Apr 26, 2026
Tennessee couple, Romano and Linda Sims, sold all their belongings and drove off into the sunset. Literally. They traded their $2.1 million lakeside home for a life of the road in a dolled up $700K RV they've named 'BoomerBus.' With dog Izzy in tow, it was the perfect picture.
That is, before the fuel crisis occurred. The Sims set out for their endless adventure in 2023, when a gallon of gas was $3.52 (1). In mid-March, when the Sims were interviewed by Business Insider (2), they paid $5 a gallon.
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"150 gallons at $5 gallons, you do the math," Romano said, in the interview (3). That math is $750 to fill the tank, compared to about $528 when they started their journey three years ago — a whopping $222 difference. While Romano said they don't drive every day, let's say a 150-gallon gas tank gets them 900 – 1,200 miles and they're driving 300 miles every other day, they're probably still going through a tank a week.
At $5-per-gallon, that's $3,000 a month, versus $2,112 at 2023 prices. That's an extra $10,656 per year, which can throw a retiree budget right off.
Driving up the budget
No couple wants to be nickel and diming in their golden years. The Sims are in their seventies, in good health and could still have two or three decades ahead of them. If they choose to spend the next five years on the road, that would cost them over $53,000 based on current prices.
Now, yes, the war will end and fuel prices will cool off, but no one knows when.
The bigger problem isn't necessarily current fuel prices. It's that ongoing monthly living expenses flowing from world events are out of the couple's control. They can make allowances by planning more no-driving days, staying longer in a location and trying to cut costs on other expenses on the road, but RV'ing is unpredictable by nature. That's the draw.
There's also the unknown and unexpected costs of vehicle repairs, which could be more frequent if travelers opt for the cheaper gas that could speed up the need for a service. Travelers might also not have access to multiple gas stations to compare prices and therefore can't make the most economical decision.
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More NOmads
While for many retirees, the sights, adventures and new lease on life are worth the extra cost. Romano said they never got to travel the country at their own pace and are seeing things they didn't know existed or were too far out of reach during their professional lives.
For others though, high fuel prices and economic constraints are a big deterrent — a far cry from the van life boom during the pandemic years. New RV sales dropped 14.51% in January 2026 (4) compared to January 2025.
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If you're planning a more nomadic lifestyle, in your golden years or as a young family who wants to be more mobile, it might require a little more planning and ingenuity right now. Do not drive blindly to a new location without researching gas stations on Google Maps. It's best to know your route before beginning.
Look into a rewards program for per-gallon discounts, use cruise control if you have it to maintain a constant speed and lighten your weight load if possible. Less roof-rack stacking can also help minimize fuel consumption.
Invest in regular RV maintenance, do short trips with your car only or even a bike and travel at a slower pace spending more time in fewer places. You can also save cash by earning your keep at holiday parks, cleaning cabins, facilities and so on. If you're starting out, consider EV options.
And remember retirees, or anyone of any age, time is the most valuable currency.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (1); Business Insider (2),(3); YouTube (4)
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Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture/society, technology, and health. Her ability to hold a mirror up to society, to see both the malaise and majesty, has led to assignments with highly respected titles such as The Guardian, Business Insider, MIT Tech Review, and National Geographic.
