There’s something quintessentially American about a recreational vehicle, or RV. From planning inexpensive road trips across the country to full-time RV living, hundreds of thousands of families rely on RVs for travel annually.
According to Camper Report, RV costs range from $10,000 to over $100,000, depending on make, model, and features. Additionally, this upfront cost doesn’t consider repair costs and depreciation.
If you only want to use your RV for occasional camping weekends or road trips, ownership doesn’t make sense.
Thankfully, there are numerous options to get cheap RV rentals.
The Best Places to Rent Cheap RVs & What to Consider
One of the most influential rental price factors is the type of motor home rental. The most common types of RVs include:
- Class-A Motor Homes. Known for their quality and luxury, Class-A motor homes are the largest, priciest type of motor home. They have multiple beds, a kitchen, plenty of storage space, and a spacious interior. When you picture an iconic RV and long road trips, you’re thinking of a Class-A.
- Class-B Motor Homes. These motor homes are also known as camper vans and typically have enough room for a small kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Class-B motor homes have several perks, including ease of driving and the best fuel economy out of all RV types. It’s also your best RV rental option if you’re on a budget since Class-B motor homes are generally the cheapest choice. Due to size, this is an excellent rental choice for solo travelers, couples, or families with one kid.
- Class-C Motor Homes. This class of motor home is a toned-down version of the Class-A. You still have enough sleeping space for several people, a kitchen, and a fairly spacious living space. Fuel efficiency is also better than a Class-A, so it’s a suitable rental choice for families traveling on a budget.
Begin your research by deciding the type of RV rental that suits your needs.
Additionally, check RV size rules for national parks and RV parks you’re visiting. Many parks permit RVs of 30 feet and under, so sometimes, it’s cheaper and simpler to go smaller.
Once you decide on your RV model and map out your trip, you’re ready to hit the open road with an affordable RV rental. To avoid overpaying, stick with one of these affordable options.
1. Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy is a leading RV rental company that offers affordability without sacrificing selection.
Renting a vehicle on Outdoorsy is simple because the platform is like Airbnb for vehicles. You search for different rental options by location, and every listing includes vehicle details, amenities, host rules, possible cleaning fees and security deposits, and information about the vehicle host. You can always message hosts to ask questions about the vehicle if you have questions.
Listings also have a daily mileage limit and mileage overage price. Additionally, if your RV has a generator, many hosts cap free generator usage at several hours and charge per hour for extra usage.
However, hosts usually allow over 100 miles and four hours of free generator use per day, which suffices for camping and slower road trips.
On Outdoorsy, you can rent a range of vehicles, including:
- Class-A Motor Homes: $175 to 275 per night
- Class-B Motor Homes: $100 to $200 per night
- Class-C Motor Homes: $150 to $200 per night
- Travel Trailers: $50 to $125 per night
- Pop-Up Trailers: $50 to $100 per night
- Fifth Wheels: $60 to $150 per night
These prices are approximate ranges, but you can find cheaper rentals depending on your area.
You can also rent SUVs, pickup trucks with camper shells, jeeps, and other camper-friendly vehicles. However, RV rentals are where Outdoorsy truly shines. Outdoorsy has hundreds of vehicle options in every state and also operates in Canada.
Outdoorsy hosts can also offer extras like:
- Vehicle delivery
- Bike rentals
- Camping gear rentals
- Bedding
- Waste tank dumping following your trip
- Unlimited mileage
Hosts can also rent towing vehicles for you to bring on your road trip, or you can tow your own car with your RV.
Like Airbnb, you can usually save money by booking for multiple weeks or a month, which is ideal for cutting costs on long road trips.
Every listing has insurance coverage, which provides up to $1 million in liability insurance and physical damage protection as well as coverage from other incidents like fires, theft, and fallen trees.
As a renter, you can buy extras like roadside assistance or additional coverage, but pricing depends on the make and model of your rental. You must be 25 or older to rent.
Ultimately, Outdoorsy provides cheap RV rentals that suit experienced and novice RVers alike. If you want to save money on your next RV trip, Outdoorsy is the first website you should check.
2. RVshare
If you like Outdoorsy’s rental model, RVshare is another affordable alternative to try. RVshare is also an Airbnb-style rental platform with plenty of cheap RV rentals for your next adventure.
The platform operates in hundreds of American cities. In terms of selection, it offers several RV categories with approximate price ranges including:
- Class-A Motor Homes: $150 to $450 per night
- Class-B Motor Homes: $100 to $350 per night
- Class-C Motor Homes: $100 to $400 per night
- Fifth Wheels: $60 to $350 per night
- Travel Trailers: $50 to $300 per night
- Pop-Up Trailers: $45 to $125 per night
When searching, you can apply filters to find the right size RV for your trip. It’s possible to find cheap RVs for under $100 per night. You can also search for delivery-only RVs to avoid the hassle of picking up your vehicle.
