Traveling across the USA: motorhome vs. passenger car

At the time of publication of the article, it is impossible to obtain a tourist visa to the United States in Russia.

It is better to buy them only after obtaining a visa. Because it often takes a very long time to wait for your turn for an interview — up to six months or more.

The ticket price depends on:

• the city where you land. The cheapest tickets are to the cities of the East Coast, for example, to New York;
• the purchase method. That is, you buy on the airline's website or through aggregators, for example, AviaSales. The second option is cheaper;
• the season. As with hotels and trains, the bigger the load, the more expensive it is;
• purchase dates. The closer to departure, the more expensive it is;
• availability of transfers during the flight. Direct flight takes less time, but costs more;
• the tariff. There are usually three classes of tickets: economy — the cheapest, first and business.

In other words, a simple scenario that will help save several times is to buy tickets to the East Coast airport through an aggregator website, several months before the trip, with transfers, not at the height of the tourist season — for example, closer to winter or early spring.

In winter, it is better to go south. It’s warm in Florida, southern California, and states bordering Mexico or bordered by the Gulf of Mexico.

In spring and autumn— it is comfortable throughout the United States.

It can be very hot in Florida, the southern part of the country, and the deserts in summer.

Average temperatures don’t vary much across the country. The difference in degrees is no more than 10 points. In summer, it is usually from +22°C to +28°C, cooler in the north than in the south. In winter, from -2°C to +8°C.

It is worth considering the change in average temperatures depending on altitude if you go to mountainous areas. Check the temperature at night. For example, it can be up to +30° in the Grand Canyon. During the day, and at night it drops to +12 ° C.

Tourists usually fly to America for 2−3 weeks. If this is a camper trip, it takes 10−14 days.

You can stay in the United States on a tourist visa for up to 180 days a year. Depending on the deadline set at the border. You should not abuse American hospitality. If you stay in the country after the visa expires, the next one may not be issued.

We do not recommend starting the trip on the day of arrival due to the time difference. It may take you 2−3 days to get used to the new time zone. Rental companies take this very seriously — it is forbidden to rent a camper on the day of arrival from overseas. Tourists usually fly to Miami, Los Angeles and New York. The first days can be devoted to city tours.

A camper is practically a truck, and it’s harder to drive and slower than a passenger car. We recommend that you run no more than 150 km per day to make the trip a pleasure. That is, in 10−14 days of travel you will cover 1500−2000 km. You will spend approximately 2 hours a day on the road. If you are traveling without children, you can slightly increase the daily mileage.

Read more about how to operate a motorhome in this article.

People traveling in mobile homes usually spend the night in campsites, where they are connected to electricity, water and sewerage. It takes about 20 minutes to pull up the awnings, install camping kits and connect everything you need. In the morning, another 20 minutes to clean and turn off everything. It’s interesting at the beginning, but then it turns into a routine. Therefore, on a route longer than 7 days, we recommend making stops in the most interesting and beautiful places for 2−3 nights. The best option is to plan 5 overnight stays for every 7 days of travel. That is, you will stay in two places for 2 nights or in one place for 3 nights. This is especially true for national parks, which cannot be bypassed in 1 day.

It all depends on your plans, desires and airports of arrival and departure. In America, it’s very easy to wind thousands of kilometers. For example, the legendary Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles is 3,940 km long.

It costs extra money to return the camper in the wrong place where it was received. From $ 200 if you return near the rental point and up to $ 700 if you return in the other end of the country.

However, not all companies have a One-way Rental option. Basically, these are large distributors that have offices in several states.

You can find attractions and interesting places in almost any state. The two most popular routes are around Florida and California, with stops at the Grand Canyon. They are popular because of the comfortable climate, the location of attractions close to each other and the presence of major international airports.

We have routes all over the United States, including Alaska. And rental companies have offices in most states. We will send it for free upon request.

