With the growth of #Vanlife and the explosion of interest in exploring Wild America, campervans have never been more in.
If you’ve been thinking about pursuing the van life, want to get off the grid for a bit, or just want to have a delightful weekend trip, there are few better and more affordable ways to do it than by renting a campervan and hitting the road.
For residents or visitors of Los Angeles wanting the best campervan for the most amazing experience, we’ve got you covered. Here are our picks for the top four best campervan rentals in Los Angeles.
- This is a top of the line modern campervan
- It’s fully loaded with all the amenities and outdoor accessories you need to explore the most distant parts of nature
- The high-end Mercedes 4X4 system allows you to drive with confidence over any road conditions and easily reach backcountry campsites others fear to approach
- Comes with a solar power system, diesel heater to keep you comfortable in even the coldest nights, and a full kitchen and bathroom with toilet and shower facilities
The Winnebago Revel is one of the most exciting campervans released in the last decade. It’s based on the popular Mercedes Sprinter platform and is loaded down with all the features an adventurous pair could ask for.
To start with it’s rocking a diesel-powered 4×4 system that will get you to the most remote campsites you could wish to explore. It’s got a solar power system and includes amenities like a bathroom with a full shower that we’re not used to seeing on vans this size.
It sleeps two in style with a comfortable bed space that doubles as a power-lift gear storage area. The kitchen uses induction burner cooktops that are more environmentally friendly than propane but still allow you to cook up just about any meal.
Once we get outside the fun really starts. The Revel has racks galore, with built-in storage for bikes, kayaks, canoes, and other outdoor equipment plus a retractable awning to expand your living space.
It’s definitely one of the pricier rentals in the campervan category, but if you want to travel anywhere in style it’s a great option for two.
Details:
- Number it sleeps: Two
- Included mileage: 150 per day, $1 per mile for overages
- Included generator hours: N/A, included solar system
- Length: 20 feet
- Pets allowed: Yes, with no additional fee
- Use restrictions: None listed
- Weekly/Monthly discounts: Yes
Pros
- This is a top of the line modern campervan
- It’s fully loaded with all the amenities and outdoor accessories you need to explore the most distant parts of nature
- The high-end Mercedes 4X4 system allows you to drive with confidence over any road conditions and easily reach backcountry campsites others fear to approach
- Comes with a solar power system, diesel heater to keep you comfortable in even the coldest nights, and a full kitchen and bathroom with toilet and shower facilities
Cons
- At 20 feet it’s noticeably longer than a traditional vehicle
- It’s got a top of the line price to match its top of the line features
- A very high $1 per mile charge once you get over the 150 miles per day limit
Our #2 Rated Best Campervan Rental: 1977 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper(Best Classic Campervan)
- It’s a Legit VW Westy campervan
- Despite its age, it’s got an extremely comfortable layout and amenities package
- The owner has been rebuilding VW’s for over 20 years and can give you a full rundown on everything you need to know to enjoy your trip to the fullest
- It’s been immaculately maintained and restored for that groovy 70’s van trip experience
If you’re looking for an old school campervan experience, it’s hard to beat the Volkswagen Westfalia Camper. This 1977 example is based on the iconic VW Vanagon model made famous in the late ‘60s to ‘70s as THE van of choice for the flower power generation.
This particular Westy has been lovingly maintained in near mint condition and looks almost the same as it did coming off the showroom in ‘77. It has the arced canvas roof to really open up the interior and has been modified with an off-grid solar system to keep all your gear charged up.
It can sleep four, two in the pop-top and two in the main body, and comes with a full kitchen including a stove and sink for washing up. The main bed folds up into a comfortable seating area that allows you to enjoy spending time with friends and family while looking out through the large windows at all that beautiful nature.
One thing to keep in mind though is that this is a 40+ year old vehicle. It isn’t going to drive like a modern car, and it doesn’t offer the same advanced safety features you’ll find in a 2023 Class B.
All in all though, the mid-’70s Westfalia is the kind of campervan most of us dream of one day owning. This is a great and affordable way to experience Westy life with the whole family, including your furry friends.
