Weekend lodging costs: hotel vs rooftop tent vs campervan rental

Lodging is often 30-50% of a short road-trip budget, often more than fuel on European weekends. This guide compares what you pay to sleep on a single trip: hotel, rented rooftop tent (RTT), or rented campervan. It does not cover buying a campervan vs buying a tent; for that, see campervan vs rooftop tent.

Trip snapshot (worked example below): A 3-night summer weekend in the Ardennes for two: hotels about €420-600, a rented RTT plus campsites about €140-220, a weekend campervan rental about €300-540 (lodging only). Use the profitability calculator to model buy-and-list ownership.

All figures are lodging only (2 people). Fuel, food, and activities are the same whichever option you pick.

How we calculated this

Ranges are illustrative, not quotes. Your route, dates, and booking lead time move totals by 20-40%. Run your own case in the profitability calculator if you plan to buy and list a tent.

Worked example: Brussels to Ardennes, 3 nights, July

Same road trip for two adults: Friday evening to Monday morning. Only lodging changes.

*Mid-range Roofwander weekend for a 2-person tent; see price bands.

Why hotels cost more here: July weekends in the Ardennes fill fast. Villages like Durbuy and spa towns spike rates; parking and breakfast bundles add up.

Why the tent wins on total: One weekend rental plus three nights on a municipal or farm campsite stays well under three hotel nights.

Why a rented van sits in the middle: You pay for the whole vehicle (kitchen, insurance, cleaning), even if you only needed a bed.

For trip ideas in the region, see visit the Ardennes.

Four ways to sleep on a trip (rental view)

*Effective nightly cost after rental income offsets purchase; see buy and list below.

Campervan ownership (insurance, storage, MOT) is a separate topic: campervan vs rooftop tent.

When hotels still win

• City breaks: parking, one-night stays, and walkable dinners favour a hotel (or apartment).
• Late arrival: after 22:00, hotel check-in beats pitching in the dark.
• Weather / comfort: storms, cold snaps, or need for a desk and shower on tap.
• No compatible car: no roof bars or load rating; check vehicle compatibility before committing to a tent rental.
• Very short trips: one night: setup and pack-down eat the RTT savings.

Hotels are the right tool sometimes. The question is whether your trip mix is mostly city, mostly nature, or hybrid (next section).

Hybrid trips: hotel + rooftop tent

Many road trips are not all-tent or all-hotel.

Example: 2 nights in Lyon (hotel, ~€180-320 total) + 2 nights in the Alps (RTT + campsite, ~€110-180).

Rule of thumb: hotel in the city, tent in the mountains. That often saves €150-300 vs four hotel nights in resort towns, without sacrificing one comfortable urban night.

Rent vs buy vs buy-and-list

Rent a rooftop tent

Best default for 1-4 weekends per year. No depreciation, no storage, no compatibility gamble. Budget €80-150 for the tent (weekend) plus €18-35/night for campsites. Details in the rental pricing guide. Use the rental checklist before booking.

Buy, use only

Makes sense when you camp often enough that rental fees exceed ownership. Rough break-even vs renting: ~8-12 trip nights per year (depends on tent price and how many long weekends you take). Below that, renting stays cheaper and more flexible.

Buy and list when you travel often

A complete setup (tent, bars, basics) usually runs €1,500-5k (~€3k mid-range). Listing on Roofwander when you are home can subsidise trips:

Rules of thumb: ~6+ hotel nights replaced per year can justify buying vs staying in hotels; ~15+ rental days listed can push effective cost toward €15-35/night. Model your case in the profitability calculator (Roofwander commission included).

Quick picker

Bottom line

For a typical 3-night EU weekend, renting a rooftop tent plus campsites is usually the lowest lodging bill. Hotels win on city comfort and convenience. Rented campervans sit between hotel and RTT on price but include the whole vehicle package. Buying and listing pays when you travel often and can host ~15-25+ days a year.

Planning a single weekend's sleep budget? You are in the right article. Deciding whether to own a van or a tent? Read campervan vs rooftop tent.