RVing VS Flying Cost Comparison

A vacation with family is the perfect time to relax in the company of loved ones and create memories that will last a lifetime. Being a family run company ourselves, Traveland RV understands how regular family get-away’s can improve and strengthen relationships! We also understand how difficult and expensive it can be to organize pet sitters, book plane tickets, hotels, and more – It is no wonder why many families struggle to plan even just one vacation together per year!

At Traveland RV, we want to help families enjoy more frequent vacations together, and what better way to do that than by purchasing an RV? Although the initial cost of an RV may seem intimidating, you’ll only be investing in a re-useable vacation and a lifetime of saving on vacation costs.

To show you how much money can be saved by travelling in an RV, we priced out a 14 day vacation for a family of 4 to Disneyland, California! Read on to see the cost comparison of Flight VS RV travel for this trip.


RV Owner Cost Summary

Fuel $1917.00
Accommodations $1,303.00
Food$1,320.92
Activities$5,604.58
Total Trip Cost $10,146.00

All costs are in Canadian dollars

Fuel Cost Breakdown

Tow Vehicle used in example – 2022 Super Duty Platinum F-350

Fuel tank 34 Gallons or 128 liters 

Fuel average – 13MPG or 18L/100km 


RV used in example – 2022 Jay Feather 27BHB Travel Trailer

Gross Vehicle Weight – 7600 lbs or 3,447 kg


Fuel mileage while towing (Estimated -21% from average fuel mileage)

13 X .21 = 2.73

13 – 2.73 = 10.27 MPG / 23 L/100km


4,022km using 891 liters of Diesel

Calculated with GasBuddy

Fuel Total – $1917 CAD

Tow Vehicle used in example – 2022 Super Duty Platinum F-350

Fuel tank 34 Gallons or 128 liters 

Fuel average – 13MPG or 18L/100km 


RV used in example – 2022 Jay Feather 27BHB Travel Trailer

Gross Vehicle Weight – 7600 lbs or 3,447 kg


Fuel mileage while towing (Estimated -21% from average fuel mileage)

13 X .21 = 2.73

13 – 2.73 = 10.27 MPG / 23 L/100km


4,022km using 891 liters of Diesel

Calculated with GasBuddy

Fuel Total – $1917 CAD

Accommodation Cost Breakdown

Night 1 – Portland Oregon

Jantzen Beach RV Resort

Basketball court, games room, playgrounds, clubhouse, heated pool, fitness center, pet friendly.

$55 USD one night


Night 2 – Mt Shasta

Lake Siskiyou Campground

The Lake Siskiyou Trail is a popular route to walk, run, or cycle. This seven-mile paved trail circles the lake, including a scenic crossing on the Wagon Creek pedestrian bridge. Also located by the Mount Shasta Golf Course.

$55 USD one night


Night 3 – Stockton

French Camp RV Park Resort

Full hook ups, swimming pool, spa, dog park, playground, gym and more!

$60 USD one night


Night 4, 5 and 6 – Anaheim

Anaheim Harbor RV Park

Deluxe site accommodates trailers and motorhomes up to 40 feet in length. Includes parking for one tow/pull vehicle, a grassy area, and a picnic table. All sites are full hookups, back-in only.

$75 USD per night (75 X 3)

$225 USD three nights


Night 7 and 8 – San Diego

Santee Lakes Campground

Exclusive fishing in stocked lakes for campers, as well as access to two pools, a spa, pedal boat rentals and more!

$70 USD per night (70 X 2)

$140 USD two nights


Night 9 – Vista

Olive Avenue RV Resort

Amenities include a clubhouse, dog park, recreation room, heated pool and spa, and more!

$90 USD one night


Nights 10, 11, and 12 – Van Nuys

 Hollywood RV Park

Includes full hook ups, a gym, play house and even an art gallery!

$80 USD per night (80 X 3)

$240 USD three nights


Night 13 – Sacramento

Sacramento Shade RV Park

North to the Sacramento River this RV park features large shady trees over their sites, welcomes pets, includes a swimming pool, playground, dog park, BBQ area, clubhouse, and more!

$75 USD one night


Night 14 – Eugene

Premier RV Resorts

Includes full hook ups, pull through and back in sites, an adult fireplace lounge, recreation room filled with games, a pool, spa, and gym, badminton, volleyball, and basketball courts, two off leash dog areas, and more!

