How Much to Rent an RV for a Week – NerdWallet

For many, summer vacations mean road trips. And renting an RV for that road trip is becoming increasingly popular. It’s a fun way to pile in the whole crew, spend more time outdoors, and not have to worry about booking hotel rooms along your route.

But if you’re planning your vacation budget, it’s important to know that when it comes to cost, how much to rent an RV for a week varies. We’ll break down what an RV weekly rental cost is and what factors affect it.

If you’re ready to rent, there are plenty of platforms to choose from. Companies like Cruise America maintain their own branded fleet of RVs and travel trailers, as does Escape Campervans (which offers vans only).

Other sites like Outdoorsy and RVshare facilitate peer-to-peer rentals so you can rent someone’s personal RV or trailer.

Shop around before you book, especially if you’re looking for the best rate as prices and availability can vary wildly from company to company and city to city.

Depending on the season and the type of RV, you could expect to pay anywhere between $70 per night for a travel trailer to $170 a night for a class B motorhome or $250 or more for a luxurious class A. Here’s a breakdown of some averages for a weeklong RV rental with little to no extras included:

• Towable trailer: $400-$800.

• Class C motorhome: $1,100-$1,650.

• Class B motorhome or van: $1,300-$1,800. 

• Class A motorhome: $1,500-$3,450

Since the price is based on the number of nights you reserve, the longer you rent, the more the total price will increase, meaning the cost of renting an RV for two weeks will be roughly double the cost of a one-week rental — before any taxes, fees, add-ons or upgrades.

The cost of an RV rental isn’t all you need to budget for, though. Keep in mind, especially if you’ll be driving long distances, that the cost of gas could add up quickly whether you’re driving a motorhome or towing a trailer. RVs are notorious for getting subpar gas mileage.

Other rentals may offer RV delivery options if you don’t want to pick it up yourself, but delivery costs extra, too. Some rentals even charge per mile after you drive a maximum distance, so make sure to pay attention to listing details before you book.

You may also be required or invited to purchase additional insurance. Some rentals may come with basic protection, but make sure you read the fine print so you know what it includes. Some travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cover car rentals, but not all coverage includes recreational vehicles, so do some research before you count on it.

Other rentals may charge extra for things like linens, towels and dishes if you don’t want to bring your own. Cruise America, for example, charged $75 extra per person for pillows and sheets and $125 for essentials like cups, knives and cutting boards for one rental we researched, and one RVshare rental charged extra for bedding, essentials and optional upgrades like an outdoor table and chairs.

Then, if you’re not dispersed camping on free Bureau of Land Management land, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of a campground for the night, ideally one with electric and water hookups, which could be up to $100 per night for upscale campgrounds or as little as $20 at others.

There are plenty of factors that affect how much an RV rental will be, including RV size. For example, how much to rent a small RV for a week will be different from how much to rent a camper for a week (also known as a travel trailer), which will be different from how much to rent a large RV for a week. Here’s what else can affect the price of a rental:

• Season: Some seasons, like summer, may be more expensive than others when demand is higher.

• Location: Prices may vary from city to city and state to state.

• Availability: How many rentals are available at any given time can affect the price of an RV rental. 

• Newness of the RV: Newer vehicles, especially more luxurious vehicles, can carry a higher cost.

• Size or class: The larger the RV or the higher the class, and the more people it sleeps, the more it’s likely to cost.

• Type: Travel trailers or towable campers tend to be less than drivable RVs.

• Rental platform: Depending on whether you rent from a company with their own fleet or a website that acts as a broker for individuals renting out their personal vehicles, prices can be very different and include different things.

A towable trailer may cost as little as $400 for one week, but Class A motorhomes can cost several thousand dollars.

When budgeting for an RV rental, it’s important to shop around, search on different websites, consider the cost of camping and know what extras you’ll have to pay for to have the best experience.