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Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

How to Rent Your Home and Go Traveling

November 28, 2018 by Janice Waugh

Renting your home to go traveling is a great way to make your travel dreams come true.

Whether you live in an apartment as Elizabeth does in the example below, or have a house to offer as I did when I took a 10-month trip, it helps significantly.

In this post we'll explore why and whether renting your home on a short-term basis is right for you. Then we'll explore many ways and many details to consider, so that your experience is a positive one.

Table of Contents

Why Rent Your Home for Travel Money?

Whether it's for a weekend, a week, a month, or longer, renting your home can bring in good money to help pay for your travels.

Many years ago, I did a 10-month trip with my family. We had our youngest with us full time who we home-schooled. Various combinations of our older sons joined us along the way. To help pay for our trip, we rented our home for the ten months we were away. With four bedrooms (two in the basement) that rental brought in $25,000 which, as you can imagine, was significant in helping pay for our trip. This was before Airbnb and we managed the rental ourselves. This DIY method may still make sense for a 10-month rental depending on where you live and because it saves the fees that a rental platform charges.

By contrast, my friend, Elizabeth, has rented her apartment a number of times to go traveling for shorter but equally significant trips. Her longest trip was 9 weeks. The revenue from renting her apartment on Airbnb helped cover the cost of her monthly rent while she was gone, and then some. On her latest trip it covered her rent and her car rental for the month-long trip.

So, renting your place can help pay for your travels. Let's explore how to do it, but first, let's evaluate whether it's right for you.

Is Renting Your Home Right for You?

Renting out your home is not for everyone. You need to decide if it is right for you.

• Do you get stressed by the idea of someone living in your home and using your stuff? Then it's not for you.
• Are you easy-going about your things? If you will travel and not worry about your home, go for it.
• Are you allowed to rent your home? If you rent or live in an apartment or co-op, you need to ensure that you can legally sublet.

Money is one thing. Peace of mind and operating within the terms of any contracts you may have signed are also important. Consider these questions carefully.

The result of renting my home for 10 months was not perfect. But it was acceptable. We returned from our trip and there was some minor damage to our home. But it was the type of damage that could have easily happened with our family living there as well. My conclusion? Overall, it was a good experience and the $25,000 was very helpful!

Renting Your Home through Airbnb and Other Options

When you want to rent your home and go traveling there are a variety of home rental platforms for you to consider. Some people use them all, which requires maintaining the calendars for them all as well. It can be a bit of a hassle. Elizabeth only uses Airbnb and has found it adequate. Use all or one, that's up to you.

• Airbnb – Airbnb is to apartment and home rentals as Kleenex is to tissue. It's the number one site for renting your home and for renting a home. Click here to become an Airbnb host.  Airbnb has recently added their Host an Experience feature to their site. This allows you to earn more by offering experiences to your guests as well.  Click here to rent on Airbnb and you'll get a $25 credit .
• Homeaway and VRBO – VRBO stands for Vacation Rental By Owner. It is owned by Homeaway. They both offer rooms, apartments, houses, and even hotels. The same search on both sites produces the same results. Click here to list your home on VRBO and Homeaway.
• TripAdvisor and Flipkey  – Like the relationship between VRBO and Homeaway, Flipkey is owned by TripAdvisor.   Click here to list your home on Flipkey and TripAdvisor .

Before posting your own home on one of these platforms it's probably a good idea to try them from a traveler's perspective first. This has two advantages: you get to see what the experience is like for yourself which will help you be successful when you rent your own home, and you will be able to get a review from your host on the rental platform. Reviews are how the system keeps quality up and will increase the number of people wanting to rent from you.

How To Be a Successful Airbnb Host

Elizabeth has been renting her apartment a few times a year for a number of years. I asked for her best tips for success. Here they are.

• House rules – Determine your own house rules. You can go onto other listings and see what house rules are being published by others to help you come up with your list.
• Define your cancellation policy – Again, do a bit of homework and make your own decision.
• Photography – Elizabeth first listed with her own photos, which produced some results. But once the Airbnb photos were up, interest was much greater. In Toronto, they'll send a free photographer. Accept the service.
• Pricing – She prices her apartment above the average rate on Airbnb for a similar place. She says that her rate should be $70/night. She charges $99/night and she still receives inquiries. Be prepared to negotiate the price for longer stays, though not everyone does this.
• Reviews – She gives reviews every time she rents or hosts and requests that the person on the other side of her transaction does the same. Reviews increase rentals.
• Anecdote: On one occasion she was renting to a single man coming to Toronto for Pride. He looked like a good bet but Pride generally means partying. She told him that she had really nosy neighbors and there should be no one but him in the apartment. He assured her that all would be fine and that he would leave the place cleaner than he found it. And he did.
• Edit the house –  Before your renter arrives, clear out all personal items, empty a few drawers for people to use, clear out your fridge so that people can store their own fresh food, take personal soaps, etc. out of the bathroom and replace with new product for your renter and make sure there is a first-aid kit in plain sight.
• Add a welcoming touch . Ask about the people's needs. Do they drink coffee? Would bread and milk be appreciated? You don't have to spend a lot but having a few supplies in for your renter on their first day makes a great impression and results in great reviews. A few chocolates and fresh flowers make a positive impression too.
• Check-in . If you can't be there to check your guest in yourself, have someone who lives nearby do so. There are a few people in Elizabeth's building who rent through Airbnb now and then and so they help each other with this. By having someone who is nearby do the check-in it will be less of an inconvenience if the renter is held up by a flight delay.
• Schedule a cleaning person . You can charge for this so always schedule a cleaning person to come after your renter departs. Even people who are really clean and tidy may leave behind subtle messes you don't want to deal with. Elizabeth spoke about one renter who seemed to leave her place immaculate but then she found the woman's long hairs here and there for about a week.
• For more tips on preparing your home for a tenant, read the How to Prepare Your Home for your Renter

DIY Renting Your Home Starts with Finding the Right Renter

Renting your apartment or house yourself, directly with an individual rather than through a network like Airbnb, is a little more stressful. In fact, after trying to rent our home for months, we didn’t find our renters (we rejected a number of prospects) until two weeks before we left. Fortunately, the renters we found were perfect.

I learned a lot from that experience. Here are some takeaways that may be of help to you. Start by identifying the type of person or people you want to rent your home.

• Specify your criteria regarding smoking, pets, and any other detail that is important to you.
• Decide what you will include in your rental, such as utilities or technology.
• Remove items that you will not include in the rental before showing it to prospective renters.
• Clarify whether you are willing to rent to a number of people on a short term basis or if you are only willing to work with one renter for the entire time you are away.

Once you know the type of person you want to rent your home:

• Create a mini website that shows off your home. Google “make a free website” and you'll find that you can do this yourself at no cost.
• Let friends and family know that you are looking to rent your home. Let them know your criteria and share your website with them.
• Use an online service like SabbaticalHomes.com to list your home. If you want to stay in one place, consider trading places with a service like Home Exchange . It won't bring you in extra money for travel but it will cover the cost of your accommodation. Read Free Accommodation: Try a Home Exchange
• Post your home with a faculty newsletter or notice board of a local university or college to find academics on sabbatical.
• Many neighborhoods have websites for local news, shops, and classified ads. Post your listing there.
• Try Craig's List and Kijiji. They have been successful for some people.
• If you’re not having success or not comfortable managing the process yourself, find a real estate agent to do the job for you.  Unfortunately, they'll make more from a sale of a house than by renting yours, so they are not likely to work at it very hard.