$65 USD one night


Total Cost – $1,005 USD or $1,303 CAD

Food Cost Breakdown

One of the many ways that RV owners can save is by utilizing their RV kitchen! Families who travel by plane must pay extra for a hotel room that includes a kitchen, or eat out for every meal. But RV owners can grocery shop as they travel, and easily whip something up at any point!


USDA estimates a family of 4 spends around $1,241 USD on groceries every month.

1241 divided by 2 = $620 USD every 2 weeks.

We budgeted 5 meals eaten out or eaten at theme parks at $20 USD per person

20 x 5 = $100

100 X 4 = $400

620 + 400 = $1,020 USD

Food Total – 1,320.92 CAD

Activity Cost Breakdown

When you travel by plane, the trip is only as good as your destination, and the fun only starts once you have conquered the airport(s), survived the flight(s), successfully rented a vehicle or hailed a cab, and arrived at your hotel.

When you travel in an RV, the journey to your destination makes the trip everything that it is.

Road trips are a fantastic opportunity to stop and explore new places along your route. Every city you drive through offers a multitude of unique attractions for a low cost or even for free! Do more, pay less, travel in an RV!


Near Jantzen Beach RV Resort

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Adult tickets $42 each and Youth $28 each

(42 x 2) + (28 X 2)

$140.00 USD or $181.00 CAD

Washington Park  – Free!

Oregon Zoo – $24 USD per person X 4 $96USD or $125 CAD 

Total Spent In Oregon – $306.00 CAD


Near Lake Siskiyou campground

Scenic stop at Dunsmuir before Mt Shasta to see Hedge Creek Falls – Free!


Near French Camp RV Park Resort

Pixie Woods Amusement Park –

Unlimited rides $10 x 2 = $20

General admission $5 x 2 = $10  

20 + 10 = $30 USD 

Children’s Museum – $6 per person (6 x 4) = $24 USD

Downtown Stockton Marina – Free!

Total Spent in Stockton – $70.00 CAD


Disneyland

3 Day Park Hopper Ticket $390.00USD per ticket x 4 

4 x Ages 10+ ($390.00/ticket)

$1,560USD or $2,023 CAD

Parking – $30 for a one day parking pass

30 X 3 = $90USD or $116.72CAD

Disneyland Total – $2,139.72 CAD


SeaWorld

The San Diego 3-For-1 Ticket is valid for 1 visit to SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Safari Park.

$173 USD per ticket x 4 = $692USD or $896.57 CAD

Parking – $35 for RV day parking (35 X 3) = $105USD or $136.26CAD

SeaWorld, Zoo, and Safari Park Total – $1032.83 CAD


LEGOLAND

Resort hopper 2 day ticket includes two day admission to LEGOLAND CaliforniaSEA LIFE Aquarium, and LEGOLAND Water Park $165USD per ticket

165 X 4 = $628USD or $813.88CAD

Parking – $35USD for day RV parking (35 X 2) = $70USD or $90.84 CAD

LEGOLAND Total – $904.72 CAD


Universal Studios

2 Day General Admission – $174 USD each

174 X 4 = $696 USD or 902.28 CAD

Parking – $30 per day (30 X 2) = $60 USD or $77.78 CAD

Universal Studios Total – $980.06 CAD


Near Sacramento Shade RV Park

California State Railroad Museum

Adults $12 per person (12 X 2)

Youth 6-17 $6 per person (6 X 2)

= $36USD or $46.70 CAD

 Fairytale Town – Tickets $7 each (7 X 4)

$28USD or $36.33 CAD

Total Spent in Sacramento – $83.03 CAD


Near Premier RV Resorts

Cascades Raptor center tickets $12 each (12×4) = $48 USD or $62.27 CAD

Oregon Air and Space Museum –

Adult tickets $7 each

Youth ages 6-17 – $3 each

(7 X 2) + (3 X 2) = $20 USD or 25.95 CAD

Owen Rose Garden  – Free!

5th Street Public Market – Free!

