What Is The Average RV Gas Tank Size?

Last updated on May 23rd, 2023 at 06:11 am

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Knowing how far you can go on a tank of gas is a fundamental part of planning any RV trip. After all, the whole point of RV’ing is keeping your house mobile and on wheels! But if you’re out of gas, you’re not going to get very far.

While knowing how many miles per gallon your RV can get is good, if you don’t know how large your gas tank is, then it’s not going to be much help!

So what is the average RV gas tank size?

We reviewed more than 100 RVs and found the average Class C RV holds about 25 gallons. A Class A tank holds the most at around 100 gallons and finally, the smaller Class B rigs hold about 24 gallons. 

Wondering how far that will get you on average?

Most Class A RVs get around 9 miles per gallon which will take you around 810 miles. The smaller Class B’s have the best mile-per-gallon at 19 miles per gallon which means a full take should take you around 456 miles. Finally, Class C RVs are in between at about 11 miles per gallon which means you can typically go about 440 miles on a full tank.

Of course, this is going to depend a lot on your driving style, terrain, your individual rig, and more.

If you want more than just a quick answer, keep reading! I’ll be going over the average fuel tank size for each Class of RV, how to calculate your real-world MPG, and more.

How Big Is The Gas Tank On A Class A RV?

On average, a Class A RV has a gas tank that can hold about 100 gallons of fuel but some of the larger RVs (like the Tiffin Zephyr) can hold as much as 150 gallons of fuel!

Class A RVs are the heaviest out there and many of them are more like small houses on wheels instead of a simple recreational vehicle. That means they also have the largest fuel tanks of any other rig and it’s not uncommon to see gas tanks above 100 gallons. But because they’re so huge, they also have some of the lowest mile-per-gallon ratings of any RV.

We’ve put together an almost complete list of RVs from just about every North American Class A RV manufacturer with the GVWR and the fuel tank capacity. I’ve also included the length and height of the RV so you can get a better idea of how the fuel tank size lines up with the overall size of the RV.

Just keep in mind that most rigs have several models that can have different sizes of fuel tanks. I’ve listed the base model for each, and with a variety of floor plans, add-ons, and special features some of the specs are different between models. That means you need to make sure to check your specific model to find out more about our own specs.

Here’s the list:

Model	GVWR in pounds	Exterior Length	Exterior Height	Fuel Capacity In Gallons
Class A
American Coach
American Eagle	51,000	41′ 11.5″	12′ 11″	150
American Dream	47,000	41′ 11.15″	13′ 1″	150
American Tradition	41,000	37′ 9″	13′ 1″	150
Coachmen
Pursuit	16,000	28′ 9″	12″	80
Mirada	18,000	30′ 7″	12′ 5″	80
Encore	22,000	35′ 4″	12′ 7″	80
Mirada Select	22,000	38′ 8″	12′ 7″	80
Sportscoach SRS	26,000	36′ 3″	12′ 10″	90
Sportscoach RD	32,000	41′ 1″	12′ 10″	100
Entegra Coach
Vision	16,000	28′ 5″	12′ 5″	80
Vision XL	22,000	36′ 11″	12′ 10″	80
Emblem	24,000	38′ 8″	12′ 7″	80
Fleetwood RV
Discovery LXE	36,400	41′ 4″	12′ 10″	100
Discovery	33,400	40′ 1″	12′ 10″	100
Pace Arrow LXE	33,000	38′ 3″	12′ 10″	100
Pace Arrow	26,000	33′ 11″	12′ 2″	90
Southwind	22,000	36′ 3″	12′ 10″	80
Bounder	22,000	34′ 3″	12′ 10″	80
Fortis	22,000	34′ 6″	12′ 10″	80
Flair	16,000	29′ 3″	12′ 4″	80
Forest River
Berkshire	32,400	35′ 5″	12′ 8″	100
FR3	18,000	31′ 8″	12′ 5″	80
Georgetown 3 Series GT3	22,000	34′ 7″	12′ 9″	80
Holiday Rambler
Armada	36,400	40′ 1″	12′ 10″	100
Endeavor	33,400	40′ 1″	12′ 10″	100
Navigator	33,000	38′ 3″	12′ 10″	100
Nautica	32,400	35′ 4″	12′ 10″	100
Vacationer	22,000	34′ 3″	12′ 10″	80
Invicta	22,000	34′ 6″	12′ 10″	80
Admiral	16000	29′ 3″	12′ 4″	80
Monaco Coach
Signature	48,600 (GCWR)	41′ 2″	12′ 10″	100
Marquis	38,600 (GCWR)	41′ 2″	12′ 10″	100
Newmar
King Aire	54,000	44′ 11″	13′ 4″	200
Dutch Star	51,000	37′ 11″	13′ 1″	150
Bay Star	22,000	30′ 11″	12′ 8″	80
Canyon Star	26,000	35′ 11″	12′ 11″	80
Nexus RV
Bentley	32,000	35′ 10″	12′ 7″	100
Evoque	32,000	15′ 10″	12′ 7″	100
Thor Motor Coach
Palazzo	26,000	34′ 9″	12′ 1″	90
Aria	32,400	34′ 7″	12′ 6″	100
Axis	12,500	25′ 6″	11′	55
Windsport	18,000	30′ 9″	12′ 2″	80
Challenger	24,000	37′	12′ 11″	80
Tiffin Motorhomes
Allegro Breeze	25,500	31′ 6″	11′ 8″	70
Phaeton	38,320	38′ 7″	12′ 7″	100
Zephyr	51,000	44′ 11″	12′ 11″	150
Winnebago Industries
Forza	26,000	35′ 6″	12′	90
Adventurer	18,000	28′ 5″	12′ 4″	80
Intent	18,000	28′ 11″	12′	80

