Ready to get on the road, but unsure where to pick up your vehicle? You will generally collect it directly from the Host's confirmed pickup address. Your Trip details page confirms your booking's handoff method (pickup or delivery) as well as the exact pickup or delivery location.
Please note that standard practice is to handle both pickup and drop-off at the same confirmed address shown on your Trip details page, unless you have confirmed special one-way rental arrangements approved in advance by your Host.
Standard pickup and drop-off practices for Guests
During both pickup and drop-off, allow extra time for vehicle walkthroughs, operational tutorials, damage inspections, and completing the secure digital key exchange in the Outdoorsy app. Completing this digital handoff directly in the app documents the RV's condition at handoff and protects both you and your Host from unexpected incidentals or disputes.
Plan your schedule accordingly:
During pickup: Give yourself 30–60 minutes to complete the walkthrough, learn vehicle operations, and finalize the digital key exchange before hitting the road.
During drop-off: Give yourself 45 minutes to conduct the return inspection, record fuel and mileage, and close out the handoff in the app.
Is leaving my car at pickup allowed?
If you plan to arrive in your own vehicle and leave it parked during your trip, always message your Host in advance through Outdoorsy messaging to confirm if this is an option. Never assume you can leave your personal vehicle at the pickup site. While some Hosts can accommodate parking, rules vary based on property space, local regulations, and vehicle safety:
Primary expectation: Hosts generally expect Guests to arrive via rideshare, public transit, or a drop-off from a friend or family member.
Individual Hosts (peer-to-peer): Peer-to-peer RV Hosts may allow you to park in their driveway or on their property if space permits. However, some Hosts cannot permit this due to local regulations, tight driveway space, or property rules.
Professional RV Dealers: Many established RV dealerships have customer parking or a fenced compound where renters can leave a vehicle free of charge or for a daily fee. However, dedicated parking is not guaranteed at all dealer locations due to space and local zoning, so always confirm in advance and check gate hours and liability waivers.
Street parking: If parking on a public residential street, you are 100% responsible for checking local parking permits, street sweeping schedules, winter weather bans, and municipal time limits (often 48–72 hours max).
Commercial lots (Avoid): Never leave your personal vehicle in a nearby retail or shopping center parking lot. Unattended vehicles left in commercial lots risk being towed at your own expense.
Pro Tip: If you are unsure about where to leave your vehicle before getting on the road, consider having the RV delivered directly to your home or destination. The option to have an RV delivered depends on the Host's specific delivery settings (radius and availability) and usually entails an additional fee. For more details, see our How do Guests request delivery and setup? Help Center article.
Best practices for leaving a vehicle:
If you plan to leave your car, keep these best practices in mind to ensure a smooth arrangement for both you and your Host:
Get written confirmation in the app: Always request and confirm parking arrangements through Outdoorsy messaging so your agreement is documented in writing.
Have a backup plan: If you arrive and the parking space feels tight, restricted, or unsafe, be prepared to park at an off-site long-term facility or return your car home and catch a rideshare instead.
Important: Neither Outdoorsy nor your Host assumes responsibility or liability for personal vehicles left at the pickup site, on the street, or at dealer premises. All parking is strictly at your own risk, and you remain responsible for any damage, theft, municipal citations, or towing fees incurred while you are away.
Why do I see two different addresses on my booking?
While an Outdoorsy listing only displays a single location when browsing, a confirmed booking can show two different addresses for your scheduled dates—one for pickup and one for drop-off.
You will see two separate addresses on your Trip details page and booking receipt in the following situations:
One-way trips: You and your Host agreed to a one-way journey where you pick up the RV in one location and return it to another.
Commercial fleet hosts: Some Hosts are professional RV dealers or fleet operators with multiple dealership lots, branches, or designated return depots.
Delivery or custom handoff arrangements: You coordinated delivery for one leg of the trip (e.g., picking up at a depot but having the host collect it at a campsite), or agreed to meet at an alternate location like an airport or storage lot.
How to verify your pickup and drop-off locations:
Review your Trip Details & Receipt: Check the confirmed reservation in your Outdoorsy account to see the exact pickup address for your departure date and the drop-off address for your return date. For guidance on finding or downloading your receipt, visit our Pre-departure: How do I manage my trip as a Guest? Help Center article.
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Look for the confirmation line in Outdoorsy Messages: When a Host or dealer approves a handoff or delivery change, an automated status update appears directly in your message thread:
Handoff address updated • ID • timestampNote: This notification confirms the change succeeded, but it will not show the physical street address inside the chat bubble. Your updated street address will display on your Trip Details page and receipt.
Contact your Host or Support if something looks off: If an address on your receipt looks unfamiliar or differs from what you agreed upon, message the Host directly to confirm, or if needed, reach out to Outdoorsy Customer Support before your departure date so we can assist.