Probably, you are the kind of person who waits until the last minute to fuel your car or find gas. This is because you already know that your vehicle can drive another 10-15 miles before the tank is completely empty.
However, this is a dangerous game to play if you are towing a fifth wheel. Keeping in mind that the lightest fifth wheels weigh around 7,500 pounds, they are gas guzzlers and will not give you any extra mileage on empty(E).
There is no doubt that there are ways to find gas, but it’s not always easy when you are unprepared. Planning your stops ahead of time keeps you calm since you know that you will reach the next fifth-wheel-friendly gas station.
Your RV will not fit in any other gas station, so make sure that you are loyal to your own business. In this article, we will discuss some of the most useful RV-friendly gas stations in the US.
Are there RV-friendly gas stations in the US?
Yes, several gas stations are hospitable and offer special amenities such as a dedicated RV lane, angled pumps, and pumps perpendicular to the street. When you look for them, you will find that they are very limited, which is why you need to plan and keep in mind that you should not let your tank run empty to refuel your RV.
How to Find RV Friendly Gas Station
The best way to find an RV gas-friendly station is by using an app. There are numerous apps in the app store that can help you locate fuel stations that are suitable for your RV. Below is a detailed list of the best apps that you can use:
1. Gas Buddy
Gas buddy is one of the most reliable apps and you can use it to find the best gas station in your area. The app allows you to search up to 500 miles on either side of your current location.
It is easily available for both Android and iOS users.
With this app, you can filter the results of your gas stations by distance, price, or fuel type. You can also see customer reviews of each station. GasBuddy app also offers:
- Gas price map
- Fuel insights
- Gas price chart
- Fuel logbook
- Outage tracker
- Vehicle recalls
The app also helps you to plan the cost of your trips and keep the gas station’s location in mind. No matter where you are, you can easily find locations that are suitable for RVers.
2. Gas Guru
Gas Guru is another popular app that helps you to find the nearest RVs-friendly gas stations. The app is available on Android devices as well as iOS devices and has a user-friendly interface.
This app displays a list of nearby stations along with their locations. You can also see the fuel prices in your area as well as find out the open hours of a station. You can also filter according to fuel type, price, and distance. This app offers features such as :
- Distance filter
- Fuel-type filter
- Payment type filter
- Gas prices
The notable thing about this app is its ability to view extra details about each gas station. This includes a car wash, an in-store restaurant, and any discounts available.
3. GetUpside
This app is the primary competitor of GasBuddy. It has a scan feature where you scan your receipts to earn cash back on gas. Other features offered by this app include:
- Cash back rewards
- Receipt scanning
- Gas prices
This app can also be used to locate grocery stores, restaurants, and even hotels. You can use this app to plan your trip ahead of time.
4. Waze
Waze is a reliable GPS navigation app that can be used to find gas stations. You can use it to find a gas station that is suitable for your RV and fuel it accordingly. There are also 5 different languages supported in this app, which makes it very user-friendly.
When you open the app, you just type “gas station” and then the app will show you all the gas stations nearby. This app has additional features such as:
- Route planning
- Driver alert
- Live traffic updates
- Gas prices
- Hands-free navigation
What to expect at RV-friendly gas stations
When you visit an RV-friendly gas station, you can expect to find a crew that is friendly and well-trained in handling RVs. You need to know that you are using a safe gas station with clean restrooms, not just great customer service.
The RV station has a dedicated line that you can use to fuel your RV. The lane has plenty of widths as well as height clearance. You might have to wait a bit longer when fueling up your RV, but it is worth the waiting time.
The RV-friendly gas stations also ensure the pumps are angled for easy pulling in and out. Many gas stations keep a big hose that is highly flexible and you can use it to your fullest. This hose will allow you to fill up your RV within minutes.
Best Places To Refill On Gas When Towing A Big RV Trailer
Across the US, there are reputable gas stations convenient when towing your RV. These stations are designed specifically to accommodate fifth wheels and travel trailers. Below are some of the most economical and convenient gas stations that you can visit when towing your RV or a large trailer.
1. Pilot Flying J Travel Plazas
The Flying J Travel Plaza is one of the best gas stations for owners of big rigs. The Flying J Gas Stations are located in different parts of the country and offer flexible hours to meet your schedule.
There is even a 24/7 option that serves all your needs as you are on the road.
They offer rewards programs and loyalty cards, so you can earn points in the form of free fuel and free merchandise. They have an app where you can track your fuel usage and even pay your bill, which is handy when you are on the road.
