How to Take an RV Road Trip on a $2000 Budget

Lizzie DragonNovember 30, 2020

How to Take an RV Road Trip on a $2000 Budget

Ballin’ on a $2000 vacation budget? Why not take an RV road trip? Whether you have a weekend or 2 weeks to spare, $2000 can get you a rental RV and countless adventures. Let’s breakdown the budget!

How Much Does an RV Road Trip Cost?

Before we get into the fun stuff, let’s talk costs.

RV Rental Price

The RV rental price per day on Outdoorsy varies mostly by RV type.

RV Type

Average Rental Price (Per Night)

Class A Motorhome

$175 to $275 

Class B Motorhome

$100 to $200

Class C Motorhome

$150 to $200

Toy Hauler

$100 to $200

Fifth Wheel 

$60 to $150

Travel Trailer 

$50 to $125

Pop-up Camper

$50 to $100

 

Your RV rental costs will also vary based on:

  • RV type
  • Location
  • Amenities
  • Added fees/taxes

Luckily, on Outdoorsy, you can narrow down your search by price, type, amenities, location, and more!

Other Costs

After you rent your rig, there are some other trip costs to consider, including:

  • gas
  • food
  • campsite fees
  • activities

But you can cut down on these costs. Hello, adventure on a budget!

How To Save Money on Your RV Road Trip

The first cost to consider is gas, as this will determine how far you can get on your budget!

How many miles per gallon you can get will range by RV type:

  • Class A: 8-13 MPG
  • Class C: 10-15 MPG
  • Class B/Campervan: 18-20 MPG or better

The fuel capacity of RVs also range by type:

  • Class A: 80-150 gallons per tank
  • Class C: 40-80 gallons per tank
  • Class B/Campervan: 25 gallons per tank

After you’ve calculated fuel costs and rented an RV, you’ll know how much budget you’ll have left for all the other stuff — eating, sleeping, and adventuring!

Saving on Campsites

If you want to take a longer trip, venturing across the US, boondocking is a definite cost-saver. Staying at RV parks or campsites night after night adds up.

Instead, camp for free at:

  • Public lands
  • RV-friendly businesses
  • Your friend’s house

Note that you won’t have water, sewer, or electric hookups at these boondocking locations.

Saving on Food

Another great way to save money and leave more budget for adventuring is to cook on the road! Instead of eating out, cook over the campfire, a camp stove, or in your RV kitchen. There are plenty of easy RV recipes to try that won’t break the bank!

Try these RV recipes for:

No need to throw money at Starbucks while on the road.

Saving on Activities

One of the most popular things to do on an RV road trip is visiting national and state parks. Consider investing in a park pass if you plan to venture to more than one or two on your trip.

For $80, you can get into all National Parks and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers.

There are state park passes that you can buy as well, but prices vary by state.

Where Can You Go on a $2000 Budget?

Well, it depends on how you spread out your budget! Say you rent a pop-up trailer for $75 per night for 2 weeks; you’d still have $950 to spend on necessities and activities. Get an $80 park pass, and you could go all around the Southwest, or even go coast to coast if you wanted. It’s all about how you budget!

Keep in mind that what RV type you need and how much you’ll spend will also depend on how many travelers are in your party. If you’re considering a longer trip or a trip with more than 2 people, we suggest a larger rig, like a Class C, Class A, or Fifth Wheel trailer. However, if you’re taking a solo or couples trip or going for just a weekend adventure, you can get by comfortably with a Class B campervan or any small trailer.

Hit the Road

Who said budgeting couldn’t be fun? RVing is a fun and budget-friendly choice for any vacationer. Rent an RV today and start making some immeasurable memories. Happy budgeting and travels!

 

Lizzie Dragon, Outdoorsy Author


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