How to Take an RV Road Trip on a $1000 Budget

You can do a lot with $1000 — buy a flat-screen TV, pay off some debt, or our favorite option, take an RV road trip! With a $1000 budget, you could go on a week-long RV adventure, depending on how you choose to spend your money. Let’s break it down!

Costs to Consider

Apart from RV rental cost per day, there are other costs to consider, like:

• Fuel
• Food
• Campsite fees
• Activities

Your RV rental costs will also vary based on:

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

Make sure to consider these things when planning your trip. Now, what will $1000 get you?

How Much Does It Cost to Rent an RV?

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

The length of the trip you want to take with your $1000 budget will largely determine the RV you choose, as will the number of people coming along.

If you’re thinking of taking 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 just a weekend trip, you can get by comfortably with a Class B campervan or any small trailer.

Where Can You Go on a $1000 Budget?

You can go wherever the gas in your tank will take you! Typically, the larger the RV you choose, the more gas it will use.

Here’s how many MPG each RV type gets:

• 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

The same rules apply for trailers —  the smaller the trailer, the better the mileage.

Think about where you want to go and then calculate the RV gas costs to get there! Maybe you can’t go on a cross country road trip with a $1000 budget, but you can take a regional road trip. Make a trip around the Southwest or travel up the Pacific Coast. 

How Can You Save Money on Your Road Trip?

To save money and stick to a $1000 budget for your RV road trip, you can:

• Boondock
• Buy a park pass
• Cook in your RV

Boondock

Taking an RV, you’re already spending less money than you would on a hotel stay. To save even more money, there’s boondocking!

Boondocking is free camping at places without hookups and amenities — sewer, water, electric. You can camp for free on public lands, in RV-friendly businesses parking lots, and even at a friend’s house.

Buy a National or State Park Pass

If you plan to make your way around the national or state parks in the area, invest in an annual park pass! You can get an America the Beautiful National Park Pass for only $80, and it’s good for a year. This will cover your entrance fees for National Parks, as well as day-use fees for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers.

If you plan to visit state parks, each state has its own state park pass. The prices range by state.

Cook Your Own Meals

Another perk of traveling in an RV is that you can have all the amenities of home — a bedroom, a bathroom, and even a kitchen. If you were trying to spend less money in your daily life, one surefire way is to cut down on eating out and cook more. It’s the same with RV travel! And, because many RVs have a kitchen, it’s easy!

Check out some easy RV recipes to get you started! If you don’t have a kitchen in your rental RV, you can still cook some tasty meals over the campfire or on a portable camp stove. 

Hit the Road

An RV road trip is a great, budget-friendly option for a vacation. Whether you have $500 or $2000 to spend, you can make priceless memories renting an RV. Happy travels!