Planning an RV road trip budget is easier when you break it into parts: fuel, campground fees, tolls/parking, food and activities, and a buffer for maintenance or surprises. These calculators and apps help you estimate each category and roll them into a realistic total before you go.

  1. RV LIFE Trip Wizard (RV-specific route and fuel estimates)
  • What it does: RV-focused trip planner with RV-safe routing, campground search/reviews, and trip-level fuel cost estimates based on your MPG and fuel price settings.
  • Why it’s useful: It keeps routing, campground choices, and fuel planning in one place, tailored to RV dimensions and preferences.
  • Good to know: You can set your rig’s MPG and a fuel price to estimate fuel spend for the route you build.
  • Pricing/platforms: Subscription (RV LIFE Pro); Web. More info: https://tripwizard.rvlife.com/
  • Source: RV LIFE Trip Wizard product page lists trip planning features for RVers: https://rvlife.com/rv-life-pro/
  1. GasBuddy Trip Cost Calculator (route-based fuel estimate using local prices)
  • What it does: Estimates fuel cost for your specific route using your MPG and current gas prices along the way.
  • Why it’s useful: Fuel is often your biggest variable cost; this tool grounds your estimate in live price data.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free; Web.
  • Try it: https://www.gasbuddy.com/tripcost
  • Source: GasBuddy’s Trip Cost Calculator uses user-reported local price data along routes: https://www.gasbuddy.com/tripcost
  1. FuelEconomy.gov “My Trip Calculator” (EPA-based vehicle MPG)
  • What it does: Uses official EPA MPG ratings for your vehicle to estimate fuel cost for a city-to-city trip.
  • Why it’s useful: If you know your exact tow vehicle or motorhome’s model, you can anchor estimates to EPA data (adjust MPG if towing or loaded).
  • Pricing/platforms: Free; Web.
  • Try it: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/trip/
  • Source: FuelEconomy.gov publishes official EPA fuel economy data: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml
  1. Tollsmart Toll Calculator for RVs (tolls by vehicle/axle class)
  • What it does: Calculates tolls for cars, trucks, and RVs across U.S. and Canada, including vehicle size/axle options.
  • Why it’s useful: Tolls can add up fast on long routes—especially for larger rigs—so it’s smart to price them in.
  • Pricing/platforms: App and web options; paid plans for full coverage.
  • Learn more: https://www.tollsmart.com/rv-toll-calculator/
  • Source: Tollsmart’s RV/Truck calculator supports RV-specific configurations: https://www.tollsmart.com/rv-toll-calculator/
  1. ViaMichelin Route Planner (fuel + toll cost estimate on your route)
  • What it does: Plans routes and estimates both fuel consumption cost and toll costs; you can tweak vehicle parameters and fuel price.
  • Why it’s useful: A quick way to see driving cost (fuel + tolls) in one place for U.S. and international routes.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free; Web and apps.
  • Try it: https://www.viamichelin.com/
  • Source: ViaMichelin’s route planner displays estimated journey costs (fuel and tolls) along planned routes: https://www.viamichelin.com/
  1. Roadtrippers Plus (multi-stop planning with cost awareness)
  • What it does: Builds detailed, multi-stop road trips with mileage and time; includes helpful planning tools for fuel and stops.
  • Why it’s useful: If your RV trip has many waypoints, this helps you organize distances and anticipate fuel needs across legs.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free tier; Plus subscription adds advanced features; Web/iOS/Android.
  • Learn more: https://roadtrippers.com/plus
  • Source: Roadtrippers Plus feature overview: https://roadtrippers.com/plus
  1. Wanderlog (itinerary + budgets/expense tracking)
  • What it does: Lets you plan trips, set budgets, and track expenses by category and day, including offline access.
  • Why it’s useful: Keeps all non-driving costs (groceries, activities, dining) under control against a trip budget.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free and premium; Web/iOS/Android.
  • Learn more: https://wanderlog.com/
  • Source: Wanderlog lists budgeting and expense tracking among its features: https://wanderlog.com/
  1. TravelSpend (simple trip budget and expense tracker)
  • What it does: Set a total trip budget, track expenses by category, and monitor daily average spend; supports multiple currencies and offline use.
  • Why it’s useful: A lightweight way to stay on budget for food, activities, propane, laundry, and incidentals while on the road.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free with optional Pro; iOS/Android.
  • Learn more: https://www.travelspendapp.com/
  • Source: TravelSpend feature overview: https://www.travelspendapp.com/
  1. YNAB (You Need A Budget) (category-based budgeting)
  • What it does: Zero-based budgeting app to assign every dollar a job—create specific categories for fuel, camping, maintenance, and fun.
  • Why it’s useful: Ideal for building (and sticking to) a realistic RV trip budget before you depart.
  • Pricing/platforms: Subscription; Web/iOS/Android.
  • Learn more: https://www.youneedabudget.com/
  • Source: YNAB explains its zero-based method and category budgeting: https://www.youneedabudget.com/method/
  1. Splitwise (split costs with your travel crew)
  • What it does: Tracks shared expenses and balances across people; supports percentages or shares for things like campsite fees or fuel.
  • Why it’s useful: Keeps the budget fair and organized if multiple travelers are sharing costs.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free with optional Pro; Web/iOS/Android.
  • Learn more: https://www.splitwise.com/
  • Source: Splitwise product overview: https://www.splitwise.com/
  1. Campendium (campground prices and reviews to estimate nightly costs)
  • What it does: Helps you find campgrounds and see reported price ranges and reviews, including public lands and boondocking.
  • Why it’s useful: Use reported rates to estimate your nightly camping budget or find free/low-cost options.
  • Pricing/platforms: Free with optional membership; Web/iOS/Android.
  • Explore: https://www.campendium.com/
  • Source: Campendium lists campgrounds with user-reported rates and amenities: https://www.campendium.com/

How to combine these tools for a total trip estimate

  • Fuel: Use GasBuddy Trip Cost (or FuelEconomy.gov + your average local price) to estimate fuel for your full route. If you’re towing or heavily loaded, reduce EPA MPG by 10–25% to be conservative.
  • Tolls and parking: Run your route through Tollsmart and add any known city/RV parking fees.
  • Camping: Use RV LIFE Trip Wizard, Campendium, and your itinerary to multiply average nightly rate by nights (include taxes and resort/utility fees where applicable).
  • Daily spending: Set a daily per-person amount in Wanderlog or TravelSpend for groceries, dining, activities, laundry, propane, and a maintenance buffer (e.g., 5–10% of total trip cost).
  • Sum it up: Add fuel + tolls/parking + camping + daily spend + buffer. Track actuals in-app and adjust as you go.

Quick tips for more accurate estimates

  • Calibrate your MPG: Track your last few tanks (miles ÷ gallons). For towing or mountain routes, use your lower MPG figure. The EPA explains how driving conditions affect fuel economy: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp
  • Price-check your fuel: Run both GasBuddy Trip Cost and FuelEconomy.gov to bracket a realistic range.
  • Plan for seasonality: Campground rates can spike in peak seasons and popular parks—check recent reviews for current prices on Campendium.
  • Mind your rig class for tolls: Larger RVs or extra axles can increase tolls—configure your exact vehicle in Tollsmart to avoid surprises.

With these 11 tools, you can confidently forecast your RV road trip’s total cost, then track and fine-tune spending on the road.