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You are here: Home / RV Rentals / Can You Rent An RV? Yes – Here’s Everything You Need to Know About RV Vacation Rentals

Can You Rent An RV? Yes – Here’s Everything You Need to Know About RV Vacation Rentals

posted on February 12, 2019

Thinking about renting an RV (recreational vehicle)?

Before you grab a camper rental and go on an RV adventure, there are a few things you should know!

We've compiled everything to know about renting an RV in one place.

Where to rent, how to rent, average costs, where to stay, and tips on making the most of your RV trip.

Let's get started!

What to Know Before Renting an RV
Quick Navigation
Why Rent An RV?
Where to Rent A Camper
RV Rental Costs
How to Choose Which Type of RV to Rent
How to Rent An RV in 3 Simple Steps
Where to Stay In An RV
11 Tips When Renting An RV
FAQs

Note: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This doesn't cost you any more than normal. Read our disclaimer for more info.

Click Here to Rent An RV Today!

Why Rent An RV?

Renting an RV or campervan is one of the best ways to experience a location without being restricted to a particular area! If you don't like the RV campground you're staying at, you can always move elsewhere.

Renting an RV on the beach

Plus, the cost to rent an RV is much cheaper when compared to most hotels and resorts. You're able to experience an incredible vacation for far less than you otherwise might be able to.

Depending on the RV you rent, you can get a full kitchen equipped with a fridge, stove, oven, and more (unlike hotel rooms which only have a microwave).

Finally, RV camping puts you more in nature, with a lot more to do. You can go hiking, kayaking, sight-seeing, fishing, and so much more! Try doing that in a city!

Where to Rent A Camper

There are several ways to rent a recreational vehicle. 

  • Peer-to-Peer RV Rentals: RV owners can rent their RV to anyone through sites like Outdoorsy or RVshare. It's like the Airbnb of the RV rental world. This is our favorite way to rent because it gives you the widest range of options for the best price, plus they offer up to $1M in insurance and free roadside assistance.
  • RV Rental Company: You can also rent RVs from rental companies like Cruising America or El Monte RV. We don't recommend this method because most traditional RV rental companies are expensive and have very poor customer service.
  • RV Dealerships: Some of your local dealerships may also have a rental option. We don't have any experience with this, but would still go for a peer-to-peer rental over dealerships because of our experience.

Keep in mind that most of these options can also deliver and even set up the RV for you at whatever campground or location you're staying at! More on that in the "how to rent an RV" section.

RV Rental Costs

We recently did a study with Outdoorsy on how much it costs to rent an RV across tens of thousands of rentals in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Here are the average RV rental prices we found:

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

$100 to $200 per night

Pop Up Camper

$50 to $100 per night

Toy Hauler

$100 to $200 per night

Campervan

$100 to $175 per night

Of course, rental rates vary based on location, model, time of year & more. And if you're using a rental company like Cruising America, costs will also be different. Click here to browse rentals and see more accurate pricing.

How to Choose Which Type of RV to Rent

If you didn't already know this, there are nearly a dozen different types of RVs. Let's break them down!

Here's a quick navigation if you want to jump to the one you're interested in:

Types of RVs
Class A
Class C
Class B / Camper Vans
Travel Trailer
Fifth Wheel
Truck Camper

Related Reading: RV Rental License & Age Requirements

Class A

Class A motor homes are the biggest kind of RV next to fifth wheels. They have the most interior space and storage, with a giant windshield in the cab.

Class A Motor Home Rental

Class A's are best if you want luxury and plenty of space to move around. However, they are also the most expensive and have the lowest MPG of all RV types.

Return to Types

Class C

Class C motor homes are also fairly big, with a few smaller options as well. You can tell these by the sleeping area over the cab.

Maui Motor Home Rental

Class C's are great all-around RVs. They have plenty of sleeping area and decent living space. You really can't go wrong with them—they're a classic!

Return to Types

Class B / Camper Vans

Class B's and Camper Vans are the smallest types of motor home. (Don't ask me why they didn't go in ABC order.) If you're comfortable driving a van, these are pretty much equivalent.

Class B Motor Homes & Camper Vans

If you're going on a solo vacation or as a duo and don't mind close quarters, camper van rentals can be a great way to save money and give you stress-free driving!

Return to Types

Travel Trailer

Travel trailer rentals are sort of a mixed bag. You can have everything from tiny pop up campers to massive 42' trailers and toy haulers (which have space inside for a "toy" like a quad or dirt bike). These types of RVs must be towed!

