There's a lot of interest today in packing up the family and dog, hopping into your RV and hitting the open road. However, to travel in an RV is quite expensive. If you're on a budget, the challenge is to keep your costs low as possible and still have a good time. One way to do this is to do your homework by researching campgrounds and other places you might want to spend the night.
There are many ways to find the low cost or free places to stay during your RV travels. The first of course is Google. Throw some keywords into Google and you'll be surprised at what comes up. There are also quite a few apps available as well that can direct you to free and low cost overnight stays or even for spending a few day or weeks. I'll list a few apps at the end of this article that might help you with your research.
Full service RV parks have become quite pricey, even to the point of costing as much as a motel room. This is especially true if the park is located near a city or major highway. Instead of a park like this, you may opt for a park with less amenities. You might also consider a state park. Keep in mind though, that some state parks and other recreational areas have no hookups and that's fine if you're trying to watch your money.
For the really frugal RV'er (and adventurer), you might want to consider camping out on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land or in a National Forest. Rarely is there any charge at all for these places and guess what? You won't find any paid areas offering the views and terrain these areas offer. Remember this, there are no hookups, so you'll need to carry fresh water and a means of producing electricity if you want or need it. Personally, this is the type camping I have been doing for years. I can't recall the last time I stayed in an RV park and paid those high rates. I have solar panels that provides all my electrical needs. These areas are quieter, more peaceful and the most scenic.
A couple of caveats to keep in mind are the roads and dust. All of the roads on BLM Land and National Forests I've been on are washboard type dirt and your speed is very limited because of this. Insure everything in your RV is secured and expect dust to get into everything. If you can live with that, you're in for some very special camping. Another thing is that some of the roads can be a challenge even for small vehicles, so if you're in a larger type motor home, trailer or 5th wheel, you may experience more challenges in reaching certain locations.
As promised, here are some apps and other information that you might find helpful during your research.
NOTE: The below listed apps are on my iPhone (IOS), but they may also be available for Android. Check it out and see.
CAMPENDIUM: This app has a great deal of information showing such things as nearby RV Parks, nearby public land, nearby free camping, etc.
OH RANGER! : Helps in your search for parks
RV PARKY: Assists in finding RV parks near a city or place
ROAD TRIPPERS: Helps in mapping out your trip with interesting stops along the way
THE DYRT MAGAZINE: The latest camping tips, stories, lists, etc.
WI-FI MAP: Helps find wi-fi on the road
GAS BUDDY: Finds gas stations near you with prices
WAZE: Never leave home without it. If you're not familiar with this app, you'll need it and love it. GPS in real time and even alerts you to nearby police, traffic, obstacles on the road, etc
www.freecampsites.net This one is not an app, but a website that is my favorite "go to" for finding free places to park:
You might also want to check out TRAILER LIFE or WOODALL'S that can help you find those RV park sites that have lower rates.
Credit: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of pixabay.com.
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