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With airport security hassles giving Americans more reasons not to fly, road trips are popular this summer. Some families are hitting the highways in their minivans, SUVs and station wagons, but a record number of Americans have decided to supersize their vehicle and are renting recreational vehicles instead. In fact, RV rentals are expected to be up more than 30% this year.
It's not too late to give it a try this summer if you don't wait too much longer. You can still find rentals and campground spaces, especially if you can be flexible on dates and aren't planning to rent at the site of, say, a big NASCAR event or over Labor Day. One reason for the availability is that Europeans, who typically account for a big chunk of the summer RV rental market in the US, aren't heading our way this summer in their usual numbers, says Bob Caldarone of Cruise America, the largest RV rental chain in the U.S.
Not a cheap vacation
Renting an RV during the peak summer season might save money over flying, renting a car, paying for hotels and eating in restaurants, but don't necessarily think of renting as a cheap vacation.
For example, at Cruise America the high-season rates for seven nights (including 1,000 miles) in a standard 23- to 25-foot "cabover" motor home (called a C-25), which sleeps five, ranges from $1,095 in Florida and the Gulf Coast to $1,305 in the Northeast, northern California, Reno, Nev., and Alaska.
Extra miles at Cruise America cost 29 cents each (but you can buy 500- mile increments for $130, reducing the cost a bit). Don't forget gasoline. It costs a lot to move a house. For example, the C-25 uses regular unleaded fuel and gets about 8 to 10 miles per gallon. And you'll pay for your campground site, as well. (See "Finding an RV Campground".)
If you can't bring your own supplies from home, a rental kit containing such items as cooking and cleaning equipment, silverware and plates costs $85 and a personal rental kit with bed linens and towels costs $35 per person. Running the generator (instead of using a campsite's electrical hookup) costs $3 per hour.
Cruise America also charges for a one-way dropoff-from as little as $50 (within Florida) to $750. Local rental companies generally require you to return your RV where you picked it up. Of course, if a national chain like Cruise America or El Monte must readjust its fleet by moving RVs from one area to another, you might get a really reduced per-night rate, or even a free one-way dropoff.
Specials are generally available only through the Web. Right now, Cruise America and El Monte are offering two-for one deals in Florida-get six nights for the three-night price, for instance.
Don't forget insurance
At Cruise America there is up to a $500 deductible for theft or damage to the vehicle, but each rental does include up to $1 million in supplemental liability insurance.
Check with your own auto and umbrella liability insurers to see if your coverage carries over to renting an RV. If your coverage doesn't, consider buying what you're missing from the rental company. For example, your auto liability coverage might carry over but not collision coverage. Some companies may require you to buy their insurance if you are driving into Mexico.
Where to rent one
More than 460 outlets rent RVs, from Cruise America and El Monte to many independent dealers and rental companies. Some companies will pick you up at hotels or airports if you fly in. Find rental outlets at the Recreation Vehicle Rental Association or RV America. Also, look in the phone book under "Recreation(al) vehicles: Renting and Leasing" or check with local RV dealers -- many of them also rent.
The RV experience
Typically motor homes have automatic transmissions and power steering and brakes and many accelerate just like a car. Learning how to drive one and hook up the electricity, water and sewer lines to the facilities at a campground takes about half an hour or so and every rental company should teach you before you drive away and give you written instructions and a phone number to call in emergencies. However, if you have any trouble, you'll find friendly neighbors at campgrounds more than willing to help. That's one of the hallmarks of the RV experience
My family has spent several vacations over the years in a home on wheels and it suited us just fine. I like the outdoors but I'm definitely not into roughing it, so taking along the comforts of home-A/C, kitchen, comfortable bed, and my own bathroom with a shower-appeals to me.
One key to enjoying your RV experience, says Caldarone, is to "bring a sense of humor with you." I'll vouch for that. Spacious though they are, an RV is just too confined a space not to get along -- or to be a slob. Trust me on this.