Travel Trailer Rental

Many RV owners offer a delivery service for towable RVs, since the average person doesn't have an adequate tow vehicle. If you'd rather just drive to your campground and have the camper set up for you, these are a great option!

There are also multiple variations of travel trailers, such as pop up camper rentals, teardrop trailers, and toy haulers.

Return to Types

Fifth Wheel

Fifth wheels (aka "5th wheels") are also massive. They offer the most luxurious living spaces of all the types of RVs, often with fireplaces and two-tiered bedrooms.

Fifth Wheel Rental

If you just want a big, luxury RV rental and don't mind paying extra for it, go with a fifth wheel. They're awesome, just not that fun to drive!

Return to Types

Truck Camper

Truck campers are trucks with campers attached to the truck bed! Every bit as awesome (and as small) as it sounds.

Truck Camper

If you want to save EVEN MORE money, and potentially go off-roading, a truck camper rental is the way to go!

Return to Types

How to Rent An RV in 3 Simple Steps

Now that you know about the different types of RVs, what an RV rental costs, and where to rent one, it's time to rent your RV! The RV rental process is simple.

1. Go to A Rental Site

If you want to save money and hassle on your RV trip, book online. 

Head to Outdoorsy (or whichever RV rental company you decided to go with) and enter the date range and rental location you're staying at, then hit "search".

Renting an RV on Outdoorsy

2. Browse The RVs Using Search Filters

Outdoorsy lets you search by RV type, cost, amenities, particular keywords, whether it's pet-friendly or not, and more! Just enter the search filters you'd like to search by and the results will automatically update.

Searching for an RV

I recommend searching for RVs with a 5-star rating. That way you know the RV owner cares about giving you a good experience and has proved themselves.

Click on a result to see pictures and learn more information about it, such as:

  • Mileage Costs: While some rentals come with unlimited mileage, others charge for each mile over the allotted amount.
  • Details, Amenities & Rules: Because these RVs are for rent by owners, each of them has different rules (such as pet-friendly, festival-friendly, and if smoking is allowed). You can also see what amenities the RV has, like air conditioning, heat, washer/dryer, etc.
  • Generator Charges: If you plan on using the generator (if you're going boondocking, for example), some rentals only allow a certain number of hours of use, then charge per hour over the alloted amount.
  • Ratings & Reviews: Possibly the most important thing to look at, you can see real customer's reviews at the bottom of the page.

3. Book Your RV!

Once you've found an RV you like, booking is easy—just click the green Request Booking button on the right-hand side.

Book Online

You won't be charged yet. The rental is held for 10 minutes, so you're on a timer to complete the purchase or else you might lose it to another renter.

Note that some rentals allow Instant Booking, which means you can book the RV online instantly without getting approval from the owner.

Instant Online Booking

From here, you're taken to a page that asks if you want any of the renter's add-on's (such as additional time to return the rental or extra items like portable grills). 

Then you'll need to enter your payment details. You may also need to put down rental deposits to reserve the RV. In most cases, you'll have to pay a $100 to $500 refundable security deposit between two weeks and two days before your RV trip.

Payment Details

You can also choose to add Damage Protection on the next page (in case of damage to the vehicle on the interior, this is NOT part of the included road insurance).

Once you choose a protection package and click Next, your rental is booked (or requested)! Soon, you'll be road tripping it up.

I told you the rental process is simple! 🙂

Where to Stay In An RV

Not sure where to take your RV vacation? We got your back! Here are some great places to stay, with the 10 best rentals you can get!

Great RV Vacation Destinations

  • RV Rentals in Phoenix, AZ
  • RV Rentals in Los Angeles, CA
  • RV Rentals in San Diego, CA
  • RV Rentals in Colorado Springs, CO
  • RV Rentals in Denver, CO
  • RV Rentals in Lakewood, CO
  • RV Rentals in Jacksonville, FL
  • RV Rentals in Miami, FL
  • RV Rentals in Orlando, FL
  • RV Rentals in Tampa, FL
  • RV Rentals in Hawaii
  • RV Rentals in Las Vegas, NV
  • RV Rentals in Albuquerque, NM
  • RV Rentals in Portland, OR
  • RV Rentals in Dallas, TX
  • RV Rentals in Houston, TX
  • RV Rentals in San Antonio, TX
  • RV Rentals in Virginia Beach, VA
  • RV Rentals in Seattle, WA
  • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

11 Tips When Renting An RV

Alright, now you've got your rental and you're ready for an RV adventure!

