From large luxurious Class A RVs to little pop-up campers, renting is a good way to save a little money this summer and help you decide if the #vanlife is really for you.
A new survey released in April shows that 208 million Americans plan to travel this summer, and of those, 80% plan to take a road trip. The nearly 206 million Americans who dream of hitting the open road for summer adventure may be doing so in an RV, camper, or trailer, opting to spend nights under the stars instead of hotels.
Continuing the trend that began in 2020, RVs and campers are wildly popular with the road-tripping crowd. The RV Industry Association’s October 2020 survey saw RV shipments increasing by 21.4% year-over-year, the second-highest October increase on record. The “van-life” trend is also having its moment in the sun. Little Instagrammable campers and vans are everywhere on the internet (the Instagram hashtag #vanlife surpassed 7 million tags in 2020), so it’s no wonder more travelers are considering a “home on wheels” for exploring. But what if you aren’t ready to commit to buying a camper, van, or RV?
RVs can cost between $10,000 and $300,000, while pop-up campers and teardrop campers average between $16,000 and $23,000. Luckily for those who don’t want to drop that kind of money, renting an RV or camper is another option. From large luxurious Class A RVs to little pop-up campers, renting is a good way to save a little money this summer and help you decide if the #vanlife is really for you.
“We’re seeing new first time users and people who have never even considered renting an RV or a teardrop or a pop-up or Class B camper coming and trying to figure out which vehicle is right for them,” said Jen Young, co-founder of Outdoorsy, the largest peer-to-peer marketplace that connects RV owners with campers who want the experience RVing without ownership. “We’re seeing people rent vehicles for just a day, week-long trips, or even for just a staycation near their house. Why would you go and buy a vehicle at $40,000, $50,000, or $70,000 when you could try one before you buy one?”
Here’s everything you need to know about renting a recreational vehicle this summer.