What’s the cheapest way to travel? While savvy travelers can find ways to spend less on any travel mode, RVing has an edge. In fact, according to a recent analysis by the CBRE Hotels Advisory Group, RVing helps four-person travel parties save an average of 60% compared to the cost of flights and hotels, and 46% on average for traveling couples.
From affordable weekend trips to longer adventures, RVing can be a great way to see the world on a budget. And besides comparing RV vs. flying cost, there are also other factors to keep in mind. RVing can help you not only avoid airfare and high hotel prices (and nightly minimums), but also:
- Never stand in a TSA line ever again
- Explore unknown destinations closer to home
- Combine transportation and lodging so you’re not unpacking and repacking your suitcase all the time
We built this blog to be your one-stop shop for affordable RV travel details, whether you’re looking for a quick long weekend getaway, a one-tank trip, or just the comfort of traveling with all the comforts of home. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about affordable RV travel!
Why Traveling Close to Home Saves Money
Traveling close to home can be a boon for many reasons — affordability being among the highest. Here are our favorite things about the nearly-stay-cation.
Skip Flights
It’s not news: flying is expensive. Even domestic airfare averages hundreds of dollars per ticket ($385.50, to be exact, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics) — which feels particularly cruel when you’re traveling with children. And, of course, all those additional incidental costs, like checked bag fees and that last-minute airport snacks, can quickly add up.
Plus, let’s be real. Who loves the whole rigamarole of the airport? From arriving two hours early to waiting in the security line to the crammed-in-a-sardine-can experience of the flight itself, plenty of travelers would be very happy to never fly again. RVing makes it possible!
Stay Closer to Home
Along with being less logistically complicated, traveling closer to home also gives you the opportunity to explore beautiful destinations you might not have known about, right in your own backyard. For starters, there are so many hidden gem state parks across America that make for affordable and nature-filled getaways perfect for the whole family!
But maybe there’s also a neighboring city you’ve driven through but never truly explored, or lesser-known roadside attractions in other parts of your state. Traveling close to home helps you truly know the place you live like you never have before.
Combine Transportation and Lodging
If you haven’t experienced the convenience of traveling with all the comforts of home, you’re in for a treat. RV travel means:
- No hotel rooms with thin, shared walls or public hallways to navigate
- No expensive rental cars to have to worry about booking ahead of time
- Fewer restaurant meals, since you’ll have a kitchen along for the ride, which means both lower costs and healthier options
Plus, if you’re visiting more than one destination, you won’t have to unpack and repack a suitcase! Just settle in and enjoy the ride.
One-Tank Trips: Affordable Road Trips Close to Home
One of the best ways to experience RVing — and also the magic that is your very own backyard — is with a one-tank trip; that is, an RV vacation where you use only a single tank of gas, round-trip.
As we’ve been saying, some of the very best trips are the ones closest to home, and keeping your trip to one tank can also help ensure the entire vacation remains affordable and not too fast-paced. (Driving too many hours in one day is one of the most common beginner RV mistakes, and one of the reasons we recommend the 3-3-3 rule.)
Best One-Tank Trips
Planning a one-tank RV trip is both an art and a science, and the specifics will vary widely depending on where in the U.S. you’re starting from or call home. But just to get your engines running, here are a few suggested one-tank RV trip itineraries we love.
(Note: For these itineraries, we’ll assume you’re renting a Class C RV with a 55-gallon gas tank, and that the vehicle gets about 10 miles to the gallon, which means the entire trip will be limited to about 500 miles of driving. But keep in mind that different types of RVs have different fuel tank capacities and MPG ratings, so your literal mileage may vary!)
- Cruise the Florida Keys: The drive from Florida City to Key West is about 125 miles, which means round-trip will still only cost you about half a tank (though you may spend the other half exploring side-quests along the way like Biscayne National Park). Plus, it’s guaranteed to be one of the most beautiful drives you’ll ever make, especially when you cross over the Seven Mile Bridge.
- Portland to Oregon Coast Loop: Out on the other end of the country, make a loop from Portland out to the Oregon Coast, starting in Astoria and working your way south as far as Yachats to stay within your 500-mile range (including the loop back up to where you started). Of course, even a far shorter loop will be full of incredible adventures, including diversions like Fort Stevens State Park, Nehalem Bay State Park, Tillamook State Forest, and endless miles of rugged, haystack-rock-strewn beaches.
- Wisconsin Great River Road: This scenic byway, which meanders along the Mississippi from just outside of Minneapolis all the way to Dubuque, is both a visual and historical experience. Traveling 250 miles (and making it the perfect loop for your one-tank trip), this route connects old river towns, beaches, recreation sites and state parks, making it the perfect opportunity for RVers.
Again, these are just a few ideas for affordable one-tank road trip itineraries. We recommend you calculate your own mileage limit based on the type of RV you’re renting, grab a map, and check out what’s available near you!
2-Day RV Trips Perfect for Weekend Travel
Another way to dip your toe into the world of RVing and enjoy an affordable vacation: just going for a weekend. After all, you don’t need a week off to take a memorable trip. (And, psst: If you know how to hack your PTO, you can make it into a longer weekend without losing a day of paid work.)
