sam22
Alberta
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Yea this isn't very accurate. You're over estimating the cost of motels and under estimating the cost of RV parks and don't factor in other expenses such as maintenance, storage, extra vehicle to tow, etc.. the best point you make is it's just much nicer to stay in your own home than some dump motel.
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DrewE
Vermont
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My personal experience has been that, in general, if I'm staying for several days someplace before moving on, gas for my motorhome + grocery shopping + a campground is less expensive than gas for my car + restaurant meals + a motel; however, for a stay of only a night or two or three, the car and motel is usually less expensive. That's for relatively inexpensive motels and campgrounds and restaurants, nothing high-end.
They're different ways to travel, though, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some places just don't have motels where I want to be (and others lack campgrounds). Sometimes having one's own home away from home with you, kind of like a snail, is a great advantage. Sometimes the less demanding and slightly quicker driving of taking a car is preferable to taking the motorhome. What I do depends on what makes sense for the trip.
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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DrewE wrote:My personal experience has been that, in general, if I'm staying for several days someplace before moving on, gas for my motorhome + grocery shopping + a campground is less expensive than gas for my car + restaurant meals + a motel; however, for a stay of only a night or two or three, the car and motel is usually less expensive. That's for relatively inexpensive motels and campgrounds and restaurants, nothing high-end.
They're different ways to travel, though, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some places just don't have motels where I want to be (and others lack campgrounds). Sometimes having one's own home away from home with you, kind of like a snail, is a great advantage. Sometimes the less demanding and slightly quicker driving of taking a car is preferable to taking the motorhome. What I do depends on what makes sense for the trip.
Don't forget to factor in insurance on the RV, tires every 5 to 7 years, maintenance, repairs, and the list goes on.
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Bobbo wrote:DrewE wrote:My personal experience has been that, in general, if I'm staying for several days someplace before moving on, gas for my motorhome + grocery shopping + a campground is less expensive than gas for my car + restaurant meals + a motel; however, for a stay of only a night or two or three, the car and motel is usually less expensive. That's for relatively inexpensive motels and campgrounds and restaurants, nothing high-end.
They're different ways to travel, though, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some places just don't have motels where I want to be (and others lack campgrounds). Sometimes having one's own home away from home with you, kind of like a snail, is a great advantage. Sometimes the less demanding and slightly quicker driving of taking a car is preferable to taking the motorhome. What I do depends on what makes sense for the trip.
Don't forget to factor in insurance on the RV, tires every 5 to 7 years, maintenance, repairs, and the list goes on.
Cost of ownership shouldn't really factor in. Sure it's a cost but it's apples and oranges. If you are going to factor the cost of a hotel to the cost of ownership for an RV, you might as well throw in the cost of your house and car too.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
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DrewE
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Bobbo wrote:DrewE wrote:My personal experience has been that, in general, if I'm staying for several days someplace before moving on, gas for my motorhome + grocery shopping + a campground is less expensive than gas for my car + restaurant meals + a motel; however, for a stay of only a night or two or three, the car and motel is usually less expensive. That's for relatively inexpensive motels and campgrounds and restaurants, nothing high-end.
They're different ways to travel, though, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some places just don't have motels where I want to be (and others lack campgrounds). Sometimes having one's own home away from home with you, kind of like a snail, is a great advantage. Sometimes the less demanding and slightly quicker driving of taking a car is preferable to taking the motorhome. What I do depends on what makes sense for the trip.
Don't forget to factor in insurance on the RV, tires every 5 to 7 years, maintenance, repairs, and the list goes on.
For total cost of all the trips, sure. There are of course costs to owning an RV beyond gas and campground fees...just as there are costs to owning a car beyond gas and motels and restaurants.
For any one given trip, however, the additional costs above the more or less fixed costs of RV or car ownership and maintenance are pretty limited. The additional insurance cost on the RV (or car) is nothing. The additional maintenance required is generally minimal. The additional tire cost for the RV is likewise nothing, since they generally need replacement due to age rather than mileage, while for the car there is a bit of additional expense there due to the mileage.
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frankwp
Calgary, AB, Canada
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I haven't read the entire thread, so forgive me for repeating another post. For all the costs involved in RVing, I have no doubt that we could all stay in hotels & save money. But I also have not doubt about where my wife, kids, grand kids and I would rather stay.
Our 4 grand kids, the eldest is 18, have camped with us every summer since they were babies. They talk about camping all year & start the count down to August about the first day of spring. Even a day at the campground with no planned activities is a great day for all of us, and certainly better than a day at a hotel with no planned activities.
2010 Cruiser CF30QB
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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way2roll wrote:Bobbo wrote:DrewE wrote:My personal experience has been that, in general, if I'm staying for several days someplace before moving on, gas for my motorhome + grocery shopping + a campground is less expensive than gas for my car + restaurant meals + a motel; however, for a stay of only a night or two or three, the car and motel is usually less expensive. That's for relatively inexpensive motels and campgrounds and restaurants, nothing high-end.
They're different ways to travel, though, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some places just don't have motels where I want to be (and others lack campgrounds). Sometimes having one's own home away from home with you, kind of like a snail, is a great advantage. Sometimes the less demanding and slightly quicker driving of taking a car is preferable to taking the motorhome. What I do depends on what makes sense for the trip.
Don't forget to factor in insurance on the RV, tires every 5 to 7 years, maintenance, repairs, and the list goes on.
Cost of ownership shouldn't really factor in. Sure it's a cost but it's apples and oranges. If you are going to factor the cost of a hotel to the cost of ownership for an RV, you might as well throw in the cost of your house and car too.
I disagree. You are going to own your house and car anyway so their costs don't factor in. Now, if you are not going to own a house or car if you own the RV, then you are correct. You won't own the RV anyway, so its costs should be included.
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time2roll
Southern California
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Stop adding up the cost and just go have some fun already.
Otherwise focus this energy of debate on earning more money and the issue of cost falls away.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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Be willing to bet, if you cost RV and camping and cook meals, and include maintenance vs Hotels, out meals and costs, the numbers might not be much different.
The choice might only involve comfort, your own bed, your own meals - AND the freedom to go where you want vs. motels and the fixed location and convenience of services. So some chose one, some chose the other, and it has nothing to do with overall comparative costs for either.
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
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down home
south
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$150.00 per night average? One month trip to Alaska. $4,500.00 just for the lodging. From what our friend reported, I think it might have been Steamboat Springs, Colorado on his elk hunt, it was a lot higher.Of course in Elk season a lot of hunters and they have to dance to their tune. Eating out in Alaska or in and n parts of Montana, where a town might have one restaurant or hamburger stand it cost us a lot about 2001.Three meals a day x $30.00 x 30 days $2,700.00 for two. I don't know what the actual costs are but here, 5 Guys now is over $15.00 for a burger, fries and drink! I quit the McDonalds fat soaked sponges but they were around $11.00 for equal. $30.00 now for two with drinks at Cracker Barrel for supper. This is the most common or only chain restaurant. Mom and Pops? In Az they were higher than Cracker Barrel about $45.00 for 2 in Williams.
A Steak house $50.00 minimum unless it is the Outback and two really halfway decent steaks are over $55.00 for two. Ruth Crisp $125.00 a head and more.
So eating in your own Motorhome means better food safer food and cost less.
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