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USA Camper Van Rental Guide: How to Rent a Camper Van the Right Way

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ashley

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I would be lying if I said I didn’t dream of dropping everything and buying a camper van, basically every day. That is not an option right now, so I have settled for the next best thing: renting a camper van! So, how does one rent a camper van with ease? Keep reading to find out!

I have made some mistakes renting vans in the past. So, here are my top tips on how to rent a camper van. What to pack, where to rent, where to stay, grocery lists, and advice for U.S. road trips! After reading this you will be an expert on how to have a stress-free camper van rental! Happy Camping!

Why Rent a Camper Van?

  • Saves Money! Rental car + hotel cost, all in one.
  • No underage driver fee (usually). Great for 21+.
  • Flexibility: change plans anytime during your trip, with no cancellation fees or hassle.
  • Wherever you go, you can nap, change, sleep, and cook.
    • You can take a break between hikes and activities without having to leave your destination. Arrive early in the morning, and sleep until you are ready to start your day.
  • Everything you need, always with you
    • This is a huge benefit at places like Zion National Park, where parking can be competitive.

Downsides of Renting a Camper Van

  • Constantly making a mess and cleaning it up: I’m talking dirty underwear on the dashboard and barbecue sauce on your pillow…
  • Finding a place to shower (cue ad for baby wipes)
  • Top speed: 65 mph
Grand Canyon Sunrise Breakfast. Van-life Grand Canyon. Las Vegas Camper Van Rental.
Breakfast and Coffee at the Grand Canyon, cooked in our van about 10 feet away.

7 Tips to Rent a Camper Van with Ease

1. Know What’s Included w/ Van Rental

Companies may trick you with a low base rate, but charge you for everything from bedding, kitchen sets, and extra miles. Do your research, and add up all the costs before choosing your camper van rental. ALWAYS LOOK UP COUPONS OR DEALS BEFORE BOOKING.

2. Order Groceries Ahead of Time

This will help the first day of your trip go much smoother. Get on your way instead of spending an hour at the store, or at least have a list ready. In addition, you may have just spent all day flying and Uber-ing to your Camper Van rental, ordering groceries for pick-up will relieve some stress.

Grocery List for Your Camper Van Rental

  1. PAPER TOWELS
  2. BABY WIPES (Great for “showers” and wiping out dishes you don’t feel like doing…)
  3. Bread
  4. Nut butter and Jelly
  5. Oatmeal/ Cereal/Plant Milk
  6. Coffee Grounds/Instant Coffee
  7. Gian Water Jug (I HATE buying plastic water jugs, but you can refill them many times on your trip, and it will save time later)
  8. Rice A Roni
  9. Bananas, apples, cuties.
  10. Canned Soup- make sure you have a can opener! (Buy some vegan cheese for grilled cheese + tomato soup)
  11. Ice-If you have a cooler.
  12. Applesauce
  13. Granola Bars (buy double what you think you’ll need)
Renting a camper van. Road trip oregon. How to rent vanlife. Oregon van rentals.

3. Where to Sleep in a Camper Van Rental 

Free: Dispersed Camping (and Walmart Parking Lots)

There are tons of free camping options on BLM and National Forest Land. These will not be traditional campsites, more like dirt roads with places to park and leftover campfire pits. For most camper van rentals, these will be accessible. The Dyrt is a great resource to look at reviews and advice for many of these areas. These campgrounds are often private, out in nature, and beautiful.

Bureau of Land Management– Search free or low-cost dispersed campgrounds.

Paid: Campgrounds can range from $20-$60+ a night, and you will probably need a reservation (however, they do offer safety and a shower. Bonus: no peeing on the concrete at Walmart…). In a camper van, you will probably have to pay the RV rate, even though your rental is small and no different than a car and tent. Some campgrounds to stay at in your camper van may include State Parks, National Parks, city parks, private campgrounds, KOA, etc.

