RV Rental Rochester

Rochester RV Rentals

Nestled on the pristine southern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario, Rochester, New York, is a charming city with so much to do, you'll be hard-pressed to fit it all into one trip. With over 12,000 acres of parkland, 100 wineries, breweries and distilleries, and over 100 family-friendly attractions, there's something to entice every tourist and traveler year-round.

RV rentals in Rochester are growing in popularity as many people realize what a fun and affordable way it is to explore the city and surrounding countryside. The city offers world-class museums, golf courses, shopping, and theater, along with breathtaking natural attractions and hiking.  

With a Rochester RV rental, you can make the most of your time there by traveling to several of the area's excellent campgrounds and parks. It's an economical, fun, and comfortable way to see a beautiful area of the country. 

Popular RV Destinations in Rochester

Finger Lakes Winery Tours

The fertile land and unique climate in the upstate New York region of Rochester and its surrounding area is the ideal environment for growing grapes. Thus, the region is becoming widely known and well-respected for producing some of the most incredible wines in the country, including the famed ice wine.

Finger Lakes Winery Tours is the ideal way to enjoyably navigate and experience some of the best wineries in the area. They offer a wide variety of luxury vehicles that can comfortably accommodate anywhere from 2-56 people, making it a great group outing or a romantic, intimate day of tasting some of the region's top wine offerings. You can choose from several customized tour packages to fit any time frame and budget requirement.

Hiking

Rochester and the surrounding region offer various hiking experiences, from simple strolls to more technical and challenging trails. No matter the season, you can take advantage of the area’s abundant natural beauty and resources by hiking, walking, cross-country skiing, or snow-shoeing.

Highland Park, Seneca Park, Genesee Valley Park, the Genesee Riverway Trail, and the Erie Canal Heritage Trail all provide relatively easy, family-friendly strolls that allow you to relax and soak up the scenery or jog or bike as quickly as you want. Nearby Perinton boasts an impressive 40-mile hiking and bike trails system that earned it the designation of a “Top 10 Trail Town” by the American Hiking Society.

Those looking for a more adventurous outing will love Rochester’s stunning waterfalls in Letchworth State Park. There are hundreds of more waterfalls carving paths in the numerous ravines and gullies of the Finger Lakes, a hiker’s paradise. Nearby, Durand-Eastman Park, Black Creek Park, Ellison Park, and several others all offer more technical and less-populated hiking paths that can test your endurance.

Garden Tours

Rochester is affectionately known as “The Flower City” and boasts an international reputation for horticultural excellence, so we strongly urge you to explore the city’s vast array of lush and opulent gardens during your visit. 

Highland Park features huge collections of lilacs, azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons, and much more. The park houses one of the oldest arboretums in America and proudly displays its massive collection of Japanese maples and other exotic trees. A breathtaking iris garden was a gift of Rochester’s sister city Hamamatsu, Japan.

Other picturesque spots to consider are the Sunken Garden behind Warner Castle, the living museum of Ellwanger Garden, and the Maplewood Park Rose Garden. Or, jump in on one of the many home and garden tours offered throughout the city, like the one at the famed mansion of George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak.

Kid-Friendly Activities 

Rochester is proud to be on Kiplinger’s and Forbes’ lists as one of the top cities for families and offers a large and varied amount of attractions and events for you to enjoy with your kids of all ages. Many hands-on museums, such as The Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and the Cumming Nature Center, provide hours of education and exploration that draw thousands of families each year.

The Genesee Country Village and Museum is one of the oldest and largest living history museums in the country. This meticulously maintained 19th-century historic village offers over 70 structures where kids can craft, do laundry the old fashioned way, meet animals, and learn where food came from and how it was prepared. 

Of course, the Seneca Park Zoo and the famous Seabreeze Amusement Park allow you and your family to enjoy more modern and exciting attractions. Or plan a fun and relaxing beach day on the clean and sandy shore of Lake Ontario, one of the famed Great Lakes. You can even park your RV at several of the area’s lakeside campgrounds. 

Shopping Galore

Rochester has so many options for shopping that you'll be hard-pressed to see it all during your stay. Consider beginning your day at the Rochester Public Market: it was voted "America's Favorite Farmer's Market 2010", so you know it must be good. It's a year-round market that features fresh produce, cheeses, wines, baked goods, ethnic foods, and much more.

If mall shopping is more your thing, Rochester has plenty of that for you to enjoy, too. From upscale shops in the Eastview Mall in Victor, the vast Greece Ridge Mall, or the numerous collection of discount and outlet stores, including the almost 100-store Waterloo Premium Outlets, there's something to satisfy every shopper and every budget. 