Not only are Class A RVs the largest in terms of height, length, and weight they also have the largest gas tanks going up to 150 gallons! That’s a lot of fuel! Even though the high-end and huge luxury coaches have a fuel tank that can hold 150 gallons, in most cases the average gas tank size is about 80-90 gallons.

In most cases, the rigs that run on diesel are going to have larger tanks and are usually going to be larger overall. Of course, there is a reason for that. Diesel engines can put out more power than traditional gasoline AND they’re much more efficient from a mile-per-gallon perspective. That is one of many reasons why semi-trucks run on diesel fuel.

What’s The Average MPG For A Class A RV?

Just like fuel tank size, there’s going to be a lot of variation even among RVs of the same class but typically a Class A RV gets between 7 and 13 miles per gallon. This is also going to depend on the conditions you’re driving in and of course how you drive.

Even though the diesel engine of most Class A rigs is more efficient, that’s offset by the fact that most Class A RVs are HUGE compared to their smaller counterparts. So if you’re looking for a good mpg rating while still having a lot of space you’ll want to check out some Class C rigs.

How Far Can I Go On One Tank Of Fuel?

Of course, it’s going to depend on a lot of variables but with an 80-gallon tank, you’d expect to go 560 to 1,040 miles. To it in perspective, Google tells us that the distance from New York to Florida is about 1,146 miles. So with one or two tanks, you can get pretty far!

What Is The Average Gas Tank Size For A Class C RV?

While there can be a lot of variation for Class C RVs, the average tank size is around 25 gallons with most motorhomes falling between 25 and 50 gallons.

Class C RVs fall somewhere between the giant Class A and the much smaller Class B rigs and they’re also my favorite size of RV. That’s because you really do get the best of everything! There are plenty of Class C RVs that feature the same luxury as Class A but in a much smaller package. While not as small as a Class B you’ll still have an easy time parking and finding campsites that can accommodate your rig.

When it comes to the average gas tank size, 25 to 50 gallons might seem small compared to the Class A RVs we just looked at but the miles-per-gallon for Class C’s are much better. In fact, it’s almost double the typical Class A!

But to get a good feel for the average gas tank size I’ve put together a long list of the fuel tank size for some of the most popular Class C RVs. Just be aware, that there are always variations in models, and while most of the time the fuel tanks size will remain the same there can be a surprising amount of variation. I’ve listed the base model whenever possible.

You’ll notice that in most cases the fuel tank is either 25 gallons or 55 gallons with some much larger variants thrown in occasionally.

