Vehicle storage sounds like a specialist service and it is more common than that. Of the 11,482 facilities we list, 7,605 take vehicles, RVs or boats in some form, which is 66% of the directory.
Why that number is higher than people expect
Most of it is outdoor parking rather than anything purpose built. A facility with spare yard behind the buildings can sell it as RV and boat parking with no construction at all, so a lot of ordinary self storage sites offer it as a sideline.
That is also the catch. "Takes vehicles" covers a gravel strip behind a fence and a covered, powered, indoor bay, and the difference in price and in protection is enormous. The listing rarely distinguishes them.
The questions that sort it out
Ask what the surface is. Gravel, packed dirt and paved all behave differently in a wet spring, and getting a boat trailer off soft ground in March is a job.
Ask whether the space is covered. Uncovered outdoor parking is the cheapest option and it means a season of sun on the roof and seals, which is what ages an RV that is not being driven.
Ask about access hours, because 30% of facilities offer 24 hour access and a boat trip that starts at five in the morning does not work behind a gate that opens at seven.
Ask about power, if you want to keep a battery on a tender over winter. Most outdoor spaces have none.
Ask what they need from you. Nearly all facilities want to see current registration and insurance for anything with a plate, and many will not take a vehicle that is not running.
Size is measured differently
Vehicle spaces are sold by length rather than by the floor plan sizes used for units, usually in ten foot steps. Measure from the tow hitch to the rear bumper rather than trusting the manufacturer's figure, which normally leaves the hitch out, and add a couple of feet so you are not squeezing in.
How we got these numbers
Every figure here is counted from the 11,482 facilities listed on StorageAtlas across 46 states and provinces and 1,685 towns and cities. Prices are what each facility published on its own website on the day we last read it, so they are a dated reading rather than a quote, and a facility can change its rates without us seeing it. Where a figure rests on a smaller sample we say how small. We hold no vacancy data at all, so nothing here tells you whether a unit is free today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many storage facilities take RVs and boats?
7,605 of the 11,482 facilities we list, which is 66%. Most of that is outdoor parking rather than covered or indoor space.
Is covered RV storage worth the extra?
For anything stored through a full season it usually is. Sun is what degrades roof membranes, seals and tyres on a vehicle that sits, and covered space costs less than the repairs.
What size space do I need for my RV?
Measure hitch to bumper yourself and add a couple of feet. Spaces are sold by length in roughly ten foot steps, and manufacturer lengths often exclude the hitch.
Can I store a vehicle that does not run?
Often not. Many facilities require the vehicle to be driveable, registered and insured, partly so they can move it if they need to. Ask before you arrange towing.
