RV and boat storage facilities usually offer three kinds of space:
- Outdoor (uncovered): a marked spot on an open lot.
- Covered (canopy): a spot under a roof with open sides.
- Indoor (enclosed): a garage-style unit with walls and a roll-up door.
This page explains what each one gives you, using what facilities state on their own websites and boat-storage guidance from BoatUS. It doesn't recommend one type for you. That depends on your vehicle, climate and budget. Sources were checked on October 25, 2026.
Outdoor (uncovered) storage
An outdoor space is a parking spot on a fenced or gated lot.
- Surface: this varies. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage near Phoenix lists "secure paved parking spaces," while Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage lists open, uncovered storage on a gravel, rock or grass base. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage
- Size: outdoor spaces are often the longest available. Lake Travis lists 15 x 50 open spaces, and Sanford RV & Boat Storage lists open spaces up to 11x70. Sanford RV & Boat Storage
- Height: with no roof, there's no height limit set by a roof.
- Price: at each facility below that posts both types, outdoor is the lowest-priced. See RV storage cost for the full list.
- Exposure: the vehicle is open to sun, rain, snow and wind. BoatUS says a boat stored on land must be properly supported. It notes that jack stands can sink into mud, sand or asphalt, and suggests plywood under each base and safety chains between stands. BoatUS: The Boater's Guide to Winterizing (PDF)
Covered (canopy) storage
A covered space has a roof but usually no walls.
- What the roof is for: Arrowhead describes its covered spaces as "protection from the AZ sun." Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage
- Height limits: the roof sets a maximum height. Lake Travis lists covered RV spaces as 12.5 x 45 x 15 and 12.5 x 50 x 15 feet, with the last figure being height. A&H Storage in Orlando lists covered back-in spaces from 25 x 12 x 15 to 40 x 12 x 15. Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage, A&H Storage
- Power: some covered spaces have limited electricity. Lake Travis lists 20 amp service at its covered RV spaces and says you can't run air conditioners or refrigerators. A&H lists power for trickle charging. Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage, A&H Storage
- Price: Arrowhead's covered spaces run $175 to $255 a month against $83 to $140 for uncovered. Rio Rancho RV & Boat Storage lists covered at $189 and outdoor at $119. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, Rio Rancho RV & Boat Storage
- Waiting lists: several covered spaces we checked were marked "waiting list," including Lake Travis's covered RV spaces and Beltway's 46-foot covered space, which showed zero available. Beltway Boat & RV Storage
Indoor (enclosed) storage
An enclosed unit is a private garage with walls and a door.
- What facilities say: Arrowhead calls its enclosed garages "the best protection." BoatUS writes that a boat is happiest stored indoors in a climate-controlled facility with a backup generator, but that for most owners indoor storage is "either not available or not affordable." Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, BoatUS: The Boater's Guide to Winterizing (PDF)
- Door height is the key limit: Arrowhead lists door heights for each enclosed size, from a 10-foot door on a 12 x 24 to a 13-foot door on a 13.5 x 40. Its premium garages have 14-foot doors. Lake Travis's enclosed 11 x 30 units have 10 ft by 10 ft roll-up doors, and the listing warns that boats with a light on top of a wakeboard tower won't fit. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage
- Power and insulation vary: Lake Travis says its enclosed units have no electricity. Arrowhead's premium garages are insulated and include low-amp power for trickle chargers. Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage, Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage
- Price: Arrowhead's enclosed garages run $220 to $410 a month, and its premium garages run $460 to $599. Austin Lakeside lists large enclosed RV storage at $349 a month. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, Austin Lakeside Boat & RV Storage
Side by side: one facility's posted options
Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage near Phoenix posts all of its options on one page:
| Type | Sizes listed | Door or roof | Monthly price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Uncovered | 10' x 21' to 11' x 41' | none | $83 to $140 | | Covered | 11 x 30 to 11 x 44 | roof | $175 to $255 | | Enclosed | 12 x 24 to 13.5 x 40 | 10' to 13' doors | $220 to $410 | | Premium enclosed | 13.5 x 42 to 15 x 48 | 14' doors, insulated | $460 to $599 |
Source: Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage: Rates, checked October 25, 2026
Boats: on land or in the water
Boat owners have one more choice: keep the boat in a marina slip or take it out of the water.
- In the water: BoatUS says boats kept in the water over winter are vulnerable to sinking if a hose or thru-hull fitting fails.
- Covers: BoatUS says a cover keeps snow from building up in the cockpit and protects the deck from pooling water. It calls shrinkwrapping "a job best left to professionals."
- Drain plugs: BoatUS says drain plugs must be out for the winter on boats stored ashore.
All three points are from BoatUS: The Boater's Guide to Winterizing (PDF).
How to check what a facility offers
Each listing on our city pages shows the types of space the facility describes on its own site, such as "Canopy parking" or "Enclosed units." Where the site shows one, it also shows the largest space size. Start from our storage search or a city page like Phoenix or Austin.
Related guides
FAQ
What is the difference between covered and indoor RV storage?
Covered storage has a roof but open sides. Indoor storage is a fully enclosed unit with a door. Arrowhead describes covered spaces as sun protection and enclosed garages as "the best protection." Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage
Will my RV fit in an enclosed unit?
Check the door height, not just the length. Arrowhead lists door heights from 10 to 14 feet, and Lake Travis's enclosed units have 10-foot doors. Arrowhead RV & Boat Storage, Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage
Do covered spaces have electricity?
Some do. Lake Travis lists 20 amp service that can't run air conditioners or refrigerators, and A&H Storage lists power for trickle charging. Ask each facility. Lake Travis Boat and RV Storage, A&H Storage
Is outdoor storage always cheapest?
At every facility we checked that posts both prices, outdoor cost less than covered. See RV storage cost.
Is it better to store a boat on land or in the water?
BoatUS notes that boats stored in the water over winter are vulnerable to sinking if a hose or thru-hull fails, and that boats on land need proper support. BoatUS: The Boater's Guide to Winterizing (PDF)