When is the best time to rent an RV? The simple answer to this question is: Anytime you want to travel! However, there are some definite advantages, disadvantages, and other factors to take into consideration as you’re deciding when to head out on the road. Weather, road conditions, traffic, holiday schedules, an unexpected global pandemic, all of these and more might affect the timing, direction, and destinations of your road adventure.

Howdy RV in Mathis, Texas, has put together this little article to help you make an informed decision that’ll get you out on the road to have the most fun possible. And when you’re ready to shop for a new RV, or you need accessories or maintenance for your current RV, please come visit our dealership. We’re also happy to serve our neighbors in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. 

High Season

High season generally means when the weather’s best. That means that not only are prices higher for everything you want to do—including renting your RV—but campsites, tourist attractions, and even restaurants might be hiking up their prices. You’ll also be sharing your road adventure with a whole lot of other tourists, which might not be fun—jostling shoulder to shoulder with a crowd, trying to get a glimpse of Old Faithful, for example. 

On the other hand, there’s a reason people travel during high season. The weather’s great, kids are usually off from school, and families can take the time they need to make their adventure excellent. If this sounds like your jam, then you should consider renting your RV during high season.

Low Season

Low season is also pretty self-explanatory. The weather’s not great, kids may not be out of school, there’s less daylight, and some of your favorite tourist attractions may not be open. On the other hand, RV rentals are cheap, campsites are cheaper, and restaurants in quiet tourist areas will be happy to see you. Plus, you’ll find yourself with more breathing room between you and other tourists. You’ll be able to look right up George Washington’s nose without having to worry about some stranger jostling you and making you drop your binoculars. If you like to have your own space away from everyone else, and you’re not worried about a little bit of bad weather, then low season can be a great time to rent your RV.

Shoulder Season

Shoulder season is defined as the period that falls just before or after high season—so, for example, the end of spring and the beginning of autumn. For a lot of people, shoulder season is kind of the sweet spot—the weather is generally fine, there’s a medium number of tourists out there, and prices for RV rentals, tourist activities, and campsites are at a moderate level. Of course, you have to take into account whether your kids are out of school, the weather along your route and at your destinations, and make sure that your favorite tourist destination is open at the time you want to visit it. You wouldn’t want to drive all the way to Devil’s Tower only to be stopped by a closed road. 

The simple fact is that you can pretty much rent an RV anytime you want, but the adventure you have while driving it will depend a lot on when you decide to head out into the great unknown. If you have more questions about RV rentals, or you’d like to shop for a new RV, we’d love to see you at Howdy RV, where our experienced sales team will help you find what you’re looking for.