The True Cost of RV Rental

The Number on the Listing Is Not What You'll Pay

Every RV rental platform leads with the per-night rate. It's the big number in the search results, the number you compare across listings, and the number that gets you excited about that cross-country trip. It's also, in most cases, about half of what you'll actually spend.

I've been watching this industry since the mid-1990s. The fee structures have only gotten more creative over time. Here's what actually happens between "that looks affordable" and your credit card statement.

Platform Service Fees

Every major platform charges a service fee on top of the listed nightly rate. This fee goes to the platform — not the RV owner.

RVshare typically charges renters a service fee between 15% and 25% of the rental subtotal. The exact percentage varies by listing and isn't always transparent until checkout. On a $150/night rental for 5 nights ($750 subtotal), you might see a service fee of $112–$187 added.

Outdoorsy charges a "trip fee" that functions the same way — generally in the 15–20% range of the rental cost. They also offer an optional roadside assistance package that gets bundled into the checkout flow in a way that makes it feel mandatory.

Cruise America (fleet rental) rolls their fees into the base rate more transparently, but they get you elsewhere — particularly on mileage and generator hours.

Insurance: The Biggest Hidden Cost

This is where most first-time renters get genuinely shocked.

Platform-offered insurance packages typically run $25–$50 per day on top of everything else. For a 7-day rental, that's $175–$350 just for insurance. The coverage levels vary dramatically, and the cheapest option often carries a deductible of $1,500–$3,000.

Your personal auto insurance probably doesn't cover RV rentals. Your credit card's rental car benefit almost certainly doesn't cover RVs or motorhomes. Check before you assume — I've seen people learn this lesson the expensive way.

If you have an existing RV insurance policy or can get a short-term policy from a provider like Good Sam or National General, you can sometimes decline the platform insurance. But the platforms don't make this easy, and some owners require platform insurance as a condition of rental.

The Mileage Trap

Fleet operators and many P2P listings include a mileage allowance — and it's rarely enough for a real trip.

Cruise America typically includes 100 miles per night. Sounds reasonable until you realize a San Francisco to Yellowstone round trip is about 1,900 miles. On a 7-night rental with 700 included miles, you're paying overage on 1,200 miles at $0.35–$0.50 per mile. That's $420–$600 in mileage alone.

P2P listings handle this differently — some offer unlimited miles, some include 100–200 per day, some charge per mile from the first mile. Always do the route math before you book.

Generator Hours

If your RV has a generator (and most motorhomes do), there's usually a daily allowance — typically 3–4 hours per day. Overages run $3–$5 per hour.

This matters more than you'd think. If you're dry camping (no hookups) in summer, you'll run that generator for air conditioning. Four hours disappears fast when it's 95°F outside. A week of desert camping can easily add $100–$200 in generator overages.

Cleaning, Prep, and Delivery Fees

Cleaning fee: $75–$250, depending on the size of the RV. This is almost universal. Some listings bury it in the nightly rate; most add it as a line item.

Prep/checkout fee: Some owners charge $50–$150 for walkthrough and vehicle preparation. This is separate from the cleaning fee.

Delivery/pickup: If you want the RV delivered to a campground or your home, expect $1–$3 per mile each way, plus a flat setup fee of $75–$200. Convenient, but it adds up fast.

Security Deposits and Holds

Most rentals require a security deposit or credit card hold of $500–$2,500. This isn't a fee — you get it back if everything goes well. But it does tie up that credit on your card for 7–14 days after the rental ends.

The dispute process if an owner claims damage? That's a whole other guide. Short version: document everything with photos and video at pickup and return, or you have no leverage.

The Real Math

Let's run a real example. You find a nice Class C motorhome on RVshare listed at $150/night for a 7-night trip.

That "$150/night" rental just became $270/night. Nearly double the advertised rate.

And this is a moderate example. I've seen the real total hit 2.5× the listed rate on longer trips with significant driving.

What a Fair Total Actually Looks Like

I'm not saying RV rental is a bad deal. I'm saying you need to budget honestly. For a decent motorhome rental in peak season:

• Budget RVs (older units, basic amenities): $150–$200/night all-in
• Mid-range (newer units, good condition): $225–$350/night all-in
• Premium (luxury units, brand new): $400–$600/night all-in

These are real per-night costs including all fees and typical usage. If someone quotes you significantly less, they're either hiding fees or the vehicle has issues.

Seasonal Pricing Patterns

Rates swing dramatically by season. The same RV that rents for $125/night in March will be $250/night in July. Peak season runs roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, with premium pricing around major holidays and events.

The best value window? September through mid-October. Weather is still good in most of the country, kids are back in school, and rates drop 30–40% from peak.

Shoulder season (April–May, October–November) offers the best balance of price and availability. You'll have more selection and more negotiating room with private owners.

Written from three decades of watching this industry evolve. No affiliate links influenced this analysis.