Typical monthly rates by region
Monthly rates below are for a full-hookup site, electric not included unless noted, for one rig and two adults. Ranges reflect ordinary parks; resorts with pools and clubhouses sit at or above the top of each range.
| Region | Typical monthly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plains and rural Midwest | $350 to $600 | Often electric included at the low end; oilfield and work-crew parks in the Dakotas and Texas run higher |
| Southeast (outside Florida) | $450 to $800 | Coastal Georgia and the Carolinas at the top |
| Florida, winter | $900 to $2,000 | Keys and Gulf beaches to $3,000; summer rates 30 to 50 percent lower |
| Texas | $450 to $800 | Rio Grande Valley winter parks $500 to $900 with activities; Austin and DFW higher |
| Arizona, winter | $700 to $1,500 | Mesa and Tucson resorts higher; summer rates fall by half |
| Mountain West | $600 to $1,100 | Colorado Front Range and Idaho tightest; many parks close in winter |
| Pacific Northwest | $650 to $1,200 | Portland and Seattle metro parks near the top |
| California | $900 to $2,000 | Coastal parks often do not offer monthly at all |
| Northeast | $700 to $1,200 (seasonal contracts more common than monthly) | Short season, April to October |
As a rule of thumb, a monthly site costs 12 to 18 nights at the park's nightly rate. If the monthly quote is more than 20 times the nightly rate, the park does not really want monthly guests and is pricing accordingly.
Metered electric
Nearly every monthly site has its own electric meter, and you pay for what you use at the park's rate, typically 12 to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour (higher in California and New England). Usage depends entirely on climate and habits:
- Mild weather, no heating or cooling: 150 to 300 kWh a month, $25 to $50.
- Arizona or Texas summer with two air conditioners: 800 to 1,500 kWh, $120 to $250.
- Northern winter with electric heat: 1,000 to 2,000 kWh, $150 to $350, and many people switch to propane to cut it.
Read the meter at check-in, photograph it, and confirm the rate per kWh in writing. A park that bills a flat "electric fee" of $100 to $150 instead of metering is fine if you run air conditioning all summer and a bad deal in spring. See 30 amp vs 50 amp for what your rig can draw.
What is included, and what is not
Standard in a monthly rate at most private parks:
- Full hookups (water, sewer, 30 or 50 amp pedestal), trash pickup or a dumpster, and use of the bathhouse and laundry (machines still coin or card operated).
- Basic WiFi, which is rarely good enough for remote work; see RV parks with WiFi for remote work.
- One tow vehicle and two adults. Extra people are often $25 to $75 a month each.
Commonly extra:
- Electric, as above.
- Cable TV ($20 to $40) at parks that still offer it.
- Pets: $10 to $30 a month per pet at some parks, free at most.
- A deposit of $100 to $300, or first and last month at parks that treat monthly guests as tenants.
- Lodging tax, which most states waive after 30 consecutive days, so a 31-night stay can be cheaper than 29 nights.
- Mail service, storage sheds, and a second vehicle or trailer.
How to negotiate
Monthly rates are more negotiable than nightly, because an empty site for 30 days costs the park more than a discount does. What works:
- Call, do not book online. Online systems show the rack rate. The manager can flex it.
- Ask about multi-month rates. Three months is often 10 percent less per month than one; six months, 15 to 20 percent less. Seasonal contracts (November to March, or May to October) are cheaper still.
- Offer to take a less popular site. Back-in sites away from the bathhouse, sites near the entrance, or sites without a view are often discounted for long-term guests.
- Arrive in shoulder season. A park with 40 empty sites in October in Colorado or in June in Arizona will deal. The same park in peak season will not.
- Pay up front. Cash or check for the whole term avoids card fees and gets attention.
- Ask about work-camping. Many parks trade a free or half-price site for 10 to 20 hours a week of office, grounds, or host work. It is the cheapest monthly rate there is.
- Mention your membership. Good Sam and Passport America seldom apply to monthly rates, but Escapees, FMCA, and military discounts sometimes do.
Seasonal vs full-time
Seasonal guests stay the same block of months each year, keep the same site, and often leave a shed, deck, or golf cart on it between visits. Snowbird resorts in Florida, Arizona, and south Texas work this way, as do northern lake parks in summer. Seasonal rates are quoted for the whole season, roughly three to six months for the price of two to four, and rebooking for next year usually happens before you leave. Sites are scarce, so start with the snowbird destinations guide and call in spring.
Full-time residents stay indefinitely and in most states become tenants after 30 days, with the rights and paperwork that implies: a lease, rules about eviction, sometimes a background check. Parks that welcome full-timers advertise it; parks that do not cap stays at 28 days to avoid tenancy. Full-timers should look for year-round parks, confirm winter water service, and read the rules on rig age and appearance, which are enforced more strictly on long-term guests. The long-term RV living guide covers domicile, mail, and insurance.
Cheaper long-term alternatives
- BLM long-term visitor areas near Quartzsite and Yuma, Arizona and along the Colorado River in California: about $180 for the full September to April season, with dump, water, and trash. No hookups. See BLM camping.
- Thousand Trails and other membership networks for people who move every two to three weeks.
- County fairgrounds and Elks or Moose lodges that offer monthly sites to members or the public for $300 to $500.
- Private land rentals through farm-stay sites or word of mouth, often $300 to $600 with a 30 or 50 amp hookup and a septic connection.
- Rotating public campgrounds under the 14-day limit, which costs $300 to $600 a month in fees but a lot of moving. Browse state parks and Corps of Engineers parks by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in an RV park monthly?
Most monthly full-hookup sites cost $450 to $900 plus metered electric of $50 to $250 depending on climate. Florida and Arizona in winter and California year-round run $900 to $2,000. Add insurance, propane, and connectivity and most full-timers budget $800 to $1,500 a month for the site and utilities.
Is electric included in monthly RV park rates?
Usually not. Monthly sites are almost always metered and billed at the park's per-kWh rate, typically 12 to 20 cents. Some rural parks include electric in a flat rate. Nightly and weekly rates, by contrast, nearly always include electric.
Can you stay at an RV park permanently?
At parks that allow full-time residents, yes, and many people do for years. After 30 days you are generally a tenant under state law, so expect a lease or written agreement. Parks that do not want full-timers limit stays to 28 days or require a break between stays.
Are monthly RV park rates negotiable?
Often, especially in shoulder season or when a park has empty sites. Call rather than booking online, ask about multi-month and seasonal pricing, offer to take a less desirable site, and ask whether work-camping is available. Peak-season snowbird resorts are the exception; they have waiting lists and do not negotiate.
Do you pay tax on a monthly RV site?
Most states exempt stays of 30 consecutive days or more from lodging tax, which can save 5 to 15 percent. Ask the park whether the exemption applies and whether you must pay for 30 days up front to qualify.