Best 2-Day Trips
Even if you only have two days to spare, the road really can be your oyster. While, again the best two-day itineraries will depend on where you’re starting from, you can get a lot of experience in just 48 hours, especially if you’re careful about limiting your driving time and staying close to home.
- State Park Weekend: Chances are there’s an incredible state park closer to you than you think — and what’s more, many of them have well-appointed campsites with full hookups and easy access to nature and activities. If you’re lucky enough to live close to a national park, you could turn that into your weekend destination; just be sure to book early, since campsites tend to fill fast.
- Coastal Escape: If you live less than about four hours from a coastline (including the coastline of a lake!), heading toward the water can make for a perfect short-term getaway that can feel far more transportive and relaxing than a simple weekend getaway has any right to be.
- Mountain Road Trip: If you live in a place like Denver or Asheville and find that you get too caught up in life to actually go enjoy the nature around you, well, that’s totally normal — and a weekend RV road trip is the perfect way to affordably get reacquainted with your extraordinary surroundings.
- City & Nature Combo: A weekend trip is a great opportunity to stay rooted in an urban area while also making a day trip out to a nearby natural area — or vice versa! You may be surprised at how much ground you can cover in a single weekend (and how expansive an affordable weekend getaway can feel) when you combine two different types of destinations like this.
Is RV Travel Cheaper Than Flying?
Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks. Sure, a one-tank trip or weekend RV getaway sounds like fun… but is RVing actually cheaper than flying?
The short answer: Almost always, yes, and especially if you’re traveling with multiple people or as a family (and double especially when you’re traveling close to home). Check out the side-by-side comparison for yourself.
| Expense | Flying & Hotel | RV Travel |
| Airfare | $385 per person | $0 |
| RV Rental | $0 | $125 per night |
| Hotel/Campground | $200 per night | $50 per night |
| Rental Car | $60 per day | $0 |
| Meals | $175 per day (family of four, restaurant meals) | $30 per day (family of four; grocery meals) |
| Gas | $150 | $300 |
| Total (for two-night trip, family of four): | $2,560 ($1,540 of which is airfare alone) | $710 |
The numbers speak for themselves: Families can save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars by combining transportation and lodging into one vehicle and skipping the airport altogether. And all that cost savings, specially on airfare, frees up a lot of extra cash you can use to explore your destination, eat out when you really want to (as opposed to because you have to), and generally enjoy the flexibility and freedom that make RV travel so special (as well as a budget-friendly mode of travel).
RV vs Hotels vs Vacation Rentals
Now that we’ve nailed down the argument for RVing versus flying when it comes to an affordable trip, let’s talk about accommodations. Sure, airfare is expensive, but if you’re taking a road trip, is renting an RV really more expensive than, say, just driving from hotel to hotel or going for a vacation rental?
In short, yes: When you stack up RV rentals vs. hotels vs. vacation rentals, RVs usually win in terms of affordability.
While, again, the specifics will always depend on your travel style and preferences, staying in hotels, and even vacation rentals, can add up hidden costs. For example, think back to the last time you stayed in a hotel or a vacation rental. By the end of the trip, did you notice any of the following hidden costs adding up?
- Parking fees
- Cleaning fees
- Resort fees
- Hotel-room incidentals
- Restaurant meals
While there are definitely times that a hotel stay or vacation rental might make more sense for the purpose of your travel, RV travel avoids many of those expenses — and with RVshare, you can even have an RV delivered to your destination and set up ahead of time, so it’s basically just a private vacation rental on wheels.
How Much Can You Save With an RV Trip?
The short answer: A lot. As we mentioned above, recent analyses show that RV trips save families as much as 60% off what they’d be spending on a flying-and-hotel-room trip, while couples can save up to 46%. Another study found that an RV trip is about 48% less expensive per day for a four-person travel party than other types of travel.
But just to illustrate the point even further, let’s use a real-world example. Say you live in Chicago and you’re looking at a long weekend getaway. You’re deciding between two options: Flying to Florida to enjoy the beach, or taking an RV rental to Starved Rock State Park.
Here’s another cost comparison, assuming it’ll be a two-night stay with a family of four:
| Expense | Flying to Florida | RVing to Starved Rock |
| Airfare | $371.91 per person (average per-ticket cost out of Chicago O’Hare per Bureau of Transportation Statistics) | $0 |
| RV Rental | $0 | $175 per night (assuming you get a tricked-out RV) |
| Hotel/Campground | $175 per night (assuming it’s a low- to mid-range beachside hotel) | $35 per night |
| Rental Car | $100 | $0 |
| Meals | $250 (assuming more restaurant meals, even if breakfast is included with the room) | $100 (groceries) |
| Gas | $50 (driving around destination) | $100 (200 round-trip miles plus incidental driving, assuming 10 mpg and $4.00 per gallon) |
| Total: | $2,237.64 ($1,487.64 on airfare alone) | $620 |
It’s hard to get any more definitive than that!
Plan an Affordable RV Trip
Enough numbers. It’s time to plan your unforgettable, affordable RV trip so you can see the magic for yourself.
Find an RV rental near you today!