It is worth purchasing a local SIM card with Internet access. This will help you find the necessary information on the way, book hotels and campsites. Online booking is not available everywhere, so you will need to Google the number you need to make a call.

If you are going to remote areas or national parks, you should ask about the cellular coverage in these areas. Somewhere only one operator is available, and somewhere there is no connection at all.

Communication expenses should include $ 25- $ 70 per month.

It’s cheaper to buy if you’re planning a long trip.

On average, the cost of renting a motorhome is $ 150- $ 250 per day. For a month of travel, you can bargain up to 2500 $. If you do not want to return to the same place where you rented the house, then the one-way fee will be several hundred dollars more.

Learn more about how to rent a camper in the USA and Europe.

If you have your own mobile home, then with luck you will be able to sell it for the same money as you bought it. Or more expensive.

However, the process of searching, buying and selling at the end of the journey requires a lot of time and knowledge. Here we can help, even to the point that you arrive in the USA and you will be met at the airport already on your trailer.

The details are here.

If this is your first camping trip, it’s a good idea to try this type of vacation in your homeland.

We help you choose mobile homes in more than 50 countries around the world, please contact us.

You can rent a car through online services. For example, through rentalcars.com . When choosing a car, pay attention to the rental conditions: the amount of the insurance deposit, the mileage limit, whether there is an additional fee for returning the car in another city, and so on.

Specify the time at which you plan to pick up the car, with a margin. If you are late, the rental company can cancel the reservation without a refund.

In the USA, you can rent a car directly from the airport. Also, airports often have buses that take you to the stops of rental companies.

You can take the car with an already full tank or refuel yourself. It is better to return with a full tank, so as not to pay extra for the missing gallons.

It is possible to find a car or a buyer in the States in 1 day. You can search for and place ads from private companies, for example, on the website craigslist.org or contact your dealer.

What does the purchase look like:

1. The owner of the car signs the certificate of ownership, the Title, passes it to you, you give the money.
2. In some states, you receive a Smog Check from the owner, a document confirming that your car’s exhaust emissions do not exceed environmentally safe standards.
3. You go to the nearest traffic police department (DMV), where you reissue the Title in your name. You must have only the certificate itself with you, the rest of the information is in the database.
4. You pay the purchase tax. Each state has its own size.
5. You check that the tax payment sticker is not overdue. You’ll find it on the car’s license plate — it’s a sticker with the end date. You can pay online, and a new one will be sent to the address you specified in the traffic police.
6. Take out insurance. This can be done online or at the nearest insurance company office.

If you buy through a dealer, he will arrange all the necessary documents himself.

There are three main types of gasoline in America: Regular (or Unleaded), Supreme (or Mid-Grade) and Plus (or Premium). The cheapest is Regular, which is an analog of our AI-92.

If you rent a motorhome, it will most likely have a large gasoline engine. The average consumption can be around 30 liters per 100 km. Fuel prices vary depending on the state from $ 0.6 to $ 1 per liter. In total, it will cost you from $ 350 to $ 500 for 1,000 miles of travel.

It is important to have cash and change with you at gas stations. When paying with a card, terminals sometimes require a ZIP code for confirmation, which may not be suitable.

Current prices can be checked here: gasprices.aaa.com or in Google maps (prices are per 1 gallon).

Basic car insurance is included in the rental price. Often, for an additional $ 20- $ 50 per day, the basic package can be expanded. The security deposit (for campers it is 500 $-1500 $) is refunded either at the end of the trip, or 7−14 days after the return of the camper or car, if you have not been fined and nothing is broken.

How do American traffic regulations differ from Russian ones?:

• A different system of road signs. It is worth looking in advance at what signs are found on the roads and what they mean, so that it does not come as a surprise.
• At regulated intersections, you can turn right at a red light from the rightmost lane if there is no prohibition sign or special traffic light section.
• You can cross a double solid line, making sure that you don’t interfere with anyone.
• Two solid double walls are the same as a concrete fence. You can not cross in any case.
• When a school bus driver turns on the red lights, everyone riding behind and in the oncoming lane is required to stop. You can continue driving only after the bus closes the doors and starts moving.

