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How Much To Rent An RV? More Than You Might Expect

Published on September 4th, 2020 by Nikki Cleveland
This post was updated on July 26th, 2023

how much to rent an RV
Explorerworld56, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Much To Rent An RV? More Than You Might Expect

Renting an RV is a great way to travel on your own terms without having to buy your own RV or worry about where you’re going to store it during the off-season. It also allows you to try out different types of RVs, which can be useful in determining what type of RV is best for you.

However, renting an RV may not be as cost-effective as you think compared to a decent hotel. If you’re wondering how much to rent an RV, keep all of these factors in mind.

How much does it cost to rent an RV?

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Many RV rentals average $100 nightly, some in the $200-300 range and beyond. It ultimately depends on your preferences and the size of your RV group. If you’re traveling solo or with a partner, you may very well be comfortable in a smaller RV like a van or travel trailer, whereas a large family of 4 will want the space in a larger and more expensive Class A motorhome rental. This is roughly equivalent to what you would pay at a quality hotel.

Some RV rental companies alternatively charge by the mile. This can also make a huge difference depending on the mileage of your trip. According to Cruise America,

“Generally, the cost of mileage through Cruise America is a per night charge that is based on 100 miles if you’re renting locally or 250 miles for a one-way RV rental. The rate for this charge is 35 cents per mile.”

Take the length of trip into consideration

Another important thing to consider is how long your trip will be. For an average two-week vacation, this will add up fast to $1400-2800+ in nightly fees, not including the many other expenses such as insurance, fuel, and campground fees.

Taxes, service fees, and insurance costs

Taxes and fees will often add an additional cost on top of that. Through RVShare, this includes a service fee, 24/7 roadside assistance, as well as standard collision and liability insurance. 

Fuel costs & pet fees

Will you need a generator or propane? Are you traveling with pets? These factors can all add to the total cost when determining how much to rent an RV. Some RV rentals also charge an additional fee for bedding and towels if you are not supplying your own.

Refundable security deposit

Most RV rental companies also charge a refundable security deposit. While it is refundable, it is still needed at the time of booking your rental. This amount will vary depending on the rental, but can easily run $500-1000+.

Campground fees

So you have the rental RV, and you have the mileage down—but you’ll still need a place to park and camp. Nightly campground fees can add up quickly, especially if you require a site with hookups. RV LIFE Trip Wizard makes it easy to plan your route and track all of your campground expenses.

On top of all this, you may also need to pay waste dump fees, toll road fees, and for the food and drink on your trip. And unless you plan on sticking around the campground the entire time, you may also end up spending money on all of the fun and exciting attractions in the areas you’re visiting.


While it may not be as cheap as expected, renting an RV is still an amazing way to explore the country without having to buy your own RV. However, if you plan on RV camping often, it may be worth the investment to purchase your own rig and save money in the long run. 

There are quite a few ways to save money on your trip, especially on food & drink. We recommend taking this epic RV rental road trip and planning your trip with RVShare.

RV owners looking to rent out their RV to supplement their income and offset the cost of the RV can list with Outdoorsy, a popular peer-to-peer RV rental company with all RV classes for rent.

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