Details:
- Number it sleeps: Four
- Included mileage: 120 miles per day, $.35 per mile after that
- Included generator hours: N/A – Solar battery included
- Length: 15 feet
- Pets allowed: Yes, with $100 fee
- Use restrictions: No desert driving, no festivals
- Weekly/Monthly Discounts: No
Pros
- It’s a Legit VW Westy campervan
- Despite its age, it’s got an extremely comfortable layout and amenities package
- The owner has been rebuilding VW’s for over 20 years and can give you a full rundown on everything you need to know to enjoy your trip to the fullest
- It’s been immaculately maintained and restored for that groovy 70’s van trip experience
Cons
- Any 40+-year-old vehicle is going to have some ‘interesting’ characteristics
- The owner places several specific limitations on where you can take the van, including nixing desert trips or trips to festivals
- While it does have a wet kitchen, it doesn’t offer any toilet or shower facilities
- A maximum speed of 60 mph
Our #3 Rated Best Campervan Rental: “Marvelous MO” 2019 Ram Promaster (Best Value Option)
- MO is a loaded out modern campervan with all the amenities you could hope for
- Has both a toilet and a shower
- Pet friendly with just a small cleaning fee required
- Very affordably priced for a van this new
“Marvelous MO” is a 2019 Dodge Ram Promaster campervan professionally fitted out with tons of amenities. It sleeps two and includes awesome features like a toilet, shower, kitchen with gas stovetop, and some really cool outdoor amenities.
The MO gets a lot better mpg than you would expect, further reducing the cost of your trip. A lot of campervans guzzle fuel more than they sip it, so that’s a pretty nice value add for a new van.
Every rental comes with all the essentials for your trip including bedding, basic dishes/cookware, and a full tank of propane for the heater and stove. For those who love to sit outdoors you’ll also love the included screen room to help keep all those pesky bugs at bay while you enjoy the outdoors.
There are a few caveats though. The owners offer a pretty substantial list of restrictions, including prohibiting driving on unpaved roads. That’s a bit of doozy given most people’s desire to hit the backcountry with such a capable campervan. They also have one of the lowest daily mileage allotments we saw, just 100 miles per day.
All in all though, the Marvelous MO is an extremely comfortable modern campervan with all the features you could ask for. Given its extremely affordable price we can overlook its few downsides.
Details:
- Number it sleeps: Two
- Included mileage: 100 miles per day, $.35 per additional mile
- Included generator hours: Unlimited
- Length: 20 feet
- Pets allowed: Yes
- Use restrictions: No driving above 70 mph, no festivals or events, no smoking/vaping, no driving on unpaved roads, no crossing international borders, and no climbing on the roof
- Weekly/Monthly Discounts: Yes
Pros
- MO is a loaded out modern campervan with all the amenities you could hope for
- Has both a toilet and a shower
- Pet friendly with just a small cleaning fee required
- Very affordably priced for a van this new
Cons
- It’s got a relatively low allotted mileage per day, limiting where you can go
- The restrictions imposed are pretty restrictive, especially the no driving on unpaved roads
- Pretty much have to stay on the blacktop and park in developed campgrounds
Our #4 Rated Best Campervan Rental: “Bianca” Solar Loaded Dodge 1987 B350 RV Camper Van (Best Budget Campervan)
- It’s loaded down with a mix of original and DIY features and extras
- Offers solar power, a toilet, sink and water system, the ability to sleep four, and extra cooking gear
- Comes with an outdoor shower for cleaning off after a sweaty day
- Has air conditioning when on the generator or plugged into campground power
- Can be taken just about anywhere, including to festivals and events
- All kinds of gear goodies like racks and hitches
- Mechanically nearly everything has been rebuilt or replaced within the last few years
“Bianca” is a 1987 Dodge B350 Class B campervan that’s seen a lot of love over the years. It’s clearly had a lot of work done to it as well, with all kinds of new and really useful features installed by the current owners.
