RVing is one of the best ways to see the country without blowing your travel budget, but it’s easy to spend more than you planned if you’re not paying attention. Between rental fees, fuel, campgrounds, food, and all the little extras that sneak onto your bill, costs can add up faster than you expect.
The good news: with a little planning and the right strategies, RV travel can be genuinely affordable. Here are our best tips for keeping costs down on your next trip.
This post contains affiliate links. RVshare may receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on a product or service link.
Key Takeaways
- RV rental prices vary widely by class, age, and season — understanding how pricing works helps you avoid surprises at checkout.
- Reading the listing description carefully before booking is one of the easiest ways to avoid unexpected fees.
- Fuel is often your biggest expense; driving 55–60 mph and using apps like GasBuddy can save on costs.
- Camping memberships like Good Sam, Harvest Hosts, and Passport America can pay for themselves in just a few nights.
- Boondocking (camping without hookups on public land) is one of the fastest ways to cut your campground costs dramatically.
- Cooking in your RV instead of eating out can save hundreds of dollars on a week-long trip.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent an RV?
RV rental prices depend on the class, age, and time of year you’re traveling. Here’s a general range of what to expect on a peer-to-peer platform like RVshare:
| RV Type | Older Units (10+ years) | Newer Units |
| Class A | $150-$250/night | $350-$450/night |
| Class B | $100-$200/night | $300-$350/night |
| Class C | $100-$200/night | $225-$400/night |
| Travel Trailer | $50-$125/night | $125-$200/night |
| Fifth Wheel | $60-$150/night | $150-$300/night |
Keep in mind: the nightly rate is just the starting point. Fees for insurance, mileage overages, generator use, cleaning, and security deposits can push your all-in cost significantly higher. Always read the full listing before booking.
Want to get a more specific cost for your trip? Use this RV Rental Cost Calculator.
How Does RV Rental Pricing Work on RVshare?
RVshare’s peer-to-peer model means owners set their own prices — which tends to be more competitive than traditional rental agencies. Owners don’t pay listing fees, and they can customize their terms. A few things to know going in:
- The daily rate can fluctuate based on season and location
- Most listings include a minimum rental period, plus weekly and monthly rates
- State taxes apply
- Generator hours and mileage often have per-unit overage fees
- Security deposits are standard and refunded when you return the RV clean
- Optional upgrades like outdoor furniture, kitchen setup, or delivery may be available for a fee
None of these are hidden — they’re disclosed in every listing. But you have to actually read the listing to catch them.
How to Save Money When Renting an RV
Since each RV available on the RVshare platform is owned by an individual and the fees can vary from listing to listing, how do you save money on an RV rental? There are a few features to ensure that you never pay more than you have to for your rental. These include a 24/7 support team, secure payments backed by a $10,000 peace of mind guarantee, and a rewards program that gives you 5% cash back towards your next vacation every time you rent with us.
In addition to the savings offered by RVshare, there are many other ways renters can cut down on RV rental costs. Here are some of our best tips to save money when renting an RV:
Read the RV Listing Description Carefully
Every RVshare listing has a “Rates & Availability” section that spells out every fee: security deposits, cleaning fees, generator limits, mileage caps, late fees, and optional upgrades. Some listings are simple; others have more options. Reading this before you book — not after — is the single easiest way to avoid sticker shock. If anything is unclear, message the owner before you commit.
Dump the Tanks Yourself
Many listings offer tank dumping as an optional paid upgrade. If you want to save a few dollars, doing it yourself is straightforward, and your owner will walk you through it before you leave. If you’ve never done it before, don’t stress. It sounds worse than it is, and we have some great articles that can help.
Return the RV the Way You Found It
Cleaning fees are standard on most listings, but additional cleaning fees can hit if you return the rig dirty or in rough shape. Return it the way you found it, and you won’t have any surprises waiting for you after checkout.
Stay Put and Drive Less
Some listings charge for mileage beyond a set limit. If that’s the case with your rental, a trip that stays in one region — or centers on a single campground with day trips — can save you real money. On top of that, week-long and monthly stays at campgrounds are almost always cheaper per night than booking day by day.
Renting for a full week instead of a weekend typically lowers your nightly rate — sometimes significantly, depending on the owner’s pricing structure. It’s worth checking the weekly rate on any listing you’re considering.