Here’s the list

Model	GVWR in pounds	Exterior Length	Exterior Height	Fuel Capacity In Gallons
Class C
Coachmen
Concord	14,200	33′ 3″	10′ 3″	57
Leprechaun	14,500	32′ 11″	10′ 11″	55
Freelander	14,200	27′ 11″	10′ 11″	57
Cross Trek	10,360	24′ 1″	10′ 6″	25
Prism	11,030	25′ 1″	10′ 9″	26
Dynamax
Isata 3	11,030	24′ 7″	11′ 5″	26
Force HD	33,000	36′ 8″	12′ 9″	100
Entegra Coach
Odyssey	14,500	26′ 8″	7′	55
Esteem	14,500	19′ 11″	11′ 8″	55
Qwest	11,300	25′ 2″	10′ 11″	26.4
Accolade	31,000	39′ 4″	13′ 4″	100
Forest River
Forester Classic	14,500	27′ 1″	11′ 3″	55
Forester LE	14,200	25′	11′ 3″	57
Forester MBS	11,030	25′ 5″	11′ 3″	26
Forester TS	10,360	26′ 1″	10′ 5″	25
Sunseeker Classic	14,200	27′ 7″	11′ 3″	57
Sunseeker LE	14,200	25′	11′ 3″	57
Sunseeker MBS	11,030	25′ 5″	11′ 3″	26
Sunseeker TS	10,360	26′ 1″	10′ 5″	25
Gulf Stream Coach
BT Cruiser	12,500	22′ 1″	10′ 6″	55
Jayco
Redhawk SE	14,200	25′ 2″	11′ 6″	57
Greyhawk	14,500	32′ 6″	11′ 8″	55
Melbourne	11,030	25′ 2″	11′ 5″	26.4
Seneca	31,000	39′ 4″	13′ 1″	100
Newmar
Super Star	40,000	37′ 11″	13′	100
Supereme Aire	58,000	41′ 2″	13′ 2″	100
Nexus RV
4X4 Super C	37,500	30′ 11″	12′ 2″	65
Ghost	25,999	33′	13′	100
Wraith	24,500	32′ 5″	12′ 6″	70
Triumph	24,500	30′ 11″	12′ 6″	70
Phantom	12,500	25′	11′ 3″
Renegade RV
Vienna	11,030	24′ 11″	11	26.4
Thor Motor Coach
Chateau	12,500	24′ 6″	11′	55
Four Winds	12,500	24′ 6″	11′	55
Quantum	14,500	26′ 10″	11′ 2″	55
Tiffin Motorhomes
Wayfarer	11,030	25′ 7″	11′ 4″	24.5
Winnebago Industries
Navion	11,030	25′ 6″	11′	24.5
Outlook	12,500	24′ 8″	11′	55
Minnie Winnie	12,500	24′ 5″	10′ 11″	55
Porto	11,030	24′ 5″	11′ 7″	24.5

Class C’s really do strike a balance between the Class A behemoths and the almost micro Class B’s. While the majority of Class C RVs run on gasoline, there are still several diesel engine models on the road. Thor has a line they call the Super C Diesel and they heavily market the benefits of a diesel engine.

Class C RVs really are my favorite for all the versatility they bring and I just wrote an entire guide on the best Class C RVs for winter so you never have to stop enjoying your rig!

What’s The Average MPG For A Class C RV?

Class C RVs can do surprisingly well in terms of fuel efficiency with an average mile-per-gallon range of 15 to 18 MPG.

Compare that to the 16 to 22 MPG for a Ford F-150 and you can see that it’s actually pretty good- especially when you consider that you’re driving your house around at the same time! If you drive carefully, hit great conditions, and travel light you could even beat the fuel efficiency of an F-150!

How Far Can I Go On One Tank Of Fuel?

With a 25-gallon fuel tank and an average MPG of 16.5, you can expect to go 412.5 miles. Remember, from New York to Florida is about 1,040 miles so you’ll need 2-3 fill up for a longer run like that. But with a much smaller tank compared to Class A rigs, that’s not bad at all!

What Is The Average Gas Tank Size For A Class B RV?

On average, a Class B RV has a gas tank that holds about 25 gallons of fuel. There’s not nearly as much variation in tank sizes for Class B RVs as compared to the other classes and most of the time there’s only a difference of a gallon or two between different manufacturers.

Class B RVs are the smallest RVs out there so it’s no surprise that they have the smallest gas tank too. Some Class B’s aren’t much bigger than a large van which is one of the downsides of these types of Class B rigs.

Just like with the other RV classes out there, I’ve put together a large list of the most popular Class B rigs out there along with their weight and fuel tank size. This will help you get a big-picture understanding of the average fuel tank size!