Listings include information about the host, amenities, rules, security deposits, and potential discounts for longer bookings. Hosts can also cap mileage and generator usage or allow unlimited usage. If you have questions about a rental, you can contact the RV owner before you book to clarify.
RVshare and Outdoorsy are both excellent options to find cheap RV rentals. Ultimately, it’s worth comparing both platforms to find the most selection in your city.
One significant difference is that RVshare prohibits towing a secondary vehicle with your RV rental. If you want to bring a personal car along for your road trip, RVshare isn’t the right rental platform to use.
However, one advantage of RVshare is that they offer one-way RV rentals. That means you don’t have to drop off the vehicle at its original pickup location at the end of your rental period.
Instead, you drop off the RV at another location near the end of your road trip and can then catch a cheap flight home or find another transportation option. Outdoorsy hosts can also offer one-way rentals, but there isn’t a designated category.
All rentals have a rental guarantee that protects against fraud, misrepresentation, and disputes with the host. You must be 25 or older to rent.
Additionally, insurance plans start as low as $10 per day to provide peace of mind during your trip. However, for large-class vehicles, you’re probably looking at $20 to $30 per day in insurance costs.
Plans include up to $1 million in liability coverage and up to $200,000 in collision coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and free towing and tire services.
3. El Monte RV
El Monte RV is one of the largest motor home operators in the United States. It uses a network of RV rental agencies to supply rentals rather than depend on independent RV owners.
Currently, El Monte RV has dealers in:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
While this doesn’t cover every state, it’s still an affordable and accessible rental choice.
RV rental rates can start at less than $99 per day. Booking off-season and far in advance helps lower your rental cost. Additionally, different pickup locations might have lower pricing, depending on availability.
You have to call your RV dealership of choice to secure a pickup time. There’s a per-hour penalty of at least $125 up to twice the nightly rate for late vehicle drop-off unless you have authorization from the RV dealership.
Overall, El Monte RV is stricter than host-operated rentals on websites like Outdoorsy and RVshare.
But renting from an RV rental company instead of independent hosts means the RV’s condition and your overall rental experience should be consistent whenever you rent. Plus, by renting from professionals, it’s unlikely a last-minute cancellation or communication error can derail your travel plans.
If you’re an AAA member, you can also save up to 10% on your rental. If you join the El Monte rewards program, you earn loyalty points for rentals. For even more savings, El Monte RV has a list of rental deals, including percent discounts and free mileage credits, that make your trip more affordable.
One advantage of El Monte RV is that it has more one-way rental options than websites like RVshare. That’s because dealers sometimes run relocation specials, which involve transporting an RV to a new location by a specific date and time.
In exchange for being the driver, you enjoy free mileage and nightly rates for almost $0. Relocation deals often put you in a time crunch, but it’s the cheapest way to rent an RV and potentially drive across several states.
You can’t tow a vehicle with one-way rentals, and El Monte RV outlines other towing rules for regular rentals.
You need primary third-party liability insurance up to the state statutory limits regardless of your rental type. Additional coverage is available if you don’t want to use your own insurance or if your personal insurance is insufficient.
Coverage cost varies depending on your vehicle. However, you only need to be 21 or older to rent from El Monte RV.
Roadside assistance comes with rentals, and mileage costs are between $0.32 and $0.39 per mile. Alternatively, prepaid blocks of 100 miles cost $29.
El Monte RV isn’t always as affordable as Outdoorsy and RVshare when you consider mileage costs, rental pricing, insurance, and possible late fees. However, if you prefer booking through a dealership rather than an individual, the extra cost is worth it.
4. Cruise America
Cruise America is an independent RV rental company that’s different from an Airbnb-style rental marketplace. With 134 rental locations across the U.S. and Canada, Cruise America is also more accessible than El Monte RV.
In terms of vehicle options, the platform has four models the website categorizes depending on capacity:
- Truck Campers: Three-person capacity
- Compact RVs: Three-person capacity
- Standard RVs: Five-person capacity
- Large RVs: Seven-person capacity
All vehicles come with a toilet, stove, fridge, shower, and air conditioning. Additionally, RVs are pet-friendly and allow towing.
According to Cruise America, rental prices depend on season, location, and availability. Booking your RV earlier also helps lower your rental costs. But you can find numerous models for under $100 per night.
