Planning guide · Fuel prices from October 2026
How Much Does an RV Trip Cost Per Day? 2026 Costs by RV Type
Daily budgets for four common trip styles, plus current fuel, campsite and food costs so you can work out your own.
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A number like “$150 a day” tells you very little. It could describe a solo van camper on free land or a couple in a motorhome at a mid-priced park. This guide gives you the daily cost for four common trip styles, then the rates behind them, so you can swap in your own rig and route.
How much an RV trip costs per day, by trip style
Each estimate is for a 7-night trip and covers fuel, campsites, food and small running costs. It leaves out the RV itself (rental, loan, insurance, storage), plus activities and repairs.
| Trip style | Per day | Per week |
|---|---|---|
| Solo in a camper van, budget style | $33-$60 | $232-$419 |
| Couple in a travel trailer, mixed style | $87-$156 | $607-$1,094 |
| Family of 4 in a travel trailer, private parks | $155-$268 | $1,087-$1,874 |
| Couple in a gas Class A, comfortable style | $196-$326 | $1,372-$2,279 |
The spread inside each row comes from fuel economy, site prices and how often you eat out. Here is how each total adds up.
Solo in a camper van, budget style: $33-$60 a day
Assumes: 500 miles at 16-22 MPG, 5 free nights and 2 state park nights, every meal cooked.
- Fuel: $97-$133
- Campsites: $40-$110
- Food: $70-$126
- Propane, dump fees, laundry: $25-$50
Couple in a travel trailer, mixed style: $87-$156 a day
Assumes: 700 miles at 12-16 MPG, 5 state park nights and 2 free nights, mostly cooking with a few meals out.
- Fuel: $187-$249
- Campsites: $100-$275
- Food: $280-$490
- Propane, dump fees, laundry: $40-$80
Family of 4 in a travel trailer, private parks: $155-$268 a day
Assumes: 700 miles at 12-16 MPG, 7 nights in private parks, a mix of cooking and eating out.
- Fuel: $187-$249
- Campsites: $280-$525
- Food: $560-$980
- Propane, dump fees, laundry: $60-$120
Couple in a gas Class A, comfortable style: $196-$326 a day
Assumes: 800 miles at 6-10 MPG, 7 nights in chain parks, eating out often.
- Fuel: $342-$569
- Campsites: $420-$700
- Food: $560-$910
- Propane, dump fees, laundry: $50-$100
Fuel cost per day by RV type
Fuel is the line item that has changed most. The U.S. average for regular gas was $4.27 a gallon and diesel was $6.35 in the week of October 26, 2026, according to the EIA. Regular gas is about $1.23 higher than a year earlier.
| RV type | Typical MPG | 100 miles | 200 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome (gas) | 6-10 | $43-$71 | $85-$142 |
| Class A diesel pusher | 7-10 | $64-$91 | $127-$181 |
| Class C motorhome (gas) | 10-14 | $30-$43 | $61-$85 |
| Class B camper van (gas) | 16-22 | $19-$27 | $39-$53 |
| Fifth wheel, gas truck | 10-14 | $30-$43 | $61-$85 |
| Fifth wheel, diesel truck | 10-14 | $45-$64 | $91-$127 |
| Travel trailer, gas truck or SUV | 12-16 | $27-$36 | $53-$71 |
| Truck camper (gas) | 12-16 | $27-$36 | $53-$71 |
Fuel costs are calculated at the national averages above. MPG figures are planning ranges for real-world driving, and yours will vary with weight, terrain and wind.
- Region changes the math. Regular gas averaged $3.70 on the Gulf Coast, $5.42 on the West Coast and $5.89 in California that same week. Diesel ran from $5.95 on the Gulf Coast to $8.16 in California.
- Diesel rigs feel the gap most. Over 800 miles, a diesel pusher burns about $508-$726 in fuel at the national average.
- Speed matters. The U.S. Department of Energy says gas mileage usually drops rapidly above 50 mph.
- Parked days cost nothing in fuel. A week split between two or three stops can use far less than moving every day.
RV campsite cost per night
Campsites are the cost you control most directly, because you pick the site type before you go.
| Site type | Typical night | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| BLM and National Forest dispersed | $0 | No hookups or services, usually a 14-day limit |
| National Forest campground | $10-$30 | Usually no hookups, some reservable on Recreation.gov |
| State park | $20-$55 | No hookups to full, and some states add a daily entrance fee |
| National park campground | $20-$50 | Usually no hookups, and popular parks fill early in summer |
| Private RV park | $40-$75 | Usually full hookups, with a wide swing by region and season |
| Chain campground | $60-$100 | Usually full hookups, with more amenities |
| RV resort | $90-$175+ | Full hookups, and holidays and coastal areas run highest |
These are planning ranges, not a survey, so check the actual rate before you book. For a sense of the top of the market, one industry pricing index put the national average nightly rate at $103.97 in June 2026. That is a peak-season figure, and the report we read does not say which site types it includes.
