Renting an RV for a week is a great and innovative way to go on your next vacation. As opposed to doing the traditional flying or driving followed by a hotel or renting another place to stay, renting an RV is a great way to get out in nature. It gives you a comfortable and safe way to enjoy nature and traveling without having to rough it in a tent at a campsite.
Today, we are going to be taking a look at what types of RVs you can rent for your next vacation and the costs associated with each.
Do you need a CDL for a class A or B RV?
A question that we get quite often is “am I qualified to drive an RV?” Many people wonder if they need a commercial license or a special type of driver’s license or certification to be able to drive and operate an RV. The reality is there are only a handful of states that require you to have a CDL (commercial driver’s license) in order to drive a motorhome. Even for some of the larger class A RVs, most states do not require that you need a CDL to drive them.
How much does it cost to rent a Class A RV?
Since class A RVs are some of the largest and most luxurious RVs that you can rent, you can expect to pay more per night for these behemoths of the road. The average cost of renting a Class A RV is in the $350-$450 night range for a newer model, and between $150-$250 for an older model.
How much does it cost to rent a Class C RV?
If you are talking about renting a class C RV for your next vacation, you can expect to pay a substantially lower nightly rate. The cost of renting a class C RV for a night can run you between $225 and $400, depending on the make, model, features, year, etc. You can find older models for rent for as inexpensive as $100-$200 per night.
How much does it cost to rent a Class B Camper Van?
Class B camper vans are going to be the least expensive of the bunch when it comes to nightly rentals. You can plan on spending $200-$350 a night for a newer class B campervan or as cheap as $100-$200 per night for an older model.
How much does it cost to rent a travel trailer?
Travel trailers are another great option to rent for your next camping trip or vacation. To rent a newer travel trailer, you can find a lot of them in the $125-$200 price range per night. For older models, you can get them as cheap as $50-$125. This is an excellent option if you have a truck to tow it with, or you can even rent a truck to tow your travel trailer. Fifth wheels you can rent new for $150-$300 per night or older fifth wheel models for $60-$150 per night.
What to look for in your rental.
If you happen to be booking your RV or travel trailer rental online, there are a few things that you should be on the lookout for. Make sure that you compare prices on rentals, and check the amenities that are available to you. Make sure that you find RVs and travel trailers with the amenities you want.
Thoroughly check all of the photos in the listing. This will give you an idea of how much space you have for packing what you need. It will also give you a visual of all of the amenities that your RV or camper has. Keep in mind that the newest and the most expensive rentals aren’t necessarily going to be the nicest ones with the most amenities. You can usually find great, older RVs with all of the amenities you are looking for, for far less expensive than newer RV rentals.
Camper insurance
Virtually any place that rents out campervans, RVs and travel trailers will require that your camper is covered under insurance. Just know that some insurance company policies may cover campers and that others will not.
Is it Better to Do an RV or a Camper?
Camping or vacationing in an RV vs. a trailer comes down to more of a personal preference than it does to anything else. If you have a truck or something that can tow a trailer, we would recommend exploring it. You may even want to test both at some point just to get a feel for the differences and similarities in both experiences. Keep in mind that RVs will normally be more expensive to rent than trailers.
How Much Stuff Can You Bring?
Make sure that you check the rental listing, paying close attention to photos, to get a better gauge for how much stuff you are going to be able to pack and bring on your trip.
RV Rental Tips
Save money by booking in off-peak seasons
While it may be tempting to take a vacation during the summer, you can save several hundred dollars by taking a trip in spring, fall, or winter instead (between RV campground fees and rental costs).
Book Your Campground in Advance
Reserve your campground ahead of time to avoid that (and to sometimes get better rates). Getting to see all the stops along your route is better if you plan your route in advance.
Take Time To Plan Your Meals
Prepare a grocery list so you don't have to eat out all the time and spend tons of money on food.