Total Spent in Eugene – $88.22 CAD

Plane Travel Cost Summary

Flight $3,596.20
Car Rental and Fuel$1,588.31
Accommodations$7,978.49
Food $3,537.20
Activities $5,874.79
Total Trip Cost $22,574.99

All costs are in Canadian dollars

Flight Cost Breakdown

Air Canada flight departing from Vancouver Airport (YVR) at 9:50pm on July 29th and returning from John Wayne Airport (SNA) on August 12 at 1:50am*

*Overnight flights are the least costly*

Economy Comfort Tickets – Includes seat selection, 1 free checked bag, and tickets are fully refundable

2 hours 50 minutes of flight time.

Cost Breakdown

Departing flight – Adult (359.00 x 2)$718.00
Departing flight – Youth (359.00 x 2)$718.00
Return flight – Adult (302.99 x 2)$605.98
Return flight – Youth (302.99 x 2)$605.98
Carrier surcharges – Canadian tax, fees and charges$299.96
September 11th Security Fee – United States
( 7.26 x4 )
$29.04
Airport Improvement Fee – Canada
( 25.00 x4 )
$100.00
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) User Fee – United States
( 5.13 x4 )
$20.52
Transportation International / Domestic Tax – United States
( 51.06 x4 )
$204.24
Customs User Fee – United States
( 7.92 x4 )
$31.68
Goods and Services Tax – Canada – 100092287 RT0001$154.80
Passenger Facility Charge – United States
( 5.83 x4 )
$23.32
Air Travellers Security Charge – Canada
( 12.10 x4 )
$48.40
Immigration User Fee – United States
( 9.07 x4 )
$36.28

TOTAL – $3596.20 CAD

Car Rental Cost Breakdown

Hertz Car Rental at John Wayne Airport 

Medium 5 passenger SUV 

4 Bags 

Unlimited miles

Chevrolet Equinox or similar


Rental Car Cost Breakdown

$529.28 per week
(529.28 x 2)
$1058.56
Airport Concession Fee$121.08
Vehicle License Recovery Fee$31.22
State Tourism Assessment$37.05
Taxes$93.85

Total – $1341.77 CAD

Accommodation Cost Breakdown

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground

Family suite, king-sized bed with a separate bunk room for kids. 8 min walk to Disney park from the hotel.

CA $461.02 average per night

$461.02 x 14 nights =  $6,454.27 CAD

Taxes and fees CA $1,097.22

Parking – $20 per day plus 17% tax.

20 X 14 = $280USD

280 x .17 = 47.6

280 + 48 = $328 USD or $427 CAD

Total – $7,978.49 CAD

Food Cost Breakdown

Families who choose to travel by plane will most likely end up eating out for every one of their meals. To estimate the cost for this example, here are the prices that we have used.

Breakfast – $13 USD per person

Lunch and Dinner – $15 USD per person

Dining within theme parks, fancy restaurants, or Disney Dining – $20 USD per person

We estimated 13 basic breakfast meals, 14 basic lunch and dinner meals, and 15 meals eaten at theme parks or more high end restaurants.

13 X 13 = 169

14 X 15 = 210

15 x 20 = 300

169 + 210 + 300 = $679USD

679 X 4 = $2,716 USD

Total – $3,537.20 CAD

Activity Cost Breakdown

Disneyland

5 Day Park Hopper Ticket $440.00USD per ticket x 4 

4 x Ages 10+ ($440.00/ticket)

$1,760.00USD or $2,282.00 CAD

Parking – $30 for a one day parking pass

30 X 5 = $150USD or $194.31CAD

Disneyland Total – $2,476.31 CAD


SeaWorld

The San Diego 3-For-1 Ticket is valid for 1 visit to SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Safari Park.

$173 USD per ticket x 4 = $692USD or $896.57 CAD

Parking – $25 for car day parking (25 X 3) = $75USD or $97.17CAD

SeaWorld, Zoo, and Safari Park Total – $993.74 CAD


LEGOLAND

Resort hopper 2 day ticket includes two day admission to LEGOLAND CaliforniaSEA LIFE Aquarium, and LEGOLAND Water Park $165USD per ticket

165 X 4 = $628USD or $813.88CAD

Parking – $25USD for day car parking (25 X 2) = $50USD or $64.80 CAD

LEGOLAND Total – $878.68 CAD


Universal Studios

2 Day General Admission – $174 USD each

174 X 4 = $696 USD or 902.28 CAD

Parking – $30 per day (30 X 2) = $60 USD or $77.78 CAD

Universal Studios Total – $980.06 CAD


Knott’s Berry Farm

Ride and slide ticket – Valid for one admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City on the same date selected.