When you've found a prospective renter, check them out thoroughly. You're going away. You don't want any headaches. You need financial, business, and personal references.

• Do a credit check. Read How to Run a Credit Check .
• Confirm that they are employed and talk with their boss. You want to find out how reliable and responsible they are. Don't do this by email. Chat with them by phone long enough that they start to care about you before you ask the tough questions. Leave pauses in the conversation. People tend to fill dead air and you may find out more this way. You should always ask: “if you wanted to rent your home, would you rent it to him/her?”
• Try to get more than one business reference. Personal checks can be valuable too but friends say nice things anyway. A second business reference is more valuable.

How to Prepare Your Home for Your Renter

Make sure that the lease you sign with your tenant is airtight in terms of which utilities are covered and which are not, responsibilities for repairs, insurance requirements, and more. You will want to keep your insurance on the property and your contents. Editors note: as reader segacs adds in the comments below “… Here in Quebec, things like damage deposits and last month's rent are very, very illegal. When you sublet, you're essentially becoming a landlord for a short period of time; read up on all the local laws and make sure you don't violate them or else you could come home to a nasty surprise in the form of being dragged in front of your rental board.” Now, back to the tips…

• Take a damage deposit and last month’s rent.
• Arrange for automatic deposits of their rent payments into your bank account.
• Arrange for automatic payments for all expenses that you are covering from your bank account or credit card.
• Check with your insurance broker to ensure that you don’t have to change your policy.
• Arrange for a local representative to manage problems should they arise. This person should be able to authorize repairs to your home. I chose my brother rather than a professional as I knew I could trust him completely to protect my interests.
• Divert your mail to a friend or family member.
• Arrange for someone to take care of regular details like checking to make sure that your mail is not accumulating (which it can do even if you have requested a redirect), cutting grass, raking leaves, shoveling snow… This time, I hired my eldest son who only traveled with us for a couple of weeks.
• Request a disconnect of your landline phone and a hold on your number so that you can use the same number on your return.
• Talk to your neighbors. Give them the contact numbers for your local representative to call if they see something amiss.
• Put away all personal belongings. This is a great time to purge things you don’t really need. Rent a storage unit if necessary.
• Clean everything.
• Take photos or, preferably, video of every detail of your home. Keep a copy and give copies to the tenant and your local representative.
• Make copies of the keys for yourself and two local representatives.
• Give your representatives multiple ways to get in touch with you in case of an emergency.
• Introduce your new tenant to a neighbor or two. This can be seen as you being helpful. In fact, it lets your tenant know, subtly, that they have moved into a community that sees what is going on.

There are a lot of details involved with renting your home but the effort is well worth it. It can make the difference between traveling and not.

Sharing is caring!

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

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The Best Way To Rent an RV For Beginners (And What It Costs)

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Air travel in a state of chaos (security lines are painfully long and the on-time arrivals rate hasn't been this bad since 2014). Hotels aren't exactly welcome either as formerly complimentary offerings like free breakfast buffets have been removed from many properties, and most hotels cut back on services like daily housekeeping .

In light of that, this year might be the perfect time to hit the open road in a recreational vehicle.

Yet for beginners, the world of RV rentals can seem strange and overwhelming. What’s a “Class C” motor home? Do you need a generator? And how does insurance work? In this article we’ll break down the basics of renting your first RV.

Types of RVs

RVs come in all shapes and sizes. Some you drive, while others you tow behind your other car (usually a truck). And within those two categories are multiple subcategories.

Class A motorhomes have all the amenities, but can be tough to drive. They often do not require any special license, though you should have practice driving large vehicles.

Driveable RVs

Class A: This is akin to driving something as large as a bus, and is not for the faint of heart.

Class B: This is comparable to driving and maneuvering an oversized van.

Class C: This is the most likely option you'll go for as a novice RV driver, and is generally not any more difficult than driving a truck.

Besides often being easier to drive, towable RVs can be convenient because you can detach and leave them parked at the campground, while having the freedom to take your car out to explore the area during the day.

Towable RVs

5th Wheel: This needs to be attached to a tow vehicle via a gooseneck extension.

Toy hauler: Most SUVs or pickup tow vehicles can tow these.

Popup: Most normal, passenger cars can tow these.

Where to rent an RV

RV rentals generally come in two buckets. You might rent from a big company like Cruise America, which typically has more standard offerings, but is less likely to provide you something really unique or personal. Or, you might rent from another, individual RV owner through a site that operates an Airbnb-for-RVs model, like RVshare.

No matter which style you go for, most online RV rental agencies let you compare prices, dates and models. However, unlike car rental companies, which all provide the same basic services in similar ways, the RV rental world is more of a Wild West.

Expect each company to offer different pricing and mileage rules — and rules might vary by individual vehicle, too. There are different rules around minimum rental length, and some let you drive the RV one way, while others require you make a roundtrip journey. Some RV owners will deliver the vehicle to your home — and some will drive it to your campground for you so you don't have to drive it period.

Here are three of the most popular RV rental options, including the pros and cons of each.

RVshare: the biggest (and usually best) peer-to-peer RV rental company of them all

RVshare is basically the Airbnb of RV rental companies, and it claims title to the largest online community for RV renters and owners, having logged more than 3 million nights that renters have spent sleeping in an RV rent via RVshare.

When it comes to picking the perfect RV rental, RVshare's large size is a big plus, as the company has plenty of options to pick from, pretty much no matter where you're renting. You’ll find more traditional motor homes here than its competitor Outdoorsy, but you'll still find those #vanlife-ready ones, too.

Photo courtesy of CAMP/Stacie Hess via RVshare.

At one point, RVshare even offered a Barbie-themed RV for some lucky campers to spend the night in.

How renting from RVshare works

Unlike a company like Cruise America where the type of RV you get is fairly standard no matter where in the country you book, every RV experience through RVshare is unique, given that you're driving an RV owned by a regular person, not a big company.

RVshare has tons of search filters to narrow down what might otherwise be more than 1,000 listings.

It does mean you're going to have to sort through listings to find what you're looking for — and in popular RV areas, there might be more than 1,000 listings to sort through (though that's not necessarily a bad thing).

RVshare has detailed search settings that make it pretty easy to filter by location, features and RV type. Among the robust search filters include dates, group size, vehicle size, price and whether pets are allowed. You can filter for amenities like a toilet, shower or refrigerator, generator, hot water supply. You can also narrow them down by cancellation type (flexible, standard or strict, as determined by the owner).

RVshare also has a few unique rental options, including:

Instant book: This lets you book instantly without waiting for the owner to respond.

Stationary rental: This lets you experience an RV without having to drive it, or worry about where you'll camp. With these rentals, you'll stay right onsite at the owner's property.

Delivery: When you book an RV for delivery , then the owner can either meet you with the RV where you're at, like a nearby airport or your house. Or, they might deliver it to a custom location so you can get out of driving it completely, like the campsite. Some owners even offer services like waste dumping, set up and tear down as part of the delivery.

Stationary rentals and delivery aren't possible with all vehicles, and it might incur an extra fee. But, it can be ideal if you want an RV (purely for the novelty, or perhaps it's a necessity for something like a remotely-located music festival) and don't want the headache of driving and setting it up.

Once you've found the vehicle you want, you'll meet the owner, go through a quick demo, and you're on your way.

To return the RV, you'll usually be responsible for dumping the tanks and filling it with gas, though individual rules can be negotiated with the owner.

Many major RV rental companies including RVshare and Outdoorsy allow for delivery, though it also varies by owner. Outdoorsy says that 70% of its listings offer delivery.