Do not exceed the maximum speed limit by more than 5 miles per hour. The fine depends on how many miles you have exceeded, and can reach several thousand dollars.

Do not throw garbage out of the window and do not litter on the side of the road, there is also a heavy fine for this.

There are many toll roads in the USA, especially near major cities. If there are several of them on your way, then you can rent a transponder when renting a car — this is a device that will allow you to pay for your trip contactlessly.

If you only need to pay once or twice, it is better to prepare cash or pay by card online within a few days after traveling through the point.

This file contains the US toll roads, possible payment methods, and links to their websites.

1. Camping sites. You can book a place for a camper or a tent and a car in them. They cost about $ 60 per day, prices can range from $ 20 per parking space in a state park and up to $ 150 in popular tourist destinations, such as Key West or California beaches.

Where to find an overnight stay on a camper:

• Website and application ioverlander.com — camping, parking (paid/free), water, damp station and other services for car travelers.
• Website freecampsites.net — free and paid camping sites.
• Website and application parkadvisor.com — camping sites.
• Website and application rvparky.com — camping sites, parking lots.
• Search engine website uscampgrounds.info — information about campsites.
• Overnight stay at a private property boondockerswelcome.com (the subscription is paid).

2. Parking lots. You won’t be able to spend the night in parking lots. Even if there is no direct ban, there may be problems with the police or crime— both in large cities and in the provinces.

The exception is overnight parking at some casinos and at the Walmart Supercenter hypermarket chain (not to be confused with small Walmart supermarkets). You can usually spend a quiet night there. However, some cities prohibit night parking even at Walmart. If you want to clarify this point in advance, the Walmart Locator application will help you find information about parking lots at the stores of interest.

3. Rest areas. They are located along the trails. These are areas with eateries, free toilets, vending machines and parking. There are no hostels or hotels in such areas, and tourists sleep in cars. In some states, there is a limit on the number of hours that can be spent at such a stop.

4. Airbnb. This is an online marketplace for finding and renting out housing or part of it. For example, you can rent an apartment, a room, a sofa or a place for a tent for the night. Prices start from about $ 60 per day.

5. Hotels. Everything is the same as in other countries — choose an aggregator site with hotels, set the desired price and conditions of stay, look at reviews, check that bank cards are accepted there, not just checks and cash, and book in advance. You can use one of the most famous aggregators. Booking.com. Prices average from $ 60 per day.

At campgrounds. More often in paid ones. In some camps, this is a free service, but in others you need to pay extra.

In places where trucks rest or spend the night (Truck Stops). As with campsites, there are almost always showers on tractor-trailers. Mostly for money. But if there is a gas station in such a parking lot, and you fill up there, then you can show the receipt and take a shower for free.

In fitness clubs. If you go to study while traveling, then after classes you can use the shower at the club.

Plan ahead at least a couple of weeks before your trip. Think about each day in as much detail as possible. Google maps will help you calculate travel time and distances between stops.

When setting a route, we recommend avoiding big cities along the way. You can dilute the trip by visiting some interesting urban places. For example, stop by to play at a casino in Las Vegas, take a photo against the background of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or see the famous Madame Tussauds wax figures in Los Angeles. However, keep in mind that when traveling by camper, in this case he will be in the parking lot, and you will spend the night at the hotel. In many cities, campsites are located at a distance from the center, and you will have to look for transfer options to the city.

Some of the most famous and interesting places on the West Coast have been listed here.

Los Angeles. A city in southern California. It is there that the Hollywood district is located, world famous for the film studios Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros. Pictures. You can sign up for a tour from the studio and visit the sets of your favorite movies. Other popular attractions include the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier and Beach, Disneyland, an art museum with a famous installation in front of the entrance in the form of a cluster of streetlights, the Hollywood Hills with the famous inscription, Sunset Boulevard, a Harry Potter movie theme park and much more.

