Large Class C motorhome on a RAM chassis

Cost Guide

What a Camper Rental Actually Costs in 2026

The nightly rate on the listing page is 55-70% of your actual cost. Here's where the rest goes — and how to calculate your real total before you book.

Average Nightly Rates by Vehicle Type

Listed rates before fees and add-ons. These are what you'll see when browsing:

Vehicle Type Listed Rate Real All-In Cost Sleeps
Campervan (Escape)$75-$125$100-$1502-3
Campervan (P2P)$100-$200$140-$2752-4
Travel trailer$75-$175$110-$2254-8
Class C (small, 19-22 ft)$100-$175$150-$2403-5
Class C (standard, 24-28 ft)$150-$250$210-$3405-7
Class A motorhome$200-$400$280-$5006-10

Real all-in cost includes average service fees, standard insurance and typical add-ons. Does not include fuel or campground fees.

Campervan at a budget-friendly campsite
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Every Fee Explained

Service Fees

Peer-to-peer platforms charge a percentage on top of the nightly rate. This is the platform's cut for facilitating the transaction, handling payments and providing support.

On a $175/night rental for 7 nights, the service fee alone adds $184-$306 on Outdoorsy or $122-$245 on RVshare.

Insurance

RV damage is expensive. Don't cheap out here. Most platforms offer tiered insurance:

Tier Daily Cost Deductible Best For
Basic$10-$15$2,500-$3,000Experienced RVers, budget-focused
Standard$20-$30$1,000-$1,500Most renters (our recommendation)
Premium$30-$40$0-$500First-timers, expensive vehicles

Mileage

Most rentals include 100-150 miles per day. Go over and you pay per mile:

  • P2P platforms: $0.25-$0.50/mile overage (varies by owner)
  • Cruise America: $0.35/mile overage
  • Escape Campervans: Unlimited mileage included ✓

A 1,500-mile road trip with 100 miles/day included over 7 days = 800 miles covered, 700 miles overage. At $0.35/mile that's $245 in mileage charges. For long-distance trips, negotiate unlimited mileage or use Escape Campervans.

Generator Fees

Only applies to fleet companies. Cruise America charges $3.50/hour. The generator powers your AC, microwave and outlets when you're not plugged into a campground. Three hours a day for a week = $73.50 you didn't see coming.

P2P rentals usually don't meter generators separately — usage is included or negotiated with the owner.

Other Add-Ons

  • Cleaning fee: $50-200 (one-time, most platforms)
  • Kitchen/personal kit: $75-130 (Cruise America, optional)
  • Pet fee: $25-75 per pet (one-time)
  • Delivery/pickup: $1-3/mile each way (RVshare, some Outdoorsy listings)
  • One-way drop-off: $0-500+ (fleet companies)
Road trip through mountain scenery
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Full Trip Budget Calculator

Here's the total cost picture for a typical 7-night family trip in a Class C motorhome:

Expense Budget Range
Rental (7 nights all-in)$1,200-$2,000
Fuel (1,000 miles at 10 MPG, $3.50/gal)$350
Campgrounds (7 nights × $35-60)$245-$420
Food and supplies$300-$500
Activities and park fees$100-$300
Total Trip Cost$2,195-$3,570

Compare that to a hotel-based vacation: 7 nights at $150/night = $1,050 for rooms alone. Add rental car ($350), restaurants ($700+) and you're at $2,100+ without activities. RV trips aren't automatically cheaper, but they include your lodging, kitchen and transportation in one package.

Want to cut costs?

Read our cheapest camper rental guide for 9 proven ways to save. Compare platforms in our full rankings. New to renting? Start with our beginner's guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a camper rental cost per day?

Listed rates: $75-$350. Real all-in cost: $120-$400/day. Campervans: $120-$175. Class C: $200-$300. Class A: $275-$400. Includes fees, insurance and typical add-ons.

What does a week-long rental cost total?

Full trip: $1,500-$4,000 including rental, fuel, campgrounds and food. Rental portion alone: $600-$2,500 depending on vehicle type.

Why is the final price higher than the listed rate?

Service fees (10-25%), insurance ($10-40/day), mileage, cleaning fees and add-ons. The listed rate is typically 55-70% of what you actually pay.