Cost to Rent an RV

Cost to Rent an RV

Did you know that, in October 2020, there were 47,326 RV shipments—which was a 21.4% increase over October 2019? More Americans are buying and renting RVs now, because it’s the perfect way to enjoy a trip while still having most of the amenities of home.

If you’re considering renting an RV for you and your family, you’re probably asking yourself: “How much does it cost to rent an RV?”

You might also be wondering about how prices vary depending on what model you’re renting, and for how long. But then there are other considerations, such as the costs of RV campgrounds and fuel. You might be confused and stressed, thinking about all this.

That’s why we’ve put together this article. By giving you all the information you need about RV rental costs and all other associated costs, you can focus on what matters: planning the perfect trip for you and your family to enjoy. Read on to learn more.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent an RV?

How much does it cost to rent an rv

Generally speaking, the cost of your RV rental will depend on the type of RV you’re renting and how old it is. From Class A RVs to fifth wheel RVs and travel trailers, you have many RVs to choose from.

Here’s what the prices look like:

  • Class A RV, New Model: $350 to $450 nightly
  • Class A RV, Older Model (10 years older or more): $175 to $275 nightly
  • Class B RV, New Model: $200 to $350 nightly
  • Class B RV, Older Model (10 years older or more): $100 to $200 nightly
  • Class C RV, New Model: $225 to $400 nightly
  • Class C RV, Older Model (10 years older or more): $150 to $200 nightly
  • Travel Trailer, New Model: $125 to $200 nightly
  • Travel Trailer, Older Model (10 years older or more): $50 to $125 nightly
  • Fifth Wheel, New Model: $150 to $300 nightly
  • Fifth Wheel, Older Model (10 years older or more): $60 to $150 nightly

As you can see, these costs can vary quite a lot. Depending on how much room you need, how experienced you are with driving larger vehicles, and how much you can afford, you can decide which of these options is best for you.

Per Night Rental Prices This Year

RV Cost Per Night Rental

While we’ve just reviewed the usual costs of RV rental, it’s important to review what RV night rental prices are like this year. The last years have been a bit strange economically because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, so prices are likely to be affected.

To give you an idea of what rental prices are like this year, we’ve put together a list of averages of US prices from the site Outdoorsy, where you can rent RVs from owners instead of from companies. Here’s what the prices look like:

  • Campervan RV: $75-$150/night
  • Toy Hauler RV: $100-$200/night
  • Pop Up Camper RV: $50-$100/night
  • Fifth Wheel RV: $60-$150/night
  • Travel Trailer RV: $50-$125/night
  • Class C RV: $150-$200/night
  • Class B RV: $100-$200/night
  • Class A RV: $175-$275/night

As you can see, by renting from owners directly, you can get a pretty good deal. However, you’ll still want to think about other considerations when renting an RV. Let’s review these in the next section.

Impacts on the RV Rental Price

When you’re renting an RV, there are some additional considerations you’ll want to think about when making your final decision about which RV to rent. These can include considerations such as mileage included, insurance, and more.

Mileage Included

Included Mileage with the RV rental

What mileage is included when you’re renting an RV makes a big impact on the cost to rent an RV. Some RV rental companies will offer only 500 miles a week for you to drive, while others might be okay with you driving over 1,000 miles a week.

Depending on how far you plan to travel, you might be better off with different RV rental companies. Additionally, when thinking about RV rental cost options, you’ll also want to look at what the cost per mile charge is on top of the mileage included in your offer.

Propane Cost

Propane Costs

Propane is an important cost to think about when you’re using an RV, because it’s used often for cooking, heating, and ensuring you have hot water for your showers. Even though propane is pretty cheap, it does add up.

Generator Cost

Power Generator Cost

Just like with propane, a generator will be used to power your RV when you’re not on the go. If you’re staying at RV campgrounds that have electric hookups already, you won’t have to worry much about charging your generator.

However, if you plan on being off the grid and off the beaten track, then you’ll need to consider the cost of the electricity you’ll be generating with your generator.
Mileage Included

Amenities

Amenities and equipment cost

Just like with a hotel, some rental RVs will come with better amenities than others. If you have to buy a whole new set of sheets, plates and silverware, and other everyday products for the RV you’re renting, you’ll have to factor this into the money you’re spending.

Additionally, given worries you might have about cleanliness in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, you should ask the rental company what steps they’re taking to clean the RV before you rent it. This might include additional costs, too.

Insurance

RV insurance cost

Is insurance included in the price of your RV rental, or will you be expected to cover any damage that happens in an accident? Read all the fine print carefully, and be smart by paying a little extra for insurance when renting the RV.