Make sure that you check the fuel prices before you head out of town. Additionally, Pilot Flying J offers features such as:
- Toll calculator. This enables you to see how much toll fees will be for your route, based on the travel time and distance.
- Restrictions. This will prevent you from traveling or choosing certain routes during certain times.
- Truck stop locator. This helps your trucker friend find the Flying J Travel Plaza where he needs to refuel.
- Parking availability. Interestingly, this feature will notify you of an open parking spot in the lots at the Flying J Travel Plaza.
- The app will also display how much time your RV or trailer needs to reach the parking space.
- Weigh station locator. This feature will help you navigate through the weigh stations along your route. This comes in handy for those of us who don’t want to get caught at the weight scale.
- Fuel rewards program. This program gives you discounts on every gallon of fuel that you purchase from them.
2. Casey’s General Store
Casey’s is a country-wide chain that offers fuel reward programs. If you are going to purchase more than $100 worth of fuel, they will reward you with a $10 gift card.
You can choose to redeem your points on gift cards at the Casey’s General Store or other stores in their chain. Their stations are RV-friendly and are open 24 /7.
They have a mobile app where you can save close to $1 on every gallon. You can track your fuel usage and have access to the rewards program through this app. Their fuel prices are affordable and are comparable to nearby stations.
3. Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores
Love’s is another chain of RV stops that are open 24 /7. You can find Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores all over the US. They offer both traditional and digital fuel rewards programs.
You can use their app to track your fuel usage and earn points for free fuel.
They offer many facilities that make it easy for you to travel with your RV or trailer. Some of the top features offered by this chain include:
- Truck stop locator. This feature assists you in finding the Love’s gas station that is closest to your specified location or intersection. You can also set a distance radius and receive a list of Love’s travel stops within that radius.
- Truck parking availability. This shows you the total amount of open parking spaces that you can use at any Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores.
- Truck speed limit. This feature shows the maximum speed limit that your vehicle is allowed to travel on the highways.
- Toll calculator. This feature helps you calculate the toll fees that you need to pay to reach your destination. You can use this feature to avoid paying highway tolls or entering the highways at the right time.
- Detour information. This is a feature that displays the route that you need to travel to avoid highways and other toll roads.
4. The Murphy Express Travel Centers
Murphy’s offers gas rewards programs, which include discounts and free fuel. You can earn rewards points with simple daily activities such as spending a set amount of money on fuel and boarding passes.
You can also earn points for filling up all the tanks of your vehicle. These points can be redeemed for cash or a gift card.
They have an app that you can use to locate Murphy’s and find the prices of the fuel in your area. Their diesel prices are competitive and their facilities are clean.
Some of the top features offered by Murphy include:
- Truck parking availability. This feature provides you with information on the number of available spots as well as the number of occupied spots in all Murphy’s locations.
- Fuel price estimator. It will help you estimate the cost of fuel that is needed before you purchase it from a different gas station. The estimator will give you prices for diesel as well as regular fuel.
- Truck speed limits. This feature displays the maximum speed limit you can travel at any given time.
- Toll calculator. This feature helps you calculate the toll fees that you need to pay on your route. This will prevent you from getting stuck at the toll booth or on a closed highway.
Can RVs use truck stops?
Yes. However, not all truck stops are RV-friendly. If you want to avoid getting stuck in places that are not built for big rigs, here are some tips:
- Make sure that your truck has the necessary clearance and length.
- Request a separate parking space for your trailer or RV. This will prevent you from being towed if the space is full or if you have a flat tire.
- If you are in a rural area, call ahead to check the truck stop location.
- The gas pump is usually the first or second stop. You will see signs that indicate which pumps are available.
- Make sure the pump numbers that you want to use are open.
- It is a good idea to buy diesel fuel, instead of gasoline. Diesel fuel is more commonly used by RV vehicles.
Can RV’s put gas at Costco gas station?
You need to be a Costco member to be able to pump gas at Costco gas stations. However, they do not sell diesel fuel. This means that only small RVs (Class A) can fill up at these Costco gas station locations.
Their pumps are not long enough to handle the length of larger rigs. Their fuel prices are very affordable if you are a Costco member. However, they have a limit to the amount of fuel that you can purchase.
Conclusion
The best advice that you can get if you are planning to travel with your RV or trailer is to always keep an eye on the fuel prices. Be aware of what things to do so that you are not stranded when you run out of fuel.
To find the best deal on fuel, use the tools and information that are available to you. You want to find a truck stop that offers great facilities as well as competitive fuel prices and are RV friendly.
