Which is Cheaper, Vacation by Hotel or Vacation by RV?

It's summer time and everyone is going on vacation. Nothing is more American then a good old fashioned road trip. Heading out into the open highway, driving for days to some far off tourist destination, experiencing new and wonderful parts of this big country.

Like Disney World, at some point every family should make the pilgrimage across the great plains, through the Badlands, and into the Black Hills. Visiting Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and all the scenic and historic towns that dot the region. Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickock drew the fateful aces & eights hand now referred to as "The Dead Man's Hand".

Planning for this adventure may have you wondering which is cheaper, taking the RV, or leaving it parked alongside the garage and opting for the economy car that gets +30 mpg.

Let's face it, gas has gotten pretty darn expensive. Just thinking about driving across the country for 1,500 miles in a big boxy vehicle, that's lucky to get 9 mpg with a good stiff tailwind, causes severe pain in your hip pocket. How could taking a vacation in your RV possibly be done cheaper than using an economy car and staying at hotels?

Lets look at what would appear the easy low dollar winner in this scenario. Two people making this trip over a period of 7 days, driving a car that gets 25 mpg, staying at modestly priced hotels and eating two meals a day at restaurants.

Fuel: $168 Calculated at 25 mpg, 1,500 miles, $2.80 per gallon of gas.

Food: $105 7 days lunch averaging $15 per meal. McDonalds at around $12 and Perkins closer to $20.
Food: $175 7 days supper averaging $25 per meal.

Hotel: $710

One night rates for Rapid City S.D. supplied by Orbitz

Econo Lodge $82
Holiday Inn $143
Best Western $95
Comfort Inn $132
Days Inn $137
Radison $137
Fairfield Inn $272

Average one night stay in Rapid City S.D. will be about $142. Naturally hotels on the way may be somewhat cheaper so for the sake of argument we will count 5 nights at the Rapid City rate as probably equal to 7 nights overall.

Excluding admission charges to various tourist sites, and incidental expenditures both in the Black Hills and during the trip, this vacation will cost you approximately $1158.

Now how does that same trip in an RV measure up?

Fuel: $467 Calculated at 9 mpg, 1,500 miles, $2.80 per gallon of gas. Yes, this is a sizable jump in fuel cost over the small car.

Food: $75 Most of the food for the journey will be purchased ahead of time at your local super market. Not only will it be cheaper but you have the ability to adjust for any dietary demands such as low fat/low sugar needs of those who are diabetic.
Food: $100 Even though you have the ability to prepare all your meals onboard, this is a vacation. Some of your meals will be eaten at restaurants.

Hotel: $75 While there is no actual hotel charges, likely your nights parking will be split between free camping locations like Walmart, Kmart, and Cabella's and occasionally staying at a campground to benefit from their showers, electricity, and Wifi. The average rate is close to $25 a night so this accounts for 3 out of 7 days lodging.

Again excluding attractions and incidentals making this same trip in your RV will cost you approximately $717.

Beyond a savings of $441 by taking your RV you have a number of other benefits.

1. You can stop and spend the night whenever and wherever you want. No reservations, no deadline, when it's time to stop and take a nap your covered.

2. You're sleeping in your own bed every night.

3. When you need a shower, or need to use the toilet, they're right there for you.

South Dakota is one state that is geared for RVers. Every wayside rest on major interstates is equipped with a dump station and a separate drinking water station. Not only can you get rid of your waste for free, you can refill your water tanks too.

During our recent expedition through the state not once were we turned away when asking if it was OK to spend the night in a store's parking lot. Some were nicer than others, but all welcomed us with a smile and we slept undisturbed.

Don't leave your RV parked because the price of gas scares you off. It's still cheaper to travel by RV instead of taking the car and getting a room.