There's also plenty of specialty shops, boutiques, and gift shops sprinkled all over some of the city's most scenic locations. Along the Erie Canal, down Main Street, University and Park Avenues, or in many other of Rochester's historical settings, you'll find a distinctive combination of cafes, art shops, clothing, and services that are unique to this area only.

Golf

Rochester enjoys the distinction of being ranked by Golf Magazine as the #10 Best City in the U.S. for golfing and #1 for Golf Affordability. With over 60 golf courses sprinkled throughout the region, it’s not hard to see why Rochester is a golfer’s paradise—you’ll probably have to plan multiple trips to fit it all in. An RV rental is the perfect way to experience a golfing road trip and see the sights.

In 2013, Rochester was the only city in the United States to host both the PGA and LPGA Championship tournaments. It also hosted the Senior PGA tournament in 2019. Its ability to successfully host such high profile and prestigious events mean that Rochester’s golf scene is top-notch. It boasts many courses designed by some of golf’s most famous architects, as well as many others that are built by the industry’s most up-and-coming designers.

Events and Entertainment in Rochester

Rochester Lilac Festival

Held every May, the Rochester Lilac Festival is a huge 10-day event that attracts visitors from all over the world to the famous Highland Park, which is home to over 1,200 lilac bushes that display 500 varieties of lilacs. Did you even know there were 500 varieties of lilacs?

This is a family-friendly event that is the largest and longest-running festival in the Rochester region. It's a free event, with no admission fee, except for a few exhibits. The event kicks off with a fun parade, and you can take part in either the one-mile Dunkin Dash or the 5k or 10K Lilac runs.

Experience plenty of craft beer samples, wine tastings at the craft beer expo and the wine expo, and multicultural food offerings from the event's numerous vendors and food trucks. There's plenty of live music and entertainment to experience every single day and night of the festival, too.

Rochester International Jazz Festival

This nine-day marathon event is held in June each year. The Rochester International Jazz Festival is one of the country’s most popular and respected music festivals and attracts visitors from all over the U.S. and internationally each year. 

Over 1,500 artists perform in over 300 concerts at various public outdoor stages and ticketed indoor venues, all located within walking distance around Rochester’s east end cultural district. Locations range from small, intimate clubs to large outdoor stages and elegant concert halls. 

The music itself is all about jazz but features a mix of local, national, and international performers who all put a unique and distinct spin on it. And of course, there are plenty of food and beverage opportunities, as well as other planned special events throughout the festival. Consider buying your tickets to this event early, as it quickly sells out.

Rochester Fringe Festival

This is a 12-day festival held each September, and since its five-day debut in 2012, it has become the largest multi-genre arts festival in New York State. It makes for one of the most eclectic and interesting festivals you’ll ever attend.

The Rochester Fringe Festival takes place in over 20 downtown venues ranging from grand theaters to parked cars and the famous and eye-catching Spiegeltent. It features more than 575 performances, of which over 150 of them are free to attend. Choose from unique offerings in comedy, music, dance, theater, visual arts, film, children’s entertainment, and much more to give you a personalized and fully enjoyable experience. 

FAQs:

Q: What are RV rentals?

RV rentals work much like any other vehicle rentals: you pay a daily or weekly rate for your RV rental. You can expect these rates to fluctuate based on the time of year and the geographical location that you're renting. Naturally, rates tend to increase during peak season. They allow you to get an RV for a certain period and enjoy all its benefits while traveling without the hassles and high cost of owning your own RV. It's also a great way to try out some different RV models if you are considering purchasing your own.

Q: How much are RV Rentals?

In Rochester, RV rentals can range between $75-150 per night for most small to moderately sized trailers and campervans. Larger RVs and travel trailers can cost between $100-250 per night, depending on the season and the year, make and model of the RV. Some companies also offer a discount if you rent for longer than a week.

Q: Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Rochester?

The minimum legal age to rent an RV in the state of New York is 25. 

Q: Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

Yes, you'll need insurance to rent an RV in Rochester. It's meant to cover the vehicle in case of an accident and is mandatory in most states. Most RV rental companies will have RV specific insurance that you can purchase.

Q: Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

This policy varies between rental agencies, but most RV rental facilities in Rochester will expect you to return the vehicle with a full tank of gas. At the very least, the fuel should be at the same level as when you got the vehicle. 

Q: Are RVs pet-friendly in Rochester?

Many RV and camper rentals in Rochester are pet-friendly, and there are even vehicles specially designed for accommodating animals. Still, it's important to double-check the policy with your chosen rental agency before renting a particular vehicle.