Over the years, quite a few people have mentioned that they envy the way Shirley and I are able to travel--winters in Florida and/or Arizona, summers fishing in the mountains, perhaps a short spring or fall trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Natchez Trace or to Savannah for our anniversary. The assumption is that this costs a lot of money and that they could never afford it. That might be true in some cases but the conclusion might also be based on erroneous assumptions.
When my sisters and their husbands came to visit at Christmas, we got to talking about travel destinations we have had in common. In December, the conversation naturally settled on Florida and then the advantages of staying in the Disney World complex compared to one of the numerous hotels just outside the park.
When it comes to Florida, Shirley and I prefer St. Augustine, Everglades National Park and Gulf Islands National Seashore to resorts and theme parks. As RVers, we could camp right at Disney World in the Fort Wilderness Resort where campsites go for about $60-$100 per night after paying the park entry fee of about $100 each per day. (Yes, I know package deals can be had at a lower price.)
But, just to provide some perspective, the entry fee for the Everglades is $25 per vehicle for seven days. If you are 62 or older, you can buy a senior access pass that now costs $80 and gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation areas-- national parks, national forests, national monuments and conservation areas, BLM, and Corps of Engineers--for the rest of your life. Plus half off the price of camping. If you don't yet qualify for a geezer pass, you can still get an annual pass for $80.This may be attractive if your family vacation includes several parks.
With the geezer pass, the camping fee in the Everglades is only $10 per night. We have been known to spend a month. Does it make sense to trade a whole month in the national park for a single day in Disney World? Depends. If you prefer resorts to camping in national parks, you probably don't care that camping is less expensive. I know my sisters don't. Like other people, they may say they envy the way we travel but they would never even consider actually doing it.
Still, you might be thinking of dipping your toe in the water. There are state parks close to home that offer plenty of natural beauty and are affordable as well. Some states have attractive annual pass options that include discounts on camping and other fees. Texas, for example, has a $70 annual pass that eliminates the daily entrance fee of $5 a person and offers half off the camping fee of about $20. New Mexico's annual pass is $225 for unlimited camping (14-day limit at each campground, though) at the 34 state parks. Even without the pass, New Mexico state parks are an absolute bargain at $10 regardless of your state of residency or your age. (That's for sites without electricity, water, or sewer hookups of course.) Louisiana state parks are moderately priced to begin with and they accept the national pass for half off camping.
There are also commercial campgrounds like KOA and Jellystone Park that appeal to families with kids. They emphasize recreational opportunities that make camping attractive to people who aren't into hiking, fishing, spectacular scenery and wildlife. These places offer swimming pools, recreation halls, free wi-fi, putt-putt golf, and playgrounds. Just because we don't choose them doesn't mean they might not work out well for you.
Like family campgrounds, luxury RV resorts offer a variety of amenities--only more so. A fellow in Tucson tried to entice us to his campground by pointing out that there was a huge recreation hall where they held dances and potluck dinners, an upscale restaurant, a fully equipped wood-working shop, a crafts center, pickle ball and tennis, yoga and zumba classes, bocce ball and shuffleboard, wi-fi service, as well as the obligatory swimming pool. And a plethora of other things I have long since forgotten. Again, not our thing but different strokes for different folks. But if you are even a little concerned about affordability, places called "luxury RV resorts" may not be your first choice.
Just in case you are considering doing it our way, I did some quick calculations that included only the cost of fuel and camping fees. What we spend on meals is no higher than when we are at home. I have no way to estimate how much you might budget for a family vacation that includes hotels, and two or three meals a day for X number of people. Our 2018 winter trip to Arizona cost $1,241.57 for gasoline and $342 for camping. Expenses for Wyoming that summer included $1,142.50 for gas and $279.15 for camping. Is that a lot of money? What do you think is a fair price for a winter in Arizona and a summer in Wyoming? In addition, our travel expenses are partially offset by significantly reduced utility bills while we are gone. Looking at those numbers, I think it is safe to say that the camping portion works out to about free because the house is turned off. Furthermore, all of our bills are paid automatically so that, theoretically, we could be gone forever.
Or not at all. We know people who bought an RV that was parked near Marble Head. It never moved an inch during all the time they owned it. But I'm assuming that, like us, you think of RVing as a way to travel rather than just an alternative to a cottage at the lake.