Otherwise, even if there’s minor damage, you might end up paying far more than you expected to spend.

Additional Fees and Rate Variation

When renting an RV, there are a few additional fees and rate variations you should be aware of. For example, average nightly rates of how much to rent an RV can vary depending on if you’re renting for a few nights, a week, a month, or even longer.

Additionally, RV rental cost varies depending on if you’re renting during high season or low season. Depending on what state you’re based in, you’ll also have to pay tax on top of the standard RV rental cost. You might also have to pay a security deposit.

Long-Term Rental Costs

Long Term Rental Cost

Now that we’ve reviewed the average RV rental cost per night, we’ll go over the different types of long term RV rental cost. Whether you plan to rent an RV for a week, a month, or a year, costs will vary significantly.

Usually, the weekly cost of renting an RV is between $1,500 to $2,000 a week, plus the additional costs you have to consider that we’ve just covered. As for the monthly cost, it’s usually around between $17,000 and $10,000, before tax.

If you’re looking to rent for longer, whether that’s for three months, six months, or a year—a choice many families make if they’re waiting for their home to undergo construction, for example—then you should expect the same monthly cost, with a slight discount.

After all, if you’re renting for longer, then companies and owners are more likely to give you a weekly, monthly, or yearly discount.

Discounts from Outdoorsy

Speaking of discounts…keep in mind that the RV rental marketplace Outdoorsy has discounts for long term rentals.

Additionally, if you sign up for Outdoorsy, you can get a free night when you invite family and friends to join the platform.

Visit their referral page here to sign up to get your referral link—which will get you $75 off your next trip, $50 off your friend’s first trip, and $100 extra for you if they list their RV on the platform.

Start Your Search Here (Get $50 Off)

Our Current Rentals and Market Rates

We also have current rentals market rates available. If you want to view some of the current rentals and market rates available on our website, check out our guide on how to rent an RV.

Here is a quick pick of some Available rentals:

We also have location-specific pages, so that you can find the best RV rates in your state.

We cover RV rental rates in many states, including IllinoisNevadaVirginiaTexas, and more. We also have a coupon code available to our readers of $50 off when renting for the first time.

Budgeting Tips

Budgeting Tips

Now that we’ve reviewed some of the discounts you can get with us and Outdoorsy, we’ll share some budgeting tips you can use when renting RVs from anyone. Let’s review these now.

Get Discounts and Negotiate

Price negotiation

At the end of the day, anyone renting an RV—whether it’s an RV owner or a company—is willing to be flexible with their price if they end up making a large sum of money. So, when you’re exploring RV rental websites, look for discounts.

Do this on the sites themselves, but also do a quick Google search to find out if there are any codes you can put in at checkout for a discount. Additionally, remember that, as the buyer, you’ve got a bit of power. Negotiating for a few nights free for a long-term rental is a great way to go.

Keep Your Eye On Your Mileage

Mileage Usage

We’ve talked about the importance of determining how much mileage you need before you rent your RV. But once you’ve decided on that amount with the rental business or RV owner, you need to keep a close eye on your mileage while you drive.

Otherwise, you might end up spending way more money than planned.

Keep Your Eye On Your Generator Use

Electricity cost

The same goes for your generator usage. If you’re used to taking hour-long showers at home or heating your home at a very high temperature, you might want to cut back when you’re using your RV. Otherwise, you’ll pay a huge amount for your generator use.

Plan Before You Go

Plan your trip

It can be fun to get out onto the road without a plan, because it feels like an adventure. However, this is not going to save you money. Instead, plan every single stop and route meticulously.

In addition to saving you money on mileage, this will save your gas money.

And if you’ve made campground reservations in advance, you’ll spend less money making last-minute reservations or hunting for your reservation in the dark in the middle of the night.

Use the Right Apps

Use the right app

With the right apps, you can save money while using your RV. Use an app like Waze so you know where to avoid traffic that will slow you down, burning unnecessary fuel if you’re sitting in traffic waiting to get through.

There are also apps for finding the closest gas stations, which will also save you money, since you won’t have to go around in circles in the countryside searching for one when you’re running low.

Have More Questions?

You’ve asked the question, “How much does it cost to rent an RV?” But maybe you have more questions related to how to maintain an RV when you’re traveling with it long-term. Or maybe you want to know how to make your RV kid-safe and kid-friendly.

Whatever your questions might be, we’re here to answer them.

At TravellBuzz, we’re experts in renting RVs, and we offer many guides and tips on what to do once you’ve chosen the right one for you. Visit our contact us page to learn more about how we can help you.