There’s something exciting about the very first stop of a long RV journey.
The RV is packed.
The route is planned.
The tanks are full.
And somewhere in the middle of all that excitement is the reality most people don’t talk about enough:
👉 What does full-time RV travel actually cost?
So for this trip, we decided to start sharing the real numbers behind our travels — the good, the bad, and the surprisingly expensive.
Our first stop took us from Florida to North Shore Landing in Georgia, covering a total of 444 miles.
And honestly?
This first week was a reminder that RV life is equal parts freedom, planning, and learning as you go.
⛽ Fuel Costs Add Up Fast
Diesel continues to be one of the biggest expenses when traveling with a large fifth wheel.
For this leg of the trip, we spent:
- Diesel Cost: $250.52
- Diesel Savings: $26.88
One thing that really helped was using the Open Roads fuel discount program. If you travel often with a diesel truck, programs like this can make a noticeable difference over time.
When you’re pulling a heavy RV hundreds of miles at a time, every little bit matters.
🏕️ Campground Costs Were Surprisingly Low
One of the biggest advantages we had on this stop was our Travel Resorts of America membership.
Our campground total for the week came out to:
- Campground Cost: $54.88
That’s not normal pricing for a full week at many campgrounds these days, especially near the water.
Membership camping definitely isn’t for everyone, but on longer trips like this, it can help lower travel costs significantly.
🔧 The “Little Costs” Nobody Thinks About
This is where RV travel gets interesting.
People usually focus on fuel and campgrounds, but the small things add up quickly.
During this stop we had:
- Propane: $75.60
- RV Supplies: $66.98
- Sewer hose
- Water hose
- Laundry: $9.00
- Social Media / Business Costs: $32.08
- Business cards for promoting Worries Empty
And then there are the unexpected category killers…
🍽️ Eating Out & Enjoying the Trip
Sometimes after a long travel day, you just want someone else to cook.
We spent:
- Restaurant Costs: $21.10
- Entertainment: $54.00
- Golf cart rental
And honestly, those are the moments that become part of the experience.
One thing we’ve learned during RV life is this:
If you only focus on saving money, you can accidentally miss enjoying the places you traveled so far to see.
Sometimes renting the golf cart, grabbing dinner, or slowing down near the lake becomes the memory you remember most.
📊 Our 7-Day Travel Total
Here’s the complete breakdown for our first stop:
- Fuel: $250.52
- Campground: $54.88
- Miscellaneous & Living Costs: $488.76
Total Travel Cost:
💰 $754.55
Now it’s important to explain something here…
These numbers ONLY include travel-related RV expenses.
They do NOT include:
- Truck payments
- RV payments
- Insurance
- Medical bills
- Regular household expenses
These are simply the costs directly tied to traveling and living on the road during this trip.
🚐 What We’re Learning
One thing we want this series to do is give people a real-world look at RV travel.
Not the filtered version.
Not the “everything is perfect” version.
The real version.
Some weeks are cheaper.
Some weeks are expensive.
Some stops are worth every penny.
Others teach hard lessons.
But that’s part of the adventure.
And as we continue traveling, we’ll keep sharing the numbers, the experiences, the campground reviews, and the things we wish we knew before hitting the road.
If you enjoy following real RV travel costs, campground experiences, and life on the road, make sure to follow along with us at Worries Empty as we continue this journey across America.
👉 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@worriesempty?sub_confirmation=1
God Bless and Safe Travels. 🚐
No comments:
Post a Comment