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In recent years, campervan rentals have become big business, with companies sprouting up across the country to offer a barrage of different options for adventurous souls to road trip in, especially in Northern California.
But not all campers are created equal, so it’s important to choose a van that fits your preferences and lifestyle – whether you’re seeking enough room for the whole family, a budget-friendly build that fits two, or a luxe interior with a fridge and hot shower.
Whatever your vacation style may be, it’s important to book a campsite and download maps and trail information before heading out and potentially losing cell service (Harvest Hosts is also a great resource if you’re renting a rig with a commode).
Public lands have gotten mighty crowded in the last two years, and free campsites are much harder to come by than they used to be. Check fire restrictions (especially out west, where wildfires run rampant), weather, and road conditions before hitting the road, and you should be ready for your great escape!
Without much ado, here are our favorite campervan rental companies in Northern California, from outfitters with epic overlanders to spacious professional build-outs.
1. Escape Campervans
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In recent years, Escape Campervans has become something of a staple in the van rental industry (hint: they’re the brightly painted Ford E-150s you see buzzing around the national parks). For one thing, they’ve got locations spread out across the U.S., from Orlando to New York and San Francisco, and one-way rentals are available, but they’ll cost you a bit more.
The company’s signature Mavericks build is their most popular, and is available in all locations except Canada. In it, renters have access to a table that turns into a queen-sized bed, a functional camp kitchen with a fridge, sink, and two-burner stove, storage space, and privacy curtains for when it’s dream time. A pop-up roof tent can be added if you’re inviting the whole crew, but it does cost extra.
Bringing a bigger crew or simply want enough space to stand up inside? Check out the company’s Del Mar design, which features an extra pop-top bed, a rear kitchen with a refrigerator, and bench seating for the whole family.
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2. Outdoorsy
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Hailed as the Airbnb of RV and campervan rentals, Outdoorsy is your best bet if you’re hoping to rent a campervan in Northern California but are dead-set on not picking it up near San Francisco. Heading straight to Redwood National Park or cruising up from Sacramento? Outdoorsy will likely have something awesome in stock.
The site offers a little something for everyone, from vintage Eurovans, to luxury RVs and 4×4 trucks with pop-up slide-in campers. Plus, Outdoorsy truly strives to create a safe and stress-free rental experience, since you’ll be picking up from a local, rather than a place of business.
With 24/7 roadside assistance, $1M insurance protection (covering the renter, owner, and vehicle), and a round-the-clock customer service phone line, you and your unique rental will be backed up by a team that knows what they’re doing.
Check AvailabilityRelated read: 11 Enchanted Glamping Retreats in Northern California
3. Moterra Campervans
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Looking for a luxury campervan rental that’s as comfortable as it is perfect for drool-worthy Instagram photoshoots? Then Moterra Campervans is for you. With rental hubs across the country, including one just south of San Francisco’s Mission District, there’s no shortage of itineraries for you to map out (and yes, one-way rentals are available, for a fee).
Moterra offers three van designs – The Pop Top Classic, Plus, and High Roof – each of which have solar power and come fully equipped with kitchen gear and refrigerators, bed linens, cleaning products, and camping tables and chairs.
One hundred miles per night are also included, so you can wander at will. Want an indoor shower? Book the High Roof. Dreaming of the Westfalias of yore? The Pop Top Classic has your name all over it.
Check AvailabilityRelated read: 14 Unforgettable Hikes in Northern California
4. Trekker Vans
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Based out of both San Francisco and Los Angeles, Trekker Vans builds their rigs on a 2016 Ford Transit low-roof chassis, which makes for easier parking and maneuvering on winding mountain roads. The vans are designed to seat four and sleep two and have a rear table with cushioned bench seats that convert into a queen-size bed, perfect for when the sun goes down.
As far as amenities go, Trekker packs a lot into a relatively petite package. A 30-liter refrigerator, single-burner camp stove, and small sink with a 7-gallon freshwater tank and matching gray water tank are all included.
Add to that the privacy curtains, bedding, cookware, and outdoor camping chairs (all included in the base price), and you’ll be hitting the road in style. Rooftop tents, snow chains, and cargo boxes can all be added for an extra fee.
Check AvailabilityRelated read: 16 Spectacular Northern California Camping Spots
5. Indie Campers
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With camper options ranging from a sleek Solis pop-top to a beefy Jeep Wrangler, to a huge Sunseeker RV, there’s something for everyone at Indie Campers, which has a pick-up office in Redwood City. Plus, their prices are incredibly reasonable, with vehicles starting at just $70.76 per night.
Each van rental comes equipped with plush bedding in chic colors, a mini fridge, stove, sink, and enough room to stand up and cook indoors (perfect for those gloomy coastal mornings).
The Jeep Wranglers are a bit more rustic, but still far more luxurious than a tent – a Dometic fridge, portable camping stove, and small sink are included in the slide-out outdoor kitchen, ideal for chasing sunsets down dusty dirt roads.
Check AvailabilityRelated read: 11 Epic Winter Camping Spots in California
6. Cypress Overland
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While Cypress Overland isn’t exactly a van rental company per se, we love the amenities and features they put into their Jeep and Toyota Tacoma builds, two vehicles that are perfect if you’re hoping for some dirt road exploration in the wilderness.
Their all-new Jeep Gladiator rig can sleep up to four and offers guests a roomy rooftop tent, Engel fridge, dual-burner stove, 5-gallon water canister, cookware set, and camping gear for up to four adventurers.
If you’re dying to test out overlanding in a Tacoma, they’ve got a sweet TRD Pro in their lineup with similar amenities. Just be sure to ask Cypress about any 4WD roads that are off-limits for their rentals before you go barreling down a muddy riverbank without a plan.
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7. Simple Campers
Simple Campers does just what its name suggests – connects intrepid travelers with high-quality campervan rentals in the Bay Area, no muss, no fuss. Every rental comes with the company’s proprietary “camping bento box,” which is packed full of pillows, sheets, cookware, blankets, and towels.
Though the vans themselves are owned and rented out by individuals within the Bay Area, Simple Campers keeps its roster of vans much more uniform than Outdoorsy, separating rigs into budget-friendly Campervans, larger Family Campervans, and elegant Specialty Campervans.
It’s a great way to hit the national parks with all the comforts of home or to test out pricier options like the Winnebago Solis and Mercedes Revel before you buy.
Check AvailabilityRelated read: 11 Breezy Oceanfront Camping Spots in California
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Seen in: California, Van Life
