Not too many years ago, one of the biggest selling points of RV travel was affordability. Sure, there were fuel costs and campground fees, but many RVers felt they could travel comfortably without breaking the bank. These days, however, it seems like nearly everything associated with RVing costs more than it used to. And it is certainly not the cheapest way to travel anymore!
This week’s newsletter included two stories that got us thinking. One reader was stunned to receive a $402.85 bill after using Virginia’s Express Lanes during rush hour. Meanwhile, Nanci Dixon shared her surprise at being quoted $70 for a single night at a familiar RV campground—a site she described as cramped, dusty, and far from luxurious.
Of course, tolls and campground fees aren’t the only expenses causing sticker shock. Fuel prices continue to fluctuate. RV repairs can quickly climb into the thousands. Insurance premiums have risen for many owners. Even routine maintenance items like tires, batteries, and roof repairs seem to cost more every year.
Yet, despite the rising costs, most RVers keep rolling down the road. For many, the freedom, flexibility, and memories created while traveling are still worth the expense.
The question is: Which cost makes you shake your head the most when you see the bill?
So, we’re curious. In today’s RV world, what causes the biggest sticker shock for you? Is it campground fees? Fuel prices? Tolls? RV repairs? Or perhaps something else entirely?
Vote in our poll below. And if your answer isn’t listed, leave a comment and tell us what’s hitting your wallet the hardest these days. Thank you!
MORE RECENT POLLS:
- Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking or camping?
- Do you wear your regular, outside shoes inside your RV?
- Have you measured to learn the exact height of your RV?
- Have you ever had mice, rats, or other critters get into your RV?
- Would you ever stay at a campground specifically because it has a bar or brewery?
- How important to you are online ratings of an RV park when making a reservation?
RVT1265
Registration and Insurance are the big fee and the Campground prices are climbing every year. The same site in the same State Park is now over $100 more for the same 15 day stay over last year. I will have to only fill the tank on the Motor Home in October so 50-60 gallons of diesel will cost more, but I can thank our xxxxx-in-Chief for protecting us from Iran so can’t complain.
See above, Ed, how much were fuel prices a couple of years ago, with no war! I remember vividly paying $7.36 a gallon for diesel in Stockton, CA then.
Yep, watching one of our camping videos from late 2022 I had commented that I had just paid slightly under $5 a gallon ON THE OPEN ROADS CARD for diesel, which means the pump price was well over $5/gal in the midwest.
After 9/11 it’s hard to believe people still underestimate what radical terrorists can do to the U.S. and cry about temporary fuel prices as we take action to thwart it.
The price of diesel then was because of the xxxxx-in-Chief in office than. I think our politicians play with screwing us Americans when they want. This Friday June 12th, 2026 I paid $3.939 a gallon in Allentown, Pa. Never seen gas drop so fast. Some other gas stations prices have dropped and some are still high.
Just this past week, $5.10 in Spokane, Wa., 35+ miles east in Idaho, $4.26 per gallon for regular gas
Today, in SC, $3.439 for regular gas. Georgia is about 10 cents higher.
Everything. RV prices. RV park fees. Fuel. Eating out. Groceries. Please don’t lie and say inflation is 4% when everything here has gone up 20 to 40%.
I think many people vastly underestimate their maintenance (and repair) costs. Yes, operational expenses have gone up considerably – fuel, campgrounds, storage, insurance. But few expect the cost (and time if DIY – and if you are smart you learn enough to DIY routine maintenance) to maintain and/or repair a RV that is only a few years old.
Although the prices of campgrounds/RV parks are increasing, so are the prices of hotel rooms. It is still cheaper for us to RV than to stay in a hotel – plus we get to keep our fur babies with us.
For us RV repairs and maintenance are the price shockers.
I voted for fuel although that’s tied with the incredible cost of RV parks in our estimation. However, fortunately, we’ve outfitted our rig to be able to camp off the grid pretty effectively so we have more flexibility. But, of course, this solar and lithium system wasn’t cheap either.
But, still, our truck can pass anything but a gas station.
If you know how to budget properly then none of these things should be a shock.
I think the point is even with a budget, it can be shocking how quickly certain prices have increased. Beef prices have been fluctuating wildly so a trip to the butcher can certainly be an experience. Remember when egg prices seemingly shot up overnight and your breakfast could easily cost more than your supper? I think that’s the context of the poll but I agree, if you keep your ear to the ground, nothing should really come as a surprise.
Assuming you have funds to “Budget”!
Insurance and plates in some states.
