How Come Plane Tickets Are So Expensive Right Now?
Here’s a hint: it’s not because of fuel shortages.
Although jet fuel costs have gone up, the true reason for the exorbitant prices for flights is simply demand. According to
CNN
, in a “post-Covid” world entering spring and summertime, demand for travel has skyrocketed. Yet at the same time, airlines are still trying to recoup from the losses that Covid caused in the past two years.
The result is prices for flights reaching well over $400 from what they would originally be.
What’s most important to note is that because it’s
not
a fuel shortage crisis, Americans may not see pre-pandemic prices for plane tickets for
quite a while
.
But what does this have to do with RVs?
Predictions For Gas Prices This Summer
As of the time that this article is being written, AAA has recorded the average gas price for every state in the US. While the average across all 50 states is about $4.28 per gallon, states like California ($5.75) and Texas ($3.95) skew higher and lower respectively. And here’s the silver lining to current prices: experts predict they’re going to drop by the time summer starts. The reason why we broke down airline fares is to point out the difference surrounding their circumstance compared to gas prices. High gas prices are the direct result of companies taking advantage of current events. But this doesn't mean that the cost to fill up an RV will skyrocket. Because unlike airlines, the cost for fuel in 2022 may not end up affecting your wallet at all.How Much Does Gas Cost For An RV In 2022?
To finally answer this question, let’s explore a number of factors that affect it. Namely, RV gas mileage and distance being traveled.RV Gas Miles Per Gallon By Class
Class A
Often some of the largest RV rentals on the market, Class A RVs have a gas mileage of 6-10 per gallon. The exact number will depend on the weight and size of the vehicle. See Class A RVs For Rent!Class B
Class B is the trickiest to pin down because of the wide range in size and style in RVs. Miles per gallon estimates fall anywhere between 10-25. If you’re renting a converted van, you’re likely to get towards the high end. Large Class B rigs will stay towards 10 mpg. See Class B RVs For Rent!Class C
Regardless of the size and weight, most Class C RVs have a small range of 8-10 mpg. See Class C RVs For Rent!Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
When it comes to towing a mid-size RV, gas mileage on the towing vehicle typically falls by 7 mpg. So, depending on your towing vehicle, you can expect anywhere from 8-17 mpg. See Travel Trailers for Rent!Distance Traveled During Camping Trips
The other major factor that will determine how expensive your trip is— how
far
your trip is.
According to a survey of over 1500 participants by Survista in 2020, the highest percentage (29%) of distance in travel for camping trips of its correspondents was less than 50 miles. Paired with 22% of campers reporting they travel between 51-100 miles on average, just over half of North American campers are traveling below 100 miles on their camping trip.
Let’s say that the average camping trip destination is around 100 miles from home for an RV camper. And, for this example, let’s say that they’re traveling in California, where gas is currently the most expensive in the nation at $5.75. Because the most popular RV rentals are Class Cs and Travel Trailers, we’ll say our RV rental will get 8 MPG.
The cost for a person traveling 100 miles in California in their RV would be $71.88. On the flip side, if the person is traveling 500 miles, they’ll be paying $359.99. If they travel 350 miles, they’ll pay $215. If they travel 50 miles, they’ll pay $35.94
What if a person is using a Class B to travel in Florida?
At the low end of the MPG range, the gas cost for an RV is $21 for 50 miles and $210 for 500 miles. If their RV gets 20 MPG, they’ll pay $10.50 for 50 miles and $105 for 500 miles.