You can also order personal kits for $60 and kitchen kits for $110 if you don’t want to bring your own hygiene and cooking supplies. But if you’re trying to save, pick up your essentials at Walmart and make your own affordable travel kits.
Other costs include a $3.50-per-hour generator fee, $250 cleaning fee if you neglect cleaning, and a $50 dump charge if you don’t empty your vehicle’s holding tank before return.
You also pay mileage charges. Cruise America charges $0.35 per mile and sells mileage in 100-mile blocks and reimburses you at the end of your trip for unused mileage.
Cruise America insures your RV rental with supplemental liability insurance of up to $1 million. You’re responsible for up to $1,500 for vehicle loss or damage provided you abide by your rental agreement terms and promptly report a case of damage or theft.
In the event of a mechanical failure that requires servicing, you receive reimbursement up to $3,000. You only need to be 21 or older to rent.
One effective way to find cheaper RV rentals with Cruise America is to take advantage of their deals page. There are mileage discounts, free nights, and state-specific deals to help make your trip more affordable.
Cruise America also excels for one-way rentals due to its extensive network of dealers and relocation offers.
If you can’t find the right vehicle on El Monte RV, Cruise America is a reputable alternative covering more states and still offers affordable rentals.
5. Jucy
Jucy specializes in mini-RV rentals, making it an excellent choice for single travelers, couples, and small groups. If you plan on camping or don’t need all the amenities of a Class-A or -C motor home, Jucy is a perfect choice.
Jucy offers two vehicles, depending on your needs:
- Jucy Trailblazer: Four-berth Dodge RV or similar vehicle; five seatbelts; sleeps four people with two double beds; a heater is available as an add-on
- Jucy Wavefarer: Two-berth Dodge RV or similar vehicle; five seatbelts; sleeps two people with a double bed; doesn’t include a heater rental option
Both vehicles come with a gas stove, fridge, sink, water and waste tank, internal table, blinds, and air conditioning.
Additionally, Jucy offers rentable camping chairs, an external picnic table, child and baby seats, and winter packing kits with subzero sleeping bags.
Finally, you can rent a kitchen kit and bedding kit that provide everything you need to make your trip a success. The frequently asked questions page outlines add-on prices and what comes with each rental kit.
Ultimately, both vehicles can accommodate five passengers on a road trip if you bring your own tent to let some passengers sleep outside. The primary downside is that Jucy is only available in select cities. There are only four locations in North America, including:
- San Francisco, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Point Roberts, Washington (immediately south of Vancouver, Canada)
However, if you’re in one of those cities, prices are incredibly affordable. Booking in advance and off-season can easily bring costs down to $50 per day. Plus, Jucy Perks let you save money on various campground rentals, resorts, and city tours.
The Jucy Perks page outlines current deals and how to claim discounts. Typically, you enter a discount code when booking online at a Jucy partner. For example, if you rent a campsite through Kampgrounds of America, you get 10% off your booking with the discount code “JUCYRV.”
As for mileage, you prepurchase one of these plans:
- Flexible: $0.25 per mile
- Unlimited: $25 per night
- 500 Miles: $120
- 100 Miles Per Night: $12 per night
Rentals come with basic vehicle coverage and statutory liability. You can purchase supplemental liability insurance for $10 per night. It provides up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage.
You can also buy a collision damage waiver for $10 per night that includes coverage for accidental damages, theft and vandalism protection, and tire damage coverage.
Coverage options vary depending on the country you’re renting in. Additionally, Jucy has special rules about driving in Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. You can technically still drive a Jucy vehicle in these areas, but you void your vehicle coverage and liability insurance by doing so.
There are also some specific rental terms, like a $700 fee for using a Jucy rental to attend the Burning Man festival. Similarly, you can request permission to tow anything under 3,000 pounds.
Before booking with Jucy, it’s worth reviewing their rental agreement policy to learn more about your insurance coverage and rental terms. U.S. renters must be 21 or older.
Daily rental prices are still cheap, even with supplemental coverage. But the best way to save money on your camper rental is to book a relocation special, which Jucy sometimes offers. In return for transporting the vehicle, you get a $1 per day rental price, 500 free miles, and free bedding and kitchen kits.
If flexibility isn’t essential, relocation specials are the best way to take an affordable RV trip.
6. RVezy
RVezy is one of the largest RV rental marketplaces in North America and is available in hundreds of cities across the U.S. and Canada.