How does RVshare insurance work?

RVshare insurance is transparent and straightforward, When you rent from RVshare, the company's standard insurance package will be automatically included in your price quote, assuming that RV is covered by the RVshare Protection Plan.

The RVshare Protection Plan is offered through Crum & Forster and covers up to $300,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage based on the value of the RV plus free 24/7 roadside assistance, free towing and free tire service in all 50 states and Canada. Exact pricing varies based on the type, length, and stated value of the RV, and it's clearly stated as a separate line item on your statement.

RVshare also sells add-on, upgraded coverage at the time of booking.

A Disney-themed RV listing on RVshare.

Why we love RVshare

Huge selection: RVshare has the biggest selection, making it the most likely you'll find one in your budget and in a size you feel comfortable driving. And hey, if you don't want to drive it, RVshare's destination delivery option is a delightful way to get that camping experience without the stress of parallel parking a small house.

RVs range in size, style, location and amenities. Head to the Orlando area and you might rent the " Mega MouseHouse 44' Disney Themed Luxury RV ." Find giant buses, smaller trailers and hip Airstreams.

An Airstream available for rent in Southern California via RVshare.

One-way rentals, stationary rentals and more: RVshare also offers multiple rental options beyond the standard roundtrip booking. Stationary rentals are great if you don't actually want to drive it, while one-way rentals might align better with your vacation schedule.

Customer support and security: It's easy to read reviews, sort by policies and browse photos so you know exactly what you're in for. If the RV isn't what you thought it was, it's easy to get in contact with customer service. You can jump on the phone or chat online, both available 24/7. There's also an email customer support form .

Should you run into actual troubles with your RV on the road, every booked reservation through RVshare includes Roadside Assistance, provided by Questx Tow Network.

It's also financially secure. RVshare verifies accounts and performs fraud checks, and payments are conducted though a secure payment platform.

Reasons to take pause before renting from RVshare

Hidden fees are certainly annoying, but post-trip fees can be even worse. While RVshare doesn't have much in the way of hidden fees (fees like insurance and service fees are clearly listed upfront), there is a chance you could get hit with one of many post-trip fees. RVshare allows owners to add on post-trip fees at their discretion. Some shouldn't come as a surprise to renters and are pretty tough to argue with, such as late fees or refueling fees. But some can be pretty vague, like the cleaning fee. RVshare says that RVs naturally get dirty out on the road and that "returning an RV with a normal amount of dirt is acceptable and will not result in any additional charges."

But, it also says that exceptionally dirty RVs can be charged a cleaning fee based on the owners' discretion. If you rent from a dirt stickler, that could be a surprise fee, which isn't exactly a nice memory to end your vacation on.

What's more, post-trip fees get hit with a second, administrative fee. Not only will you owe money back to the owner if you incur one of them, but RVshare tacks on a 15% administrative fee to the renter.

Photo courtesy of Cruise America.

Cruise America: consider it the big box store of RV rentals

You’ve probably seen Cruise America RVs on the highway, covered in gaudy advertising. This ubiquitous rental agency likely owes its success to one important factor: simplicity. But hey, that might not be a bad thing.

Cruise America offers only four motor home options (Compact, Compact Plus, Standard and Large, plus a truck camper alternative called the "Adventure Travel Trailer"), making it a good starting place for daunted beginners.

How renting from Cruise America works

No matter which location you rent from (and there are over 120 around the nation), you'll get a standard rental, so a Compact RV Rental in Connecticut will largely be exactly the same as one in California.

Even between sizes, the interior amenities seem to be similar. While the Large RVs have the most amenities (e.g., there's no generator with the Adventure Travel Trailer, even though all the larger rentals offer one), all Cruise America rentals have air conditioning, a fresh water toilet, shower and refrigerator.

Cruise America’s pricing policy includes lots of add-on fees, so understand the complete cost before booking. Cruise America charges you per mile driven, so these might not be the most economical option for a long road-trip (they may be better suited for a trip where you stayed parked for many days in a row). Like most RV companies, the insurance costs extra, which is unsurprising.

This is Cruise America's Kitchen Kit, which you only get for an additional fee.

But this fee is surprising: the Kitchen and Personal Kit fees.

Cruise America charges you to rent basics like bedding and cookware from them. You'll almost certainly have to add on the Kitchen Kit, which includes plates, utensils, cookware a broom, and so on, and the Personal Kit which consists of towels and linens.

How does Cruise America insurance work?

If you purchase Cruise America's optional Zero Damage plan, you'll only be responsible for $2,000 in the event of vehicle damage or loss. For any additional costs, you'll be covered under most conditions.

A standard size RV from Cruise America.

Why we love Cruise America

It's a standard, expected experience. You head to one of the more-than 125 rental locations during their rental hours, and you'll meet with a staffed employee to pick up your vehicle.

Since each RV is largely the same, you can ensure a consistent experience — no worries about a photo on a peer-to-peer listing misrepresenting what the RV actually looks like. You know the RV will be ready when you are, a human will help answer your questions, and it'll be what's advertised.

Plus, Cruise America often runs sales that vary by time of year, but often include early booking discounts. Because Cruise America may need to reposition fleets if one location is short on rentals, while another might have too many, Cruise America is also the most likely to offer one way specials . If that one way aligns with your travel plans, you might see incredible savings — and you're less likely to find such deals through peer-to-peer rentals given that the RV usually needs to go back to its owner.

Reasons to take pause before renting from Cruise America

The extra costs for things like linens and cookware are annoying, especially since you'll likely need that stuff anyway.

Cruise America vehicles are also pretty generic. If you're looking for that Instagram-influencer life, this might not be the RV company for you.

And while more than 125 locations around the nation is a lot, that still won't cover RV rentals everywhere. If you're heading someplace off-the-beaten path, then there might not be an RV where you are. Or, you'll have to rent from a more major area and then drive a long way to your campsite of choice, which could cost you more than you intended in gas. It might be better to find an RV through a peer-to-peer site nearer to your destination, which you access through a standard vehicle, cutting down on how much gas your RV guzzles.

Outdoorsy: a hit and miss RV, peer-to-peer rental platform

Similar to RVshare Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer RV rental platform, making it more like Airbnb than a traditional rental service. This means it offers tremendous selection, from brand-new motor homes to funky vintage vans.

However, it also means that the products, terms and fees vary from owner to owner, requiring more comparison shopping and fine-print reading than a traditional rental. For example, some owners don’t allow pets (at all), while others do (with variable fees).

And because you're renting from an individual, the rental experience can vary widely.

How renting from Outdoorsy works

You'll start by browsing for the perfect RV in Outdoorsy's search tool, which allows you to find the right RV based not just on location, dates and size, but also using robust filters for amenities (water tank, indoor shower, toilet, oven, etc).

Because RV owners can have tricky, varied rules, Outdoorsy makes it easy to find a rental that'll mesh with your travel plans. You can opt in to only showing rentals that are pet-friendly, tailgate-friendly, festival-friendly or that allow smoking,

Outdoosy rental options include:

Instant book: This lets you book instantly without waiting for the owner to approve your request.

'Bring it to me': Opt in to this, and the owner will drop off your vehicle at your house, airport or wherever else you want to meet up. Typically this comes with an extra cost ($10 per mile is pretty common, though it varies by owner).

'Set it up at my destination': Hooking up your RV to the campground can be tricky for first-timers. RV has a clear option where the owner will set up the vehicle at your campsite, RV park or other destination. While you'll have to pay the delivery fee with most rentals, this option can save you money for one big reason: Outdoorsy discounts your insurance since you won't actually be moving the vehicle.

