After reading my article about RV rentals in California, your interest in renting has been piqued. You’re not based in Cali but in another part of the USA, and you’re wondering, what will you spend to rent a motorhome?
The cost to rent an RV in the USA starts as low as $50 for a travel trailer and can cost well over $275 a night. Factors such as the type of vehicle you select (trailer vs. RV), the age, amenities, and the duration of your rental can make renting a motorhome more expensive.
In this guide to RV rentals across the US, I’ll further discuss the costs, present real examples of RV rental prices, and present my top rental tips so you don’t end up with a lemon, even on a short-term basis.
Let’s dive right in!
How Much Will You Spend to Rent an RV in the USA?
You’re interested in renting an RV and taking it across the great, wild world that is the USA. I personally think this is a great choice! You’re quite excited too, but before proceeding, you have to calculate costs.
I want to make clear that no RV rental costs are set in stone. Factors such as the type of vehicle you rent, its size, its age, the quality of amenities, whether you can pick up the RV or have it dropped off to you, and the duration of your rental all influence prices.
These prices are guidelines only:
- $50 to $100 a night for a pop-up camper
- $50 to $125 a night (and up) for a travel trailer
- $60 to $150 a night for a fifth-wheel trailer
- $100 to $200 a night for a toy hauler
- $150 to $200 a night (and up) for a Class C motorhome
- $100 to $200 a night (and up) for a Class B motorhome
- $175 to $275 a night (and up) for a Class A motorhome
Besides the costs listed above, keep in mind that you may also incur the following charges.
Taxes
You can’t evade taxes just because you’re trying out life in an RV. Each state has varying tax rates, and some states don’t charge taxes at all. If you rent in a state with a heavier tax rate, the fee will be a lot more damaging to your wallet.
Keep in mind that the taxes apply to the state you’re renting in, not the state you live in unless those two states are the same.
Rental Insurance
RV rental services may offer insurance protection on the motorhome you rent. This basic protection may be free, or it could be rolled into the cost of your plan.
Other RV rental services will throw in basic insurance for free or at a low cost with the option for you to pay for a more expensive insurance plan.
Cleaning Fees
The rule of “leave no trace” doesn’t only apply when staying at a park or campground but when renting a motorhome too.
The cleaner the RV when you lend it back, the less you’ll have to shell out for cleaning fees. You might even be able to dodge this cost altogether.
Mileage and Fuel Fees
Here’s an unavoidable cost. When you rent an RV, it’s as good as yours. The vehicle may include a full tank of gas or a half tank, but you’ll inevitably have to refill it.
The larger the motorhome you rent, the higher the cost of fuel. You can easily spend hundreds at the pump each and every time. Budget accordingly if you have a long road trip planned with many fill-ups.
Park and Campsite Entrance Fees
You’re free to take a rented RV where you wish (within reason), but if it’s at a park or campsite, know that you’ll probably have to pay an entrance fee. The fee varies and could be adjusted seasonally.
13 Examples of RV Rental Prices
I’m sure you want to see more than estimates but real RV rental costs. Well, I’m here to deliver. Here is a smattering of rental costs from a variety of motorhome websites out there.
- $95 a night for a 2021 Keystone RV Springdale Mini 1800H travel trailer that’s 21 feet and sleeps five
- $100 a night for a 2016 Thor Motor Coach Vegas 25.3 Class A RV that’s 25 feet and sleeps five
- $160 a night for 2019 Entegra Coach Odyssey 25R Class C RV that’s 25 feet and sleeps seven
- $295 a night for a 2015 Airstream RV Interstate Lounge EXT Class B RV that’s 24 feet and sleeps three
- $130 a night for a 2019 Cruiser Shadow Cruiser 240BHS travel trailer that’s 28 feet and sleeps eight
- $245 a night for a 2015 Forest River Sunseeker 3170DSF Class C RV that’s 32 feet and sleeps eight
- $101 a night for a 2018 Jayco Jay Feather 7 22BHM travel trailer that’s 31 feet and sleeps seven
- $125 a night for a 2022 Forest River Wildwood X Lite 263 BHXL travel trailer that’s 32 feet and sleeps 10
- $130 a night for a 2021 Heartland Mallard 26 travel trailer that’s 32 feet and sleeps nine
- $160 a night for a 2019 Forest River Wildcat 37WB travel trailer that’s 40 feet and sleeps four
- $115 a night for a 2020 Dutchman RV Coleman Light 1805RB travel trailer that’s 22 feet and sleeps four
- $160 a night for a 2021 Forest River Work and Play 27KB trailer that’s 33 feet and sleeps six
- $116 a night for a 2019 Keystone RV Hideout 28BHSWE travel trailer that’s 32 feet and sleeps 10
The Benefits of Renting an RV
Now that you have a better idea of what it costs to rent an RV, you’ll feel closer than ever to making up your mind. Allow this benefits section to help you too!
Save Money
Do you know how much it costs to own an RV? It’s well into the five figures and sometimes even the six figures!
At the very least, for a motorhome (not a travel trailer), you’ll pay upwards of $35,000. Other RVs cost $300,000, and some are more expensive still.
Even if you shell out $500 on RV rental costs, you’re paying a fraction of what you would to own a motorhome. That’s not to say that renting is a feasible option forever, but it’s far more cost-effective for those on the fence about whether RV ownership is for them.
