The headlines are starting to sound familiar. Fuel prices are climbing, oil markets are jittery, and some analysts are warning that high gas prices could put a dent in RV travel this year.
Today marks the official start of Spring, and prices at the pump have continued to climb by 28 cents since last week. With the Spring equinox ushering in warmer weather and more time on the road, gas prices are trending upward alongside seasonal demand.
Last week’s announcement by the White House to release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months has no immediate relief on the oil market, as the price of a barrel of crude continues to climb.
• Today’s National Average: $3.884
• One Week Ago: $3.598
• One Month Ago: $2.929
• One Year Ago: $3.102
One recent investor-focused report even suggested the RV market could get “crushed” by rising fuel costs. That kind of language grabs attention. It also raises a fair question for anyone planning a trip: Will higher gas prices keep RVers off the road this season?
History—and real-world behavior—suggests the answer is no.
The warning isn’t really about RVers
The latest round of concern didn’t start in a campground. It started on Wall Street.
As oil prices tick upward, investors tend to react quickly. RV manufacturers and related stocks often take a hit because they’re seen as discretionary, fuel-sensitive businesses. If gas gets expensive, the thinking goes, people will travel less—and buy fewer RVs.
That may hold some truth at the margins. But it doesn’t tell the whole story of how people actually use their rigs.
RVers aren’t airline passengers locked into fixed routes and prices. They have options. And when fuel costs rise, they tend to use them.
What actually happens when gas prices spike
We’ve seen this before—more than once. During past fuel surges, RV travel shifted. Trips got shorter, routes got tighter and planning got smarter.
Instead of canceling outright, many RVers adjust in ways like these:
- Choose closer destinations instead of cross-country runs.
- Stay longer in one spot to reduce driving days.
- Group errands and sightseeing to cut extra miles.
- Travel at more fuel-efficient speeds.
- Use apps to find better fuel prices along the route.
What fuel card are RVers talking about?
Many of the savings reports we’re hearing about trace back to one program: the Open Roads fuel card, built on a fleet-discount system used by commercial trucking companies. If you’re a diesel driver, this could save you some money.
Here’s the basic idea: Instead of paying posted pump prices, card users tap into pre-negotiated fleet rates—often the same discounted pricing truckers get.
That’s how some RVers report saving 30, 50, even 70 cents per gallon in certain locations.
The program itself is free to join, and instead of charging a membership fee, it keeps a small portion of the discount as its cut. Typical savings often land in the 30–50 cent range, though they can vary widely depending on location and timing.
If you want to see how it works—and what RVers are reporting—check out our full breakdown here: RVers report saving 30 to 70 cents per gallon using this fleet fuel card.
It’s not a universal solution. Discounts are mainly for diesel and typically require fueling in truck lanes at larger travel centers. But for diesel RV owners, it’s one of the few programs where the savings can actually add up fast.
You can learn more or sign up by following this link. If you use Russ De Maris as a referral, it helps support our reporting at no extra cost to you. And if you refer others to Open Roads, once they buy 500 gallons of fuel, you’ll get a $25 credit toward your own fuel purchases in the network.
The math still works—for many
Yes, fuel costs matter. A large motorhome getting 8 miles per gallon will feel a price jump quickly.
But RV travel has always been a bundle of costs, not just one.
When fuel rises, RVers often weigh that against hotel rates, which have climbed sharply in recent years, along with restaurant spending and airfare—especially for families.
For many, even with higher gas prices, RVing can still pencil out, particularly for regional trips.
A shift, not a shutdown
One of the biggest changes tends to be how far people go.
Instead of a 2,000-mile swing across several states, a trip might become a 300-mile run to a favorite park. Instead of moving every day, travelers may settle in for a week or more.
That shift shows up in campground patterns, too. Parks within a few hours of major population centers often see steady demand even when fuel prices climb.
The result: fewer miles driven, but not fewer nights camping.
How RVers are adapting right now
Even before peak travel season, some familiar strategies are already showing up again.
Slowing down saves more than stress
Driving 60 mph instead of 70 mph can noticeably improve fuel economy in many rigs. It also makes for a more relaxed day behind the wheel.