How does Outdoorsy insurance work?

Speaking of insurance, Outdoorsy has a partnership with Assurant to offer liability protection, covering situations including backup accidents, vandalism, fires, stolen RVs and more.

When you rent, you'll be able to choose from three protection packages with varying degrees of coverage, dubbed Peace of Mind, Preferred, or Essential. Each plan has varying physical and liability protection. Typically you'll still have to pay the deductible (which ranges from $1,000 to $4,000), but insurance covers the rest.

A custom van in the San Francisco Bay Area from Outdoorsy.

Reasons to love Outdoorsy

Most RV owners agree that Outdoorsy has a better commission and fee structure than RVshare, which means they might pass on those cost savings to you, in theory generating a lower-cost rental than what you'd get on RVshare.

No two vehicles are identical, and rentals often have a unique, owner touch. If you love #vanlife, Outdoorsy is probably the site for you. It has neat listings, like custom, luxury boutique camper vans. You'll find cool amenities — we've seen heated mattresses and top-notch speaker systems. Some rentals come with kayaks and paddle boards included.

Reasons to take pause before renting from Outdoorsy

Outdoorsy's customer experience is the most questionable. If the owner doesn't reach out to you ahead of time to give you information on what to expect and how to check-in, don't expect the general Outdoorsy customer support to help you either. Outdoorsy relies on owners to do all that work, but a lackadaisical owner might not — and might leave you hanging.

A NerdWallet staffer had a bizarre experience once when renting from Outdoorsy, where the owner accepted the rental, but never reached out to them between the time the rental was approved and the date of the rental. The staffer reached out to both the owner and Outdoorsy to inquire about check-in details. The owner never responded, and Outdoorsy customer service simply said, "get in contact with the owner."

The staffer ultimately showed up for the rental time at the rental location, and found the RV parked in the driveway — covered in cobwebs. The owners were MIA. Upon calling Outdoorsy customer service again at check-in time, Outdoorsy said they would refund the reservation — only if the owners didn't show up within two hours (they didn't). It was a bizarre experience — and a hassle to remake travel plans at the last minute.

Outdoorsy still needs to work out the kinks with questionable owners, whether it's better vetting upfront, or more proactive customer service.

How much does it cost to rent an RV?

Like any travel expense, the cost of renting an RV will depend on several factors, including seasonality (with summer rentals being more expensive), location and mileage driven. That said, you can expect to spend at least $100 per night for a small RV with few bells or whistles.

Here's a rough estimate of baseline rental costs (provided to NerdWallet by peer-to-peer rental site RVshare), but again, understand that prices can widely vary based on exact rental:

Class A: $150-$250/night (10+ years or older); $350-$450/night (newer).

Class B: $100-$200/night (10+ years or older); $200-$350/night (newer).

Class C: $100-$200/night (10+ years or older); $225-$400/night (newer).

Travel Trailer: $50-$125/night (10+ years or older); $125-$200/night (newer).

Fifth Wheel: $60-$150/night (10+ years or older); $150-$300/night (newer).

This baseline cost might sound appealing compared with the price of, say, renting a car and staying in budget hotels. But the real cost of an RV trip includes many more line items, including:

Fuel. RVs consume a lot of gas. The standard Cruise America vehicle gets 10-12 miles per gallon, so a 1,000-mile trip will require 83-100 gallons. Here's the typical miles per gallon that you can expect per RV type:

Class A: 6-10 miles per gallon.

Class B: 18-25 miles per gallon.

Class C: 8-12 miles per gallon.

Towing a trailer or fifth wheel: 8-12 miles per gallon.

Damage deposit: Most rentals require a refundable damage deposit between $500 to $1,000.

Mileage fees. Unlike rental cars, it’s rare to find an “unlimited mileage” rate for an RV. Cruise America charges $0.35 per mile for most rentals, which likely adds more to the total price than fuel — a 1,000-mile trip costs $350 in mileage fees alone.

Generator fees. Generators provide power to air conditioning, appliances and electrical outlets. They also usually cost extra on some rentals. Some vehicles include a flat per-rental fee, while Cruise America charges $3.50 per hour of use.

Campground fees. You might think RV living means the freedom to camp anywhere, but usually you’ll want to stay in a campground or RV park to take advantage of the amenities. The cost of these facilities can vary widely depending on the facility, from $5 to over $100 per night. Otherwise, you might go the boondocking route, where you just park your RV anywhere it's legal to camp overnight (which can include Walmart parking lots) even, or you might be able to find a free place to stay through a service like Harvest Hosts, though that requires its own membership fee. Here's a general overview of overnight fees, depending on the type of campground you stay at:

Overnight campsites with RV parking and hookups: $20-$50 per night.Luxury RV resort: $60-$100+ per night.State Parks: $5 to $50, depending on the park and hookups.

Cleaning fees. Most RV rental services expect you to return the vehicle’s interior in the same condition you found it. Failing to return a clean vehicle can incur a fee — $250 for Cruise America.

Extras. Camping equipment, bedding, cookware and dozens of other road trip essentials are often provided as “extras” for an additional fee. For example, Cruise America charges $110 per “kitchen kit” and $60 per person for sheets and pillows.

Insurance. You may be able to use your own auto insurance, but if your policy doesn't cover RVs, then you'll want to have separate RV insurance. Learn more about RV insurance here.

Overall, while it may be cost-effective depending on your needs, renting an RV certainly isn’t cheap. It’s a fun, different way to take a road trip, but it’s generally not a great way to save money on your next vacation. Being realistic about these costs ahead of time can help determine an overall trip budget.

Do you need insurance for an RV rental?

The short answer is yes — but that’s where the simplicity ends.

Your existing auto insurance policy might provide some coverage for an RV rental, but this varies from insurer to insurer (and state to state, and policy to policy). We recommend calling your insurance company before renting an RV and asking specifically what is covered, what isn’t, and what you’ll need additional coverage for. Write down any terms you aren’t familiar with, and don’t be afraid to call your agent back with follow-up questions — this is what you’re paying them for.

Each rental company offers its own coverage for vehicles, usually running from basic to premium. More premium coverage will include lower deductibles and greater liability thresholds. The right plan for you will depend on:

What your current auto insurance covers.

Your risk tolerance.

Which vehicle you rent.

Note: Although some credit cards offer auto rental collision damage insurance, many (including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® ) exclude motor homes from this coverage.

Should I consider buying an RV vs. renting one?

Depending on how much you love the RV life, it might be a better investment in the long run to buy an RV outright. Add up the costs above that you’ll pay to RV rental companies like cleaning fees, mileage fees and those “extras” (do you really want to get charged $110 for a kitchen kit every time you hit the road?). Multiply that by how many times you anticipate an RV trip in your lifetime, and those costs might start to make you feel carsick.

In that case, you might find it cheaper to buy your own RV to avoid the pesky fees. Plus, if you buy your own RV, you can fill it with whatever cookware you’d like.

Whether you rent or buy, there are some costs you’ll have to pay either way, including:

Campsite rental fees.

RV insurance.

Vehicle generator fees.

If you rent, you might find yourself on the hook for other fees to the rental company including:

Fees per mile driven.

Items for rent inside the RV, including cookware and bedding.

Additional fees like environment fees.

That said, if you buy, you’ll still be subject to some other expenses, including:

Registration and taxes (the Department of Motor Vehicles has its own tool to calculate registration fees and taxes for motor homes ).

Maintenance.

