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CampingCalc

RV Trip Cost Calculator: What will the trip cost?

Two weeks in the RV to the national parks: 1,250 miles of fuel, tolls, 14 nights at campgrounds and food for two – in the end it quickly adds up to $1,500 to $3,000. This calculator adds up all items and shows what the trip costs in total, per day and per person.

Fuel costs are calculated from distance, fuel economy and price per gallon; everything else you enter as lump sums. Example values are marked and should be adjusted to your destination.

Units
Driving

Camper vans about 14–18 mpg, Class C 8–10 mpg, Class A 6–8 mpg (rules of thumb).

Example value (EIA 2025 average) – please adjust to the current price along your route.

Stay

Don't count free nights (boondocking, with friends).

Example value. State parks often $25–40, private RV parks in high season $45–70 for two people.

Example value: self-catering $15–25, with restaurant visits $40–60.

Other costs

Only for a rented vehicle.

Result

Total trip cost

$1,566.45

15 days, 2 persons

Cost per trip day
$104.43
Cost per person
$783.22
Per person and day
$52.21
Fuel needed
52 gal
$15.00 per 100 mi
Fuel (12%)
$186.45
Campgrounds (40%)
$630.00
Food (48%)
$750.00
Show calculation
  1. 1Fuel: 1,243 mi ÷ 24 mpg = 52 gal × $0.95 = $186.45
  2. 2Campgrounds: 14 nights × $45.00 = $630.00
  3. 3Food: 15 days × 2 pers. × $25.00 = $750.00
  4. 4Total: $1,566.45
  5. 5Per trip day: $1,566.45 ÷ 15 = $104.43
  6. 6Per person: $1,566.45 ÷ 2 = $783.22

 

How it's calculated

Trip costs consist of driving-related costs (fuel, tolls), stay-related costs (campgrounds, food) and lump sums (excursions, rental, other).

Fuel cost = distance [mi] ÷ fuel economy [mpg] × price [$/gal]
Example: 1,250 mi ÷ 10 mpg × $3.60 = $450
Total = fuel + tolls/ferries + nights × price per night + trip days × persons × food + excursions + rental + other
Cost per day = total ÷ trip days Cost per person = total ÷ persons

The shares of the individual items in the total show where saving pays off most: on long drives fuel dominates, on long stays the campground.

Worked example

Two people, 15 trip days, 1,250 mi (2,000 km) total distance at 10 mpg and $3.60/gal, $100 in tolls, 14 nights at $45, $25 food per person and day, $150 for excursions and $50 other.

Inputs

  • Trip days: 15 days
  • Persons: 2 pers.
  • Total distance (out and back, at the destination): 1,250 mi
  • Fuel economy: 10 mpg
  • Fuel price: 3.6 $/gal
  • Tolls, ferries: 100 $
  • Nights at campgrounds/RV parks: 14 nights
  • Average price per night (incl. persons, electricity, taxes): 45 $
  • Food per person and day: 25 $
  • Excursions, admissions, leisure: 150 $
  • RV rental (total, incl. insurance): 0 $
  • Other (propane, dump fees, laundry, reserve): 50 $

Result

$2,129.97

Total trip cost

Cost per trip day
$142.00
Cost per person
$1,064.98
Per person and day
$71.00
Fuel needed
125 gal
Fuel (21%)
$449.97
Campgrounds (30%)
$630.00
Food (35%)
$750.00
Tolls, ferries (5%)
$100.00
Activities (7%)
$150.00
Other (2%)
$50.00

Calculation

  1. Fuel: 1,250 mi ÷ 10 mpg = 125 gal × $0.95 = $449.97
  2. Campgrounds: 14 nights × $45.00 = $630.00
  3. Food: 15 days × 2 pers. × $25.00 = $750.00
  4. Tolls, activities, rental, other: $300.00
  5. Total: $2,129.97
  6. Per trip day: $2,129.97 ÷ 15 = $142.00
  7. Per person: $2,129.97 ÷ 2 = $1,064.98

The variables explained

Total distance
Out and back plus driving at the destination. Plan the route and add 10–20% for detours.
Fuel economy (mpg)
Real fuel economy of the vehicle; for motorhomes strongly dependent on speed, load and headwind.
Fuel price ($/gal)
Current price along the route; prices vary considerably by state.
Tolls, ferries ($)
Lump sum for the whole trip; toll roads and bridges in the Northeast, Florida and California add up, and RVs often pay by axle count.
Price per night ($)
Average incl. persons, electricity, taxes and dog – state parks and BLM land are usually much cheaper than private campgrounds.
Food per person and day ($)
Groceries and restaurant visits; self-caterers are considerably lower.

Common mistakes

  • Using only the map distance: driving at the destination, detours and excursions often make up 20% of the mileage.
  • Assuming car fuel economy: a Class C motorhome gets 8–10 mpg, a Class A 6–8 mpg, and much less at 75 mph than at 60.
  • Forgetting tolls: toll roads, bridges and tunnels are common in the Northeast, Florida, Texas and California; RVs are often charged by axle.
  • Overlooking campground extras: electricity, resort fees, taxes, dog and reservation fees often come on top of the base rate.
  • Not planning a reserve: add 5–10% for repairs, propane and the unexpected.

Assumptions and limits

  • All prices are example or input values; the calculator contains no current fuel, toll or campground prices.
  • Fixed costs of your own vehicle (insurance, registration, depreciation, maintenance) are not included – they accrue regardless of the trip.
  • Fuel economy is assumed constant.

Frequently asked questions

What does an RV vacation cost per day?

For two people with their own vehicle, the pure trip costs (without vehicle fixed costs) are mostly between $80 and $200 per day depending on destination and campground choice. With a rental RV, $150–300 per day in rental often comes on top in high season.

How can I lower the trip costs?

The biggest levers are driving speed (60 instead of 70 mph saves 15–25% fuel), public campgrounds and boondocking instead of resorts, off-season, self-catering and shorter drives with longer stays.