Typical RV fuel economy
Fuel economy varies a lot with weight, engine, speed and terrain. Use these as a starting point and replace them with your own numbers once you’ve tracked a few fill-ups.
| Vehicle | Typical MPG | Fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome (gas) | 7 | Gas |
| Class A motorhome (diesel) | 9 | Diesel |
| Class C motorhome | 10 | Gas |
| Class B camper van | 16 | Gas |
| Pickup truck (gas) | 18 | Gas |
| Pickup truck (diesel) | 21 | Diesel |
| SUV | 21 | Gas |
How much towing cuts fuel economy
A trailer adds weight and, more importantly, a tall flat face that catches the wind. The calculator uses these rough reductions. A tall, boxy travel trailer at highway speed can be worse; a low, light utility trailer is usually better.
| Towing | MPG reduction |
|---|---|
| A small car behind a motorhome | about 5% |
| Light trailer, under 3,500 lb | about 15% |
| Mid-size trailer, 3,500 to 7,000 lb | about 25% |
| Large trailer or fifth wheel, over 7,000 lb | about 35% |
For example, a pickup that gets 18 MPG on its own drops to about 13.5 MPG pulling a mid-size travel trailer. Over a 1,000-mile trip at $4.284 a gallon, that’s roughly $79 more in fuel.
Find your real MPG
Fill the tank, reset the trip meter and drive as you normally would. At the next fill-up, divide the miles on the trip meter by the gallons it took to fill the tank again. Do this over a few tanks, with and without the trailer, and you’ll have numbers far more accurate than any average.
Ways to spend less on fuel on an RV trip
- Slow down. Wind resistance on a tall RV or trailer climbs steeply above 55 to 60 mph.
- Travel with empty water and waste tanks and fill up near the campground. Water weighs over 8 lb a gallon.
- Check tire pressure on the RV and trailer cold, before each driving day.
- Plan routes that avoid long mountain grades when you have a choice.
- Stay longer in fewer places. Fewer driving days is the biggest saving of all.
Common questions
How many miles per gallon does a motorhome get?
Typically 7 to 10 MPG for Class A and Class C motorhomes and around 16 for a Class B camper van. Weight, speed and terrain move those numbers a lot, so your own logged MPG is always the better figure.
Is a diesel RV cheaper to fuel than a gas one?
Not always. Diesel motorhomes usually get better mileage, but diesel often costs more per gallon. At this week’s prices, a typical gas Class A costs about $61 per 100 miles and a diesel Class A about $70.
How much more fuel does towing a car behind a motorhome use?
A small car on a tow bar or dolly usually costs a few percent of the motorhome’s fuel economy. The calculator uses about 5%. A heavier vehicle or a car on an enclosed trailer costs more.
Should I use my truck’s normal MPG when towing a travel trailer?
Yes. Enter the MPG your truck gets without the trailer and pick the trailer size; the calculator lowers it for you. If you’ve measured your MPG while towing, choose “Not towing” and enter that figure instead, so it isn’t reduced twice.