If you want to buy outright and you intend to finance your RV purchase , our RV loan calculator is a straightforward way to estimate how much an RV will cost you over the course of the loan:

If you get bitten by the RV bug and find yourself road-tripping multiple times a year, you may find it better to own your own RV.

The bottom line

Whether taking an epic road trip, getting into nature for a long weekend (but not too into nature) or testing the waters before buying your own, renting (or even buying) an RV can offer a fun escape. Just don’t necessarily expect it to be cheap or simple.

We covered the basics of finding and insuring an RV in this guide, but we didn’t touch on the practical aspects of RV life, such as finding dump stations, learning to back up and maintaining ventilation. Make sure to familiarize yourself with this know-how before hitting the open road. It’s always a good idea to ask a seasoned motor home veteran for their hard-won practical knowledge.

The perks of renting an RV are plentiful: You will spend more time with your traveling companions, enjoy more flexibility during your travels and can potentially save money compared to staying at hotels. Renting an RV is safe, practical and can be a good learning experience, and a great way to ease back into travel .

Different RVs provide different experiences — be sure to choose an RV to rent that will fit your needs and budget while also providing the right amount of space to accommodate your group. Driving an RV is not the same as driving your car, and you can expect poor gas mileage. Be aware that RV parks don’t all provide the same amenities and that there may be unexpected expenses to plan for, such as RV fees or insurance.

The cheapest way to rent an RV is to borrow one from a friend. If that isn’t possible, you can find RV rental options for cheap on peer-to-peer marketplaces like RVShare, RVnGO and Outdoorsy. Keep in mind that even if your RV rental isn’t as cheap as you’d like, you can offset travel expenses by cooking your own food, hiking and staying at affordable RV parks. Here’s more advice on how to save on road trips .

You already know that gas is cheaper in certain parts of the country than others. Figuring out how much it will cost to fill up an RV depends on the type of camper you’re driving; for instance, smaller RVs might squeeze out 10-15 miles per gallon, but larger RVs have been known to only get 4-6 miles per gallon. Keep in mind that RVs can have gas tanks that can hold up to 150 gallons.

The perks of renting an RV are plentiful: You will spend more time with your traveling companions, enjoy more flexibility during your travels and can potentially save money compared to staying at hotels. Renting an RV is safe, practical and can be a good learning experience, and a great way to

ease back into travel

The cheapest way to rent an RV is to borrow one from a friend. If that isn’t possible, you can find RV rental options for cheap on peer-to-peer marketplaces like RVShare, RVnGO and Outdoorsy. Keep in mind that even if your RV rental isn’t as cheap as you’d like, you can offset travel expenses by cooking your own food, hiking and staying at affordable RV parks. Here’s more advice on

how to save on road trips

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

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This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

Road Trip Dilemma: Renting Vs. Driving Your Own Vehicle

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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The Ultimate Guide To Renting A Car While Traveling

This page may contain affiliate links which means I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase with them. This helps keep the site running and the travel tips coming! For more info, check out my Privacy Policy & Disclosure .

When arriving at your destination, one of the first instincts you might get is to rent a car to be able to get around and see all the attractions.  This is the most flexible way to get around as it leaves you free to explore at your own schedule and stop wherever and whenever you want.  

However, it’s also the most expensive way to get around in your destination when compared to the other options available.  If it’s not out of your budget, then a rental car can also be a very unique way to get your next destination as many car rental agencies also allow you to do one-way trips for an extra fee. 

If you’re looking for the ultimate flexibility in your travels and you aren’t necessarily traveling on a strict budget, then renting a car may just be for you.  However, if you’re not prepared, you might end up having a stressful experience where you get taken advantage of and you spend more than you expected.  

On this page, I will tell you everything you need to know about renting a car as well as how to reserve one at the cheapest price so that you know what to expect and you spend less time worrying about it and more time enjoying the freedom a rental car gives you!

Here are the 10 things you need to know about renting a car while traveling:

1. You can find the cheapest car rentals in most destinations using Kayak

There is more than one way to find rental cars when traveling, but the easiest and most convenient way is to use Kayak .  It compares cars and rates from all the OTAs and major car rental companies in your destination so you know you’re getting the best rate possible.  I compared the rates I saw on Kayak to all the other car rental search websites out there and Kayak always finds the cheapest ones.

What’s great is that it also shows you a rating from 0 to 10 for each agency in that location which is super useful.  I do not recommend going with any agency that has a rating lower than 7 because it means they have had a lot of unhappy customers and there is a good chance that you will be another one.  They might also try to screw you over.  Stick to agencies that have a rating of 7 or higher and you should be fine.

Kayak makes finding a rental car easy and straightforward and I always use it when I’m looking to rent a car while traveling.  Make sure you read the policy for any car you rent on Kayak so you know what’s included and what isn’t.

1b. And in other destinations, Google Maps is king

If the destination you’re going to doesn’t have many, or even any, results when searching on Kayak, then the next best way to find a rental car is to use Google Maps.  Search for car rentals in the destination you want on Google Maps and you should see all the local car rental agencies that are available.  They might have a website that will show you their rates or you might have to go into their office or call/email them to find out.  

It’s very important to check the Google Maps reviews for any agency you find, even if you find them on Kayak first.  Read some of the critical reviews to see what issues other people have had and keep an eye out for potential fake 5 star reviews that might be making the agency look better than it actually is.  But if the agency looks good to you, contact them to find out their rates or to make a booking!

This is how I’ve found car rental agencies in places like Malaysia where most of the local car rental agencies won’t be found on Kayak or any other online booking site.  

When renting a car this way, try to ask to see the car before signing or paying anything.  This way, if you don’t like the condition of the car they plan to give you, you can ask for a better one or simply walk away easily.  Also make sure to read the policy carefully so you know what’s included in your rental and what isn’t.

1c. Save even more money by being flexible

While using Kayak and Google Maps to look for rental car agencies is the best way to get the cheapest prices, there are ways to save even more money if you’re flexible.

For one, instead of renting a car from the airport when you arrive, consider renting it from an agency location in the city .  Rental car agencies typically charge more for the convenience of picking up the car right as you arrive in your destination so you can often find cheaper prices at their agency locations in the city.

Kayak will already show you the prices for both options (as long as you select the city and not the airport as your pickup location) so you don’t need to go out of your way for this, but keep it in mind for when you’re making your reservation. 

If you do choose to rent it in the city, you’ll need to get to your hotel from the airport some other way.  The cheapest would be public transport , but you can also use  taxis or ride-hailing .

Similarly, compare prices between different cities on your trip as well as nearby cities.  You might find the price to rent a car in another to city to be much cheaper.

Secondly, track your car rental price using Autoslash .  This is a free service that will track the price of your car rental and notify you when the price drops or a better deal comes up so that you can cancel your existing reservation and book the cheaper one! (Note: it only works if your original booking had free cancellation).

And finally, consider renting a car from a local .  There is an app called Turo which is like the Airbnb for car rentals.  Locals will list their cars and you can reserve them for your stay.  You then coordinate the pickup and dropoff with them (with many of them offering free delivery too) and drive it around just like you would with a normal rental car.  Insurance is also included so you have nothing to worry about.

Learn more about Turo .

2. You may already have rental car insurance

Most car rental companies will try to convince you to buy their insurance, usually called a Collision/Loss Damage Waiver (CDW), for your rental because it is extremely profitable for them.  It can cost between $10-$30 per day and the actual cost of the insurance for them is about $3-$4 leaving them with a profit margin of $6-$27 per day which can often be more than the profit from simply renting the car which explains why they push it so hard.  