RVezy uses the Airbnb model to let you rent from RV owners instead of dealerships. You can find a range of rental vehicles, with approximate prices including:
- Class-A Motor Home: $150 to $400 per night
- Class-B Motor Home: $100 to $250 per night
- Class-C Motor Home: $135 to $300 per night
- Camper Vans: $100 to $175 per night
- Truck Campers: $100 to 150 per night, but very few listings
- Fifth Wheels: $95 to $200 per night
- Travel Trailers: $75 to $150 per night
- Tent Trailers: $50 to $95 per night
RVezy also has several other vehicle classes, including smaller micro-trailers and toy haulers. You can also rent stationary RV cottages.
Listings display all the amenities and host rules you need to know about a vehicle. Many owners give discounts for renting an entire week or month. Hosts can also offer extras like emptying the septic tank or delivering the vehicle to you.
Listings have variable daily mileage limits and rates for mileage overages. Listings also outline whether you can tow another vehicle. If you have questions, you can contact the host directly.
You can’t find RV relocation deals, which is a downside. However, RVezy keeps RV insurance simple. You pay a 10% service fee when booking, but renters automatically get insurance coverage. That includes up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage and coverage for collision, fire, theft, and physical damage.
You must be 25 or older to rent.
You can incur extra fees, like up to $150 for late returns and up to $200 for cleaning. However, if you keep your vehicle clean and return it on time, RVezy is an affordable rental choice, even with the 10% platform fee.
Ultimately, RVezy is a flexible RV rental platform that offers more vehicle classes than other RV rental marketplaces and still offers affordable pricing.
7. RV Relocation Deal Marketplaces
RV dealers and smaller rental companies occasionally offer relocation deals to incentivize frugal travelers to put in the driving work in exchange for an almost-free ride.
Additionally, dealerships and RV owners can list RVs on various relocation marketplaces to find drivers.
When you rent an RV on a relocation marketplace, you agree to drive an RV to a specific location by a certain date.
Generally, relocation deals mean paying a significantly lower daily rental price than renting from a dealership. Some relocation deals start at $1, representing hundreds of dollars in rental fee savings. Plus, most relocation deals have mileage allowances and reimburse you for fuel costs.
You can sometimes add extra days to your relocation deal if you’re behind schedule or want to take more time. But most relocation deals don’t let you extend your schedule, and if they do, you must pay full price for every extra day you drive.
Additionally, relocation deals rarely offer the same luxuries as some RV rental options, like free kitchen supplies and personal kits.
Ultimately, relocation deals aren’t for you if you want a slow, scenic road trip. But if you’re on a tight travel budget, relocation deals can save you a lot of money.
Several marketplaces that list RV relocation deals include:
- Imoova.com. Relocations start at $1 per day, and Imoova.com operates in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. You can usually rent camper vans and minivans, and relocation deals include a mileage allowance. You can sometimes extend rental periods for around $75 to $100 per day, so Imoova.com is more flexible than most relocation marketplaces. Insurance coverage varies depending on the company you’re relocating for, and Imoova.com states that most RVs have a $1,000 deductible.
- Apollo. You can find RV and camper van relocation deals in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Deals start at $1 and usually include a mileage allowance. Deals can also include a travel allowance. You can extend your rental up to three days for $75 per day as long as it’s available during that time. Relocations have a $1,000 deductible, but you can drop this to $250 if you pay a $20 daily insurance fee.
- Transfercar. Transfercar offers car and RV relocation deals from 120 rental car companies and operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Rental price, mileage allowance, and insurance terms vary depending on the rental car company.
- Fraserway RV. You can rent various motor homes and camper vans on Fraserway RV, one of the largest RV dealers in Canada. Relocation deals outline your mileage allowance and insurance deductible. Most deals come with a convenience kit that can include utensils, bedding, towels, and camping chairs. The main downside is that relocation offers typically cost between $300 and $700, which isn’t as cheap as the competition. You can extend your rental period and pay the regular nightly price for your vehicle if availability allows,
Imoova.com and Fraserway RV have the most relocation deals. You can join waitlists with all four marketplaces to receive notifications about new relocation deals.
It’s crucial to check the total trip mileage agreement for your relocation rental since going over can result in steep fees. As long as you arrive on time and don’t exceed your mileage, relocation deals significantly reduce the price of renting an RV.
Final Word
An RV road trip can seem like an affordable vacation idea. But when you consider high daily rental prices, the cost of gas, and fees like mileage overages and insurance, an RV vacation isn’t necessarily budget-friendly.
Thankfully, you can still save money on your next RV rental if you know how to cut costs. There are numerous cheap RV rental options available and enough inventory to suit your needs.
As long as you avoid common vacation planning mistakes like booking too late and ignoring chances to save, you can take the trip of a lifetime without hurting your finances.
