How to rent an RV: What it costs and what to know before you book

10.11.2023 - 14:17 / thepointsguy.com

Campgrounds are a travel culture and an experience all their own. They harken back to a 1950s style of life, encouraging kids to spend the bulk of their time outside riding bikes and scooters, running around on playgrounds, hanging at picnic tables and playing on volleyball courts.

There's a community that makes you want to wave to others as they go by and become (temporary) neighbors and friends. The conversations are long, the sleep is deep and the odds of truly relaxing are high, even without elements of pampering sprinkled in.

While I'm far from outdoorsy, it's a lifestyle I can fully appreciate at least once every few years. You will likely never find me in a tent, though, and the odds of me investing a ton of money into a camping trip on an ongoing basis are low since I don't regularly partake in this type of travel.

So, how can someone like me get their camping fix without dropping a ton of cash or making major sacrifices to travel preferences?

Enter: RV rentals.

Renting a recreational vehicle makes it possible to have a taste of the campground experience with all the conveniences of an RV (think: air conditioning and extra square footage) but none of the ongoing costs, commitment or knowledge required to actually own — or even operate — one.

With a couple of RV rentals under my belt, it's safe to say I now understand just how nice they can be. Based on my firsthand experience, here's what you'll want to keep in mind as you consider renting an RV.

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Before you rent an RV, you'll need to decide on the type of RV that makes the most sense for your trip.

While there are several kinds of RVs, the common rental types include:

Note that despite what the names may suggest, the letters for class-designated vehicles do not go in order of size, so check the various types carefully to decide which will work best for you. Some rental types require towing while others don't, so pay attention to the fine print for the vehicles you consider to make sure you have what you need if you choose a vehicle that cannot move on its own.

Similar to how there are large established platforms for renting homes that provide some built-in protections and a wide variety of choices, there are companies that offer various options for renting RVs.

Three of the main RV rental sites include:

If you are renting in a spot where RV rentals are common, such as at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, chances are you'll also find a number of established smaller companies with a fair amount of local RV rental inventory.

The process to rent an RV on the larger sites is much like it is with a vacation rental. You start by browsing and sorting through the options