If you want to have full coverage and not have to worry about paying anything more in case something happens to your car, this is the best way to get it, if you don’t mind the cost. If anything happens, their insurance will automatically cover you and you can go on with the rest of your trip.

But if you don’t want to pay that much and you’re okay with taking the risk of not getting their CDW, you may already be insured.  If this is the case, if something happens, you’d have to pay for the damages yourself and then make a claim to get your money back later.  

Some personal car insurance policies cover car rentals too so it’s a good idea to check yours to see if you’re covered, even in a different country.  But what’s even more likely is that your credit card has insurance that covers you as long as you use it to make your reservation.  Make sure to read your policies carefully to see if you’re insured.

In addition, one insurance that you really want to make sure you have, and that is worth paying for if you don’t already have it, is liability insurance because if something happens and you hurt someone or damage someone else’s property, depending on who and what, the costs associated can easily run into the millions.  

Some rental car agencies might already have this coverage included and it might also be covered by your personal car insurance policy, but you should double check this because a couple thousand to pay for a car is nothing compared to the amount you’d pay if held liable for someone else’s damages or injuries.

Also, when making your reservation online, many booking sites will try to sell you their own insurance (sometimes marketed as Full Coverage or something similar) even if your reservation already comes with the agency’s CDW included, except the difference is that it’s a third-party insurance.  

It’ll usually be cheaper than the one offered by the car rental agency, but it operates in the same way that the credit card insurance does meaning that if something happens, you’ll have to pay for the damages first and then try to make a claim for them to get your money back later.

3. If you're under 25 or over 65, you may get charged an extra fee

An extra fee that car rental agencies often like to charge is an age-based one that penalizes you if you are under 25 or over 65 (ages vary by agency).  Their reasoning is that the risk of accidents is higher for people of those ages and the car rental agency covers that extra risk by charging you this extra fee.  

There are sometimes ways to waive the fee if you’re lucky, but for most people of those age groups, they will have to include that fee in their total car rental cost.  The fee can range from $15 to $35 per day depending on the agency.

In addition, many car rental agencies won’t even rent a car to you if you are under the age of 21.  This is for the same reason.  By not letting people under the age of 21 rent cars, they are essentially eliminating that risk.  

Considering that most people under that age don’t usually have the money to rent cars in the first place, the agencies don’t lose too many customers, but for those that do want to spend their money on a car rental, they unfortunately won’t be allowed to.

4. In some countries, an International Driver's Permit is needed

If you plan to rent a car in a different country, there is a good chance that the car rental agency won’t even let you do it if you don’t have an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).  

I consider the IDP to be a bit of a cash grab because it’s only valid for 1 year and it doesn’t really mean much except that you were willing to spend $25 to get it.  There’s no extra test you have to pass or demonstration you have to give that you understand how to drive in another country so it’s quite pointless.

My personal gripes with the IDP aside, in some countries it’s actually illegal to rent a car to a foreigner who doesn’t hold it.  In others, police will actually fine you or even impound the car you’re driving if you are found to be driving without one.  This unfortunately means that getting it might be a necessity for you.  

You can only get it in person from the nearest branch of your national Automobile Association ( CAA in Canada and the AAA in the US ) or by sending an application by mail, so don’t be fooled by websites that claim to be able to get you one online in a matter of hours; they are all fake scam sites.

5. One-way rentals come with an extra fee

Using a car rental to get to your next destination can be a wonderful way to explore the attractions and views on the way, especially if the drive is known to be a scenic one.  The freedom to take your time and stop whenever you want on the way makes the experience a very memorable and unique one that no other method of transportation is able to replicate.  

I highly recommend doing it at least once if you’re in an area known for its scenic roads between destinations.

However, this freedom comes at a cost.  One-way drop-off fees can range from $30 at the low end to over $50 at the medium end to over $100 at the high end.  This fee is on top of whatever the daily cost to rent your car is.  

Car rentals are not the cheapest way of getting around in the first place so this extra fee can really put it out of reach for some people.  Consider this fee in the total cost of the car rental to decide if a one-way rental is worth it for you.

Pro tip: combine your one-way car rental with a post on your local ridesharing platform to cover some of the costs of the rental.  See my Guide to Ridesharing for more details.

6. Most of the time, you need to leave a deposit with a credit card

If you don’t own a credit card, then renting a car will be more difficult for you.  Most major car rental agencies will not rent cars to people who don’t have credit cards since credit cards usually have high limits and can have holds placed on them whereas debit cards do not have these functionalities.  

Some of the smaller agencies in developing destinations may accept cash or paypal deposits, but for the most part, you’ll need a credit card to rent a car.  This is because most agencies will place a hold on your credit card as a form of leaving a deposit.  

And don’t be surprised if the hold is for hundreds, or even thousands of dollars.  You can usually lower your deposit amount by buying their CDW, but you will still be required to leave one as it’s a way for them to mitigate the risk of you being careless with the car so be prepared for that and raise the limits on your credit card if you need to.

If you don’t have one, check out my Guide to the Best Travel Credit Cards .

7. Any speeding or parking tickets will come with an administration fee

If you are in the unfortunate situation of receiving a speeding or parking ticket while driving a rental car and you don’t pay for it before giving the car back or it arrives in the mail at a later date, the rental car agency will actually add insult to injury and not only charge you for the amount of the fine, but also add an additional “administration” fee which could range anywhere from $10-$60.  This also applies to any tolls that you don’t pay for in advance.

So if you know you have received a speeding or parking ticket, the best thing you can do is pay for it on your own as soon as possible before returning the car to avoid paying even more than you need to.  

And if you got caught by a speed camera, a red-light camera, or a toll camera, then you are out of luck as those fines will only be sent directly to the car rental agency at a later date which means you will unfortunately have to pay the fee.

8. Adding more drivers and other extras comes with more fees

If you want to be able to let more than one person that you’re traveling with drive the rental car, then be prepared to spend even more.  The fee to add additional drivers for the rental can range from $5-$15 a day per driver depending on the agency.  

In addition, child seats, ski racks, snow chains, GPS’, and wifi routers are usually all available at an extra cost as well. 

For the GPS and wifi, the best thing you can do is be prepared with an unlocked smartphone and a local SIM card (see my Guide to Travel-Ready Phones & Guide to Prepaid SIM Cards ), but for the others, be prepared to pay for them unless you plan to bring them with you on your trip! (not recommended if they’re big)

9. Rates are set per each 24 hour period

While you might be able to find agencies that offer car rentals at hourly or half-day rates (especially in destinations that are known to be day-trip destinations), the vast majority of car rental agencies operate at rates based on 24 hour periods.  

This means that if you try to rent your car for a period of 25 hours, you will get charged for two full days even though you only really used it for one.  Most agencies will give you a grace period of up to 30 minutes or so if you’re running late or something, but any more than that and you will most likely be charged for another day.  

Don’t bank on all agencies giving you this grace period either, some may choose to be strict with their timing.  So to avoid any potential late fees or extra day charges, the best thing you can do is plan smart for your rental.  

Keep the 24 hour period in mind and if you have some flexibility, make the pickup time later or the dropoff time earlier than you originally planned to get the most out of your rental and make it so that you don’t get charged for more than you actually need it for.

10. Make sure to keep an eye on fuel and mileage

Most car rental agencies have a full to full fuel policy meaning that you will receive the car with a full tank and you are expected to return it with a full tank as well.  If you don’t, you will be charged a rate per gallon or litre missing that is at least double the local gas station’s rate, if not more, so you’re much better off remembering to fill it up before you return it. 