Online price $99.00 (gate price 169.00)

99 X 4 = $396USD or $513.10CAD

Car day parking – $25USD or 32.40CAD

Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Total – $546.00 CAD

Why You Should Travel The Land

In A Traveland RV!

Sleep in your own bed!

Choosing the right hotel for your vacation is incredibly important as it will serve as a temporary home base while you are away from your own home. However, hotel websites can be misleading and it is impossible to know exactly what your new “home base” might look like until you are there.

Something as simple as your room neighbor making too much noise, an uncomfortable bed, a funny smell, or strands of hair that are certainly not yours left in the sink – can easily ruin a costly hotel experience.

travelling in an rv saves on hotel costs and you get to sleep in your own bed

RV owners have the pleasure of simply hooking up their very own “home away from home” and staying at RV resorts as they vacation. RV campgrounds are much cheaper than any hotel, and RV owners never have to worry about bed bugs, pests, or a dirty room. RV owners will always have the pleasure of sleeping in their own bed with familiar blankets and pillows every night!

Be your own pilot!

Most Airlines have experienced an increase in customer complaints following the Covid-19 pandemic. Airlines have been short staffed and travelers have had to endure overbooked or cancelled flights and repeatedly reach out to companies in order to receive any refund.

With an RV, you are your own pilot! Your departure time can be whenever is convenient for you, and you can make as many or as little pit stops as you please! RV travelers never have to endure plane food, but can stop at any fast food drive through or sit down restaurant they may be craving along the way. If an RV owner has something come up right before their big trip, and decide to cancel it entirely, no big deal! You may need to cancel campground reservations if you have made any, but this is a much easier task than cancelling plane tickets.

Better meals at less cost

Everybody knows there is nothing worse than plane food. But even after you have arrived at your destination, the only options for flyers are to splurge for a hotel that includes a kitchen, or eat out at restaurants for each meal.

RV owners can grocery shop as they travel, and they have lots of storage inside their RV for all of their favorite snacks! They can save lots of money by cooking meals in their RV kitchen. Click here to see some of our camping recipes!

cooking in your RV kitchen saves money as you travel
📷 Dylan N

You can bring the entire family!

When you book a trip via plane you have to purchase tickets per person, meaning the larger the family, the more expensive the trip. Pet owners who choose to travel by plane must also find somebody to look after their animal(s) while they are away, which almost always means spending more money on a pet sitter or at a kennel business.

RV owners are free to include as many friends and family members as they can fit in their tow vehicle. Plus they never have to leave their 4 legged family members at home! Not only will you save money, but pets will be so excited to be included on the RV adventure with their family. Click here for tips on RVing With Your Pets!

No lines and no airport security

Along with the convenience of leaving at any time you wish, and packing along any food or items you desire, RV owners never have to worry about what they can and can not take through airport security! RV owners can jump right onto the highway and begin their journey, but Flyers have to begin their vacation by enduring hours of line ups and sweating through airport security. RV owners are free to bring along any items and as many bags of luggage as they desire, for no extra costs! Click Here for our Essential RV Packing Checklist

Traveling with an RV enhances your vacation

When you travel by plane the trip is only as good as your destination, and the fun only starts once you have conquered the airport(s), survived the flight(s), successfully rented a vehicle and finally arrived at your hotel.

When you travel in an RV, the journey to your destination makes the trip everything that it is.

As you travel, you drive through towns and cities you may never have visited before, or ever visit again. It is a great way to learn more about other communities and meet new people from all over the map. The chaos of airports and flight travel make it nearly impossible to make a new connections with people, but it is extremely likely you will chat and possibly even develop a friendship with your campsite neighbor. RV owners relaxing at their campsites are almost always happy to participate in some small talk with fellow RV’ers, and you already share the common interest of RVing to help get the conversations flowing.

It is not just the city residents and campers you meet along your way that help to enhance your vacation, but the road trip itself! Kids can watch the landscapes change outside their window as you drive on, and there are endless cheap and even free roadside attractions to stop and do.

Travelling in an RV not only saves you significant money compared to plane travel, but it also gives you the freedom to set your own travel schedule, bring anything you want to pack along with you, including more people and pets, meet other like minded campers from all over the globe, and do more with your vacation for less cost!

Click here to view our inventory and purchase your re-useable vacation today!

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