, it's tough to find those rates.