Some agencies might have a similar policy, but at different fuel levels.  So you may be given a car with a tank half full and then be expected to return it at the same fuel level as well.  When that happens and you accidentally overfill the tank, don’t expect to receive a refund.  The car rental agency will instead take it as a nice gesture on your part.

In addition, some agencies might have a policy that limits the total amount of miles or kilometres that you are allowed to drive per day and if you surpass that limit, you get charged per additional mile or kilometre.  

Most agencies have unlimited mileage, but you need to check the terms of your rental before you reserve it to make sure you have it for yours if you know you will be driving a lot.  And even if you won’t be, it’s still good practice to check it to make sure the agency isn’t trying to pull any funny business!

And that’s all you need to know!

Renting a car can get pretty expensive if you’re not careful, but as long as you follow this guide, your experience should be a stress-free and enjoyable one.  

Let me know in the comments below if this guide helped you and if you want to learn about other ways of getting around at your destination, check out my Guides to Public Transport , Ride-Hailing , and Taxis .

About The Author

Hi there,  I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my  About page   and find me on social media.

Hi there, I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my About page   and find me on social media.

I’m Sebastian , the founder and creator of Travel Done Simple! I was born in Europe and raised in Canada, but I now consider myself to be a citizen of the world. When I’m not busy exploring new destinations, I’m here giving you the best travel tips so you can do the same! 

You can learn more about me on my About page and if it’s your first time on my site,  start here !

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Travel Cost Calculator

Quick links, trip pricing calculator.

Travelmath provides an online cost calculator to help you determine the cost of driving between cities. You can use this data to figure out a budget for a road trip. The driving calculation is based on the average fuel efficiency of your vehicle, and you can change the gas mileage in mpg or L/100 km to match your exact make and model. Gas prices are automatically estimated based on current fluctuations, and again you can adjust these to fit your local gas station prices. Both U.S. and international units are available to make the calculations easier to use, and the output is given for both one-way and round trip travel routes.

Check the driving distance for your planned route, and see if the total driving time requires an overnight stay. If it's a long trip, you may want to research some hotels along the way . Or compare whether it's better to fly or drive to your destination.

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With rising flight prices, you may be wondering: is it worth booking the ticket, or should I just drive? We're here to help you figure out what you might save (or spend) if you decide to load up the car and hit the road - or if taking to the skies is really the more affordable option.

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Estimates are based on an analysis of current and historical minimum roundtrip flight prices for one traveler and average car rental prices in the past 31 days. Actual prices may vary. Always check current prices and routes before booking. See Methodology .

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Road trip hacks, best family road trip, best couples road trip games, best road trip snacks, road trips with dogs, methodology.

6 things you should know before you rent your first RV

A few years ago, my husband and I packed up our two girls and flew to Las Vegas , where we kicked off the adventure of a lifetime. We spent a week exploring the best Southwestern national and state parks on our first recreational vehicle trip. Spoiler alert: We became addicted to RV travel, and have gone on several RV trips since then.

We've learned a lot about RVing since that first trip. Below are six tips to best prepare you for your road trip now that RV rentals are becoming more popular in the era of continued socially distanced family vacations.

1. Special licenses and different types of RVs

Whenever we tell people we're going on an RV trip, we're asked, "Do you need a special license to drive an RV?" Rest assured, in all 50 states RVs weighing under 26,000 pounds (most are under that weight) don't require a special license. There are two types of RVs: drivable motorhomes and towable ones. There are subcategories among these as well.

Related: How we're exploring the country in an RV for a year

Drivable RVs, often referred to as motorhomes

Drivable RVs are often referred to as motorhomes, meaning you drive and sleep in the same area. There are three types: Class A, Class B and Class C. The only ones that could potentially weigh more than 26,000 pounds and require a special license are Class As. Class A motorhomes weigh an average of 13,000–30,000 pounds, but with many options under 26,000, it's easy to avoid the heavier ones. So, what's the difference between the three?

Class A RVs are the biggest ones and they resemble coach buses. Besides weighing an average of 13,000–30,000 pounds, they also range in size from 21–41+ feet. While they generally offer the most space in the motorhome category, I don't recommend renting a Class A for your first RV trip unless you have experience driving bus-sized vehicles. Parking these can be difficult due to their size, and you're limited to spaces they can actually fit in.

Class B RVs, also known as camper vans , are the smallest and the easiest to get used to driving. Since they're smaller, they sleep fewer people and accommodations aren't as grand: there have potentially smaller beds, kitchenettes instead of true kitchens. If there is a bathroom, most times it's only a wet bath and maybe an outdoor shower. Class Bs are great for one or two people but not the best motorhome for a family or group of friends.

Class C RVs are a great choice for first-time RVers. They provide more space than Class Bs and are easier to maneuver than Class As. The average weight is 10,000–12,000 pounds, so you'll never have to worry about getting a special license and the vehicles range in length from 20–38 feet. Class Cs, typically built on a truck chassis or van frame, are comparable to driving a big truck that requires wide turns.

Related: Tips for your family's first RV trip

Towable RVs

As the name implies, towable RVs are towed by an SUV or pickup truck, so you're not sleeping in the same place as you're driving like you would in a motorhome. Within towable RVs, there are fifth wheels, folding trailers, toy haulers and utility trailers.

Folding or popup trailers are small and lightweight, meaning you can tow them with most trucks, SUVs and even some cars. They have canvas sides that pop out, giving you space for sleeping, cooking or hanging out. Some include showers and toilets, but most don't.

Fifth wheels need to attach to special hitches only found on pickup truck beds. They are much heavier than the other types of travel trailers, so they can't be towed by just any truck; they need need to be pulled by something with a high tow capacity. Fifth wheels have split-level floor plans and offer a home-like atmosphere. Most fifth wheels have huge kitchens that can accommodate islands and full-size appliances.

Travel trailers are similar to fifth wheels, but the main difference is how they are towed. They don't require special hitches, so they can be towed by minivans, SUVs or trucks. They also tend to be smaller than fifth wheels.

Truck campers are great if you want a "roughing it" experience that isn't as rough and doesn't require pitching a tent. The camper sits on top of the pickup part of the truck, so you don't need a hitch. Most provide the ability to cook, dine and sleep.

Related: Maximizing points and miles on summer road trips

2. The best sites to rent an RV

Similar to booking traditional accommodations, you have many options when it comes to renting an RV. You can book through traditional RV rental companies, or go through Avis or Enterprise for RVs. You can also rent via peer-to-peer rentals like you would on Airbnb .

RV rental companies

Here are two options if you prefer to rent from a business versus a private owner.

Cruise America: With 121 locations across the U.S., this is one of the most popular companies. However, it only rents Class C RVs, so options are limited.

El Monte RV: This company rents in 27 states, offering both round-trip and one-way rentals. Similar to Cruise America, options are more limited as it only rents Class A and Class C RVs.

If you don't care where your RV trip takes you, book a relocation rental that can save you tons – they cost as little as $1.

Related: I rented a tricked-out RV; here's what it was like

Peer-to-peer rental sites

The two main peer-to-peer RV rental sites are Outdoorsy and RV Share. Both sites provide rentals in all states, and Outdoorsy also offers options in Canada and Australia. My family has rented from Outdoorsy on our last three RV trips. It's often referred to as the "Airbnb of RVs" and we've had great experiences. The company rents both towable RVs and motorhomes.

While I haven't used RV Share, their model is the same as Outdoorsy. The main difference is it's popular for one-way rental options. This is great for non-loop road trips.

