How to Save $$$ While Boondocking!
We had this huge area all to ourselves free for 14 days! Sundance, Wyoming.
You might be there scratching your head, wondering why I would want to talk about saving money while boondocking. Boondocking is free camping. Trust me, I know what I am talking about, and want to share with you how to save money so you can not only fulltime RV, but save money on those dreamy spots, as you boondock! Here is a link to part 1 of this 2 part series of boondocking! As a reminder, boondocking is typically 14 days, unless otherwise noted on the land you are looking at staying on. Ready to get started?
When you start looking for those dreamy, luscious spots, envisioning peaceful, starry filled nights and slow paced days, stay in the same area. There are times you may have to travel, like 25 miles from your first boondocking spot to the next, so the less you travel from site to site, the cheaper on gas for your setup.
When planning our route, I look to see what kind of services the town closet to us has. A Walmart is important to me, so I like to look for boondocking spots with a Walmart that is close. Eventually you will run out or get low on food and need to find a store. There are boondocking spots that still give you the freedom to have space to yourself, even close to a town!
Try to do any errand running in the same day. Have to get some food and do a load of clothes? Find a grocery store and a laundromat on the same day and take care of business! It may seem to intrude on your quiet or adventurous time, but you will be thankful you got it done so you can have more time to explore or even to relax with a book on your lap!
Find those adventures near your boondocking site. When planning to find your site and settle for the next 14 days, look for things you like to do, like hiking, scenic driving, swimming, whatever it is, find some fun activities nearby and save a lot of gas!
Speaking of grocery shopping, do you plan your meals? This will save you a lot of money plus stretch your food budget far! I can say that we have saved money since we started fulltime rving with our grocery bill, and it has been high! When you plan your meals, whether it is for all 3 (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or for just some, it helps to plan out your grocery list with what you are going to make or cook ahead of time.
How to dump, get water and do laundry, all at the same time! What some boondockers do is find a campground that offers all those amenities and spend a couple days at a campground, accomplishing those important tasks. For a minimum cost, find a small campground that actually has those items and spend a little money (stay away from the big name parks) and relax a little.
Don’t want to spend time at a campground? No worries! Here are some websites that give suggestions for your dumping and water needs:
Dumping needs: rvdumpsites.net.
All-in-one website: Campendium. com
Planning for your boondocking sites is a little work and I know some of you rather be spontaneous than to plan ahead. I love to be spontaneous too, however, it is sometimes a challenge when expenses have risen (like gas and food) and the income has not. Since we are on a fixed income, it makes sense to be sensible about boondocking and how we can stay successfully without breaking the bank.
Need some ideas of where to go? Head over to my “Campground Destinations” section (on the header) on this website and click the state you are interested in. I would love to hear feedback and/or recommendations on my “Campground Reviews” section! Good luck on your boondocking adventures, and they are truly an adventure!