The Best Camper Van Rentals in California

If there’s a state that calls out to road trippers, it’s California — and if there’s one perfect way to take a California road trip, it’s in a camper van. Renting a camper van allows you to see California in the most comfortable, yet convenient way possible. You’ll have all the comforts of home, but in a small enough package to allow you to adventure into even the most pristine, untouched wildernesses of the Golden State. 

For most road trippers, that means checking out camper van rentals in California, which brings up plenty of questions. How much does renting a camper van cost? Where do you rent a camper van in the first place? Below, we’ll cover all that and so much more, including popular road trip ideas and how to choose the best type of camper van for your adventure.

Why Rent a Camper Van in California?

A more appropriate question might be, why not rent a camper van in California?

While any kind of RV travel offers comfort and convenience (and would make for a lovely California road trip), the huge variety of landscapes and to-dos in California make it a prime destination for camper vans specifically. Small but mighty, your camper van rental can take you to all of California’s attractions, including:

• Coastal drives (Pacific Coast Highway trip, anyone?)
• National parks (CA’s home to a whopping nine, including heavy hitters like Yosemite, Death Valley and Joshua Tree)
• California’s many state parks and other public wildernesses
• Urban camping adventures (vans make it a lot more possible to maneuver and get by in big cities like Los Angeles and San Diego)

In addition, California’s mild year-round camping weather makes teensy (and sometimes unheated) camper vans a lot more livable — and yes, we’ll say it; gas is so expensive on the west coast, you’ll likely be glad you opted for the most fuel efficient RV on the market. Best of all, because it’s part of the California lifestyle, there are many camper vans for rent across the state on the peer-to-peer RVshare market. 

Best Types of Camper Vans for Rent

While all campervans are great for California travel, they’re not all created perfectly equally. Depending on your travel goals, certain types of camper vans may make more sense for your trip.

Class B Camper Vans

Built onto standard truck or van chassis, Class B campervans are among the easiest RVs for beginners to drive, and are also widely available. They offer a good combination of maneuverability and comfort: they’re still compact, but often big enough to include comfortable full-sized beds, kitchen equipment and more.

Sprinter Vans

The “glamping” of the camper van world! Sprinter vans have become more popular in recent years, combining a rugged love of the outdoors with a preference for the finer things in life. If you’re planning on a longer road trip, renting a Sprinter can make sure you stay comfortable the entire time. Some of them, unlike many other types of camper vans, even have onboard bathrooms (but always check the rental listing ahead of time to confirm!).

Budget-Friendly Camper Vans

For some travelers, it’s all about getting there on a shoestring budget. Yet again, camper van rentals can deliver. Especially for solo travelers or cozy couples, looking for even smaller and more modestly outfitted vans, such as VW conversions, can get you on the road for well under $100 per night. And, again, since smaller often means more fuel-efficient, you’ll save at the pump, too.

Family-Friendly Camper Vans

Bringing the whole fam along for the ride? Yes, you can still travel in a camper van! While not all camper vans are family friendly (or, arguably, not all families are camper-van friendly), some larger and more luxurious vans, like Sprinter vans, can offer ample space for a couple and up to two kids. Just make sure you double check the listing for the van’s sleeping capacity and keep storage considerations in mind for all your kiddos’ gear.

Best Places in California to Start a Camper Van Trip

Figuring out the vehicle is just the baseline. The real fun of planning a CA camper van trip? Figuring out where in the beautiful state of California to start. Here are some of our best suggestions.

Los Angeles

There’s nowhere on Earth quite like LA. One of the most populous cities in the United States, the City of Angels has everything you could ask for in terms of urban adventure, all within an easy reach of some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the country, including Death Valley, Joshua Tree, San Bernardino National Forest and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park among so many others.

San Diego

Although it’s just two hours south of LA, San Diego couldn’t offer a more different culture: think laid back, beachy, and fueled by the very best Baja Mexican food you’ll find this side of the border. (Or you could just cross over into Baja itself.) Nearby campable wildernesses include Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the Cleveland National Forest, along with all the RV campground options in and around San Diego proper.

San Francisco

From the city where you have to wear flowers in your hair to the city where almost all the technology we interact with every day originates, San Francisco has worn a lot of hats over the past century — and you can experience the energy of all of it during a visit. A camper van makes it much easier to navigate the city’s tight turns, narrow roadways and steep hills, as well as giving you the opportunity to strike out to nearby wildernesses like the Golden Gate National Recreation Area or Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park.

Sacramento

The Central Valley City that was the birthplace of both Joan Didion and Alex Honnold, Sacramento clearly has something for everyone — and one thing it definitely has is proximity to some of the most epic landscapes in the States. Just two hours from Lake Tahoe and three from Yosemite National Park (not to mention lesser-known nearby wildernesses like Stanislaus National Forest and Plumas National Forest), Sacramento is a great starting place for camper van renters looking to get truly out there.

