Any RV trip can be life-changing — but you may be in the process of deciding between a one-way RV rental vs round trip. Both have their pros, cons and unique benefits. For instance, a round-trip RV trip gives you the opportunity to start off and end up in the same place, making a wide loop to explore lots of things along the way. But a one-way RV rental means you’ll be able to spend all the time you set aside for your vacation truly exploring the route you choose to its fullest potential. Then, when you get to your destination, you can simply drop off your rental RV and fly home.
Below, we’ll break down all the pros and cons between one-way vs. round-trip RV rentals, including real-world examples of popular one-way routes and the details you need to find the rental rig of your dreams. We’ll cover cost differences, convenience factors, and drop-off logistics along with so much more. Let’s get this trip started!
What Is a One-Way RV Rental?
A one-way RV rental is a rental in which you pick up a motorcoach or trailer in one city and drive it to another city where you drop it off. (That’s as opposed to a round-trip RV rental, where you pick up and drop off your rental RV in the same city, meaning you’ll have to double back from wherever your destination is.)
One-way RV rentals mean you’ll have extra time, energy, and money to fully explore and enjoy the one-way route you choose. Of course, you have to stick to a predetermined route since the RV will need to be dropped off in a specific city. Common one-way RV rentals include routes between:
- Denver and Los Angeles
- Salt Lake City and San Francisco
- Seattle and Salt Lake City
- Las Vegas to Los Angeles
- San Francisco and Los Angeles
There are many other permutations of one-way routes between these cities, too. Many of them include unforgettable road trip routes, like the Pacific Coast Highway or Nevada’s portion of US Highway 50, also known as the Loneliest Road in America. RVshare also offers many one-way RV rentals, so you can peruse available routes here, too.
What Is a Round-Trip RV Rental?
A round-trip RV rental is the more classic version of an RV rental you’re probably most familiar with. Round-trip RV rentals are both picked up and dropped off in the same city, which, if you’re driving to a faroff destination, can make for a longer — and more expensive — trip.
Round-trip RV rentals do make sense in many situations, including:
- Local trips closer to home
- National Park loops
- Quick weekend getaways
- Situations where you don’t want to fly home from the city you’re traveling to
Round-trip RV rentals give you a certain amount of flexibility to change plans along the way, since you don’t have to wind up in any specific place. However, keep in mind that more miles means more fuel as well as more per-mile rental cost, if your rental comes with any.
One-Way vs. Round-Trip RV Rentals — Key Differences at a Glance
Here are the primary differences between one-way vs. round-trip RV rentals, at a glance.
| Factor | One-Way RV Rental | Round-Trip RV Rental |
| Flexibility | High: More time to deeply explore your route | Medium: You have to return to the starting place |
| Cost | May include drop-off fees (but potentially lower mileage and fuel) | Typically lower base price (but may be more expensive for more miles) |
| Time Efficiency | Can save time if you’re heading to a destination | Requires more driving to return to home base |
| Route Planning | Ideal for linear trips | Perfect for scenic loops |
| Availability | Limited destinations | Easier to book just about anywhere |
Cost Comparison — One-Way vs. Round-Trip RV Rentals
For many travelers, cost is among the most crucial factors to consider when planning a trip. Here’s what to understand about the difference between one-way and round-trip RV rentals when it comes to dollars and cents.
Base Rates
- Round-trip RV rentals: The base costs tend to be lower (and more RVs tend to be available at a broader range of locations).
- One-way RV rentals: The rental may include a drop-off fee, but along the way you’ll likely save money on both mileage and fuel.
How much are drop-off fees, you ask? They can range from about $100 to about $700, depending on the distance you drive and the demand/availability for rental RVs in each specific destination. One piece of good news, though: drop-off fees are often waived during relocation specials or seasonal deals!
Fuel & Mileage
- Round-trip RV rentals: Because you’ll have to go all the way back the way you came, you can plan to double both your mileage and fuel costs.
- One-way RV rentals: Single-direction travel means lower fuel expenses along with less wear-and-tear (which may be assessed as a per-mile fee, depending on your rental vehicle).
Travel Time
Time is money, as they say, so we’re including this factor under this headline as well!
- Round-trip RV rentals: Obviously, a whole return leg means more travel time, which can spell opportunity costs if you’re missing work. You’ll also likely spend more on campground fees since you may have to travel for more nights.
- One-way RV rentals: One-way RV rentals can be a lot more efficient when it comes to time, since you’ll only be driving one direction. You can maximize your sightseeing opportunities (and the time you take off from work) without having to budget time or cash for the backtrack.
Who Each Type of RV Rental Is Best For
It’s not that one type of RV rental is best — it’s that each type of RV rental is best for specific people under specific circumstances! Here’s when each type of RV rental might work best for you.
One-Way RV Rentals
One-way RV rentals are ideal for certain types of trips, including:
- Cross-country or long-distance trips
- Limited-time travelers (such as those who must request time off of work for traveling)
- Specific long, scenic routes such as Route 66 or traveling from coast to coast
- Relocation trips that will land you in the city you’re moving to
Specific benefits of one-way RV travels include the opportunity to see more and save time specifically for the journey, without having to worry about the time, energy or money it takes to get back where you came from.
Many real-life RVshare renters are enjoying one-way RV rentals between popular destinations like Los Angeles and Las Vegas (about five hours and 270 miles of drive time) or even longer routes like Seattle to Salt Lake City (13 hours and 840 miles). It’s all up to what kinds of landscapes you’d most like to explore, where you’d like to wind up, and how much time you have to devote to the project.
Round-Trip RV Rentals
Round-trip RV rentals have their own set of ideal circumstances. We find this classic type of RV rental scenario is best for:
- Families and first-timers
- Regional loops
- Budget-conscious travelers (since the base price tends to be lower)
- Trips near one base (i.e., a National Park circuit)
The benefits of round-trip RV rentals include lower upfront costs, simpler logistics, and a more flexible itinerary — as long as you wind up back where you came from, you can always change direction during the trip itself. (With a one-way RV rental, on the other hand, you’ll need to land in the city you said you would, no matter what, which can force your hand when it comes to route planning.)
A couple of examples of popular routes that work best with a round-trip RV rental include:
- Las Vegas → Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park → Grand Canyon National Park → Las Vegas
- Portland → Oregon Coast → Crater Lake National Park → Portland
We hope this post has showed you that there really is no such thing as the right way to rent an RV — but also that it’s opened your mind to a new, less traditional form of RV rental (which could turn out to be exactly the right thing for your next RV trip!). No matter which way you decide to go, RVshare has your back for every mile and then some. We can’t wait to see what adventures and memories you create.