If we ran down the list of everything included we’d be here all day, so we’ll keep it to the high points and tell you why we think this campervan is such a great deal. For the money, it’s nearly impossible to get this level of capability and usefulness from another van.
It has a toilet, it has solar, it has an outdoor shower, a refrigerator, it goes on and on. Suffice it to say that you can cook or do just about anything you need to in this campervan without a problem.
The downside to this is that all these features were added without a master plan. It’s very clear that the newer gear was just kind of bolted on wherever it would safely fit. It’s all good to go from a workability and safety standpoint, but it definitely isn’t what you would think of as a #Vanlife van.
This is purely about function over form, and it definitely provides a whole lot of function. If you’re looking for a bargain on a van that will give you all kinds of comfort and take you longer distances for less money, this is it.
Details:
- Number it sleeps: Four
- Included mileage: 200 miles per day, $.35 per additional mile
- Included generator hours: Unlimited
- Length: 19 feet
- Pets allowed: Yes
- Use restrictions: None
- Weekly/Monthly Discounts: Weekly no, monthly yes
Pros
- It’s loaded down with a mix of original and DIY features and extras
- Offers solar power, a toilet, sink and water system, the ability to sleep four, and extra cooking gear
- Comes with an outdoor shower for cleaning off after a sweaty day
- Has air conditioning when on the generator or plugged into campground power
- Can be taken just about anywhere, including to festivals and events
- All kinds of gear goodies like racks and hitches
- Mechanically nearly everything has been rebuilt or replaced within the last few years
Cons
- It’s a 30+-year-old campervan
- It’s definitely not Insta ready and has a decidedly hodge-podge interior look
Why You Should Choose a Camper Van
Campervans combine the best aspects of traditional car camping with the comfort and convenience that comes with an RV. They’re much, much smaller than Class A or even Class C RVs, easier to work with than a travel trailer, and okay for anyone with regular driving experience to drive.
Modern campervans have completely upended the traditional place of the Class B motorhome in the RV hierarchy. In the past, a campervan looked a lot like a camper, just a bit shorter and smaller.
Now there are campervans fully loaded with luxury features or kitted out with the advanced suspension and drive systems to go off into the backcountry.
Campervans can be solar power, come with mounting and rack systems for all kinds of goodies, and provide you with much better MPG than an RV. All of this while still being capable of sleeping up to four people comfortably.
What Comes With a Campervan?
Not all campervans are the same, especially with the growth of #Vanlife and the DIY van movement. Below are some of the features you can expect to find in campervans and ways to deal if they don’t have these.
Toilet/Shower
This one’s a bit tricky, as not every campervan is going to be rocking a bathroom. They’re the essence of ‘just enough’ and pack as much as possible into a very small space, and that doesn’t always include a bathroom.
Toilets and showers are very much on the luxury end of the campervan spectrum. They not only take up space, they require the installation of blue/gray/black water storage and both waterproofing and plumbing.
There are Class B campervans that come with bathrooms and showers, but they’re going to be more expensive to rent and generally offer a bit less living space.
Getting By Without a Toilet
While at first it may seem impractical to rent a campervan without a toilet, I’m here to tell you that it’s a whole lot easier to deal with than you’d think. The vast majority of places where you’re likely to take your campervan will have toilets available for you.
If you’re in any kind of commercial campground, and even many free federal ones, there’s at least going to be a ‘long-drop’ style vault toilet. Then there are all the bathrooms we pass every day while driving to think about.
If you really want to go out into the boonies for longer periods you’ve got plenty of good options. Options like the Luggable Loo or compact Cartridge Toilets are easy to set up, pack away when done, and offer a very workable option for the few days to a week of your campervan rental.
Kitchen
Just about every campervan available to rent has some kind of kitchen facilities. On high-end Class B’s this may be a full-fledged oven, stovetop, and even a microwave. For DIY jobs or more classic campervans, you’re probably looking at a camping stove with two burners and some pots/pans.
