How To Save Money Full Time RVing In The National Parks

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rving full time in the national parks

One of the "paint pots" in beautiful Yellowstone National Park

Back in September of 2009, one of the things that cinched the deal for us to go full time RVing was watching Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea series on PBS.

Once we saw it, we were hooked. We had to take the plunge and go full time RVing – and the places we had to see were many of the parks highlighted in that series.

Although we joke now that watching that series late night is the surest cure for insomnia known to mankind…it is an awesome series. A bit long in the tooth, but awesome nonetheless.

We loved the Ken Burns series so much it inspired us to go full time RVing.

Apparently, we were not alone. In fact, after that series aired on PBS, the attendance at America’s National Parks, especially the ones that received the majority of exposure in the series increased by nearly 25 percent! And since then National Parks have become even more popular places for RVing full time families and tourists to visit.

With good reason too..

They offer incredible scenery, lots of history and tons of opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, biking and sightseeing. You may even see some really cool wildlife like buffaloes, elk, moose, bald eagles and so much more.

full time rving at rushmore

The next full time RV Christmas card shot?

The best part is that while most national parks charge entrance fees to enter, on many occasions during the year they waive those entrance fees. This offers full time RVing families excellent opportunities to see the parks gratis…on Uncle Sam. These kinds of deal usually occurs after the busiest seasons in the summer time, so they are worth it to look for because these times of year are often the best times to see the parks as well.

If you visit an area that contains many National Parks, like the southern Utah / northern Arizona area, which contain no less than seven national parks and monuments in a 500 square mile radius, you can get the most bang for your buck and see some incredible sites in the process.

Before we started RVing full time, we visited that area and saw the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, Vermillion Cliffs, The Petrified Forest, Monument National Park and Zion National Parks all in just over a week’s time.

The best part about it was that we just so happen to hit it just right as it was National Park Week – and all our entrance fees were totally free, saving us nearly two hundred dollars!

So check out the U.S. National Park Service website and look for weeks in which they offer this awesome deal. For example, this coming Veteran’s Day weekend on November 11-13 is 100% free. Quite a deal.

Take this great opportunity to see these beautiful destinations and save a few bucks in the process. So if you’re living in an RV full time or you are just planning a trip and want to see the awesome beauty of our country’s National Parks, take advantage of the savings and see some amazing sights in the process.

Please Share this post with your friends on Facebook so they too can learn how to save a ton of money when visiting our National Parks!

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5 Responses to “How To Save Money Full Time RVing In The National Parks”

  1. Blars says:

    If you spend much time in National Parks, the “America the Beutiful” pass is a bargain, and the ones for seniors and handicapped people even more so. At $80/year for admission to all National Parks and many other federal lands, it also covers some things like the tours at the Oregon Caves. You don’t need it on the free days, but those days might have crowds of bargain-seekers.

    • Ralph says:

      Great point! Thank you so much for the comment! Do you get that pass at the same website mentioned in our article above?

      • Blars says:

        Information on the pass is at the NPS website, and I think you can buy it online, but I always just buy it at the park entrance the first time I need it. That doesn’t work at the unmanned pay via envelope entraces, but it has always been available every time I needed one. Buy it the first of the month, and it’s good for 13 months.

  2. Will says:

    Ralph,
    Great information on your website! My wife and I considered sailing, but after watching the Ken Burns series we realized…why go elswhere? there is so much to see here in our own backyards!…The National Parks by Ken Burns is by far the best series PBS has put out in a long time. My wife and I have yet to purchase an RV (and we are probably several years away for doing so) but I have found alot of good information on your site…thanks again and godspeed to you and your family!

    • Ralph says:

      Hi Will! Sorry for the late response. We thought the same thing: theres so much to see right here in this country, why go anywhere else? (we just got back from Africa btw for a little escape from the escape). So glad you like the blog. Best of luck. When do you plan on going?

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