Here are 7 tips to help you save money & have the best trip possible:

Tips & FAQs
1. Book Online to Save Money
2. Book Everything In Advance
3. Plan Your Trip With The RV Trip Wizard
4. Use These RV Checklists
5. Drive Slower Than Usual
6. If You're Flying In, Consider a Rental Car
7. Ask The RV Owner These Questions
8. Questions to Ask The RV Rental Company
9. Get This App to Find RV Dump Stations
10. Call the RV Campground Ahead of Time
11. Don't Forget These RV Essentials!
Do You Need a License to Drive An RV?
Is It Hard to Drive An RV?
Can You Walk Around in a Motorhome While Driving?
Are Seat Belts Required in a Motorhome?
Can Passengers Ride in a Motorhome?
How Many Passengers Can Ride in an RV?
Do You Need a Carseat in an RV?

1. Book Online to Save Money

As we shared above, booking online can save you money on your trip. 

But you can also save money on any activities you want to do and even restaurants by booking online! Many attractions have deals online to compete with the other attractions, whereas if you wait and go in-person, you'll end up paying more.

I recommend booking on Viator to get good deals and find unique activities.

Viator Travel Booking Site

Another great way to save money is with a browser extension called Honey. You just install it in your browser and it saves you money on hundreds of sites!

2. Book Everything In Advance

RV campgrounds and RV resorts book up fast, especially in peak season. If you want to ensure you get a good spot at an RV park, be sure to book in advance.

Again, this goes for activities and even restaurants as well. For example, if you go to Yellowstone National Park, most of the campsites and restaurants are booked almost a year in advance!

Artists Point Yellowstone National Park

Of course, this isn't always the case. Less popular areas are perfect for more spontaneous RV adventures.

If you want help finding campgrounds and booking them online, check out RoverPass. They work with RV resorts to make booking easier and more affordable.

And if you book a long-term RV rental (say for a month or more), you can also save money that way!

3. Plan Your Trip With The RV Trip Wizard

This may sound obvious, but planning your route is important if you want to have the best road trips possible! How else will you know where to stay and what activities to try on your way to the destination?

For example, on your way to Las Vegas you can check out the Rocky Mountains and Route 66! They're both amazing RV routes and something everyone should see at least once in their life.

Route 66 Sign En-route to Las Vegas

You can use the RV Trip Wizard to plan everything, including campgrounds, activities, re-fueling and more!

4. Use These RV Checklists

There are a lot of things you'll probably want to have with you on your RV vacation. Food, clothes, beach gear, hiking gear, towels... you get the idea.

Not to mention, if you're driving the RV yourself and need to set it up and take it down, you'll want a checklist for things to do before moving (like lowering the antenna so it doesn't get taken off under a low bridge).

Luckily, The Fun Times made a complete list of RV checklists for every occasion.

5. Drive Slower Than Usual

Remember that RVs are much larger (and heavier) than regular cars. This means they take much longer to stop, and you can't really stop on a dime.

The last thing you want is to rear-end someone in a big, expensive RV. So always go at or 5 below the speed limit. I like to do 60-65 on highways, when possible.

6. If You're Flying In, Consider a Rental Car

The only downside to RVing (if you're getting there by air travel) is that you won't have a vehicle to get around in—unless you unhook everything, which is a pain.

To get around this, consider getting a rental car as well. You can find them for as little as $10-$30 per day, and it's great to have a way to get groceries or go to local destinations.

Rental Cars

You can find options anywhere with RentalCars.com. (And don't be afraid to get something nice—you are on vacation, after all!

7. Ask The RV Owner These Questions

Whenever you're renting an RV, you should always ask the following questions:

  • Does the RV come with GPS?
  • Does the rental offer linens, plates, silverware, pillows, etc.?
  • How much does it cost, on average, to fill the tanks (gas & propane)?
  • If you're getting a big rig, ask for tips on how/where to fill the tank.
  • How many miles per gallon can you expect?
  • Will the number of people in your group feel cramped in this RV?
  • Does the rig have an air conditioner? (Outdoorsy will tell you if they do or not.)