One thing to keep in mind depending on the length of your trip is refrigeration. Class B campervans are probably going to be rocking a DC refrigerator ala our previous article here. DIY campervans often lack a refrigerator but may come with a cooler or similar insulated storage container.
If not it’s pretty easy to pick up a high-quality modern cooler than can keep ice for a week plus for your trip.
Sleeping/Relaxing
The last ‘indoor’ consideration with campervans is the sleeping arrangements and relaxation spaces. I won’t sugarcoat it: Campervans are usually pretty cramped on the inside. They offer comfortable sleeping spaces for a maximum of four people in most cases and often lack true indoor relaxation space for more than one to two.
Class B campervans are on the high end, often providing a main bedroom plus a ‘living room’ with a couch that doubles as a bed. DIY vans are generally one single space with a bed and potentially the ability to convert the ‘bedroom’ into a living area through folding beds or couches that turn into beds at night.
Make sure you take this into consideration when you’re deciding how much space your group actually needs
Outside Accessories
Where campervans really shine is in how they enhance your enjoyment of the outdoors. Awnings and even roof decks are a great way to increase your total space using the area around the campervan.
Racks and exterior storage are another major value add. If you’re looking to go mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, or participate in other activities, having a campervan capable of easily carrying your gear is a must.
Other Considerations When Renting a Campervan
We covered the fun stuff, now we need to get into the nitty-gritty details that hold many people back from enjoying a campervan rental.
Mileage and Generator Hour Restrictions
One of the biggest surprises people used to standard rental car agreements have when looking at campervans and RV rentals, in general, is the number of restrictions. Most RV owners aren’t looking to rent their baby out to someone who wants to drive across the country and back in 10 days.
Just about every campervan available for rental will list the daily mileage included with your rental. Most allow you to go over it, but expect to pay a pretty steep fee per mile for the privilege.
Certain systems within the RV, specifically generators, are also limited. Most come with a set number of hours included with your rental, with an additional fee if you go over that limit. Campervans generally don’t have generators, but a few of the larger Class B style campervans do.
Geographic and Event Limits
RV owners are understandably looking to protect their investment and some restrict just how far you can take their campervan. Common restrictions include no festivals or other major events and a geographic border that you can’t go past.
Don’t be surprised if the owner asks for an itinerary before agreeing to the rental, this is pretty standard among campervan rentals.
Pet Policies
If you’re planning an awesome outdoor adventure it’s only natural that you’d want to bring your furry best friends. Double-check pet policies and fees before you sign a rental agreement for a campervan.
Some outright prohibit pets of any kind, while others allow pets but levy a pet fee and substantial deposit to cover damages. Do yourself a favor and check before you agree to a rental, as Outdoorsy makes it easy to see on the listing if the owner allows pets.
Insurance
Figuring out insurance on a rented campervan can be confusing. Thankfully, the campervans on our list have you covered. Every rental we’ve selected has insurance protection baked into it for no additional fee.
Owners and renters can rest easy knowing that they’re both covered in the event of an accident. The only caveat to this is that the renter is responsible for covering the deductible. This varies depending on the severity of the event, but won’t exceed $3,000.
Where Can I Park and Camp?
Here’s where we get to the fun part! With the massive growth in popularity of the #Vanlife movement and the rise of recreational hiking and camping, there have never been more options available for campervan parking and camping.
There are the obvious options of commercial campgrounds, RV parks, and National/State Parks, but there are so many other inexpensive or even free options available. We’ve got a great resource available that can help cover all the different ways you can use modern camping apps and the free camping available in BLM, National Forest, and other federal lands.
We know, we know, it says tiny house right there at the top. Don’t worry though, all of the advice for finding short term tiny house parking definitely applies for a campervan.
Final Thoughts
With campervans, sometimes less is more. There are a lot of top of the line modern Class B campervans out there fully loaded with the latest and greatest gear.
There are also a lot of older campervans that might not be quite as shiny and new, but still offer a way to experience the wild places of our world in a whole new way.
Whether you’re looking to glamp on the go with our top pick or want to experience the van camping of yesteryear with an old-school VW, there are tons of great options out there.
