Van road trip › United States
Van road trip in United States: how many days and how much does it cost?
United States: allow 20 to 40 days by van for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km). Budget: between $650 USD and $2,450 USD for fuel and nights, without meals or sightseeing.
Estimates. These figures are rough estimates written from memory on Oct 25, 2026: prices and rules change. Check official sources before you go.
How many days?
Allow 20 to 40 days for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km), at a pace of 150 to 300 km (95 to 185 mi) a day. The longer you stay in the same places, the more days you need.
Famous routes in this country, to copy into a trip:
- Route 66 : Chicago to Santa Monica on the Mother Road: diners, neon motels, the Ozarks, the Texas plains and the Arizona desert.
- Pacific Coast Highway : Highway 1 from San Francisco to San Diego: Big Sur, cliffs, seals and Southern California beaches.
- Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway : The Appalachian crest from Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains: overlooks, mills, bluegrass music and fall colors.
- Overseas Highway (Florida Keys) : Miami to Key West island to island over 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge: snorkeling, sunsets and Key deer.
- Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier : Jackson to St. Mary: the Tetons, Yellowstone's geysers and bison, Flathead Lake and the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Grand Circle of the Southwest parks : A loop from Las Vegas: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon.
How much does it cost?
| Fuel | $650 USD |
|---|---|
| Nights (30 days) | between $0 USD and $1,800 USD |
| Total, without meals or sightseeing | between $650 USD and $2,450 USD |
Assumptions: 12 L per 100 km, 30 days, 3,730 mi (6,000 km) of driving, gas at $3.35 USD per gallon. Tolls and vignettes extra. With your vehicle and your route, the planner works out the cost kilometre by kilometre.
Where to sleep? Depends on the region
Federal land (BLM, national forests): free dispersed camping, often 14 days in one spot. Store parking lots (Walmart, Cracker Barrel…): depends on the store and the city, always ask. Rest areas: overnight banned in several states.
Frequently asked questions
- United States: how many days for a van road trip?
- Allow 20 to 40 days for a loop of about 3,730 mi (6,000 km), at a pace of 150 to 300 km (95 to 185 mi) a day. The longer you stay in the same places, the more days you need.
- United States: how much does a van road trip cost?
- For 30 days, budget $650 USD for fuel (12 L per 100 km, gas at $3.35 USD per gallon) and between $0 USD and $1,800 USD for nights, so between $650 USD and $2,450 USD in total without meals or sightseeing.
- United States: where to sleep in a van?
- Depends on the region. Federal land (BLM, national forests): free dispersed camping, often 14 days in one spot. Store parking lots (Walmart, Cracker Barrel…): depends on the store and the city, always ask. Rest areas: overnight banned in several states. A night costs $0 USD to $60 USD depending on whether you find a free spot, a service area or a campground with hookups.
- United States: do you need to pay tolls or buy a vignette in a van?
- Electronic toll. Tolls mostly in the East, Florida, Texas, Illinois and California. More and more are cashless: a transponder (E-ZPass, SunPass, TxTag…) costs less than toll-by-plate, which arrives by mail with fees.
- United States: what do you need to enter with your van?
- Canadian citizens: passport, NEXUS card or enhanced licence. Visitor stays of up to 6 months; electronic I-94 at land borders. Count your days (Borders tab): IRS substantial presence test. Your Canadian or US licence is enough for a visitor. Insurance: your Canadian or US proof of insurance is enough.