RV Storage Cost

How Much Does It Cost to Store an RV?

Over the last couple of years, RV sales have seen a huge boost. There are several advantages of owning a personal RV. Campers often invest in these homes-on-wheels to enjoy a luxurious experience on their trips.

But owning an RV comes with its fair share of difficulties. One of the most prominent is finding an affordable place to store something of that size at home.

Many will find that their HOA prohibits parking an RV on their property. Moreover, it is difficult to find parking spots in cities and is even illegal in some places.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the expenses you will have to face when looking for a place to store your RV.

RV Storage: Average Cost

According to data from self-storage marketplace SpareFoot, the average cost to store an RV indoors is around $134.35 per month.

To make matters worse, it seems that RV storage rental rates are on the rise due to the increasing demand for RV storage.

The largest space you can get for RVs is 15’ x 50’. This is big enough to fit any Class A RV you can buy.

The average cost for renting such a space is $184.19 a month. In most cases, the rent will be proportional to the space you want to rent.

Factors Affecting RV Storage Cost

Storage prices for RVs vary depending on multiple factors. Let us take a closer look at these factors.

Location

RV storage costs vary from one place to another. Local competition is an important aspect that influences the rental rates. For example, the rate is higher in urban centers with less available storage space. RV storage rent prices tend to be higher in resort areas where RVers tend to visit often.

Here is a list of average rents for a 10’ x 40’ storage unit in different places in the US over the last 12 months. This should give you a decent idea of what rate to expect in your area.

• Atlanta, GA: $145.31
• Chicago, IL: $163.23
• Dallas, TX: $126.98
• Denver, CO: $191.88
• Houston, TX: $124.93
• Los Angeles, CA: $263.17
• New York, NY: $235.67
• Phoenix, AZ: $163.98
• San Francisco, CA: $194.44
• Washington D.C.: $187.85

Type of RV Storage

One of the biggest factors that affect your rental rate is the type of storage you choose. If you live somewhere with bad weather (harsh winters or frequent downpours), you will want indoor or covered storage.

Most facilities will offer outdoor storage, but indoor and covered storage might be less common.

• Outdoor Storage: This is the option you’re most likely to pick unless you need to protect your vehicle from the weather. It is way more affordable than other options. Outdoor parking lots can cost you from $30-$50 a month to more than $100. Some facilities offer gravel lots, while others have paved lots. If you are looking to save some money, gravel lots will be your best bet. While paved lots are better for your RV, they cost significantly more.
• Covered Storage: Some parking facilities will offer covered storage spaces for RVs. These are great for protecting your vehicle from the sun, snow, hail, or any other bad weather. Also, they are more affordable than indoor options.
• Shared Indoor Storage: Under ideal circumstances, we do not recommend going for indoor options. But they are worth it if you live in harsh climates. Shared indoor facilities store multiple RVs, boats, trailers, and campers under a single roof. They are very effective at protecting your device from snowfall and storms. Indoor parking lots can cost anywhere from $50 per month to over $450. While the rate can get quite expensive, they are cheaper than the repair costs you would otherwise have to pay due to weather damage.
• Private Indoor Storage: This is the most expensive option for storing your recreational vehicle. The cost increases even more if you decide to get a climate-controlled facility. This type of storage facility is only used for special cases. It is essentially a very big self-storage facility typically used for storing household goods.

Type of RV

RVs come in various sizes, and the size of your vehicle is directly related to its cost of storage. Bigger RVs will cost more than smaller ones. Again, parking lots have limited space. So you might not always find a place for larger RVs.

Here is a list of the different classes of RVs and the storage size they require. Different facilities will charge a different rate for each of these classes. So you must understand which category your vehicle falls under.

• Class A Motorhome (25 feet to 45 feet): Class A motorhomes are the largest tier of recreational vehicles. If you own one of these, you will need a fairly large parking spot to store your vehicle. Moreover, it will be difficult to find an indoor facility for such a large RV will be difficult. You will usually need to find a specialized RV storage facility. On average, you will have to spend at least $180 per month to store a Class A motorhome.
• Class B Motorhome (17 feet to 23 feet): Class B motorhomes are not as large as Class A motorhomes. So owners of such vehicles won’t have to worry too much about finding a parking spot. You will need to ensure at least a 17 feet long area, but this will depend on the dimension of your vehicle. The average cost for storing Class B motorhomes is around $185 every month.
• Class C Motorhome (20 feet to 35 feet): Class C motorhomes tend to be quite long. So you will need a decent amount of space for them as well. You should at least have a 30 feet long space to store them. If you need an indoor facility, you might require a specialized RV storing facility. The cost for Class C motorhomes is identical to that of Class A motorhomes.
• Pop-up Trailers (8 feet to 15 feet): Pop-up trailers are quite small compared to standard RVs. So the rent for these vehicles is also cheaper. Expect to pay around $90-$180$ per month for private parking. If you allow a parking neighbor, the average rate drops down to around $50-$100.
  
• Fifth-Wheel Trailer (22 feet to 40 feet): Fifth-wheel trailers can range anywhere from 22 feet to 40 feet in length. Most of them fall on the longer side. So the average monthly rate for these vehicles is around $185 and higher.
  
• Travel Trailers (10 feet to 40 feet): Travel trailers come in all sizes. So the price varies greatly depending on your vehicle. In general, you should expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $185 or more every month. Renting with a neighbor will significantly decrease the price. In that case, you can rent a space for as low as $50-$110+.

Most facilities lack indoor storage options. The only facilities that offer indoor parking are ones that were specially designed for indoor parking. RV height can reach up to 13.5 feet, and standard facilities can’t store them. So make sure you get all the necessary clearance if you need indoor parking facilities.

Amenities

If you can afford it, you might be able to find indoor storage for your RV with a range of facilities to keep it in good working order.

Some storage solutions include features like valet parking, battery charging, and sewage dumping, which may seem like a luxury to some.

If you’re on a budget or want to save all of your money for on-the-road luxuries, think about which amenities offer the most bang for your buck.

Advantages of Using RV Storage

While most people might think that getting self-storage for your RV might be necessary, it has many advantages that make it worth the cost. RV storages are affordable and come with various perks. Let us take a look at some of them.

Free driveway

RVs come in various sizes, and all of them take up a significant amount of space. The largest category of RVs, Class A motorhomes, can range from 25 feet to 40 feet in length. As a result, they would occupy an entire driveway if you decide to park them at your home. You can free up your driveway by storing your RV in a storage facility.

Protection and security 

It is very dangerous to keep your RV parked in front of the house. It can become a target of vandalism and theft. Moreover, unfavorable weather conditions can badly damage your RV.

RV repair costs are nothing to laugh at and will cost significantly more than the amount it takes to rent a storage space. Storage facilities usually have high fences, gates, and video surveillance.

During bad weather, you can get an indoor storage option. As a result, your RV will be safe from harm.

Convenient location

With so many storage facilities across the country, you’ll have no trouble finding one that’s handy for you.

You can choose a storage facility close to your home or close to the interstate, making hitting the open road easier than ever.

Final Words

So how much does it cost to store an RV? You’ve probably understood by now that the answer to that isn’t straightforward. Prices vary depending on many factors. If you are looking for solid numbers, you will be spending $60-$230 every month.

The cost of RV storage varies greatly based on the size of your trailer and the storage options you select. It is, nonetheless, a crucial aspect of having an RV. The storage expense could save you money if you can avoid paying higher charges due to weather-related damage, vandalism, or damage caused by flying debris.