Summer travel Car vs. RV
The time has come
You have retired and now want to see the country where you spent the last approx. 65 years. Or you want to show your kids the country they live in. Either way, you need to make an important decision.
Do you cross the country in an RV or do you use your car? There are pros and cons for both methods of touring and there will be lots of variables involved. To get an idea of which mode of travel is better just continue to read our article.
The information is based on one set of variables only and you would have to plug in your own numbers based on your situation and the level of hotels you will stay at throughout your trip.
Mode of travel
#1. Using your car- the positive aspect of using this form of transportation is that you can go anywhere you want when you want. Even in the cities you visit, you have relatively few restrictions on where you can drive.
#2. Using an RV- while you can still go many places driving an RV, there are restrictions on where you can park, where you can stay the night, and so on. Plus, navigation can be a bit difficult for the inexperienced RV driver.
Don’t forget, you can tow a car with an RV but the reverse is not possible.
Amount of space
In this category, the RV, no matter the size, will win out. When you are packing kids, a car just does not have the space everyone needs to be comfortable. along with that, it is hard to get all the suitcases and other gear into the trunk of a car. While an SUV provides more space it is still not as big as an RV.
When you travel in a camper, RV van, or a regular Class A to C rig, you and your family have lots of space to move about and get away from each other. Kids can stretch out, relax or even sleep comfortably when you are using an RV instead of your car.
That makes for fewer fights you have to settle.
Economy
No one doubts that using a car or SUV is cheaper on fuel than an RV. It doesn’t matter the size of the RV, the car will win this competition every time. Cars are designed to get high mileage and with the cost of gas these days every extra mile you get is a savings.
For example, if gas is $3 and your car gets 30 mpg, your fuel costs will be only $350 and you can cover approx. 3500 miles. An RV may only get one-third of that mileage and under great conditions, you are registering 10 miles per gallon.
At $3 a gallon for 3500 miles, you are looking at spending $1,050 for your trip. One-third translates of the mileage into 3 times as much the cost.
Eating meals
In this category, the RV experience will win out. The reason for that is that picnic lunches do not last a long time. Most families, when they go on a car holiday plan on eating in restaurants 3 times a day.
Depending on the size of your family, you could be spending anywhere from $60 to $125+ per day just on meals. Snacks are not factored in here. restaurants are not always cheap unless you eat at a greasy spoon for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
Then you may have to hurry to eat your meal as there is a crowd waiting or you are stuck in the line waiting for a table. Kids get cranky when they are hungry.
On the other side of the coin, when you travel with an RV you can prepare your own meals, eat cereal or toast for breakfast and have a nice lunch and supper all for less than $300 per week.
In addition to that savings, you do not have to wait in line to order and you can take your time enjoying the scenery around you. You can eat anywhere your RV can legally be parked.
Lodgings
Hotels, give you a sense of security, luxury, and lots of cable stations to view. Plus, they have a pool, or most of them do, where you can relax from a hard day of driving. But hotel rooms are not cheap.
There was a time when you could stay at a hotel for less than $30 per night but those days are gone unless you find a run-down location. Again, depending on your family size, expect to pay $60 or more for one room and possibly 2, if your family is that large. Suites are not cheap either.
With an RV you can save money by boondocking and pay no nightly fees. Or you stay a night or two at an RV site or campground. Those fees vary but they rarely compete with the cost of a hotel room. No extra rooms are needed.
Some final words
As you can see there are pros and cons for both modes of travel. Your cross-country excursion will boil down to your preferences. If you prefer traveling by car, there are always exceptions to the rule and you will find some good places to eat and sleep at minimal costs.
Traveling by RV has its perks but if you are not used to driving one, it can be a nightmare of a trip for you. Your road experience will play a role in the size of RV you use or if you use one at all.
Weigh the costs and the positive and negative aspects before deciding for yourself how you will see the country.
Post Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by me and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