And speaking of being gone forever, we have met a growing number of people who are full-timers. They sold their home, bought an RV and travel wherever the scenery and the weather appeal to them. Most are retirees. Some of them are really, really brave by our standards. Shirley and I were backpackers and tenters for 35 years before we became RVers. We had been to dozens of national parks and talked to numerous RVers. We knew we loved camping so an RV was a convenient way to get out of the weather and travel in greater comfort. Still, we met a number of retiree full-time RVers with absolutely no experience camping. Anywhere. Of any kind. What were they thinking?
In recent years, though, they have been joined by young professionals whose careers allow them to work "from home" thanks to digital technology. Some even travel full time with children who are being "home schooled." Still others describe themselves as "gypsies" because they take temporary jobs along the way to fund their travels. At Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, for example, our neighbors were a registered nurse and radiology technician. They said they had no trouble finding jobs for a couple months or so and then moving on when they felt like it.
Another way to practically eliminate the cost of RVing is to volunteer as camp hosts at a national park. In exchange for a couple days of work each week, the parks provide free campsites, usually with full hookups. The downside, of course, is you are committed to staying put for the duration. Even so, hosts we have known for years make use of their days off the same way any other RVers would--except they can't go very far. Most are motivated not by the free camping but by the desire to serve the parks and to spend a season with other hosts with whom they may have shared the experience for several seasons.
If camping cheap is still not good enough, there are literally thousands of places to camp for free if you have a self-contained RV. When we are fly fishing in the West, we follow gravel roads into the national forests where the mountain streams run clear and fast. Forest Service campgrounds are usually less than $10 to begin with and, with the geezer pass, they are half of that. Much of the time, we choose to boondock--camp without a campground--as is widely permitted by both the National Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. It is not just a matter of cost. We actually prefer quiet seclusion far from the madding crowd.
On the way to wonderful places, there are numerous opportunities to spend the night at no charge. Most Walmart Superstores, for example, welcome RVers to overnight at the far edges of their parking lots. We choose those near the interstate exit for convenience and avoid busy urban stores. Superstores are open all night and have security cameras. We check with the store manager if there is any doubt about their policy and say thanks for the hospitality by restocking our pantry. Cracker Barrel restaurants also have RV spaces set aside so we go in for supper and/or breakfast.
In some states, RVers are welcome to overnight at highway rest areas and welcome centers. Some won't let you stay all night--but you may be allowed to take a nap for up to eight hours. We avoid rest areas where we might end up too close to big trucks that run their engines all night or are too close to railroad tracks.
In addition to being inexpensive, traveling this way greatly increases travel flexibility. Don't feel like driving any farther? There's a Walmart at the next exit. Want to go on for another hour or so? There's another Walmart just down the road. If we are near a major metropolitan area, we try to get through it before stopping for the night in order to avoid rush hour the next morning. Look into the All Stays phone app for a long list of free and/or inexpensive places to stay. One serious cautionary note: when the temperature is pushing 90, we prefer not to spend the night in a hot asphalt parking lot so we start looking for a campground with electricity so we can run the RV air conditioner.
This travel advice assumes that you have an RV or are contemplating one. It is impossible to estimate a cost for that because the price of RVs varies widely from a simple pop-up tent trailer to a luxury Class A rig. You're looking at an investment that could range from a couple thousand dollars to a quarter million or more. The rig you choose should fit your needs, preferences and personal budget. Consider doing some research on the Internet and/or talk to an RV owner. Ask what they like best and what they don't like at all. Most RVers are glad to talk about their rigs. The trick is to get us to shut up.
You might find a short-term RV rental a good way to try one without making a major commitment. People from all over the world, quite literally, fly to cities within driving distance of a national park and rent an RV for a week or so. Just don't assume that renting an RV is a way to save money. A web search for "RV rental prices" will reveal that you can stay in really nice hotels for less. But you are paying for the experience.
We stopped for the night at a pullout on the highway to Exit Glacier and were lulled to sleep by the murmur of the river. In Alaska, you are allowed to spend the night pretty much anywhere you can get safely off the road. Pullouts tend to be long and wide so this is easier than you might think.
More often than not, when we are boondocking, we are joined by wildlife. Mulie Dear the mule deer came for cocktail hour. She passed on the straight bourbon but was happy with a nice Manhattan.
When Country-Western performers Brett Eldredge and Old Dominion played at the Montana State Fair they parked their tour buses across from us at the Walmart.
But, just to provide some perspective, the entry fee for the Everglades is $25 per vehicle for seven days. If you are 62 or older, you can buy a senior access pass that now costs $80 and gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation areas-- national parks, national forests, national monuments and conservation areas, BLM, and Corps of Engineers--for the rest of your life. Plus half off the price of camping. If you don't yet qualify for a geezer pass, you can still get an annual pass for $80.This may be attractive if your family vacation includes several parks.
