Fuel prices this summer are not for the faint of heart.

I've seen grown adults do the math at the pump and just... stare in complete disbelief at the fuel pump. But here's what I need you to hear: high fuel prices are not a reason to park your rig and cancel your summer.

They're a reason to get smarter. And I know what you're thinking — is it too good to be true? Absolutely not.

This week on Learn to RV the Podcast we have Gina Leeper from Open Roads, and this platform exists for exactly this moment — free to join, 40 to 50 cents off per gallon at 3,800+ locations, VIP perks, a toll pass, roadside, insurance, all under one roof.

High prices are the problem. Open Roads is part of the answer. 

Let's start with the obvious question : Is Open Roads Really Free?

Yes. There are no signup fees, monthly charges, or hidden costs to join Open Roads. That's the baseline — you do have to fill out an application, you get a card in the mail, you save money on fuel. It's that easy.

The free account runs on a simple mechanic: the Open Roads fuel card works essentially like a debit card — by linking your bank account or credit card, you're able to buy fuel at their 3,800+ merchant locations nationwide. Your payment is linked, the discount is applied at the pump, and the difference stays in your pocket. 

The nuances of the free account are worth knowing:

• The card works only for diesel, in truck lanes with high-flow nozzles. If you're driving a gas-powered rig, this particular benefit won't apply to you.
• The card does not work at Pilot, Flying J, or One9 — but does work at over 3,800 locations including Love's, TA, and Petro. Plan accordingly before a long travel day.
• Processing takes at least 15–20 days from the time your application is received before the card arrives via USPS. Don't wait until your next big trip to sign up. Do it now, while you're thinking about it.
• If you need the card faster, expedited options are available on the application.
• You can pay directly at the pump without going inside & you get access to truck lanes at participating locations. For those of us who've tried to maneuver a 40-foot coach into a regular car lane: you're welcome
• The app is your friend. Download the TSD Open Roads app for iPhone or Android to track your savings, find nearby locations, and view real-time fuel prices.

One important note on savings: discounts typically average 40–50 cents per gallon, though fuel prices shift multiple times daily, so what you see in the app is the most current pricing available. 

Easy to Use — App and All

Nobody wants to download another app that takes twenty minutes to figure out. The Open Roads app isn't that. It's clean, it's straightforward, and it does exactly what you need it to do — find nearby participating fuel stops, check real-time diesel prices before you pull off the highway, and track your savings over time.

Watching that savings number climb is honestly a little addictive.



The online account works the same way, so whether you're a phone person or a laptop person, you're covered.

Is the Open Roads Card Secure?

This is one of the questions we hear most, and it's a fair one. Any time someone asks you to link a bank account or credit card to a new platform, you should be asking that question.

The short answer is yes. The Open Roads card runs through the WEX/EFS payment network — one of the most established fleet card processors in the country. Your payment information is tied to your account, transactions are processed like a debit card right at the pump, and you're not handing your card information to a stranger at a truck stop counter.

It's the same network that commercial fleets have trusted for decades. Open Roads just made it accessible to the RV community.

Wait — Diesel Only?

Yes, and this is one of the most important things to know before you sign up. The Open Roads fuel card is diesel only, used in truck lanes with high-flow nozzles. If you're rolling in a gas-powered rig, the fuel card isn't going to do much for you at the pump right now.

But here's the thing — Gina actually speaks to this in the episode, and let's just say the gasoline crowd may not want to click away just yet. In fact, you're going to want to hear what she has to say about where Open Roads is headed.

But if you are running diesel right now? This is the card you've been waiting for. Forty to fifty cents off per gallon adds up fast. Fill up a 100-gallon tank and you're looking at $40 to $50 back in your pocket. Every. Single. Fill-up.

What Is the Open Roads VIP Program?

Once you have the free account, you might start wondering what the upgrade actually gets you. Short answer: a lot, if you use it.

For $99 a year, VIP members unlock exclusive discounts across campgrounds, gasoline, camping accessories, RV services, and more.

Open Roads says members can stack over $2,500 in savings, and honestly, depending on how you travel, that math can happen faster than you'd think. The VIP Access Pass pulls all of Open Roads' partner brands into one place — your app or your online account — so you're not hunting down discount codes from twelve different websites. It's all there.

Here's something worth paying attention to: Gina shares something during the episode about this $99 rate that you're going to want to hear before you close this tab. Let's just say — don't wait on it.

And speaking of partners, this is where it gets personal for us. After the Tampa show in 2026, RV Roofing Solutions joined the Open Roads VIP family. This means if you're a Family RV Association member, you can stack your FRVА discount on top of your Open Roads VIP discount — and end up with something close to rally pricing on a professionally installed, maintenance-free roofing system from Frank and our team, all year long. That's not a small thing, and we know you'll save way more than the VIP membership fee on this one!

