"Is motorhome travel expensive or cheap?" is one of the most repeated questions, and the honest answer is: it depends a great deal on how you travel. It can be very economical or it can spiral. So you can do your own sums, here we break down the real costs of a camper trip, no sugarcoating. (No specific figures, since these vary with the market and your style.)
The big expense: fuel
On long trips, fuel is usually the biggest expense. A motorhome is heavier and uses more than a car, so the kilometres add up. How to cut it: travel more slowly (smooth driving cuts consumption a lot) and cover fewer kilometres, staying longer in each area instead of rushing from place to place.
Where to sleep: from free to expensive
- Free overnight parking and free aires: zero or very low cost.
- Paid aires: inexpensive, with basic facilities.
- Campsites: the most expensive, with every comfort.
Here's one of the biggest levers for saving money: the more runtime you have (energy and water), the more nights you can spend at cheap or free aires without needing the campsite hook-up. A good electrical installation pays for itself in campsite nights saved (use the calculator).
Food
As expensive or cheap as at home, depending on how you go about it: cooking in the camper with market produce is very economical (see camper cooking); eating out every day sends the cost soaring. A camper lets you eat well for little if you cook.
Other trip expenses
- Tolls and vignettes (above all abroad).
- Gas for cooking, water and heating.
- Activities and leisure (whatever you decide).
- Contingencies: always keep a margin.
And don't forget the fixed costs
Beyond the trip itself, owning the camper costs money every year (insurance, taxes, roadworthiness test, maintenance, storage). To know the real cost, spread those in too (see taxes and fixed costs).
In short
Camper travel can be very cheap or very expensive depending on your style: fuel and campsites are the biggest levers, and cooking and having runtime cut costs a great deal. The step you can take today: draw up a realistic daily budget with your expenses (fuel, where you'll sleep, food), and you'll see that travelling slowly, cooking and making the most of aires, the camper works out very good value. Combine it with overnight parking areas.