Model	GVWR in pounds	Exterior Length	Exterior Height	Fuel Capacity In Gallons
Class B
Airstream
Tommy Bahama	9,050	19′ 5″	9′ 7″	24.5
Atlas	11,030	24′ 9″	10′ 6″	25.5
American Coach
Patriot	11,030	24.1′	9′ 10″	24.5
Patriot Cruiser	11,030	24.1′	9′ 2″	24.5
Chinook RV
Bayside	11,030	24′ 1″	9′ 8″	26
Eagle	11,030	24′ 1″	9′ 8″	26
Countryside	11,030	24′ 1″	9′ 8″	26
Coachmen
Nova	9350	20′ 11″	9′ 4″	24
Galleria	11,030	24′ 3″	9′ 9″	24
Beyond	10,360	22′ 2″	9′ 11″	25
Coach House
Platinum	14,500	26′ 10″	10′ 5″	55
Arriva	11,030	24′ 2″	9′ 8″	26.4
Fleetwood
Irok	9,350	21	9′ 4″	24
Midwest Automotive Designs
Daycruiser	9,480	19′ 6″	9′ 6″	24.5
Nexus RV
Viper	14,500	24′ 8″	10′ 7″	55
Panoramic RV
Panoramic	–	21′	9′ 4″	–
Pleasure-Way Industries
Ontour	9,000	19′ 8″	10′	25
Ascent	8,550	19′ 5″	9′ 7″	24.5
Tofino	8,550	17′ 9″	8′ 2″	24
Regency RV
National Traveler	9,350	20′ 11″	9′ 4″	24
Ultra	9,500	25′ 1″	10′ 6″	24.5
Roadtrek
Play	9,350	20′ 9″	9′ 5″	24
Zion	9,350	20′ 9″	9′ 5″	24
Safari Condo
22′ Mercedes Model	–	22′ 7′	9′ 7″	24.5
Triple E
Serenity	11,030	24’6″	10′ 3″	24.5
Unity	11,030	25′ 11″	10′ 6″	24.5
Wonder	11,000	24′ 9″	9′ 11.5″	25
Thor Motor Coach
Sequence	9,350	20′ 11″	9′ 5″	24
Tellaro	9,350	20′ 11″	9′ 5″	24
Winnebago Industries
Revel	9,050	19′ 7″	10′	24.5
Travato	9.35	21′	9′ 4″	24
Era	11,030	24′ 3″	9′ 8″	24.5

What’s The Average MPG For A Class B RV?

While most Class B’s run on gasoline, there are several manufacturers that use the Mercedes Sprinter chassis and a diesel engine. This is generally the expectation rather than the rule and in most cases, you should expect to see gasoline running Class Bs.

Class B RVs have the highest mile-per-gallon numbers with an average range of 18 to 25 MPG. That means they can often have better fuel efficiency than a lot of commuter vehicles.

Their typical MPG would be best compared to a small SUV or similar.

How Far Can I Go On One Tank Of Fuel?

With a 25-gallon tank of fuel and an average MPG of 21.5, you could expect to go 537.5 miles on a tank of gas. That means you could almost go from New York to Florida on two tanks of gas! Of course, you pay for that efficiency with a much smaller vehicle and fewer creature comforts on the inside.

What’s The Biggest RV Gas Tank Size?

As I’ve mentioned a few times, the size of RV gas tanks can vary quite a lot between the different classes, models, and overall varied types of RVs. Although most rigs will have a gas tank size between 25 and 100 gallons, some big Class As may have a gas tank able to hold 150 gallons! Now that’s a number suited to some mighty road trips!

Most RVs won’t even come close to this number, but if you have the budget required to purchase a luxury Class A rig, you can expect to be powered on the road for a considerable amount of time. Just remember to stay safe on the road, and only drive a sensible number of miles each trip to avoid accidents and exhaustion! 

Diesel Vs Gasoline And Average Fuel Tank Size

I’ve already talked a little about diesel vs gasoline engines but let’s dive a little deeper and see how it’s connected to the average tank size.

Diesel Engines

Diesel engines have a bad rap as being loud and having a negative impact on the environment but the modern diesel engine is just as “green” as gasoline while getting better fuel efficiency than the average gasoline rig. Diesel engines typically last longer and have a more stable power output.

Even though the engine itself doesn’t need more fuel, RVs that run on diesel fuel usually have much larger fuel tanks. That’s simply because of the chassis that they’re built on and not a result of the fuel type. For example, the Thor Super C Diesel has a tank size of 28 gallons while still being a diesel engine!

Gasoline Engines

If diesel is better than gasoline, why isn’t it more popular? The short version is that diesel engines are typically more expensive (even though they last longer) and as a result, they never gained the same kind of traction that gasoline engines did. You can read more about that in this article.