8. Questions to Ask The RV Rental Company

Speaking of questions, here are a few you should ask the company you're renting an RV from before you pay:

  • How does the insurance Policy work?
  • If you have a Pet are they allowed in the RV?
  • How does Roadside Assistance work? Is there 24/7 roadside assistance?
  • Will I get charged for mileage?
  • What is the cancellation policy?
  • What are the RV rental company charges?

9. Get This App to Find RV Dump Stations

A common issue when RVing is having full black water (sewer) and gray water (sink/shower) tank while you're on the road. To avoid a full tank situation and save you gas mileage, use Sanidumps to find dump stations along your route!

10. Call the RV Campground Ahead of Time

Sometimes RV campgrounds will only allow RVs newer than a certain year, or their sites only accomodate RVs under a certain length (anything over 31' will start limiting where you can stay). Call ahead to book your site and determine if they can accomodate your rig!

11. Don't Forget These RV Essentials!

Most renters will supply you with RV toilet paper, paper towels, dishware, and silverware. But you're usually on your own for bedding, towels, water, and food.

Some other items you might want are fire starters and fire wood (usually you can pick it up there), smores ingredients, sun screen, bug spray, and clothes for multiple occasions (even if you're RVing somewhere warm, it can get very cold at night!). An extra blanket or two can't hurt, either.

And that brings us to the end of our tips!

FAQs

We've been asked a lot of questions about RVing. Here are the most common (just click the question to see the answer drop down):

Do You Need a License to Drive An RV?

For most kinds of RVs and campers, you do not need a special license.

Most states do not require a special license for RVs weighing under 26,000 pounds or towed vehicles under 10,000 pounds.

That said, it never hurts to ask the RV owner if you need a special license. They should always have that information.

For more info, read this article.

Is It Hard to Drive An RV?

This depends on your own driving abilities and the size of the RV you're getting.

While motor homes aren't particularly hard to drive, certain maneuvers (such as K-turns, reversing, or tight turns) can prove challenging.

 I recommend having someone spot you whenever you need to reverse (which should be very seldom, especially if you're using an RV GPS or RV GPS App).

Check out the DMV's guide to RV handling & driving tips for more info.

Can You Walk Around in a Motorhome While Driving?

The legalities of this are pretty grey.

People move around on tour buses and planes all the time to use the restroom. But obviously, cooking or going about daily living while the RV is moving isn't a good idea.

This comes down to your own discretion and comfort levels. I personally will use the bathroom while moving, but that's just me.

Are Seat Belts Required in a Motorhome?

The legalities of this are also pretty grey.

While it is required to wear your seat belt in the cab of your motorhome, it's not required in all states to wear it in the living space.

We wrote a full guide to RV seatbelt laws you can read for more information.

Can Passengers Ride in a Motorhome?

Yes! It is legal for passengers to ride in a motorhome in most states. However, you are limited to the number of seatbelts. 

If your RV has 6 seatbelts, you're allowed to have 6 people ride in it at any given time. Just keep in mind that RV seatbelts in the rear are not actually very safe as they don't have to adhere to the same standards as normal seatbelts.

Again, read our full guide to RV seatbelt laws for more information.

How Many Passengers Can Ride in an RV?

As many people as there are seatbelts. 

If your RV has 6 seatbelts, you're allowed to have 6 people ride in it at any given time. Just keep in mind that RV seatbelts in the rear are not actually very safe as they don't have to adhere to the same standards as normal seatbelts.

Again, read our full guide to RV seatbelt laws for more information.

Do You Need a Carseat in an RV?

RVs are exempt from normal state car seat laws in some states.

But legal or not, it's recommended to properly restrain your child in a child restraint in a forward facing vehicle seat with a crash rated seat belt.

The seat belts in the rear of most motorhomes are not crash rated. The safest option is to turn off the passenger seat air bags and place the carseat in that seat.

For more info, read this guide to RVing with kids.

That's all for what you need to know about renting an RV! Ready to go on your RV adventure? Click here to get an RV rental now.

(Last Updated On: September 4, 2020)

Filed Under: RV Rentals

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mindy Jollie

    July 3, 2019 at 12:46 pm

    I love the list of questions you included to ask the RV owner when renting an RV, especially the one about whether it has a GPS! I would imagine it can be difficult to get around and find places to park without a GPS, especially in remote places with less cell coverage. My best friend keeps her RV in storage so that she doesn’t need to worry about renting, but it’s good to know there are other options!

    Reply

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