Planning fuel stops pays off
Price swings between stations—even within the same region—can be significant. A little planning can shave meaningful dollars off a fill-up.
Staying put stretches the budget
Longer stays mean fewer travel days. That reduces fuel use and often unlocks weekly or extended-stay campground rates.
Rethinking the trip, not canceling it
Instead of scrapping plans, many RVers swap in closer destinations or revisit favorite spots within a shorter radius.
Top tools RVers use when fuel prices climb
- GasBuddy – crowdsourced fuel prices and route planning
- Upside – cash-back offers on fuel purchases
- Google Maps – price comparisons and routing
- RV Trip Wizard – route planning with fuel stops and mileage
The bottom line
High gas prices are back, and they will influence how people travel. There’s no getting around that.
But the idea that RVers will simply stay home doesn’t match what’s happened before—or what’s happening now.
They adjust. They rethink. They adapt. And then, more often than not, they still go.
For RVers, the question isn’t whether to travel when fuel prices rise—it’s how to travel smarter when they do.
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RVT1253b
Right now, I can find cheaper diesel prices in normal gas stations than what is shown in the Open Roads app. Most diesel prices in Open Roads is hovering between $4.59 to $5.50 a gallon depending on the state. We have a 3000 mile R/T in May so hoping prices drop and then a longer trip Aug – Nov. Either way, we will be watching fuel prices to defray as much cost as possible via fuel apps.
If fuel prices keep increasing, someday they may get as high as when Biden was in office.
🤣🤣🤣
they passed it already here in florida
Same with WA State but that is due to the ever increasing taxes – around $1.40 per gallon now!!!
HA! Already passed when Biden was in office. Also food, cars, auto insurance, health insurance, electronics made outside the US (most all), lumber and building materials are all higher. The deficit is also up 2 trillion. So basically everything is costing you more. You my friend have been sold a false promise at the polls.
Prices always go up…. the good news is we all have more money in our pockets to offset the increases. In fact, on average every American has over $1,700 more dollars after paying the current 2.7% inflation versus over $4,000 less after Biden’s average 5.7% inflation.
Keep trying Gamma, someday the gaslighting may actually work for your tribe.
It’s interesting how fuel prices are rising because China’s access to Iranian sanctioned oil has been disrupted. I can appreciate “global pricing” driving domestic rates IF our reliance on global energy sources were the same as they were during the Iranian oil embargo of the 70’s but it isn’t. Feels like a bit of a money grab but it’s a small inconvenience compared to the alternatives.
We all know who is responsible for this.
Whare is the $1,99 a gallon we were promised?
We already had it just a few month’s ago.
Oh Ron, I’m sorry you had not heard that the $1.99 gas is stuck on the North end of the Hormuz Strait? I thought everyone knew the world was being held hostage for oil supply from the Persian Gulf. I’m not sure how you did not know this but this has been going on for 3 weeks. Now that you are up to speed on the current events of the world, I wish you a lovely weekend free from nuclear threat and once the cowards in the EU and Can. arrive to help escort oil tankers, the $1.99 gas should return quickly.
😘✌️
We are planning a cross-country trip this May. Now it is looking like that may not happen. But our concern isn’t just fuel prices. We remember the oil embargo of 1973-1974. My husband got stuck in Portland, OR, unable to get home to Nevada because dealers were only selling gas to local customers—and he had out-of-state plates. I’m sure they would be very sympathetic about filling an out-of-state motorhome. Sure hope we don’t have a repeat event.
Portland would have been a great place to stuck in 1973-7. Today, I would push my RV to get far, far away!!
We were in portland a couple of years ago. Loved it.
You must live in a big city! 🙂
Oil prices fell 11% today, the stock market rose in response.
Your 401K gained. We’ve seen this movie before, folks.
U.S. natural gas prices also dropped by 6%, and heating oil fell by 12% (that’s diesel fuel) following the news, as reported by Bloomberg.com.
The market speculators trade both up and down. They can make money in both directions.
The Iran conflict will not be one of those endless wars, mistakes made at many points in history. We’re not messing around this time.
We’re not changing our travel plans. It’s Smiles Per Gallon. Go ahead and change yours if you are a pessimist. We’ll have less competition for the best campsites.