Houston is the city with the highest population in the big state of Texas. Located in Harris County, this huge city is known for its diverse culture and its history as a big part of the oil and natural gas industries. It is also known for its amazing architecture, especially downtown. To help you explore the city and beyond, VroomVroomVroom can help you find an affordable RV rental in Houston that will suit your budget and needs. We compare motorhome and campervan hire deals from leading suppliers so you can easily find the right camper or RV for your next trip. If you are looking for a smaller car, you can book a car rental in Houston through us as well.
Houston is the country’s fourth-largest city and with mild weather year-round, it is a great destination to spend plenty of time outdoors. Plan your visit around unique and culturally diverse neighbourhoods, menus designed by internationally renowned chefs and opportunities to spend a night at the opera, ballet or theatre.
Some of our favorite things to do year-round in Houston are:
Summer (June, July, August): Get ready to cheer the Houston Texans football team on in a home game at NRG Stadium. While the weather is warm, hit the road and drive a short 50-miles from downtown to Galveston Island for a day of beach-hopping and historical charm.
Fall (September, October, November): Pick your own produce (and maybe a pumpkin to carve for Halloween) at Blessington Farms just 45-minutes from Downton Houston. Get back to nature with a hike on the Lone Star Hiking Trail or mountain bike adventure through the Sam Houston National Forest.
Winter (December, January, February): There’s still plenty to do when the temperature dips in Houston including renting a kayak or bike to explore Buffalo Bayou Park. Join a guided hour-long kayak tour through the Bayou to make the most of the experience. If the weather doesn’t allow outdoor adventures, get ready to shop til’ you drop at Tangier Outlets where you can make the most of discounts on high-end fashion labels.
Spring (March, April, May): If Houston is best enjoyed outdoors then a trip to Discovery Green’s 12-acre park is a must. Enjoy walks with views to downtown Houston, interactive water play areas, art installations and plenty of dining options. And what would a trip to Texas be without experiencing a rodeo? Visit the world’s biggest rodeo at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that goes for three weeks each March.
Year-Round: New York has Central Park and Houston has Memorial Park - almost 1500 acres of parklands and a golf course, swimming pool, tennis court, hiking trails and more. Dive into the underwater world adventure at Downtown Aquarium or shoot for the stars at the Space Centre, the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center. Marvel at the architecture and talent when you spend a night at the Houston Grand Opera.
Advanced RV Resort, located on South Sam Houston Parkway East, is just 12 miles south of downtown. All sites are concrete and have full hookups. This RV campground provides cable television, free Wi-Fi, a hot tub, a laundry room, private baths, and much more. Aside from that, this resort features a heated pool, a grill area, a recreational building, and direct access to the Tom Bass Regional Park, which has a golf course, a model airplane field, nature trails, and a fishing pond.
South Main RV Park, located on South Main Street, welcomes big rigs and provides full hookups, along with concrete patios. They also provide cable television, free Wi-Fi, a laundry room, an activity room, and much more. Aside from that, this campervan rental park features shaded sites, wide streets, a leash-free dog area, and more.
McCullar Parkway RV Park, located on Stuebner Airline Road, provides full hookups, paved roads, and much more. This RV campground also features full concrete pads, easy access to downtown Houston, on-site management, and wooded sites with 100-year-old oak and pecan trees, which create comfortable shade.
Museum of Fine Arts, located on Bissonnet Street, is located in the heart of Houston’s museum district. The museum features a wide variety of art, including decorative arts and paintings, antique silver furnishings, ceramics, European fine art collections, and tons of other collections. Stop by with your RV rental and see glory in the world of global art. There is plenty to explore and plenty of art to appreciate gathered from all over the world and from different countries.
Houston Zoo, located in Hermann Park Drive, provides an eventful day with many fun exhibits to explore. The zoo features an African forest exhibit, a natural encounters exhibit, sea lions and other aquatic life, carnivores, and even animal works of art (painted by animals)! This would be a wonderful destination to which you might drive your motorhome rental.
Space Center Houston, located on NASA Road One, is NASA’s official visitor center and lets you experience fantastic simulations like walking in space or landing on the moon. Have fun exploring the astronaut gallery, the starship gallery, the space center theater, a tour of NASA, and a whole lot more. Drive your R rental over to this fantastic destination and explore NASA and the world of space.
On hiring an RV in Houston
Unlike when hiring a rental car, people tend to book an RV a bit further in advance, and there are a few reasons for this.
When you’re hiring an RV, you’re not simply hiring something with four wheels to buzz around a city for a few days, instead you’re hiring a vehicle that you could well be living in for days, weeks, or even months. As such, people tend to have far more specific needs — some may require a certain number of berths, perhaps an onboard kitchen, or more comfortable living space. All this means that doing your research to find the right RV for you can pay off handsomely — but it also means that supply is more limited. When supply is limited, it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible so that you know that the RV you need will be waiting for you when you arrive.
With this in mind, while it isn’t unusual for people to book a hire car the day before they need it, with RVs, people often book their vehicle months in advance. So our advice to you is if you’re planning to rent an RV, start researching today, and when you find the right RV for you, book it!
One more point, another way RV rentals differ from regular cars, is that bookings are not instant. Once you make an RV booking it will need to be approved by the provider. Yet another reason not to leave your RV rental until you’re sitting in the airport boarding lounge.
If you’re new to RVs and not sure where to start, please give our RV rental information page a read as it explains many of the basics you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
We could start off by telling you that a typical customer hiring an RV in Houston tends to look at RVs with two or four berths (including a toilet and shower). This isn’t really all that helpful though, as they type of RV you should hire in Houston depends very much on the type of RV you — rather than a typical customer — needs. Consider the following questions:
How big is your travel group? What is your budget? What facilities do you need — or not need? Where are you planning to go? How long for? Knowing the answers to these questions — and plenty more — is the best way to make sure the RV you hire in Houston is the right one for you.
Solo travellers or couples might find a compact RV to be more than enough, while families — especially those with young kids — or larger groups might prefer a more spacious motorhome with multiple sleeping areas.
Next, consider the facilities you need and the facilities you want. These might sound the same, but they are very different! Basic RVs often include a bed and simple cooking gear, while more luxurious options feature kitchens, bathrooms, and comfortable bedding. For example, if you’re planning on camping, perhaps paying the extra for comfortable beds isn’t really necessary, but if you’re not even packing a tent, then the extra expense required to get more comfortable beds might be a smart choice.
Where you’re going also matters. If you’re planning to just potter around Houston and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard RV. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Houston to Los Angeles — or New York City — something more spacious would be a sound investment.
Think about your budget, as RVs vary in cost depending on size, amenities, and rental duration, and while shortening the length of your trip might bring different options within your budget, spending more to get a bigger van may mean you’ll spend even less on hotels. Either way, do the math!
In conclusion, when you’re booking an RV for pickup from Houston, it pays to be honest when considering what you need versus what you want, along with what fits with your budget and overall travel plans. It’s the best way to maximise your chance of getting the perfect RV for you.
For most rental RV providers, the minimum age to rent an RV is the same as for car rentals — 21 years of age. Depending on the RV rental supplier, those under 21 may only be able to rent certain vehicles. Double check with the RV rental provider to see what their specific requirements are.
In most cases, you won’t need to present a special type of licence to rent an RV — you’ll only be asked to present your standard and valid full driving licence. Keep in mind that a probationary, learner permit, or provisional licence are not accepted for RV hire. If your licence is in a language other than English, you’ll need to provide an International Driving Permit in conjunction with your valid licence. If you’re unsure as to whether your licence will be accepted, you should contact your prospective RV provider prior to booking.
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