Test Out RV Living
RV living is not for everyone, and I don’t begrudge anyone for that.
It can be a tough life, especially if you’re very used to immersing yourself in everyday creature comforts such as consistent heating and air conditioning, electricity and running water around the clock, and constant Internet connectivity.
It’s a life that I wouldn’t trade for anything, personally, and I know many RV enthusiasts out there who feel the same. To determine if you’re one of them, it’s not enough to read blogs like mine or watch YouTube videos.
You need to get out there and live in an RV. Renting lets you do that without the risk of buyer’s remorse, which can hit you especially hard when you drop six figures on a motorhome.
If you find out after your rental period that owning an RV doesn’t suit you, you only spent a few hundred dollars rather than six times that. You won’t have ruined yourself financially.
If you decide that owning an RV could be what you want, after all, you won’t have to worry about that buyer’s remorse coming back to bite you.
See the World Cost-Effectively
Whether you own or rent an RV, traveling in a motorhome to see the world makes for a far more cost-effective solution than jet-setting from here to there and everywhere.
Of course, I should be clear that when renting a motorhome, you can’t take it everywhere. I know I touched on this before, but I want to reiterate it further now. Some RV rentals have mileage limits, and almost every USA rental company prefers you to stay within the confines of the country.
Once you own a motorhome, you can take it literally anywhere you want, provided you can drive there!
Learn How an RV Works Firsthand
Getting personal experience with an RV means you’ll learn the inner workings of these complex vehicles.
And yes, RVs are complex vehicles, and I say that having owned one for a long time! You have tanks that you’d never see in the average home, pipes and lines to deal with, a unique refrigeration system, and a different type of shower and toilet setup than what you’re used to.
If you’re the type who likes to learn by doing, then renting an RV will allow you to do that.
You shouldn’t have to tinker too much with the inner workings, as the motorhome should be in drivable condition when you rent it, but as for dumping pipes, allocating battery power, and those kinds of tasks? Those are all things you’ll get to experience.
Discover RV Brands You Like
The wide world of RV brands continues to grow all the time. How do you know which brand you like most? Well, you can do some research online, or you can rent that brand’s RV.
You might even do a little experiment where over a month or two, you rent a different motorhome brand each week and live in that vehicle for the week. Then you can decide with complete confidence which RV brand is your new favorite.
Tips for Renting an RV in the USA
Although you’re not pouring as much money into RV rentals as you would ownership, it’s still a big decision. I’ve compiled some handy tips to ensure you rent a quality vehicle you’ll love.
Choose Your RV Type Carefully
You know through the above sections that you’ll spend more money on a larger motorhome or travel trailer and less on a smaller vehicle.
When deciding which size vehicle you need, consider how many people you’ll travel with above all else. A trailer that only has room for three isn’t exaggerating. That’s how much sleeping space you’ll find, enough for three.
If you have a larger group, then rent a bigger RV. If you’re camping alone, you will waste money by renting a hulking motorhome.
Research the Rental Company
As RV rentals have become a commodity, the number of companies that offer rentals continues to grow. Some are locally based, and others serve the entire USA (and sometimes Canada too).
You can’t go wrong with big names like Outdoorsy, RVshare, Cruise America, and Good Sam. These brands have built a reputation of excellence among casual and more serious motorhome renters.
I’m not saying you should only rent using the above services. For any service you find that you don’t recognize, do your due diligence. Research the company and read reviews on social media and elsewhere on the Internet.
After collecting enough public opinion, you can decide whether you’ve found a reputable company or if you have to keep looking.
Strongly Consider RV Insurance
I talked about RV insurance at the start of this article. You’ll recall that some RV rental services offer only baseline insurance while others have baseline insurance with the option to pay more money for better insurance.
Foregoing insurance isn’t a wise idea. If you get into an accident–whether it’s one you cause yourself or one that you’re the victim of–you’re going to wish you had insurance if you don’t already.
Without insurance, you’re on the hook for repairing or even replacing the RV. You’d pay full motorhome costs in some instances but for a vehicle that doesn’t even belong to you!
Be Prepared to Pay a Deposit
Many RV rental services will ask you for a deposit upfront. This isn’t all that different than renting a car, as you often have to pay a deposit then too.
The deposit acts as security that you’ll return the vehicle to the original owner in a condition as close to the original condition in which it was issued to you.
If you don’t, then you won’t receive your deposit back. Make sure to clean up the vehicle if you want your full money!
Inspect the RV Before You Drive Off
RVs available for rent generally aren’t lemons, but you can never be too sure! Before you receive the keys, ask to inspect the vehicle inside and out.
If you’ve selected a viable rental service and a good third-party renter through the service, then your inspection request shouldn’t raise any red flags. Be wary of anyone who doesn’t want you to see the vehicle and pushes you to drive off with it.
Conclusion
The cost to rent an RV in the USA varies based on the type of trailer you choose, the amenities, the size and age, and how long you’ll rent.
You can easily find a great RV to rent for about $100 a night so you can take the vehicle for a long weekend or a summer vacation and experience motorhome life firsthand.
I hope the information in this guide helps you make a rental decision you’re confident and happy about!