Partners are actively growing. Open Roads adds new VIP partners regularly, and their team even welcomes suggestions — if you know a brand that should be offering discounts to the RV community, they want to hear about it. 

The Add-Ons: What Else Is Hiding in Your Open Roads Account

Here’s where a lot of members leave savings, and peace of mind, on the table simply because they didn’t know these options existed.

Roadside Assistance

Open Roads offers RV-specific roadside assistance with access to more than 50,000 providers across the U.S. and Canada, available 24/7. Unlike a generic roadside plan, this one is built around the unique realities of RV travel: larger towing capacities, specialized repair support, and coverage for both your RV and the vehicle you’re towing. The cost is under $14 a month.

If you’re currently paying for roadside through another program without RV-specific coverage, this one is worth a comparison.

Insurance Through Roamly

Open Roads now partners with Roamly for RV insurance, covering all rig types: Class A, B, and C motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, camper vans, toy haulers, and custom builds. Roamly functions both as a direct insurer and as a broker, meaning they can connect you with other carriers if their own policy isn’t the right fit. Either way, you have even more options from one place.

There’s also a Full-Timers Package specifically designed for year-round RV living, covering liability, medical, storage, and loss assessment. If you live in your rig full time, that’s worth a closer look than a standard RV policy.

The Toll Pass: One Transponder, 48 States, No More Tag Juggling

This is the one we’re making sure doesn’t get buried,  because for full-timers and anyone who covers serious mileage across state lines, the Open Roads toll solution might actually be the most underrated thing in this entire lineup.

Through a partnership with Innovative Toll Solution, Open Roads offers a single transponder that works at every toll plaza and bridge across the 48 contiguous states. One tag. Every toll road. No maintaining separate accounts for TX-Tag, EZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, or any of the other state-specific transponders you’ve probably accumulated over the years.

Toll transactions are automatically charged to the credit card on file when you pass through a toll — no waiting on paper bills from multiple states, no risking a collections notice for a statement that went to your last address, no administrative headache. It just handles itself.

What Does the Toll Pass Cost?

The one-time setup fee is $36, which breaks down like this: $25 goes onto your account as a starting balance for toll replenishment, $10 covers shipping, and $1 covers taxes. After that, the annual fee is $24 per year. The transponder comes fully activated — no setup steps on your end.

One nuance worth understanding before you commit: transactions are billed at the Toll by Plate rate, not the agency or discounted transponder rate that some state programs offer frequent users.

That’s a real distinction. If you travel heavily through a single state with a discounted transponder rate, the math might favor keeping that state’s tag.

But for most full-timers and long-haul travelers crossing multiple states, the trade-off is convenience and consolidation over per-toll optimization & that trade-off is genuinely worth it for a lot of people.

A few other details:

•  It covers your RV and your tow vehicle and any trailers, not just the motorhome or truck.
• You do not have to be an Open Roads fuel card holder to get the transponder. No diesel requirement. This is open to anyone.
• If you need to cancel, there’s a 30-day hold before a refund can be issued.
• One coverage gap: Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge, which only accepts cash. Everywhere else across the 48 states, you’re covered.

For toll questions specifically, Open Roads has a dedicated support line: tolls@myopenroads.com and 903-415-9090.

What Open Roads Actually Is

Open Roads started as a fuel discount program. What it’s grown into is closer to a full travel ecosystem — free fuel card, VIP partner discounts, roadside assistance, insurance, and a nationwide toll solution, all accessible through one account and one app.

The free card is the entry point and it’s worth having even if you never upgrade. The VIP program is worth doing the math on based on how you travel. And the toll pass, roadside, and insurance options mean that if you’re managing any of those needs through other programs right now, there’s at least a conversation worth having about whether consolidation makes sense for your situation.

The only thing we’d say is this: sign up for the free card before your next trip, not the morning of. Those 15 to 20 days go fast.

A Quick Note on Customer Support

One thing we really appreciate about Open Roads — when you call, you get a real person. Not a bot. Not a phone tree that leads nowhere. An actual human being who can help you. That matters, especially when you're on the road and something comes up.



Just know that Open Roads is run by a small, dedicated team, so you'll want to reach them during office hours. Don't wait until you're sitting at a pump on a Sunday evening to figure out a card issue. Get familiar with their contact information now, save it in your phone, and you'll be in great shape.

Ready to get started? Visit myopenroads.com and use the Open Roads app to find participating fuel stops near you.