Trip Tool ยท Quiz
Should I Rent an RV or Drive My Own Car?
Answer six questions about your trip frequency, distance, and travel style. We will tell you whether renting an RV or sticking with your own car and hotels makes more sense.
Question 1 of 6
How often do you take trips of 4+ nights?
How far is your typical trip?
Where do you want to sleep?
Do you have a place to store an RV?
What is your travel group?
What matters more to you?
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Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is renting an RV worth it?
Renting an RV is worth it when you camp 5+ nights, want to cook meals, travel with a family, and explore multiple destinations on one trip. For shorter city-focused trips under 4 nights, hotels plus driving your own car is usually cheaper and more convenient. The quiz above gives you a personalized verdict.
Is it cheaper to rent an RV or stay in hotels?
For a 7-day family trip of 4 people, an RV rental ($1,500 to $2,500) plus campgrounds ($300) and fuel ($300) often beats 4 hotel rooms ($1,400 to $2,800) plus restaurants and flights. For shorter trips or solo travelers, hotels usually win. Try our <a href="/tools/rv-vs-hotel-calculator">RV vs Hotel calculator</a> for exact numbers.
Should I buy or rent an RV?
Rent first if you have never RV'd before. Buying makes financial sense only if you will use the RV 30+ nights per year and have storage space. Most owners use their RV less than expected and depreciation, insurance, and storage eat the savings. The quiz above helps you decide based on your trip frequency.
What are the hidden costs of renting an RV?
Beyond the nightly rate, expect insurance ($25/day), mileage over 150/day ($0.35/mi), generator use ($3-8/hr), cleaning ($75-150), prep fees ($50-100), and late returns. See our <a href="/tools/rv-rental-fee-calculator">hidden fee estimator</a> for the full list.
Can I drive my own car and still camp?
Yes — car camping with a tent, sleeping in a SUV, or renting a small camper trailer you tow are all alternatives. These work well for short, summer trips but lack the bathroom, kitchen, and climate control of a motorized RV.