Just like with diesel, the main reason we see a difference in fuel tank sizes between the different fuel tips is a result of the chassis that they’re built on and not the actual engine. Since Class C and B RVs use chassis from vehicles that are readily available to consumers we see more gasoline engines and as a result smaller tank sizes.

How Do I Calculate My REAL Gas Mileage?

If you’re trying to figure out the average size of an RV’s gas tank, the next logical question is what kind of gas mileage you can get so you know how far you can go on a tank. We’ve already covered this in a fair amount of detail, but there can be a BIG difference between the gas mileage the manufacturer lists and the real-world mile-per-gallon you get with your RV living full-time on the road.

Usually, the estimate from the dealership or the manufacturer is a bit more optimistic than what you can expect in real driving conditions. That’s because most of the mpg numbers given are under great conditions and perfect load. That just isn’t how the real world works!

So while some modern motorhomes will calculate your MPG for you (right on your dashboard) not all rigs have this. So if you want to get your real-world MPG you’re going to need to do a little math.

I know…but it won’t be hard math!

First, you need to figure out the size of your gas tank. Next, you’ll want to fill your tank to 100% capacity and then write down the current miles on your odometer. Most RVs will have an option to set a trip mile so you could also create a new trip to start from zero.

Finally, you’ll drive until your tank is at the halfway mark and note how many miles you went.

For example, if you’ve got a Class C RV with a tank of 25 gallons and you drive 200 miles on half a tank of gas then your miles-per-gallon is 16. Here’s the formula:

Miles Driven / Gallons of Fuel = MPG

But why are we using the halfway mark of our rig instead of the entire tank?

That’s because we don’t want to actually get our gas tank to empty and it will be hard to know exactly how much gas is left if we’re simply low. The halfway mark is a safe place to stop that can still give us an accurate reading of fuel.

Is That It?

But you’re not quite done. That’s because your average MPG is exactly that…an average! In order to get an accurate number, you’d need to do this dozens of times and take your average rating. It’s further complicated by the type of driving you’re doing. For example, driving 75 mph on the highway for the entire trip will give you a much better MPG rating than stopping and starting across the city or in your campground. That’s why most car manufacturers make a distinction between city and highway miles.

This all seems like a lot of work, right? So why bother figuring this all out?

Why Calculate Your MPG?

The most obvious reason to calculate your MPG is cost-efficiency. If you can increase the fuel efficiency of your RV you can save money!

But there are also some less obvious reasons to track and try to improve your MPG. First, from a planning perspective, you need to know how far you can get on how much fuel. Especially if you’re boondocking and might be traveling far away from a gas station for some time. If you’re just guessing at your typical MPG you could be in big trouble!

Second, I’d argue that improving your MPG can actually improve the safety of your driving! That’s because many of the techniques that can help increase your fuel efficiency are the same techniques that decrease the risks of driving. For example, avoiding rapid acceleration is a great way to improve the fuel efficiency of your RV and a safe driving technique overall.

How To Improve Your MPG

Understanding how to improve the MPG of your RV is a big topic! Bigger than this article and you can expect a complete guide to come soon. But for now, take a look at this quick list of tips to improve your gas mileage. You can also try to make a game of it and beat your score! Or if you’re sharing driving responsibilities with someone else you can each try to get the best MPG score!

Here’s the list:

• Watch your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can really drop your fuel efficiency. In most cases, the ideal tire pressure will be found on the tire.
• Stick with quality motor oil. While it might be tempting to go for the cheap stuff, you’ll pay for it in fuel.
• Don’t overload your RV. Check your owner’s manual to find your cargo capacity and don’t go over. Not only is it dangerous to overload your rig, but it will also drop your fuel efficiency.
• Don’t overhead haul. Carrying equipment on top of your RV can greatly increase drag which will decrease fuel efficiency. You might also run into problems with bridges depending on your RV’s height.
• Avoid stop-and-start driving. While you can’t always prevent stop-and-start driving, you can try to coast as much as possible and avoid slamming the gas!
• Get feedback! In order to figure out how you’re doing, you need feedback in the form of your latest MPG. So make sure you’re regularly tracking your fuel efficiency.

Closing Thoughts

Even though we started with a question about the average size of an RV gas tank, we ended up learning quite a bit about RV gas overall! I hope you found exactly what you were looking for, and maybe a little extra too!