When planning a vacation, it’s essential to optimize your spending to get the best experiences within your budget. When comparing costs, many people wonder if a class B RV rental (also known as a camper van) is cheaper than sleeping in hotels. 

This guide provides a full breakdown of the expenses to help you make an informed decision.

Is Traveling in an RV Cheaper?

If you’ve reviewed RV vs hotel calculators or other expense comparisons, you may have found that you get mixed results. One of the main reasons is that there are several types of RVs and hotels with varying costs throughout the year. How much for a travel van?

On average, renting a camper van for transportation, sleeping, and other amenities can be cheaper than renting a hotel room. 

Average hotel costs across the U.S. are about $100-200 per night. On the other hand, the average camper van costs about $75-150 per day. However, with camper vans, you also need to pay for fuel, and most companies charge mileage fees of $0.30-0.40 cents per mile you drive. 

The real cost savings come from everything you get with a camper van. You get a dedicated sleeping space and transportation rather than having to rent a hotel room and then still pay for a rental car or taxi ride.  Your Escape Camper Vans rental comes with a queen-sized bed that converts into a table and a kitchenette, as well as the freedom to explore on your own timeline. Here’s more about how much does it cost to rent a campervan for a week.

Is it Better to Camp or Stay in a Hotel? 

When you compare camper van vs hotel expenses, you also need to consider where you’ll park your RV each night. So, is camping cheaper than hotels? 

The average cost for RV camping per night is about $20-40 to reserve a campsite. So, it’s a very minimal added expense to your RV trip. When considering the cost-saving aspects of renting a camper van, you still save compared to renting a hotel room and making other travel arrangements. 

If you don’t want to pay nightly for a campsite, you still have other free parking options. What is the least expensive way to RV? The cheapest way to RV across America is parking at free rest stops; truck stops, store parking lots, or camping on public lands. 

Is it Cheaper to Stay in Hotels or Buy an RV?

If you’re considering buying an RV, it might be cheaper to stay in a hotel instead unless you travel a lot. New RVs cost about $100,000+ to buy, and used ones cost over $60,000. The average person who travels a few times each year won’t see cost savings for a long time if you go that route. 

Renting a camper van is the best way to see immediate cost savings from staying in one during your trip. It minimizes upfront costs, and you don’t have to worry about things like storage or maintenance. Escape Camper Vans offers five affordable rental options from 11 locations to meet your needs. 

Are Campers Cost-Effective?

Renting a camper van can be very cost-effective for extended vacations. In one unit, you get essential transportation, sleeping space, storage, and amenities like kitchen equipment. 

However, is owning an RV cost-effective? If you buy one, it’ll take a long time before you start saving money since you have to budget for insurance expenses, maintenance, storage, and vehicle depreciation. 

Is it Cheaper to Live in a Camper Van Than a House? 

Whether a camper van or a house is cheaper depends on the lifestyle you’re seeking. If you want to travel frequently, living out of a camper van can be a lot more affordable than owning a home and managing travel expenses. Plus, it can be cheaper to stay in a camper van in areas with higher costs of living in the U.S., like California and New York. 

However, if you’re in a lower-cost-of-living part of the U.S. and don’t plan to travel a ton, the cost savings won’t be as significant. That said, you can still rent one from us at Escape Camper Vans whenever you’re planning your next trip. 

Get an Affordable Travel Vehicle from Escape Camper Vans

We offer affordable and reliable camper vans at 11 locations across the U.S. for all your needs. Each of our 600 vans is uniquely hand-painted and well-maintained to ensure a great experience. 

Plus, our vans come with helpful features like:

• Queen size beds
• Propane stove
• Refrigerator
• Sink with a water tank
• Extra storage
• Foldaway tables and benches
• Extras available for ren

Reserve your camper van today, or contact us with any other questions.