How Much Does It Cost to Ship an RV in 2026?
Published rate ranges by distance, rig class, and transport type.
Published Rates per Mile
Carrier rate cards quote per mile, and the rate falls as the total distance rises.
Under 500 miles
$2.60 to $4.20
A 300 mile move per mile
500 to 1,000 miles
$1.90 to $3.10
A 750 mile move per mile
1,000 to 2,000 miles
$1.40 to $2.40
A 1,500 mile move per mile
Over 2,000 miles
$1.10 to $1.95
A coast to coast move per mile
| Distance | Published rate per mile | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $2.60 to $4.20 | A 300 mile move |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | $1.90 to $3.10 | A 750 mile move |
| 1,000 to 2,000 miles | $1.40 to $2.40 | A 1,500 mile move |
| Over 2,000 miles | $1.10 to $1.95 | A coast to coast move |
Ranges taken from published carrier and marketplace rate cards, including uShip published rate guidance, last verified August 2026.
RV shipping cost estimator
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Estimated range
$1,425 to $2,325
Travel trailer, 500 to 1,000 miles: $1,425 to $2,325
This is an estimate built from published per mile ranges and typical size factors, not a quote, and carriers price each job on route, season, and access.
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Travel trailer, 500 to 1,000 miles: $1,425 to $2,325
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Why a long move costs less per mile
Carriers price a long haul against a route they are already running, which is where the per mile rate falls.
What Determines the Price
Four things move the number more than anything else does.
Everything after that is rounding by comparison.
Distance
The per mile rate falls as total distance rises, so a long move costs less per mile than a short one.
Rig size
Length, height and weight together decide which trailers and which carriers can take the job at all.
Open or enclosed
Published cards put enclosed transport around a third to a half above open transport.
Drivable or towed
A rig that drives onto the trailer costs less to load than one that needs winching.
How rig class changes the rate
Pop up or teardrop
Well below the base rate, small and light
Travel trailer
The base rate most published cards quote against
Class C motorhome
Modestly above the base rate on height
Fifth wheel
Above the base rate on length and hitch type
Class A motorhome
The highest, on length, height and weight together
How to Get an Accurate Quote
A vague listing produces vague bids, and the gap between the two is where owners get surprised.
- Take length, height and dry weight from the plate, not from memory.
- Give full pickup and delivery addresses rather than city names.
- State whether the rig drives or needs towing.
- Offer a date window rather than a single fixed day.
- Declare any damage or non running condition up front.
- Compare the insurance figure on each bid, not only the price.
Ways to Bring the Cost Down
- Widen the pickup window, which published carrier guidance treats as a major saving lever.
- Accept open transport unless the rig genuinely warrants enclosed.
- Meet the carrier at a main road rather than a tight residential street.
- Avoid the peak snowbird direction if the timing is yours to choose.
- Book two to three weeks out so the move can join an existing route.
- Strip the rig, since weight is part of what you are paying for.
Where These Figures Come From
Every range on this page is taken from published carrier rate cards and marketplace listings.
No RV was shipped to produce these numbers, and nothing here is a quote.
Rates last verified August 2026, and carriers change them without notice.
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Meet the editorial team and our review standardsRV Shipping Cost Questions
How much does it cost to ship an RV?
Based on published carrier and marketplace rate cards, most moves land between roughly one and just over four dollars per mile before size is applied.
That puts a mid size travel trailer moving 1,000 miles in the low thousands, and a short local move in the high hundreds.
What makes RV shipping cost more?
Distance and rig size are the two largest factors, and they work in opposite directions.
The per mile rate falls as total distance rises, while every extra foot of length and height pushes the rate up.
Is it cheaper to ship an RV or drive it?
For a drivable rig on a short move, driving it is usually cheaper once fuel alone is compared.
Over longer distances the fuel, overnight stops, time off work, and the mileage put on the rig start to close that gap.
How much does enclosed RV transport cost?
Published rate cards put enclosed transport meaningfully above open transport, commonly around a third to a half more.
Most RVs travel open, and enclosed is generally reserved for high value or show condition rigs.
Does a non running RV cost more to ship?
Yes, because it needs winching equipment and a carrier set up to load it.
Declare it when you list, since a carrier arriving without the right equipment means a cancelled pickup and a relisting.
When is the cheapest time to ship an RV?
Rates follow carrier demand, so the snowbird corridors are dearest when everyone is moving the same direction.
A flexible pickup window is one of the larger savings available to an owner.
Does the carrier insurance cover my RV fully?
Carriers publish a cargo insurance figure on their profile, and it varies widely.
Compare that number against what your rig is worth rather than assuming full replacement cover.
How far in advance should I book RV transport?
Two to three weeks gives carriers time to fit the move into an existing route, which is where the better prices come from.
Same week moves are possible but you are paying for the disruption.
Related Guides
The process, the alternatives, and prepping the rig to travel.
How to Ship an RV With uShip
The marketplace process, from listing to delivery day.
uShip vs Transport Companies
Bidding marketplace against a single fixed quote.
RV Classes Explained
Which class you own is the biggest single price factor.
RV Rental vs Buying
Whether moving a rig across country is the right call.
RV Maintenance Checklist
The condition check worth doing before it goes on a trailer.
Storage Preparation Checklist
Prepping a rig that goes straight into storage on arrival.
Next Step
A price range only tells you the budget. The next call is who actually drives it.
Our comparison of marketplace bidding against transport companies covers both routes.