RV trips are a lot of fun, but there’s also not cheap.
This is why budgeting is one of the most important things you can do, if not the single most important, before you leave on your trip.
You don’t want to spend money that you don’t have, so taking the time to actually sit down, write down and organize your budget, and research or calculate prices ahead of time is so important.
Here are the most critical tips to follow for budgeting for your Florida RV trip:
Don’t Forget About Security Deposits and Reservation Fees
When you call or e-mail ahead of time to reserve your RV for your desired time, you will most likely have to pay a reservation fee to the dealer or renter that is non-refundable. This fee will be incorporated into your overall cost, which means you’ll actually pay it later rather than now.
You’ll also most likely need to pay a security deposit before you leave, but this deposit will be refundable so long as you return the RV in good condition.
Calculate The Total Cost To Rent
The most obvious cost of renting an RV is the cost to rent it per day. This is also easy to calculate: you just take the amount the RV costs to rent and then multiply it by the number of days you’ll be having it.
Take note that the cost to rent a high quality RV will not be inexpensive. In Miami, for instance, the average cost to rent an RV per night is $210, according to Outdoorsy.
Make A Rough Estimate Of Fuel Costs
Fuel is another major expense that comes with driving RV’s. The average RV will get around eight to twelve miles per gallon, depending on the size of the RV, its fuel efficiency, and whether most of your trip will be heading uphill or downhill.
To calculate fuel costs so you can budget ahead of time, you’ll need to figure out approximately how many miles you’ll be traveling, and then take the approximate miles per gallon rate of the RV. You’ll also need to take the average cost of fuel in the area.
With those resulting figures, you’ll be able to calculate a rough estimate of what your total fuel costs are, and you can set money aside accordingly.
Food and RV Park Costs
Finally, don’t neglect the cost of food or the cost of staying at your RV park or campground. Even if those costs may seem smaller than the above ones, they still need to be factored into your total budget.
Budgeting For Your Florida RV Trip
It’s always important to make sure that you can actually afford your RV trip before embark on it. This is why saving up money for the trip will be smart, and it’s also why budgeting is one of the most critical preparation steps to make before you leave.
Conclusion
Careful planning is the key to enjoying a stress free RV trips. Consider all options, prepare all the things you need as well as what you might need. Budgeting will also have a huge role in planning for your RV trip, you need to carefully think through all choices which will best suite not only your budget but will also make your trip more enjoyable.