Same week, same RV: $385 or $220
Seven nights in a private park at $55 costs $385. Four nights at $55 plus three free nights on BLM land costs $220. That is $165 less, a 43% cut to the campsite bill, for the same number of nights. Our guide to free overnight RV parking covers the legal options and their rules.
Park entrance fees are separate
The America the Beautiful annual pass is $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for non-residents. It covers entrance and standard day-use fees, and camping is not listed among them. Visitors from abroad should run the numbers early: at 11 popular parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon, non-residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless they hold an annual pass.
Food cost per person per day
For a couple on a two-week trip, cooking most meals at about $14 a person instead of eating out at about $55 saves roughly $1,150.
| How you eat | Per person, per day | Common for |
|---|---|---|
| Almost all meals cooked in the RV | $10-$18 | Budget trips, long trips |
| Mostly cooking, some meals out | $20-$35 | Most vacation trips |
| Eating out often | $40-$65 | Short trips, park gateway towns |
| Nearly every meal out | $60-$90+ | Cities, tourist corridors |
As a reference point, press reports of USDA’s 2026 food plans work out to roughly $8-$14 per person per day for groceries at home. Our cooking range sits a bit higher to allow for pricier small-town and park-area stores. Stock up at a large supermarket before you reach a gateway town like Springdale, Moab or West Yellowstone.
Costs people forget
Each one is small, and together they can add a few hundred dollars to a two-week trip.
| Cost | Per week | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Propane | $20-$50 | Cold nights and furnace use |
| Dump stations | $0-$30 | Often included at paid campgrounds |
| Laundry | $10-$25 | Number of loads |
| Tolls | $0-$150+ | Route, especially in the Northeast |
| Pet fees | $0-$70 | Some private parks charge per night |
| Extra data or Wi-Fi | $0-$50 | Remote work and streaming |
What lowers the total most
- Cook more of your meals. For two people, this can save more than $50 a day.
- Mix in free nights. Three free nights a week cut a $55-a-night campsite bill by 43%. The trade-off is no hookups and more planning.
- Drive fewer miles. Fewer stops and longer stays reduce fuel directly, and at current prices the saving is larger.
- Check fuel prices ahead. Fill up before you cross into higher-priced regions such as the West Coast.
- Travel outside peak season. Many private parks charge less outside summer and holiday weekends. Ask about weekly and monthly rates too.
- Book popular parks early. When a cheap state or national park site is full, the fallback is often a pricier private park.
Sources and method
Fuel costs use EIA prices for the week of October 26, 2026. Pass prices come from the National Park Service, checked November 2, 2026. MPG, campsite, food and running-cost figures are our own planning ranges, informed by the sources below. They are estimates, not quotes or receipts from a tracked trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an RV trip cost per day for a couple?
Using our sample trips, a couple in a travel trailer who mostly cook and mix state parks with free nights spend about $87-$156 per day. A couple in a gas Class A at chain parks who eat out often spend about $196-$326. Both figures leave out the RV itself, activities and repairs.
How much does a one-week RV trip cost?
Our four sample trips range from about $232-$419 for a solo van camper to about $1,372-$2,279 for a couple in a gas Class A, before rental or ownership costs.
What is the biggest expense on an RV trip?
It depends on the trip. For a large rig covering long distances, fuel is often the largest cost. For a family that eats out, or a trip with little driving, food or campsites can be larger.
How much does an RV campsite cost per night?
Dispersed sites on public land are usually free, state parks commonly run about $20-$55, private RV parks about $40-$75, and resorts about $90 to $175 or more. These are planning ranges, and rates vary by region and season.
How much does fuel cost for an RV per 100 miles?
At the October 2026 national average of $4.27 for regular gas, a gas Class A getting 6-10 MPG costs about $43-$71 per 100 miles. A camper van getting 16-22 MPG costs about $19-$27.
Does the America the Beautiful pass cover camping?
The National Park Service says the pass covers entrance and standard day-use fees, and camping is not listed among them. Plan on paying campground fees separately. The pass costs $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for non-residents.
Safety and disclaimer. Costs here are planning estimates, not quotes. Fuel, campsite and park fees change often, so confirm current prices before you book or budget. How we research.