Seeing I just got hit for $25K in repairs for our DP while on the road in Raleigh, NY, Velocity Freightliner, my vote was for RV repairs. Campground prices can be shopped, and today’s fuel cost can change by the day and the political climate. Remember, just a few years back, they were .$50-.$75 a gallon higher than today, with no war going on.
Yep, How quickly people forget.
Travel health insurance.
Used RVs, especially 5+, even 10+ still priced at near new MSRP.
Insurance is our budget enemy !
For me, labor rates at many shops are over $200/ hr. That seems very high !!
We can manage fuel cost, campgrounds, tires and the other mileage related costs and fixed costs like registration and insurance by planning for them to fit our budget. Repairs though are unpredictable and unavoidable. With labor rates now running from a low of $150 an hour to a high of nearly $300 an hour, any repair can run into the thousands. This is exacerbated by the new technology where a simple repair like a bad switch that used to cost $2.99 now requires replacement of an $800 computer controller and several hours of diagnostic time, and little chance you can do it yourself.
Did you read that Ford and GM are trying to get the law changed so we cannot repair our own vehicles. Fords CEO even met with our xxxxx in chief and he was surprised. My Ford dealer don’t seem like he has the expertise to fix issue with my truck.
The cost RV dealers and automotive dealers hourly rate to repair RV’s and vehicles. Than the poor working persons salary is so small.
RV’s are no different than a home.
There is a Cost of Ownership.
Buying your home or your RV may very well be the easiest part even with inflated prices and loan costs.
The real question is Can You Afford To Own It?
Many folks particularly the retired are being forced out of their homes due to the Cost Of Ownership. Payments, Insurance, Property Taxes, Utilities, Maintenance and more mean you can no longer afford to live in the house you thought you owned!
The same can be said for RV’s. Given the limited use of most RV’s probably more so!
RV storage, maintenance, payments, limited use, campground rentals and more may well put the RV Industry in Recession!
Groceries in a small town. Shocking.
We are from central Montana. We pay around $5.99-$6.99 a lb for burger depending on the store. Imagine my surprise when we went to a Safeway in Wa. state & they charge $10.99 for the 80/20 stuff & $12.99 for the lean. Crazy! Are there no cows in Washington? Pretty sure the beef in Mt isn’t necessarily Mt beef either.
It’s after you get over the initial shock of the purchase price of a new RV, then comes the shock of having to pay the sales tax which can be as high as 9%.
Oil prices dropped to $80 tonight on the news of winning the Iran conflict. Slight above last February before this started. So gas and diesel prices will drop. Drill baby, drill. On groceries, buy pork or poultry if you object to beef prices. (We’ll still eat beef). Eggs are now really cheap. Restaurant dining is pricey. The RV kitchen and fridge is a budget winner.
Control the costs you can control. Change your own oil. You-tube teaches you that and more. And be thankful for trained mechanics when you need them. Mechanics are in short supply due to our education system’s failings.
BTW – O’Reilly Auto Parts will hook a scanner to troubleshoot why that Check Engine light is on, for free.
Learn to check your oil, check other fluids before starting your trip. Obvious, check your tire pressure, including your spare tire. Have needed tools, fuses, voltage meter, electrical tape, duct tape, superglue, bungee cords on board.
Remember that C-Stores make huge profits on in-store items, not much on gas or diesel. Make your own coffee, better than C-store coffee. Buy food ahead on sales, freeze it for future trips. Have a positive, can-do attitude.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel. I voted for “RV repairs.” I don’t usually pay much attention to fuel prices. DW checks the Open Roads application and we plot a fuel stop based on current fuel level, ideal distance to next fuel stop, and prices of truck stops around that ideal stopping point. Have a great week and safe travels!
Might be a smaller expense in the grand scheme of things but it cost me $36 to do 4 loads of laundry in Wa. state yesterday. Top it off with having to bring almost everything back to the RV & hang things all over to dry. Made for a bad day all around. I won’t mention the flooded floor, my soggy wet shoes or the dirty tables. Yuck! Should have looked for a creek & a couple rocks.
We do our own laundry in our small B van. Wash and rinse in the sink, then use an electric spinner. These are very common in Asia where they don’t have dryers. Ours spins for 5 min at 3500 rpm, much faster than a regular washer, and the clothes are almost dry. Hang up on hangers or a clothes line under the awning overnight and everything is dry. No hunting down laundromats or fighting the crowds at the tiny ones at a campground. And much better than a creek and rocks!
We’re shocked by how long it takes to get our RV back once we bring it in for repairs. Parts they need can take a month to get and then another month just to put on.
We thought buying a brand new RV would be trouble free. We’ve had nothing but trouble. How naive could we be?