How much does it cost to rent an RV?
Not just the RV itself, but including hidden costs like setup fees, cleaning fees, gas, mileage, etc.
We wanted to know. So we researched average RV rental prices across the US to find out!
Ready to budget your next RV rental vacation?
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Average RV Rental Prices in 2019
The cost to rent an RV varies widely depending on which RV rental company you're renting from, what RV type you're renting, the rental location, the age of the RV, and more.
However, to give you a general pall-park of pricing, here are the average RV rental prices across the US for peer-to-peer RV rentals (RVs for rent by owners instead of companies), such as Outdoorsy.
RV Type | Average Rental Prices |
|---|---|
Class A | $175 to $275 per night |
Class B | $100 to $200 per night |
Class C | $150 to $200 per night |
Travel Trailer | $50 to $125 per night |
Fifth Wheel | $60 to $150 per night |
Pop Up Camper | $50 to $100 per night |
Toy Hauler | $100 to $200 per night |
Campervan | $75 to $150 per night |
Price Averages Data Courtesy of Outdoorsy
If you opt to rent a motor home or camper from a normal rental company like Cruise America or El Monte RV, prices go up from there. (Usually around $250 per night or more, with poor customer service in most cases.)
The only time I would recommend renting from a company like this or from your local RV dealer is if you're getting a crazy good deal on a one-way RV rental. They sometimes offer these so they don't have to pay someone to drive their rigs back to another rental location.
However, the cost of the rental itself isn't the only thing you'll have to pay for!
Other Fees & Prices to Consider
In addition to the per-day rental fees, you may also need to pay for things like:
You also have to pay a refundable security deposit (usually $500). But this is refunded at the end of your trip, assuming there are no damages. (It's still refunded if there are damages if you bought the Damage Protection service, though!)
Of course, when budgeting for your RV trip, you'll also want to think about food, souvenirs, local activities, and that sort of stuff. But that's a whole other article!
Average Total Rental RV Trip Costs
Now that we've broken down the various fees, how much does it cost to rent an RV?
The answer depends on the rental period, the RV rental location, whether you have unlimited mileage, and which model you're renting. But here are some rough averages based on all the numbers we've covered so far:
Rental Period | Average Rental Prices |
|---|---|
Day Trip | $75 to $350 (Plus Tax) |
7-Day Trip | $500 to $2,400 (Plus Tax) |
One Month | $1,750 to $10,000 (Plus Tax) |
The reason these prices vary so widely is because they include everything from small, cheap RV rentals to luxury RVs.
Pro Tip: Many RV owners will offer you a discount for long-term rentals, and you can often find deals for as little as $1,000 per month!
5 Tips For Renting An RV
Ready to go road tripping? Woohoo!
Whether you're getting a motorhome rental, a travel trailer, a 5th wheel, a toy hauler, or something else, here are five tips for renting an RV, from saving money to having the best RV trip possible:
1. Book Online & Use Peer-to-Peer RV Rentals
Searching for RV rentals is easier than ever. Thanks to Outdoorsy, you can browse camper rentals online and find a wide range of options in a matter of seconds.
Plus, if you book online, you can save money and headaches. You're able to see the dates, costs, and get support right on their website.
They also have advanced search filters, so you can search based on RV type, price, amenities, keywords, ratings, and more.
Why Outdoorsy? We did a comparison of the best RV rental companies and Outdoorsy had the best reviews, best customer support, and best services out of the top three. (We compared Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Cruising America.)
2. Try to Book In Off-Peak Seasons to Save Money
While it can be tempting to take a trip in the middle of summer, you can save several hundred dollars on your trip (between RV campground fees and rental costs) by going on vacation during spring, fall, or even winter!
Plus, if you know where to go, you can get some great deals on winter rates and still enjoy warm weather. Not to mention, the tourist crowds won't be around!
For example, some campgrounds in Myrtle Beach rent campsites right on the beach for half off until mid-March... but it's still in the 70's and even 80's in late February and the first half of March!
3. Plan Meals For Your Trip
One of the great things about RV vacations is that you (usually) have a fully decked-out kitchen to cook in!
To avoid constantly eating out and spending tons of money on food, plan out a grocery list for your trip. Kayla made a list of some delicious ground chicken recipes you can try out!
4. Be Careful When Driving
If you opted for picking up the RV yourself rather than having it delivered, that's a great way to save money. Just be extra cautious while driving the rig—it's much more difficult to drive than a car. Some tips...
- Drive slower than you think you need to. Unlike a car or truck, recreational vehicles are much bigger and heavier. They can't stop on a dime. If you're not paying attention, you can easily rear-end someone who just slammed on their brakes in front og you.
- Avoid cities and one-way roads if you can. Maybe it's just me, but I hate driving in cities to begin with. Driving a big RV through a city really is not fun.
- Use an RV-specific GPS. Getting a GPS made specifically for RVs is a great way to avoid low bridges, tunnels, and hilly roads that would be a nightmare to drive an RV on. Alternatively, you can get the CoPilot app for your phone to save some money.
This is especially true for motorhome rentals as opposed to trailers, where you'll be behind the wheel of a totally new vehicle compared to what you're used it.
5. Book Your Campground Ahead of Time
It can be fun to spontaneously go on road trips. However, it can also stress out your RV adventure when you realize the campground you were headed to is booked full.
To avoid that (and sometimes get better rates), book your campground ahead of time. Better yer, plan your trip route ahead of time so you can see all the stops along the way.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend RV Trip Wizard to plan your trip. It's like Google Maps for RVers, with loads of awesome activities and scenery to add to your route with a few clicks of the mouse!
You can also use Roverpass to book campgrounds much more easily.
Click here to read more tips for renting an RV!
That's All, Folks!
Now you know how much it costs to rent an RV. Are you going on an RV adventure soon? Let us know in the comments below!
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