Travelling the country and going on adventures are the best parts of RV life. However, RVs are not very fuel-efficient. You might find that RV gas mileage can be improved when planning a trip, taking into account the budget and the current gas price.

Improve your aerodynamic

Various pieces of luggage on the roof rack of a camper, along with a sign reading “danger”

While keeping cargo on the roof makes sense, it also negatively impacts the RV’s aerodynamics. You can save space inside your RV by keeping extra stuff on the roof. In addition to increasing drag on your RV, hauling cargo on your roof reduces its fuel efficiency. Your fuel economy can be reduced by up to 25% with a blunt rooftop cargo box. Leaving the extra gear at home, moving the cargo inside your RV, or installing a rear-mount cargo box will provide much better fuel economy.

Set Ahead of time your route

You can ensure the most fuel-efficient route by planning your route ahead of time. You can also reduce RV fuel economy by knowing your route in advance and avoiding heavy traffic. Having a pre-planned route also prevents getting lost or wandering needlessly, which wastes fuel. You can also find RV-friendly gas stations using apps like RV LIFE Trip Wizard to make sure you go the best and safest route.

Minimize your idling

Idling consumes less fuel than running, but it still consumes fuel. A half gallon of fuel can be consumed per hour by idling. Therefore, you should turn off your RV’s engine if you’re stationary for more than a few minutes. Shutting off the engine rather than idling consumes much less fuel than restarting it for ten seconds.

Don’t drive on bad roads

Poor roads require your RV to work harder, which increases its gas consumption. When possible, stick to newer, better-maintained roads to improve your gas mileage. To check the quality of the road, use tools like the RV LIFE Trip Wizard or Google Street View. Think about which states you’ll pass through on your journey. Among the worst roads are those in Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and California, while the best roads are those in Kansas, Alabama, and North Dakota.