Renting an RV is the cheapest way to find out if you actually like RVing, and which kind of RV you like, before you spend real money on one. A weekend in a rental will teach you more than a month of reading reviews (including mine).
Use the search below to find rentals from local owners on Outdoorsy. Put in where you’re starting from, add dates if you have them, and you’ll see what’s actually available and what it costs.
Heads up: the links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, The Wandering RV earns a commission from Outdoorsy. It doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Top-rated RVs
Live from Outdoorsy. Prices are the nightly base rate before fees, and change with dates.
How it works
- Search here. The search opens Outdoorsy with your filters already set. Leave the dates blank if you’re just looking.
- Message the owner. Ask your questions before you book: pickup time, mileage limits, what’s in the kitchen kit, and whether the dog can come.
- Book on Outdoorsy. Payment, insurance and roadside help are set up through Outdoorsy, not through a stranger’s Venmo.
What does it cost to rent an RV?
I pulled these numbers straight from Outdoorsy in October 2026. They’re the median nightly rate owners list (the middle of the pack, not the cheapest), before fees, insurance, mileage and taxes.
| RV type | Denver | Orlando | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel trailer | $129 | $120 | $118 |
| Toy hauler | $145 | $150 | $154 |
| Fifth wheel | $183 | $217 | $167 |
| Class C motorhome | $240 | $191 | $225 |
| Class B / campervan | $229 | $210 | $220 |
| Class A motorhome | $278 | $319 | $330 |
Across all RV types, the middle price ran from about $125 a night in Honolulu to about $205 in Miami, with most big cities between $150 and $190. Trailers are the bargain if you already have a truck that can pull one. For the full breakdown of fees, deposits and ways to save, see how much it costs to rent an RV.
Popular places to rent
We used to have a separate guide for each of these cities. The listings in those guides went stale, so now each city opens a live search instead.
West
Los AngelesClosest to you
Pacific Coast Highway, Joshua Tree and the Sierra are all within a day.
San DiegoClosest to you
Beach campgrounds on the coast and Anza-Borrego desert to the east.
Las VegasClosest to you
The classic start for Zion, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley.
Northwest
Rockies
Colorado SpringsClosest to you
Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Great Sand Dunes.
Texas
Southeast
Virginia BeachClosest to you
The Outer Banks to the south, Shenandoah to the west.
Tips for your first RV rental
Pick the RV for the trip, not the Instagram photo. A Class C is the easiest first drive for a family. It drives like a big truck, and everyone gets a bed. A campervan is great for two people and parks anywhere. A travel trailer is the cheapest by far, but only if your vehicle can actually tow it. If you’re not sure, read which type of camper to rent.
Delivery is the cheat code for trailers. Lots of owners will tow the trailer to your campsite, level it, hook it up, and pick it up when you’re done. You never touch a hitch. Tick “Delivered to my campsite” in the search above.
Read the fine print before you book. Check the nightly mileage allowance and the per-mile charge after that, generator hours, cleaning and dump fees, pet fees, the security deposit, and whether kitchen gear and bedding are included or extra.
Check the age rule. Most owners want drivers who are 25 or older. Some accept 21 to 24. Outdoorsy has a filter for it, and the renting an RV guide covers the rest of the requirements.
Book the campground first. Popular national park campgrounds fill up months ahead in summer. Lock in your site, then find an RV for those dates.
Walk around it with your phone out at pickup. Take a video of every side, the awning, the tires and the inside before you leave. It takes five minutes and settles any question about damage later.
Have the owner walk you through the plumbing. For most new RVers, the water and waste tanks are the scariest part of the whole trip. Before you drive off, ask the owner to show you how to fill the fresh water, which valves do what, and how to dump the black and gray tanks. And if the owner offers to dump the tanks for you when you bring it back (usually for an extra fee), and you’d rather not deal with it, pay it. It’s money well spent.
RV rental questions
Is Outdoorsy legit?
Yes. It’s one of the biggest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplaces in the US. Owners list their own RVs, renters leave reviews, and the booking, payment and insurance run through Outdoorsy. Read the reviews on any listing before you book, just like you would on Airbnb.
How far ahead should I book?
For summer, holidays and spring break, as early as you can. The well-reviewed RVs go first. In spring and fall, a few weeks ahead is usually fine.
Can I take my dog?
Often, yes. Tick “Pet friendly” in the search to see only owners who allow pets, and expect a pet fee.
Can I rent an RV one way?
Sometimes. Most private owners want the RV back where you picked it up, but some will arrange a one-way trip for a fee. Ask the owner before you book.
Want to rent out your own RV?
That’s a whole different guide: how to rent out your RV and make money with it.