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If you love your pets like most people, you likely want to bring them along on vacation. But many hotels don’t permit dogs. If they do, they charge ridiculous fees. Why not consider an RV rental for your next vacation?
It’s easier than ever to find RV rentals that allow pets, and you won’t have additional charges as long as you take care of the rig and clean up after your pet. Let’s learn more about how to make your next adventure one you share with your furry friends!
Pro Tip: It’s getting cooler out so make sure to read Too Cute: Winter Products for Pets so your pet can have the best this season!
Do Many People Rent RVs?
According to the 2023 North American Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report, 58 million households camped at least once in 2022. Approximately 78% of Americans traveled in an RV they own, while about 15% rented an RV. About 9% of RV owners list their RVs for rent on a peer-to-peer platform. So, although the percentages show that many more people own than rent RVs, this still translates to millions of people.
How Much Does An RV Rental Cost?
An RV rental will vary in cost as much as a campground, hotel room, or cruise. Location and type of RV greatly influence the nightly rate. You’ll find a small trailer for less than $100 per night, but you’ll also find a luxurious Class A motorhome for $250 per night. There are also additional fees like cleaning, mileage, generator use, and more.
Are There RV Rentals That Allow Pets?
Thankfully, you don’t have to leave your pet at home when renting an RV. It’s not too difficult to find an RV rental that allows pets. It may cost you a bit more, but you won’t have the expense of boarding your pup when you head out for a camping trip. Below are five companies that allow travelers to bring their furry friends.
Cruise America
Cruise America is one of the most popular rental companies. It provides options for various travel needs, from large motorhomes for families to compact rentals for solo travelers. Just recently, Cruise America also started renting travel trailers.
A dog or cat is a family member, so if you intend to bring them along, Cruise America is a pet-friendly rental company. You don’t have to pay any additional fees as long as you bring the RV back in its original condition. However, if you don’t clean up after your pet and return the RV in poor condition, you’ll pay up to a $250 cleaning fee.
Because RVShare is a peer-to-peer marketplace, you have a vast selection of RVs, from motorhomes to travel trailers to fifth wheels to truck campers. This is an advantage of renting from RVShare or Outdoorsy, another peer-to-peer platform. They’re like Airbnb for RVers.
However, individual owners set their own policies. You may find the perfect RV for your family vacation, but the owner doesn’t permit pets. But you can easily search for RV rentals that allow pets when you set your filters. Since owners write their pet policies in their descriptions, it’s easy to narrow your search to fit your needs.
Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy operates in the same way as RVShare. You must check the rules section of each listing to discover the pet policy. Owners using both RVShare and Outdoorsy may retain a deposit or charge a cleaning fee if their RVs aren’t returned in good condition. So, like Cruise America, you could be subject to additional charges if you don’t take proper care of your RV.
El Monte RV
El Monte RV is a nationwide RV rental company similar to Cruise America. However, it doesn’t have as many locations. You’ll find rentals in Washington, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. The fleet ranges from 22 to 33 feet long, and El Monte RV only rents Class A and Class C motorhomes.
Like Cruise America, El Monte RV has a lenient pet policy. There are no additional fees for bringing along your furry friends as long as you return the RV in its original condition. The company even offers pet-friendly vacation ideas on its website.
RVezy
RVezy is another peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. It’s not as popular as RVShare and Outdoorsy but operates similarly. When you search for an RV, include in the filter that you want pet-friendly options along with any other details like delivery, length, or type of RV.
More than half the RVs at RVezy offer pet-friendly accommodations, so you’ll have plenty of choices. Most hosts on RVezy request a refundable security deposit between $500 and $1,000, but you could lose this if you don’t return the RV in good condition.
What Are the Pros of Bringing Your Pet RVing?
We love traveling with our pups. Our pets won’t be around forever, and they’re part of the family. So we want to share our experiences and adventures with them. We enjoy the company and like knowing that our dogs are safe.
As long as your pet is healthy and can withstand the rigors of travel, we recommend bringing him along for a trial run on a short weekend camping trip. You’ll treasure the moments when he’s curled up by the campfire at your side or trekking along a hiking trail at your heels.
Boarding is also expensive. Since most RV rentals that allow pets don’t charge additional fees, we save money by bringing our dogs with us. We understand that some pets aren’t able to travel, thus boarding or pet sitting is necessary. But RVing with your pet saves hundreds of dollars on pet care.
What Are the Cons of Bringing Your Pet RVing?
However, even though RVing with pets brings joy to you and your furry friends, there are disadvantages. Campgrounds have pet policies. Typically, they always have to be leashed. Staying at a campground might be challenging if you have a dog that cannot walk with a leash.
Many campgrounds also limit the number of dogs to two, which can eliminate the option of traveling with pets for people with several pups. Some even charge fees for pets, so read the policy thoroughly before making your reservation.
Also, RVs heat up quickly if not plugged in. So, if you’re boondocking, the inside of your rig may get uncomfortable during the day. If you leave your pets inside and go exploring, temperatures could rise to dangerous levels.
Finally, if adventuring is how you like to spend your camping trip, you’ll be limited in your options if you RV with a pet. Many National Parks don’t permit pets on trails. Some wilderness areas are dangerous for pets. You’ll need to research to ensure it will be worth bringing along your furry friends on your next camping trip.
- Incase of Emergency Pet Sticker is a 4in x 5in UV Protected Window Sticker to Alert Fire Fighter
- Durable Adhesive to place as a door sticker, window sticker, house windows, RV Door window.
Consider These Companies When Searching For RV Rentals That Allow Pets
Despite the cons, we believe RVing with pets is totally worth it. It’s a bonding experience! For solo travelers, their pets are their connection and provide company. So, if you’re searching for RV rentals that allow pets, check out these options.
The peer-to-peer marketplace platforms may take more research and effort to locate the ideal RV that also permits pets, but RVShare, Outdoorsy, and RVezy have many more options for length, weight, and type of RV. On the other hand, renting through Cruise America or El Monte RV is easy and straightforward. All rentals allow pets. But you’re limited to their fleets.
Whatever you choose, we hope you and your pup enjoy a memory-making camping trip on your next adventure!
Last update on 2024-10-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