Related: Take these credit cards on your road trips

3. What you need to know about campsites

Obtaining the RV is an important first step, but it's still just a step. You'll also need to book campsites instead of hotels when traveling by RV. There are varying levels of campsites, ranging from the bare-bones options that only offer a place to park to luxury campsites with lake views, resort-style pools, 18-hole golf courses and more. The average RV camp typically ranges from $35–$50/night, but, of course, the more luxurious, the higher the price. Sites can easily surpass $100 per night, especially now while campsites are in very high demand.

Most sites offer weekly and monthly discounts, reducing the price for those staying longer. Also, know that campsites can book up well in advance — this is especially true in popular tourist destinations such as Rocky Mountain National Park , the Grand Canyon and other national parks .

Related: Mistakes to avoid on your first camping trip

When booking campsites, consider what's included and what's important to you. Does the campsite offer drinking water, dump stations, electrical hookups, cable, internet, restrooms, etc.? For electrical hookups, does your RV need a 30 or 50AMP or does it have a convertor where you can connect to both? This is important when reserving your spot, as is deciding if you need a pull-through or back-in spot. Oftentimes, pull-through spots come at a premium because it's easier to park as you can pull into the spot and then continue driving forward to exit. Backing into the spot can be much more of a hassle.

What about the poop?

Everyone always asks us the same thing: "Is it nasty dealing with the toilet?" It's a fair question but, believe me, it's not hard, nor does it take a long time. Most RV rentals come with gloves to use when touching the black tank hose. (If not, buy some.) It takes about five minutes to dump your tank and while the person you rent from should give you a thorough overview (I recommend recording it), most RVers are very nice and will help you if you're confused. You can also check out this YouTube video to see the process.

Boondocking

If you're looking to save money on campsites, consider boondocking for a night or so. Boondocking is when you're backcountry camping, staying in a parking lot overnight or when the campsite you're staying at doesn't offer hookups — meaning you can't connect to water, electricity or sewer. Be sure to check signs and local regulations to make sure you're permitted to park, if you're choosing one of the first two options. You can also find spots at the Boondockers Welcome website, which connects travelers with hosts who have private sites for free.

Now, just because a campsite doesn't offer these things that doesn't mean you can't or won't have water or electricity. Before boondocking, you can fill the RV fresh water tank to have access to water and, if the RV has a propane tank, you can use it for electricity. Just know neither of these will last forever: Most freshwater tanks hold 20–100 gallons of water and a 30-pound propane tank usually offers 24 hours of generator use.

Related: How to stay near national parks for less

4. Average costs of renting an RV

How much does renting an RV cost?

Like hotels, RV prices will greatly vary depending on what time of year you're traveling, the cost of living in the city you're renting from, how many people the RV accommodates and how updated/luxurious the RV is. You can use these average costs from Outdoorsy as a guideline, knowing it will vary, and high demand can create even higher prices.

• Class A: $175 to $275 per night.
• Class B: $100 to $200 per night.
• Class C: $150 to $200 per night.
• Travel trailer: $50 to $125 per night.
• Fifth wheel: $60 to $150 per night.
• Pop-up trailer: $50 to $100 per night.

Also know that you may need to factor in a per-mile charge. You might have a built-in number of included miles and will incur a fee per mile driven over the number, though some rentals do come with unlimited miles.

5. RV insurance

RV Share includes standard insurance in its fees, but you can opt to add on additional coverage. Its website states that the standard insurance option includes up to $300,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage based on the value of the RV and $1 million in liability coverage. You'll also receive free 24/7 roadside assistance, and free towing and tire service. You can read more on its policy here .

Outdoorsy partners with Liberty Mutual insurance and offers three levels: Peace of Mind, Essential or Risk Taker. At a minimum, you get up to $1 million in both physical damage protection and liability coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance and customer support. You can read more here .

Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers

6. Helpful apps while RVing

FreeRoam: Provides information on free RV camp locations and overnight parking. It also shares information on regular RV campgrounds by showing reviews and ratings about how crowded campsites are, quality of cell reception, safety and ease of access.

GasBuddy: This app shows the lowest gas prices in your area. You can even search based on brand and type of gas. When planning, its trip cost calculator comes in handy for budgeting.

Related: Best credit cards for gas purchases

RV Checklist: Helps with pre-road trip preparation and packing. It offers checklists that are great for first-time RVers who don't know where to start.

Free Zone Wi-Fi: This app provides information on 5 million hotspots in the U.S., maps to guide you there and automatic notifications when you're in range of a signal.

Coverage?: Depending on where your RV adventures take you, you'll quickly learn all roads are not created equally when it comes to cell service. This app provides a complete cellular coverage map for popular carriers across the United States.

Related: Best credit cards for paying your cellphone bill

Bottom line

RVing is a fun adventure and something I think everyone should do at least once. Know that right now, RV sites and rentals and sites are a hot commodity, but otherwise, this really is the perfect time to explore this method of traveling around the country.

Who knows? You might get hooked on RV life just as we did!

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Bilt, Paris Hilton are offering a month of free rent: Here's how it works

This month, bilt's winners will also get 500,000 hilton honors points for travel.

Walgreens, Bilt launch automatic FSA/HSA savings program

Bilt CEO Ankur Jain explains how members will be able to use their FSA/HSA accounts toward their Walgreens purchases.

Bilt, a home and neighborhood loyalty program, is attempting to entice new users by offering them a chance to win a rent-free month through its family feud-style game. 

Every month, celebrities will join Bilt Rewards members in an online game of family feud called "Rent Free." Each month a new celebrity will be tapped to join Bilt's CEO Ankur Jain, who hosts the game. Ten winners will earn up to $2,500 to cover their rent for the month. 

This time, the company is teaming up with Paris Hilton, and giving every Bilt member Hilton Honors Gold status, which is the second-highest tier in Hilton's elite status program, through the end of the year. 

This month's winners will not only get a free month of rent in October but 500,000 Hilton Honors Points for travel.

YOUR NEXT WALGREENS TRIP MAY NOT COST YOU AS MUCH. HERE'S WHY.

Here's how its monthly game works: 

You have to be a member to play, though it's free to sign up, and you don't have to have the Bilt Mastercard. 

At the end of each month, the company asks Bilt members questions about what's happening in the culture right now. 

A shot of Bilt’s founder Ankur Jain and chairman Ken Chenault (Bilt)

Members will team up with a celebrity guest to guess the three most popular responses to each question. They have until the first day of the following month to plug in their answer on the Bilt app or website . 

The more you both get right, the better your chances of winning, according to Bilt. 

The company was founded by Jain on a mission to help people maximize their biggest expenses. It has dubbed itself as the first rewards program that allows renters to earn points on rent and subsequently build "a path towards homeownership." 

BILT REWARDS STOPS RENTERS FROM ‘LIGHTING YOUR MONEY ON FIRE,’ FOUNDER AND CEO ANKUR JAIN SAYS

Today, Bilt members can earn points on rent payments at more than 4.5 million homes across the nation. Those points can be transferred for things like travel, dining or fitness classes. 

Bilt Rewards founder and CEO Ankur Jain. (Bilt Rewards)

Last year, the company began looking into how they could expand the loyalty program into a user's local neighborhood, which captures about 80% of a person's discretionary spending. 

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The neighborhood program rewards members for things such as spending at local restaurants, workout classes and for using Lyft's rideshare service. 

However, it also helps users take advantage of their unused flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) funds when shopping at Walgreens. 

Bilt's existing partnerships include more than 21,000 restaurants and 3,500 fitness studios in addition to Lyft.