So you’re itching the get away from Toronto or planning to make that lifelong dream of taking the most epic road trip around North America. The next question becomes, how do you actually go about finding RV rentals in Ontario?
Below lets break down the options that you have for renting an RV, especially if you’re looking for one close to Toronto. Find out what the prices look like and also the different options available.
Read more about Ontario
- Top free things to do in Toronto
- Secret weekend trips from Toronto
- Provincial Parks to see Ontario Fall colours
- Best easy hike trails around the GTA
Where to book activities on your road trip?
- While many know about Viator, I’ve found that GetYourGuide typically offers lower prices on activities and has great customer service.
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RV Rental Locations Close to Toronto
Finding an RV to rent isn’t as easy as booking a car with say Enterprise or Hertz. Most of the RV Rental companies aren’t household names unless you’re a regular in the motorhome community.
I’ve focused on companies in Ontario that rent motorhomes which means they are vehicles that can be driven versus trailers that would require you to tow the RV around. This ranges from the small converted vans (aka campervans) to the large Class C RVs.
Motor Home Travel
This is a Canadian-owned company based in Bolton, Ontario with a decent sized fleet of RV’s. They’re a local company operating in the province.
Something unique they offer is something called the RVMP program which allows owners of RV’s to allow motor Home Travel to rent them out as a management service. Think Airbnb but for RVs.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 14124 Hwy 50, Bolton, ON L7E 3E2
Rates: As low as $99 to $419 per day depending on the season and class/size of the RV.
Fleet: 7 types of RVs
KM’s included with rate: 100 km per day
Fees: Mandatory $100 preparation fee
Advantages: 24/7 roadside assistance, 7 locations in Canada
When booking with Motor Home Travel, make sure to let them know that you were referred by “Going Awesome Places” which should be available as a drop-down selection.
CanaDream
CanaDream is a leader in RV rentals in Ontario and all of Canada and has been in the market since 1990. In 2017, they were acquired by Apollo based in Brisbane.
They currently have a fleet of over 1300 RVs and can be seen on the road all throughout Canada and the United States.
20% Off CanaDream
CanaDream is offering an exclusive 20% discount on rental rates for road trips. This deal even includes perks like travel insurance.
An advantage of CanaDream is that they have locations all over the country which allows you to do one-way trips (for a fee). They have pick up locations in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary. They also offer shuttle service from the airport for a fee.
Other advantages include their included 24/7 roadside assistance, CanaDream Club for frequent renters, and a best-in-class booking platform.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 33 West Drive Brampton, Ontario L6T 4A1
Rates: As low as $98 and go up to $208 per day
Fleet: 8 types of RVs
KM’s included with rate: 100 km per day
Owasco RV Rentals
This is a family owned RV Centre serving the Durham Region since 1972. They have an expansive fleet of RVs to rent including campervans, Jayco, Roadtrek, and Winnebago.
Unfortunately they don’t have too much information on their website about their rates but it’s worthwhile to reach out for a custom quote based on the RV that you’re interested in.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 570 Rundle Road, Clarington, Ontario L1E 0L4
Fleet: 16 types of RVs
Outdoor Travel
This is a dealership based in Hamilton and offers a wide variety of RVs for rent that range from trailers to the large Class A RV’s.
Their rates aren’t published online but this is another outlet that’s worth getting a quote from.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 110 Eastport Blvd., Hamilton, ON L8H 7S4
Fleet: 3 types of RVs that come in multiple sizes
Fraserway RV
A well-established company in the RV business with a Cookstown location in Ontario and additional ones in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Whitehorse, and Halifax.
This means that they have a distinct advantage of being able to offer one-way rentals (limited to specific cities).
Their service is outstanding as well with included shuttle transfers from and to airport, airport hotels and downtown hotels at most locations. They are pet friendly, and there are no charges for driving to the US, and additional drivers are included.
Rates range from $75 to $385 nightly.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 5362 County Road 27 N, RR#1, Cookstown, ON L0L 1L0
Fees: Preparation fee of $95 per trip
KM’s included with rate: 0 km included
Fleet: 11 types of RVs
1000 Islands RV Centre
For those that are closer to Gananoque, Ontario, it may be more convenient to rent an RV nearby.
1000 Islands RV Centre has a large fleet of RVs for sale but they also have some for rent ranging from motorhomes and trailers.
Their weekly rate is quite affordable and are a reputable company to deal with, with 22 years of experience.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 409 County Rd 2, R.R. #2, Gananoque ON K7G 2V4
Fees: Damage deposit of $500
KM’s included with rate: 900 km included
Fleet: 10 types of RVs
Cruise Canada
Last but not least is one of the more recognizable brands in the RV rental business. Cruise America is something you see quite often if you’ve travelled around the US, especially near the National parks. Cruise Canada is part of the massive network and thus is the largest company for RV rentals in Ontario.
