Fuel prices are up, but your WA road trip doesn’t have to be!

Quick Summary

Fuel prices are up, but the added cost of many campervan trips is still manageable
Our FUELUP promotion gives you $20 per day off bookings made in April and May
The offer applies to travel dates from now until August
On shorter trips, the discount can go a long way towards covering the recent increase in fuel costs
On longer trips, it can still make a noticeable difference to your overall travel budget
A campervan trip remains one of the most flexible ways to explore Western Australia without giving up comfort or convenience

How much do higher fuel prices really add to a campervan trip?

Fuel prices have definitely gone up, but once you break the numbers down across an actual road trip, the increase often looks a lot more manageable.

Take a 4-day long weekend in the South West, covering around 650km in one of our fuel-efficient petrol campervans. Compared with prices from around the start of March, that trip would cost only around $28.61 more in fuel today.

That is still an increase, but it is hardly the kind of jump that makes a trip impossible. In real terms, it is the sort of extra cost that can often be balanced out elsewhere in the budget without changing the whole experience.

Now look at a bigger adventure. A 3,000km WA road trip in the same van would use around 270 litres of petrol. At today’s prices compared with early March, that works out to around $132.03 more in fuel.

For a longer trip, that is more noticeable, but even then it is still only one part of the total holiday cost. When you compare it to the value of having your transport, sleeping space, and travel freedom all in one, a campervan road trip can still stack up really well.

How FUELUP helps offset the extra cost

This is where the numbers start to look a whole lot better.

With FUELUP, you save $20 per day on any booking made in April or May for travel dates up until August. That means even a short break can quickly offset a good chunk of the recent fuel increase.

On a 4-day trip, that is $80 off your booking. Based on the example above, that would more than cover the additional fuel cost.

On a 5-day trip, you would save $100, which can make a real difference to your overall budget and give you a bit more room to enjoy the trip once you are on the road.

On a 7-day trip, the saving jumps to $140. For longer adventures, that starts to go a long way towards balancing out higher fuel prices and keeping your road trip plans within reach.

So yes, fuel costs matter. But with the right booking window and a solid discount in place, they do not have to be the reason you miss out on your winter escape.

Why winter is still a smart time to travel in WA

Winter is one of the best times of year to hit the road in Western Australia, especially if you are heading north. While Perth and the South West cool down, many northern parts of the state come into their own with mild days, comfortable nights, and ideal conditions for getting out and exploring.

It is also a great time to enjoy the freedom that comes with campervan travel. You can move at your own pace, change plans if the weather shifts, and wake up much closer to the places you actually want to spend time in. That flexibility is a big part of what makes a road trip feel so worthwhile.

For travellers weighing up whether now is still the right time to book, winter offers a strong answer. You are not dealing with peak summer heat, you can plan around some of WA’s best seasonal conditions, and with FUELUP in place, the value of the trip only gets better.

Simple ways to make your road trip budget go further

A few smart choices can make a big difference to the overall cost of your trip, without taking away from the experience.

Choosing a shorter escape is one of the easiest ways to keep costs down while still getting the break you need. A long weekend can still give you plenty of time to switch off, explore somewhere new, and enjoy life on the road.

It also helps to keep your route simple. Planning your stops well and avoiding unnecessary backtracking can reduce fuel use and make the trip feel more relaxed from the start.

Camping choices matter too. Mixing a few paid stays with lower-cost or free options can quickly stretch your budget further, especially on longer trips. If you are looking for ideas, our guides to free camping in WA and campsites near Perth are a great place to start.

Travelling with a partner or friend can also help. When you are sharing the driving, food costs, and campsite fees, the trip becomes even better value.

Most importantly, booking while the FUELUP offer is live gives you an easy saving upfront. Instead of waiting and hoping prices improve, you can lock in your dates now and take advantage of the discount while it is there. You can also pick up more practical ideas in our guide on how to travel WA on a budget and our broader campervan travel tips for WA.

Where you could go this winter

One of the best parts of a winter campervan trip is that you have plenty of options, whether you want a quick break or a bigger adventure.

A South West escape is perfect for a few days away. You can take your time between coastal towns, wineries, forest drives, and relaxed campsites, all without needing a big travel budget or a long stretch of leave. For ideas, take a look at our Southern Weekend Explorer road trip, The Complete South West Loop, and our list of weekend getaways from Perth.

If you are chasing a longer road trip, heading north from Perth makes a lot of sense in winter. It is a great time to enjoy clearer skies, warmer days, and the kind of conditions that make outdoor travel far more comfortable. You might like our Northern Escape, the classic Perth to Exmouth road trip itinerary, or our newer guide to the Perth to Karijini road trip.

You could also keep things flexible and build your trip around the time you have. That might mean a short coastal getaway, a week-long loop, or a bigger journey that lets you experience more of Western Australia at your own pace. If you are visiting from overseas, our guide to driving in Western Australia for international tourists can help you feel more confident before you set off.

That is the beauty of campervan travel. You are not locked into one place, one schedule, or one style of holiday. You can shape the trip around what suits you, your budget, and the kind of adventure you want this winter.

Why a campervan still makes sense when travel costs are up

When travel costs rise, flexibility and value matter even more. That is one of the biggest reasons a campervan trip still makes so much sense.

With a campervan, your transport and sleeping setup are rolled into one. Instead of paying separately for flights, accommodation, and car hire, you have one simple base for the whole trip. That alone can make a road trip feel far more manageable from a budgeting point of view.

You also have more freedom to adjust as you go. If you want to stay longer somewhere, keep driving, or change your route entirely, it is much easier to do that when your accommodation is travelling with you.

There is also the practical side of comfort. Having a proper setup, useful storage, and the essentials ready to go makes the whole trip easier and more enjoyable, especially when you are covering longer distances. Whether you are after a compact 2–3 seater campervan, a roomier 2–3 seater high top campervan, or a more flexible 2–5 seater campervan, there is an option to suit different styles of travel.

So while fuel prices may be higher, the overall value of campervan travel still holds up. For many travellers, it remains one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to explore WA without overcomplicating the trip.

Use FUELUP and lock in your winter trip

If fuel prices have made you hesitate, this is the perfect time to book.

With FUELUP, you will get $20 per day off any booking made in April or May for travel dates from now until August. It is a simple way to take some of the pressure off rising travel costs and make your winter road trip feel even better value.

Whether you are planning a quick South West getaway or a longer trip north, the offer gives you a reason to lock in your dates now rather than waiting and missing out.

The road trip still stacks up, and with a saving already built into your booking, it is even easier to get out there and enjoy it. You can also view our current campervan hire discounts for more details on the offer.

Book your campervan and hit the open road

If you have been waiting for the right time to plan your next trip, this is a great chance to make it happen. Use FUELUP when you book in April or May and save $20 per day on travel dates up until August.

Explore our campervan hire options, browse the full Toyota campervan hire range, and lock in your winter getaway while the offer is still available. You can book with confidence too, thanks to a 30% deposit that is fully refundable up to 72 hours before pick-up.