The Grand Canyon. It’s also the Grand Canyon, the most famous in the world for movies and animated series. It is located in Arizona, near Los Angeles. A unique natural attraction is the red rocks with bands of geological layers, which, like tree rings, show millions of years of Earth’s history. This is an unforgettable landscape that is worth seeing with your own eyes, and where you need to take a photo as a souvenir.

Las Vegas. A resort town in New Mexico. It is famous for its nightlife, a huge number of casinos and other entertainment venues. The length of the main city street Las Vegas Strip is 7 km. On it you can see smaller copies of the Egyptian pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and the Venetian Grand Canal. And in the afternoon you can visit the nature reserves, of which there are several in the vicinity of the city.

The Valley of Death. This is a famous national park near Las Vegas, which includes the intermountain depression, with the lowest point in North America. Officially the hottest place on Earth. A temperature of 56.7°C was recorded in the depression, a world record from 1913 that has not been beaten so far.

Sequoia National Park. It is located in California, the southern part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This is a large park where you can admire giant sequoias, set up camping, hike and try other outdoor activities.

Monterey. A cozy "one-story" city in California, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It will appeal to lovers of beaches, quiet walks and the underwater world. Among the attractions, it is worth visiting the city’s aquarium, considered one of the best in the world, a unique underwater canyon a few kilometers from the city, a yacht ride along the seashore and go on a whale safari — one of the best in California.

San Francisco. A city and county in California. It is best known for the Golden Gate Bridge. It is also worth visiting Alcatraz Prison on the island of the same name, where Al Capone was imprisoned, the huge Golden Gate Park with waterfalls, lakes, dunes and plains, take a ride on a cable tram, stroll along the Fisherman’s Wharf, admire the famous Decorated ladies — a group of Victorian-style houses… The list of interesting places is long, and everyone will find something to their liking in this city.

A few more interesting destinations are listed in our California itinerary starting in San Francisco.

It was calculated based on our personal experience of traveling in a motorhome. The route is 1,000 miles long, approximately 1,600 km.

1. Camping sites. An average of $ 60 per day.
2. Food. Let’s take $ 40 per day per person.
3. National parks and entertainment. 200 $ per person.
4. Rent a camper. This is the main cost item, which depends on the season and model.
$ 150-$ 250 per day — standard campers.
$ 250-$ 400 per day — luxury campers or house buses.

It is useful to know what makes up the rental amount of a motorhome.:

• Rental time. The minimum period is 5−7 days.
• Mileage. In America, usually 100 miles per day are included in the price, each mile over will be for an additional fee. The average is 0.35 $-0.45 $ per mile. Mileage may not be included in the price. It can be purchased as a package, or you can pay based on the cost per 1 mile. There are unlimited mileage options for $ 850- $ 1,200.
• Insurance. The basic one is included in the price, it can be expanded for an additional fee.
• The security deposit is 500 $-1500 $.
• The generator. Provides the camper with electricity on the road or in a parking lot where there is no electricity connection. It is powered by the same fuel as the engine. It is usually used to turn on the air conditioner when it is very hot. 3 hours of generator operation per day are included in the price as standard, each hour is paid on top.
• Kitchen utensils and bed linen. This is often a paid additional option. For an additional fee, you can also rent a camping chair/table, rent bicycles, deliver a camper to your home, and much more.
• Refund fee at another location.
• Animals. Some companies prohibit taking pets with you. However, in most cases, you will simply be charged an additional fee for cleaning and dry cleaning.⠀It may seem like a lot of things, but don’t worry. The prices that we indicated at the beginning already include all these costs. Before making a reservation, we will definitely show you all the components of the final price.

Total: a 10-day trip in a motorhome across the United States costs $ 2,500-$ 3,500 for a family or a group of friends.