Palm Springs

Palm fronds sway in the breeze, the sun shines bright, and the drinks are flowing in this beloved desert oasis just shy of two hours outside of LA. While Palm Springs is a worthy destination in its own right, this is also the perfect launching pad for southern California adventures ranging from nearby Joshua Tree National Park to the epic hiking inside Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. 

How Much Does a Camper Van Rental in California Cost?

Camper van rental can be one of the most affordable ways to travel. Still, prices vary significantly across the state of California (and beyond) based on factors including:

• The season. Summertime’s peak demand often also means peak pricing. 
• The type of camper van you rent. A tiny, modest converted van is likely to fetch a lower price than a tricked-out Sprinter
• The specific starting place you choose. Bigger, urban markets sometimes have more expensive per-night rates than smaller cities on the periphery.
• Other rental options and factors, including any applicable mileage fees, insurance costs, and cleaning fees, as well as delivery and setup if you choose.

When you rent through RVshare, each quote includes the Essential Package of insurance and protection, which means you’ll be set to handle the road’s surprises should they occur.

While, again, specific prices vary based on all these factors and more, based on the rental listings available today, you can expect to pay between $100 and $300 per night for a camper van rental in California. 

Tips for Renting a Camper Van in California

Suggested bullets:

• Book early during summer and festival seasons
• Verify mileage policies
• Understand campsite hookups
• Check pet policies
• Review insurance coverage
• Plan campground reservations ahead of time

Potentially reference beginner-friendly rental guidance. (Condé Nast Traveler)

Best California Road Trips for Camper Vans

In a gigantic state like California, the road is your oyster. But if you don’t want to put in the work to dig out a pearl, here are some of our favorite go-to California road trips perfect for camper van travel.

Pacific Coast Highway

There are few road trips in the U.S. as classic as the Pacific Coast Highway trek — and few that lend themselves better to the camper van lifestyle. In such a small vehicle, you’ll truly be able to explore all of the California coast’s nooks and crannies.

Recommended Route: South to north, so you can start with Southern California energy and end in the cool canopy of the Redwoods. (Definitely be sure to check out San Luis Obispo, Big Sur and Monterey along the way.) 

Time Frame: At least a week, but ideally longer!

Yosemite National Park Loop

Perhaps California’s most sought-after destination, everyone owes themselves at least one trip to “the Valley” in their lifetime, even if you never plan to climb a single wall. Yosemite National Park is a premier destination for camper vans, and lots of the big-time climbers have lived in their own vans for years, if not decades. 

Recommended Route: Make it fully immersive by linking Yosemite up with Sequoia and Kings National Parks (perhaps starting on the southern end and wending your way northward), before finishing up at Lake Tahoe. 

Time Frame: If you’re just doing Yosemite, a few days might suffice — but for a longer interior California tour, give yourself two weeks.

Southern California Beaches

Beach getaway calling your name? California has you covered. Start as far south as it gets: the Imperial Beach Pier, just half an hour south of central San Diego. From there, you can wind your way up the coast all the way to Santa Monica, stopping at each pristine stretch of sand that catches your attention along the way.

Recommended Route: Imperial Beach north to Santa Monica 

Time Frame: The entire route is just a couple of hours long, but you could easily slow down to make this into a long weekend or week-long vacation.

Northern California Redwoods

Standing beneath these enormous trees, often in areas that allow you to hear the ocean crash endlessly against the shore just steps away, can truly be a life highlight experience. The California redwoods are nothing short of magical, and the time to pay these majestic beings a visit is right now.

Recommended Route: Starting in San Francisco, drive north towards Redwood National Park, and hit all of these side quests along the way: 

• Muir Woods National Monument
• Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park (don’t miss Avenue of the Giants)
• Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• You can also add an additional side-trip up into southern Oregon if you’re feeling frisky, including Oregon Caves National Monument. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is also well worth a visit 

Time Frame:

• One week

Joshua Tree & Desert Route

A truly otherworldly landscape awaits just east of one of the biggest urban population centers in the U.S. Joshua Tree is really just the start; you could extend a California desert road trip for weeks and not see everything.

Recommended Route: Start in Los Angeles and head for Joshua Tree National Park by way of Palm Springs, making time to check out the sweet town of Twentynine Palms. Travel to the Arizona border and make your way north via Lake Havasu City, considering a stopover at Las Vegas before concluding the journey at Death Valley National Park.

Time Frame: One to two weeks

Why RVshare Is Great for Camper Van Rentals

If you’re looking for the broadest range of camper van rentals on the U.S. market, RVshare has you covered. Our wide inventory means you can find the ideal vehicle for your specific vacation needs, all with peer-to-peer flexibility backed by our world-class platform’s knowledge and protection. RVshare also offers delivery and setup options if you’d rather just show up and start relaxing, and we’re one of the only markets with Class B and camper van styles available. Just toggle for “drivable” and “travel van” to see what’s available in your favorite California destination. 

California Camper Van Rentals: FAQs