With the geezer pass, the camping fee in the Everglades is only $10 per night. We have been known to spend a month. Does it make sense to trade a whole month in the national park for a single day in Disney World? Depends. If you prefer resorts to camping in national parks, you probably don't care that camping is less expensive. I know my sisters don't. Like other people, they may say they envy the way we travel but they would never even consider actually doing it.
Still, you might be thinking of dipping your toe in the water. There are state parks close to home that offer plenty of natural beauty and are affordable as well. Some states have attractive annual pass options that include discounts on camping and other fees. Texas, for example, has a $70 annual pass that eliminates the daily entrance fee of $5 a person and offers half off the camping fee of about $20. New Mexico's annual pass is $225 for unlimited camping (14-day limit at each campground, though) at the 34 state parks. Even without the pass, New Mexico state parks are an absolute bargain at $10 regardless of your state of residency or your age. (That's for sites without electricity, water, or sewer hookups of course.) Louisiana state parks are moderately priced to begin with and they accept the national pass for half off camping.
There are also commercial campgrounds like KOA and Jellystone Park that appeal to families with kids. They emphasize recreational opportunities that make camping attractive to people who aren't into hiking, fishing, spectacular scenery and wildlife. These places offer swimming pools, recreation halls, free wi-fi, putt-putt golf, and playgrounds. Just because we don't choose them doesn't mean they might not work out well for you.
Like family campgrounds, luxury RV resorts offer a variety of amenities--only more so. A fellow in Tucson tried to entice us to his campground by pointing out that there was a huge recreation hall where they held dances and potluck dinners, an upscale restaurant, a fully equipped wood-working shop, a crafts center, pickle ball and tennis, yoga and zumba classes, bocce ball and shuffleboard, wi-fi service, as well as the obligatory swimming pool. And a plethora of other things I have long since forgotten. Again, not our thing but different strokes for different folks. But if you are even a little concerned about affordability, places called "luxury RV resorts" may not be your first choice.
Just in case you are considering doing it our way, I did some quick calculations that included only the cost of fuel and camping fees. What we spend on meals is no higher than when we are at home. I have no way to estimate how much you might budget for a family vacation that includes hotels, and two or three meals a day for X number of people. Our 2018 winter trip to Arizona cost $1,241.57 for gasoline and $342 for camping. Expenses for Wyoming that summer included $1,142.50 for gas and $279.15 for camping. Is that a lot of money? What do you think is a fair price for a winter in Arizona and a summer in Wyoming? In addition, our travel expenses are partially offset by significantly reduced utility bills while we are gone. Looking at those numbers, I think it is safe to say that the camping portion works out to about free because the house is turned off. Furthermore, all of our bills are paid automatically so that, theoretically, we could be gone forever.
Or not at all. We know people who bought an RV that was parked near Marble Head. It never moved an inch during all the time they owned it. But I'm assuming that, like us, you think of RVing as a way to travel rather than just an alternative to a cottage at the lake.
And speaking of being gone forever, we have met a growing number of people who are full-timers. They sold their home, bought an RV and travel wherever the scenery and the weather appeal to them. Most are retirees. Some of them are really, really brave by our standards. Shirley and I were backpackers and tenters for 35 years before we became RVers. We had been to dozens of national parks and talked to numerous RVers. We knew we loved camping so an RV was a convenient way to get out of the weather and travel in greater comfort. Still, we met a number of retiree full-time RVers with absolutely no experience camping. Anywhere. Of any kind. What were they thinking?
In recent years, though, they have been joined by young professionals whose careers allow them to work "from home" thanks to digital technology. Some even travel full time with children who are being "home schooled." Still others describe themselves as "gypsies" because they take temporary jobs along the way to fund their travels. At Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, for example, our neighbors were a registered nurse and radiology technician. They said they had no trouble finding jobs for a couple months or so and then moving on when they felt like it.
Another way to practically eliminate the cost of RVing is to volunteer as camp hosts at a national park. In exchange for a couple days of work each week, the parks provide free campsites, usually with full hookups. The downside, of course, is you are committed to staying put for the duration. Even so, hosts we have known for years make use of their days off the same way any other RVers would--except they can't go very far. Most are motivated not by the free camping but by the desire to serve the parks and to spend a season with other hosts with whom they may have shared the experience for several seasons.
