Is hiring a motorhome more sustainable than flying?

Travelling is exciting, isn’t it? The journey as well as the destination, if you do it right. One aspect of travelling that has been getting more and more attention in recent years, however, is just how sustainable it might be depending on how you go about it.

More specifically, if flying is as bad as it’s made out, just how much different is a motorhome? To answer that point, we have compared just how much carbon is emitted from each of the two methods here.

Comparing carbon emissions

Flying

Air travel is notorious for its significant carbon footprint. For instance, a round-trip flight from New York to London can emit approximately 1.6 metric tons of CO2 per passenger. This high level of emissions contributes to the aviation industry's 2-3% share of global CO2 emissions. Despite advancements in fuel efficiency and sustainable aviation fuels, the environmental impact of flying remains considerable.

Motorhome

Motorhomes, on the other hand, also produce CO2 emissions, but the impact can be more manageable. A motorhome averaging 20 miles per gallon (mpg) emits about 0.6 kg of CO2 per mile. For a 1,000-mile journey, this translates to around 0.5 metric tons of CO2. When shared among multiple travellers, the per-person emissions can be significantly lower than flying. By travelling together, families and groups can reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the scenic routes.

Resource consumption

Flying requirements

Airports and aeroplanes require vast amounts of energy and resources to be maintained, built, and managed in an airport. Then we have the extraction, refining, and transportation of jet fuel which all have substantial environmental impacts. The infrastructure needed to support air travel, from airports to air traffic control systems, consumes considerable resources… It really is a long list that gets more and more in depth as we explore.

Motorhome requirements

While motorhomes typically run on diesel, which also has environmental impacts, they offer more flexibility in reducing resource consumption. They’re also dramatically easier to manage, to run, to repair, and to enjoy. In fact, more recent motorhomes can even be equipped with renewable energy sources such as solar panels, reducing reliance on fossil fuels throughout the whole trip. Staying in one place for extended periods can minimise fuel use and reduce the need for waste whilst out travelling from things like hotels. It all goes a really long way.

Even more to consider…

Flying

Flying has environmental impacts beyond just the plane itself. In addition to carbon emissions, flying generates significant noise pollution and other environmental effects around airports which is bad for wildlife, and the necessity of additional transportation to and from airports further increases the overall environmental footprint of air travel as well.

Motorhomes

Motorhomes allow for direct travel routes, potentially reducing the total distance travelled. This flexibility can lead to a smaller environmental impact, especially when choosing eco-friendly campgrounds and adhering to responsible waste management practices. By supporting local economies, travellers in motorhomes can contribute positively to the places they visit.

The verdict: it has to be motorhomes

For group travel, motorhomes often emerge as the more sustainable option. Emissions and resource use are distributed among more people, enhancing efficiency. Motorhome travel is especially advantageous for shorter distances, where the environmental and financial costs of flying are even more disproportionate than they would be generally.

Simply put, hiring a motorhome can generally be a greener alternative to flying. Especially for shorter trips and group travel, motorhomes offer a lower-carbon option with a smaller environmental footprint. While long-distance journeys may still require air travel, motorhomes provide a flexible, enjoyable, and more sustainable choice for many travel adventures.

Side notes: where we got our info:

CO2 Emissions from flying:

Round-trip flight from New York to London: The figure of approximately 1.6 metric tons of CO2 per passenger for a round-trip flight is based on data from organisations like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and various carbon footprint calculators. These tools often consider factors such as flight distance, aircraft type, and fuel efficiency.

Aviation industry contributions: The figure that aviation contributes about 2-3% of global CO2 emissions is supported by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and industry studies.

CO2 Emissions from motorhome travel:

Motorhome emissions: The estimate of 0.61 kg of CO2 per mile for a motorhome averaging 20 miles per gallon (mpg) comes from general calculations based on fuel combustion, provided by Michelin

Per-person emissions: This is a straightforward division of the total emissions by the number of occupants, which can reduce the per-person footprint, especially for group travel.