Most motorhomes get somewhere between 7 and 16 miles per gallon. Big Class A coaches sit at the bottom of that range, camper vans at the top. Here’s what each type typically gets and what that means in dollars at this week’s prices.
RV gas mileage and cost per 100 miles
Typical real-world figures. Cost per 100 miles uses this week’s national averages: $4.284 a gallon for gas and $6.276 for diesel.
| Vehicle | Fuel | Typical MPG | Fuel per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome (gas) | Gas | 7 | $61.20 |
| Class A motorhome (diesel) | Diesel | 9 | $69.73 |
| Class C motorhome | Gas | 10 | $42.84 |
| Class B camper van | Gas | 16 | $26.78 |
| Pickup truck (gas) | Gas | 18 | $23.80 |
| Pickup truck (diesel) | Diesel | 21 | $29.89 |
| SUV | Gas | 21 | $20.40 |
The pickup and SUV rows are for the vehicle on its own. If you tow a travel trailer or fifth wheel, see how much towing cuts gas mileage.
The RV classes, briefly
- Class A motorhomes are the bus-shaped coaches. They’re the heaviest and least aerodynamic, so they use the most fuel. Diesel pushers usually do a little better than gas models.
- Class C motorhomes are built on a truck or van chassis with the familiar bunk over the cab. They sit in the middle for both size and fuel use.
- Class B camper vans are built inside a large van. They’re the most efficient motorhomes and the easiest to drive and park.
The difference adds up quickly. Every 100 miles, a gas Class A costs about $61.20 in fuel against $26.78 for a camper van.
What changes your RV’s mileage
- Speed. RVs are tall and boxy; fuel use climbs quickly above 55 to 60 mph.
- Weight. Full water tanks, gear and passengers all count.
- Terrain and wind. Mountain grades and headwinds can drop mileage sharply for hours at a time.
- Towing a car. Pulling a small car behind a motorhome usually costs a few percent more.
- Generator use. Running the onboard generator on a gas motorhome draws from the same tank.
Planning a trip? The RV fuel cost calculator starts from these figures for each RV type and lets you enter your own MPG and the miles you’ll drive.
Sources and method
Fuel prices are weekly retail averages including taxes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Driving distances between cities come from OSRM using © OpenStreetMap contributors data. Fuel economy figures are typical real-world values that PumpTally uses as calculator starting points, not manufacturer ratings; your own vehicle may do better or worse. Every table on this page is recalculated each week when prices update.