Watch Your Generator Use
Generator fees work the same way as mileage fees. Some listings include a few hours for free, others charge from the first hour, and some don’t charge at all. Check the listing before you assume anything.
Expert Tip: If you’re planning to spend time off-grid, look for rentals with solar panels already installed. They let you run low-draw appliances without touching the generator at all.
Audit All the Optional Fees
Before you book, scan the listing for: security deposits, propane refills, pet fees, extra linen charges, solar setup fees, fire pit rentals, and delivery/setup options. None of these are mandatory, but they add up if you’re not paying attention. Skip the ones you don’t need; splurge on the ones that genuinely improve your trip.
How to Choose the Right Destination for Your Budget
Some destinations simply cost more than others, whether you’re camping, eating, or just filling up the tank.
If you have flexibility in your route, look up campground fees ahead of time and check general expenses for gas or groceries along the way. Big cities and popular coastal areas tend to be more expensive than other areas. Even National Parks can get pricey in peak summer. If the parks are your priority, consider visiting a region where several are clustered together and buying an America the Beautiful Annual Pass to visit. At $80 for U.S. residents, it covers entry to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for a full year.
Take Advantage of Shoulder Season.
Shoulder season, if you’re unfamiliar, is a popular area’s “off” season, when it draws fewer tourists. Prices are usually lower for almost everything and you’ll deal with fewer and smaller crowds.
Of course, these seasons are less popular for a reason – weather is less predictable and the time often doesn’t align with most school calendars. But if you have flexibility, it’s one of the most effective ways to save money while planning.
Fuel: Shop Around and Slow Down
Fuel is usually the biggest line item on an RV road trip. A large motorhome can get as few as 6–8 miles per gallon — and some Class As get even less — so every cent per gallon matters when you’re putting hundreds of dollars into the tank.
A few things that help:
A few things that help:
- Use GasBuddy to find the cheapest station along your route. You’d be surprised how often you can save $0.25/gallon or more by going a block out of your way.
- Drive 55–60 mph — most RVs get their best fuel economy at this speed
- Avoid driving into high headwinds when you can
- Keep your tires properly inflated — under- or over-inflated tires cost you mileage
- Don’t overload the rig — excess weight burns fuel
- Use COPILOT or RV LIFE for navigation; both route you around roads that aren’t suitable for your rig size, so you’re not adding extra miles from bad turns
Use a Travel Rewards Credit Card
Put all your trip spending — fuel, groceries, campgrounds — on a card with strong travel rewards or cash back, and pay it off in full each month. Over the course of a week-long trip, you can accumulate a meaningful amount of points or cash back just on everyday purchases you were going to make anyway. Be sure to check annual fees to make sure your savings exceed the amount you may have to pay.
Some of the best travel perk credit cards are the US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card, Citi Premier card, and the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card.
Cook in Your RV
Seriously: you have a full kitchen on wheels … so use it!
Cooking at camp is almost always cheaper than eating out, even including fast food, which has gotten more expensive in recent years. A few strategies that help:
- Cook in batches and freeze extras in flat zip-lock bags, which are great for small RV freezers
- Make lunch before you leave camp in the morning — a few sandwiches and snacks can save you $20 or more
- Hit farmers markets along your route for affordable, fresh produce
- Brew coffee at camp instead of popping out to a coffee shop each morning
- Stock up on paper products and non-perishable staples at dollar stores — they often carry smaller sizes that are perfect for RV kitchens
Memberships and Discount Clubs Worth Knowing About
There are more discount clubs for RVers than most people realize, and a surprising number of them pay for themselves in just a trip or two.
Good Sam has a standard membership of $39/year and gives you 10% off nightly rates at more than 2,000 affiliated RV parks across the U.S. and Canada. If you stay at participating parks even a handful of times a year, it covers itself.
Harvest Hosts, which is $99/year to start, is a different kind of membership. It gives you access to roughly 6,000 unique overnight locations at wineries, breweries, farms, distilleries, and other small businesses across North America. You park for free in exchange for supporting the business by buying a bottle of wine, a bag of produce, or other goods. The experience is genuinely different from a traditional campground. Yes, you might end up buying something — but waking up in a vineyard beats camping in a parking lot by a wide margin, and the membership often pays for itself in two or three stays.