If camping cheap is still not good enough, there are literally thousands of places to camp for free if you have a self-contained RV. When we are fly fishing in the West, we follow gravel roads into the national forests where the mountain streams run clear and fast. Forest Service campgrounds are usually less than $10 to begin with and, with the geezer pass, they are half of that. Much of the time, we choose to boondock--camp without a campground--as is widely permitted by both the National Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. It is not just a matter of cost. We actually prefer quiet seclusion far from the madding crowd.
On the way to wonderful places, there are numerous opportunities to spend the night at no charge. Most Walmart Superstores, for example, welcome RVers to overnight at the far edges of their parking lots. We choose those near the interstate exit for convenience and avoid busy urban stores. Superstores are open all night and have security cameras. We check with the store manager if there is any doubt about their policy and say thanks for the hospitality by restocking our pantry. Cracker Barrel restaurants also have RV spaces set aside so we go in for supper and/or breakfast.
In some states, RVers are welcome to overnight at highway rest areas and welcome centers. Some won't let you stay all night--but you may be allowed to take a nap for up to eight hours. We avoid rest areas where we might end up too close to big trucks that run their engines all night or are too close to railroad tracks.
In addition to being inexpensive, traveling this way greatly increases travel flexibility. Don't feel like driving any farther? There's a Walmart at the next exit. Want to go on for another hour or so? There's another Walmart just down the road. If we are near a major metropolitan area, we try to get through it before stopping for the night in order to avoid rush hour the next morning. Look into the All Stays phone app for a long list of free and/or inexpensive places to stay. One serious cautionary note: when the temperature is pushing 90, we prefer not to spend the night in a hot asphalt parking lot so we start looking for a campground with electricity so we can run the RV air conditioner.
This travel advice assumes that you have an RV or are contemplating one. It is impossible to estimate a cost for that because the price of RVs varies widely from a simple pop-up tent trailer to a luxury Class A rig. You're looking at an investment that could range from a couple thousand dollars to a quarter million or more. The rig you choose should fit your needs, preferences and personal budget. Consider doing some research on the Internet and/or talk to an RV owner. Ask what they like best and what they don't like at all. Most RVers are glad to talk about their rigs. The trick is to get us to shut up.
You might find a short-term RV rental a good way to try one without making a major commitment. People from all over the world, quite literally, fly to cities within driving distance of a national park and rent an RV for a week or so. Just don't assume that renting an RV is a way to save money. A web search for "RV rental prices" will reveal that you can stay in really nice hotels for less. But you are paying for the experience.
After considerable research, we bought a Roadtrek--a Class B RV or van camper--because we wanted something agile enough to drive easily and park on the streets when we visit Savannah or Tucson. It is also compact enough to get into and out of gas stations without a hassle. Our Roadtrek handles steep, narrow, winding roads up in the mountains where the bigger rigs have a more difficult time making the tight curves or are forbidden altogether. We have also watched owners of big rigs struggle to get into camp sites. But don't assume that smaller means cheaper. New Roadtreks go for well over $100,000. Which is why we bought ours used, with very low mileage, from a couple whose travel days were ended by declining health. Because ownership demographics are heavily weighted toward geezers, there are many attractive used RVs on the market.
You will notice from the photos that the Roadtrek looks small. Even so, it has a refrigerator that runs on AC, DC and propane, a stove, microwave oven, toilet, shower, fresh water tanks, heat pump for both heating and cooling, a separate propane furnace for when there are no hookups, and a surprising amount of storage space. The driver's and passenger's seats swivel around to face the pedestal table that is stored in the closet when it is not in use. (And it is rarely in use because we prefer to eat out--outside, that is--when weather permits.) I am six feet tall. The Roadtrek has six feet of headroom. Just barely. The bed is described as queen size. It really is not. Even so, it has been quite adequate since 2009. The Roadtrek has been scrupulously maintained and even upgraded in several respects because it is not only our vehicle but our house for about half the year.
The most important thing about the way we travel is not that it is inexpensive but that we love it. Years ago my job included special projects for the company CEO and board of directors. The corporate Secretary gave me some excellent advice: If they like it, they won't care what it cost. If they don't like it, they won't care how cheap it was.
The most important thing about the way we travel is not that it is inexpensive but that we love it. Years ago my job included special projects for the company CEO and board of directors. The corporate Secretary gave me some excellent advice: If they like it, they won't care what it cost. If they don't like it, they won't care how cheap it was.
With our geezer pass, there is free entry to Everglades National Park and camping for $10.
Easy access to wildlife such as this snowy egret and purple gallinule at no extra charge.
The next morning, we found that we had been joined by 13 more RVs.
The most popular "campground" in all of the Yukon was probably the Walmart in Whitehorse.