They have locations in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Vancouver. They do have locations in the US of course but you’re not allowed to do one-way rentals from Canada to the US.
With Cruise Canada, you’re getting a high level of service throughout and are savvy in their online platform and service offerings such as insurance coverage.
Despite being a large company, they have really good pricing. I’ve seen their large motorhome for only $60 per night.
Before you book, make sure to check out their deals and promo codes.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 12275 Hwy 50, Bolton, Ontario L7E 1M1
Fees: Damage deposit of $500
KM’s included with rate: 0 km included
Fleet: 4 types of RVs
Booking Your RV Online
Unlike renting cars, there isn’t really much of a culture of using rental coupon codes like you have in cars. That said, besides all of the individual companies in Ontario, you can also use aggregator sites that can help you refine your search. Think Skyscanner but for RVs.
The honest truth though is that since these aggregators point you straight back to the same RV rentals in Ontario companies, you’re better off using this for high level price comparison. From here, get quotes from individual companies and decide who can offer the best balance of price, coverage, flexibility, and quality.
These are the primarily platforms you’ll encounter:
- Go RVing Canada – They have good RV resources and has a network of their own certified dealers.
- Motorhome Republic – More of a general search engine for RV rentals.
- VroomVroomVroom – I know them for their car rentals but they cover RVs as well. Again, they are more of a generic search.
- RV Rentals Canada – They have a good inventory of motorhomes and focused on the Canadian market.
Tips for RV Rentals in Ontario
Mileage – This is where the costs can rise quite dramatically as many rentals either include very little to no kilometers with your rental. It is recommended to estimate how long your proposed itinerary will be and to purchase a prepaid package so you don’t get charged at a standard cent/km rate.
Think about extras that aren’t included – Bike racks, chairs, camping equipment, kitchen appliances, etc.
Insurance – You don’t really think you need until you do. Since RVs typically aren’t covered under your normal auto insurance, you’ll need to look at supplementary coverage or perhaps even a separate policy with companies that offer specialized RV insurance.
Roadside Assistance – Most RV rental companies offer this but if not, make sure you have some protection such as through CAA.
Winter – There may be additional fees for winterizing the RV
Driving to the Far North – Some companies charge an extra fee for driving up to say the Yukon or Alaska.
Convenience Packages – Most rental companies offer packages for kitchen accessories and comfort packages. To sae money it’s ideal that you pack your own but if it’s more convenient, take advantage of these packages.
Plan your RV Campgrounds – Know your campgrounds ahead of time and more importantly find out if any of your preferred campgrounds have limitations on RV sizes.
Pets – Almost all RV rentals are pet-friendly but it’s worth double-checking.
Sample RV Itineraries
If you’re renting an RV from Ontario, here are a few sample itineraries you can check out to give you inspiration.
21 days in Ontario – This is a round trip loop that goes as far as Thunder Bay and passes through a number of amazing Provincial Parks, conservation areas, and tons of natural beauty.
21 days covering Ontario and Quebec – If you have 3 weeks, this is a great loop that has you going as far out as Saguenay and Tadoussac in Quebec and comes back through Ottawa and Algonquin. I’ve been to Saguenay in the winter and loved it there.
14 days following Champlain – Inspired by the journey of Samuel de Champlain, this is a 2 week RV itinerary that covers some of the best parts of Ontario.
East meets West – Doing the cross-country drive from Toronto to Vancouver is something everyone has to do at least once. Renting an RV is your best bet to making it happen and you can do it all in 21 days.
Useful FAQs for RV Rentals
It depends but in many cases the RV works out to be cheaper because you don’t need to pay for hotels and you’ll naturally be saving more money by cooking in your RV. That said, don’t forget to factor in campground fees, and the extra fuel for an RV.
In Canada, if a vehicle is moving, all passengers need to be wearing seat belts. This means that sleeping on a bed is not legal while driving.
If you are from Canada or the United States, your home driver’s license is adequate. If you’re coming from another country, you’ll need to check to find out if your driver’s licenses is accepted.
No, RVs are easy to drive. RV rental establishments will also provide an orientation so you know how to operate the vehicle and its features.
The most popular 24-foot class C motorhome usually runs around $1,500 – $2,000 per week. Smaller RVs for 2 people usually go for $1,000 – $1,500 per week.
Yes, there are no limitations to crossing the Canada/US border. The only thing you have to be concerned with are standard customs (i.e. food, alcohol, tobacco).
Yes, almost all RV rentals allow pets to be onboard (subject to potential cleaning fee).
No
Featured image via Flickr by m01229 and Pinterest image via Unsplash by Steve Halama
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