Note: Harvest Hosts has grown significantly and restructured its tiers since the early days. The Classic plan now runs $99/year; bundled plans with Boondockers Welcome and golf course access are also available. Verify current pricing at harvesthosts.com before joining.
Escapees is worth looking at if you’re doing extended travel — it offers a mix of mail forwarding, community resources, and campground discounts along with its membership perks.
A few other memberships are worth knowing about depending on how you travel: Passport America, which is $49/year, offers 50% off nightly rates at 1,100+ campgrounds across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and at that price it can pay for itself in two nights. The catch is that blackout dates are common on weekends and holidays, so it’s better suited to frequent mid-week campers and snowbirds than to summer road trippers. Thousand Trails works well for RVers who camp heavily in a specific region and want access to a zone of campgrounds for a flat annual fee.
Try Boondocking
Dry camping, dispersed camping, boondocking — all of it means camping on public lands without hookups, usually for free or close to it. There is no electricity unless you have solar or a generator, no water connection, and no sewer. But there’s also no nightly fee, beautiful locations, and up to 14 days at most BLM and national forest sites.
For overnight stops in towns and along highways, places like Walmart, Cabela’s, Cracker Barrel, and some Lowe’s and Home Depot locations often allow RV overnight parking — always verify ahead of time.
The best rigs for boondocking are smaller and more self-contained: Class B campervans, small travel trailers, and teardrop campers. Not every RVshare rental is set up for it, so check with the owner before you plan a boondocking trip.
Be Mindful of Water and Power Usage
If you are staying at a park with showers, use them. You won’t have to pay for the energy used to heat the water in your RV rental.
If you plan to do laundry on the road, use color catcher sheets together with multi-load washers and dryers. This will enable you to wash all your clothes together at once and save money at the laundromat.
When it’s hot, take advantage of battery-powered fans to circulate the air conditioning in your RV. This will allow you to set the air conditioning at a higher temperature and use less energy.
Look for Free Activities
Entertainment has a way of slowly inflating a travel budget. The good news is most of the best parts of RV travel are free: hiking, scenic byways, historical sites, waterfalls, geocaching, and checking out visitor centers. A National Park entry fee or an America the Beautiful pass can give you days of exploring on foot, by bike, or by kayak. Reciprocal memberships at museums, zoos, and botanical gardens are another underused tool — a membership at your home institution often gets you free or reduced admission at hundreds of partner locations nationwide.
Choose Your Campsite Wisely
Private resort-style campgrounds in popular areas can run $80–$100/night for a full-hookup site. Public campgrounds and state parks often offer hookups for under $30/night — sometimes significantly less. The tradeoff is usually amenities. Basic sites don’t often have a pool, ice cream socials, or other perks. But if you’ve got a solid RV setup and a good campground chair, you probably won’t miss them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saving Money on RV Rentals
The cost to rent an RV per day varies widely by type and age of the rig. On RVshare, expect roughly $100–$200/night for older Class B and C units and $200–$450/night for newer Class A motorhomes. Travel trailers start around $50/night for older models. Always calculate the all-in cost — mileage, generator, insurance, and cleaning fees can add 30–50% to the advertised nightly rate.
The main fees when renting an RV include a security deposit, cleaning fee, mileage overage charges, generator hour fees, pet fees, and optional add-ons like delivery or kitchen setup. All of these are disclosed in the RVshare listing — read the Rates & Availability section carefully before booking.
Most dispersed camping on BLM and national forest land is free, and stays are typically limited to 14 days. Some areas have a small fee. Always check current regulations for your specific location, as rules vary by land management area.
Yes, the America the Beautiful Pass is worth it for U.S. residents planning to visit more than a couple of fee-charging federal sites in a year. At $80, it pays for itself quickly. If you’re visiting parks across a region, it’s almost always cheaper to buy the pass.
Yes, you really can save money on an RV trip, especially if you cook most of your own meals, take advantage of free or low-cost camping, and avoid peak season. The savings compound fast when you eliminate both nightly hotel fees and restaurant meals.
Ready to start planning? Browse RV rentals by type at RVshare and find the right fit for your budget.