The Seminole Casino in Ommokolee, FL welcomes RVers to park along the far edge of their property. In fact, they are so welcoming they provide electric hookups. Many casinos have found that RVers often buy dinner and drop a few bucks in the slots.
This moose cow wandered through our Denali National Park campsite...
followed by her twin calves. That ain't never gonna happen at the KOA.
Just because you are roughing it in the deep woods doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice civilized glass of port by the fire. The stones for this fire ring were placed by people who camped there before. It is not good conservation practice to build a new ring if there is one already available.
Likewise, though you are technically allowed to camp virtually anywhere in a national forest, it is better to reuse an existing clearing rather than create a new one.
Would you be willing to pay $5 at a national forest campground in Colorado? What if I told you that Williams Creek, full of trout, is behind the trees right out the back door?
Maybe you are beach people instead of mountain people. A site with water and electricity at Fort Pickens just offshore from Pensacola in Gulf Islands National Seashore goes for $10 with a pass.
Notice how crowded the beach is.
If you object to paying a whole $4 for a site like this at Padre Island, you can always camp right on the beach for free. That is an excellent option if you arrive late in the day and the campground is full.
During the government shutdown in 2019, the Padre Island campground was closed but the beach of hard-packed sand was open. Eventually we were joined by a couple dozen rigs spread out over a mile or so.
The host at the Judge Roy Bean home/saloon/opera house in Langtry, TX said we could spend the night at the community center right across the street. Very quiet out there because the "community" is made up of ranchers widely scattered over the sparsely populated area.
Speaking of sparsely populated, we never worry about the neighbors playing rap music too loud in La Cienegas National Conservation Area. Some people demand social activities. Some prefer solitude. RVers can have it either way they choose.
There are two national park campgrounds on the Natchez Trace--Jeff Busby and Meriwether Lewis--where the fee is $0. The Trace is also served by a number of national forest, state park, and COE campgrounds. We have enjoyed all of the above.
And, yes, it is the Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame whose grave is where he died under mysterious circumstances.
When we visit Savannah, we cross Moon River made famous by Johnny Mercer and Andy Williams...
...in order to camp at Skidaway Island State Park. The fee includes hookups for water, electricity and cable TV. We removed our TV because we are seldom at places where there is reception. Besides, TV just can't compete with the sounds of silence.
We prefer actual wildlife to the cartoon animals at Disney World.
Beep! Beep! This roadrunner stopped to ask if Wile E. Coyote was in the neighborhood.
I told him not to worry. A judge had ordered Wile E. to wear a tracking collar because of inappropriate use of explosives and anvils.
A surprising number of people can't tell a mountain goat...
from a bighorn sheep.
Or a grizzly bear from...
a black bear. The easy way to distinguish is to climb a tree. A black bear will chase you up the tree. A grizzly bear will just shake the tree until you fall out.
This river otter was a better fisher than me.
And so were his cousins the sea otters.
National park lodges, such as the Many Glacier Hotel, are popular alternatives to camping. They tend to fill up six months to a year in advance so you'll need to plan well ahead.
But no planning is necessary if the place you shop lets you spend the night out by their barn.
We pay $8 for our favorite site at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
And get this for free.
The value of flexibility is indicated by this view of Denali. We waited three days in the campground for the weather to clear before taking the park bus ride out to the mountain. About 70% of the time, Denali is hidden by clouds. Visitors whose schedules are determined by their tour group have to settle for whatever they get.
It is not convenient to take a big rig into town for a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs so many RVers also have a towed vehicle or "toad." Sometimes they get clever like these folks and install a hydraulic rack for their Smartcar.
This fifth wheel trailer has a "toy hauler" room in the back for essentials such as the Harley. I wouldn't want to pull that thing through the mountains or even a gas station but many people are quite willing.
Regardless of the size of their rig, the task RVers most look forward to is emptying the waste water tanks. Not!
The Corps of Engineers operates locks and dams to serve a waterway across the southern tip of Florida. It saves boaters hundred of miles crossing from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Also expedites their hurricane evacuation.
In association with the lock and dam at Fort Myers, FL, the COE operates an outstanding campground. Getting reservations for a site is so competitive it could be an Olympic sport. But there are three non-reservable sites. Shirley called ahead and Carolee told her we might get one if we arrived within the next half hour.
The popularity of national parks has grown exponentially in recent years. This is the Mammoth Hot Springs entrance to Yellowstone. That left lane is normally outbound only but the line would extend all the way back through the town of Gardiner, MT if traffic were not diverted. In other words, if national parks are on your bucket list, maybe you should get on with it.
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