4. Look for Showers ahead of Time

They may be scarce, but damn, they are glorious after a few days in the van. I would mark truck stops or travel centers that offer showers that are along your route. You won’t have to worry about finding them during your traveling, and you won’t drive right past the last shower for the next 100 miles (I’m talking about you, Utah.) Be ready to spend about $10-$20. Some other options are gym memberships, sneaking into campgrounds, public pools? get creative…. this is van life on a budget. If all else fails, put your baby wipes to use

5. Bring Extra Bags for Organization 

A Ziploc bag, a cloth grocery bag, and a small purse or backpack will go a long way. This will help you organize your luggage and supplies. Van life can get disorganized very fast, a few extra bags will make your life much easier. Especially if I am flying, I like to put my liquids bag in a Tupperware container, which is nice for storing leftovers in the van or packing for a hike.

6. Van Life – It’s Colder Than You Think

Some rental vans have little to no insulation. In addition, you will probably be cooking outside. If you are anything like me, you will not regret packing a warmer coat than you think you need. A pair of mittens or gloves may be nice too, especially when handling metal pots/pans/stoves on cold mornings.

7. Insurance

If you are not purchasing coverage from the rental company, have an idea of what your personal insurance will cover. This will save you some stress if something happens to go wrong, and trust me, with some of the old camper vans rental companies have, things may very well go wrong. Also, make sure to take photos of the van before taking off.

Where & Who to Rent a Camper Van From?

The Bearfoot Theory Blog has a great list of 22 campervan rental companies. Here are a few:

  • Road Trip Oregon-Great service, prices, and most extras are free. Great for a first-time camper van experience.
  • Road Trip Arizona
  • Escape Campervans – Not much included, must pay for extras like miles, kitchen sets, and bedding. Vans are barely insulated, and we even had to replace a part on the van a day into our trip. However, very cheap.
  • Outdoorsy , Campanda -The Airbnb of campervans

More Van-life and Camper Van Rental Tips. 

  • The Other Side on YouTube
  • Bearfoot Theory Blog– Van-life tips and destinations
  • FnA Van Life the Podcast– Vanlife advice from a couple who have be living life on the road for years. They also include guests who live nomadically, own rental companies, or who have rented camper-vans abroad.

I hope this helps you have the best experience renting a camper van!

Update

I have purchased a van! Stay tuned for updates on the van build, van-life tips, and more travel advice!

Peace and luvvv

Shley

24 responses to “USA Camper Van Rental Guide: How to Rent a Camper Van the Right Way”

  2. Super tips here which I’ve saved for later. I’d not thought about the extra bags or about hinting for showers, so really useful advice 🙂

  3. Super helpful post!! We really wanted to rent a camper in 2021, but with covid the prices all jumped up and we couldn’t afford it…I am still keen to if things calm down though! Great tips about it being colder than we’d expect. I’ll bring extra jumpers. 🙂

  4. This is on my bucket list to rent a camper van. Your article had some great tips, and also were to find them at! Thanks for sharing.

  6. I’ve always wanted to try this but I think when it comes down to it, I couldn’t do it – mostly for the reasons you listed! I think the only way I could do it is if I were traveling alone, otherwise it’s too ‘close quarters’ with someone else for me. Great article with lots of good information!

    • Personal space goes out the door when living in a van lol. If it is something you’re wanting to try you should definitely go for it as a solo trip! That sounds very fun.

  7. Great Post! I love that you lead with the pros and cons. Those are some biggies!
    Saving money versus showering. Tough decisions!
    We often choose to upgrade the campground based on restroom facilities and then the saving money part is often lost.

  8. This is helpful information. New Zealand is very popular for people travelling in campervans and the tips here show some of the particulars and tips for the USA.

    • Rhonda, that is an important thing to note! Most of these tips are for US road trips, I will update/edit to specify!

  9. Great tips and managing expectations when renting a camper van. I tried SUV camping last year and loved it. Thanks for the info!

    • Thanks! I just tried car camping last weekend at Badlands National Park, and I really enjoyed it! Hoping to do it again soon.

  10. Renting a campervan sounds like so much fun! I love that there is an opportunity to do this without the large investment of owning one. Great tips for traveling and things to make a better experience.

  11. That shopping list is so helpful! Thank you! I am about to embark of vanlife and this was super helpful 😄

  12. I would love to go on a camper van holiday but I don’t own one. I didn’t know you could actually rent them and that it was so easy. Good tip about bringing warm clothes, I wouldn’t have think they are not isolated.

    • Renting a van is pretty simple and has so many advantages! Some van rentals are much nicer than others, and may be better insulated… But the budget vans I have rented have had minimal insulation… It was worth every shiver though!