From majestic redwoods, rugged coastlines, and crystal blue lakes, Northern California is best explored by camper!
With a campervan or RV rental, you can get off the beaten travel path and experience the true, untouched beauty of California. California has tons of dispersed wilderness camping, and with a 4WD camper, options really open up for free wilderness camping.
California is an expensive state, and by booking a campervan or RV rental in San Francisco, you combine your transportation and accommodation costs into one!
Luckily, California has loads of RV rental options so you'll be sure to find campervans and RVs of any sort.
This guide rounds up the many options for campervan/RV rentals in San Francisco, so you have the necessary information to easily book the best option for your California road trip!
Lets get started …
Wherever relevant in this guide, I’ve included links to GoSee Travel.
They have by far the largest online comparison guide for RV and campervan rental firms.
Their website is incredibly easy to navigate - with a simple search of your dates and location, you can see all of the rental companies that have vehicles available for your dates!
California is an incredibly popular road trip destination, and campervans sell out quickly, especially in the summer months. With GoSee, you can quickly and easily see what’s available from the most trusted rental companies.
A few other great reasons to book with GoSee include:
For more info, read our in-depth review of GoSee Travel (Motorhome Republic).
Lost Campers is a family-owned, budget-friendly campervan rental company with offices in both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
They specialize in minimal yet comfortable, ad-free camper rentals.
One huge perk of Lost Campers is that their rentals are all-inclusive. Meaning when you rent a camper with Lost Campers, unlimited mileage, bedding, and camping equipment, and cookware comes included.
Upon renting, they also offer an induction into their Lost Campers discount program, so you can earn a discount on future camper rentals!
Lost Campers has 6 different vans in their fleet, and each van comes with a full-size mattress, bedding, camping equipment, and 24/7 roadside assistance.
The Wanderer is their most basic, budget-friendly rental which includes all of the above in a van from 2008-2015.
From there, each van has more features, with the Redwood having the most. The Redwood is a 2017 Ford 2350, and comes equipped with all of the above features, but also a dual battery, power inverter, sink, counter, powered cooler, and an interior dining table with chairs!
Outdoorsy is a trusted campervan and RV rental marketplace that connects reputable van and RV owners with customers looking for rentals!
Their whole platform is full of people’s personal, custom decorated and built RVs and campervans, so you can enjoy your trip in a unique and thoughtful vehicle.
Outdoorsy also provides insurance that protects the renter and the owner, so you rest assured that if anything goes wrong, you’re fully recovered.
With over 200,000 vehicles listed on their platform, Outdoorsy has a HUGE variety of campervans/RVs.
The specific vehicles available on their platform vary from year to year, but a quick search for campervan and RV rentals in San Francisco reveals they have a TON of unique and high-quality rentals available.
Outdoorsy only works with trusted vehicle owners, so you can confidently book a campervan or RV rental that is not only unique and personal, but also reliable.
Escape Campervans has its roots in New Zealand, but is now currently the largest campervan rental company in North America.
Having rented campervans for over 2 decades, they specialize in providing a fun and hassle-free campervan rental experience.
Escape Campervans also has loads of perks for renters. They offer rentals to drivers 21+, provide 4 free drivers, 24-hour roadside assistance, and that’s on top of having some of the most competitive and affordable rates around.
Each vehicle in the Escape Campervans fleet is unique with beautiful, hand painted artwork.
Escape Campervans has 5 different vehicles in their fleet, from a 2-berth Jeep Wrangler, to the 5-berth Escape Del Mar model. Each model has a bed, sink, stove, and fridge.
The Escape Jeep Camper is great for couples or solo travelers looking to get a little more off the beaten path. The Jeep Camper comes with a roof tent and 4WD.
For couples looking for a bit more comfort, the Escape Santa Cruz is a fitted-out van with a queen bed on the inside of the van.
For larger groups, the Escape Del Mar is the winning choice. Complete with a seating area, queen bed, rooftop camper, and kitchen, the Del Mar is hard to beat for a family road trip.
Travellers Autobarn specializes in fully converted, budget-friendly campervan rentals in the western United States.
They pride themselves on providing vans with both practicality and value, at an affordable price point so anyone can experience the joys of traveling by campervan.
Travellers Autobarn offers tons of perks, from unlimited miles, to campground discounts, and free extra drivers!
One-way rentals are also something they offer for anyone who wants to start their trip in San Francisco and have it end in either Los Angeles or Las Vegas!
Travellers Autobarn has two fully converted campervans in their rental fleet, as well as a minivan car rental.
The star of their fleet is the Kuga campervan rental, which has a 2018 or newer fully converted interior.
The Kuga has everything you could need for a road trip and more, from a microwave, fridge, sink, and gas cooker, to both a double and single bed!
For a slightly more affordable option, the Hitop offers all the same features, but the interior is aged 2013-2015, so it isn’t quite as new as the Kuga.
Both the Kuga and the Hitop offer 6’5” of standing room, for a spacious and luxurious campervan rental experience- all without breaking the bank!
Lil’RV specializes in micro RVs in the western United States!
They are dedicated to giving their customers the ultimate road trip experience, and do so by providing fully-equipped micro RVs.
The minivan base of their vehicles is not only economical, but also easy to maneuver and drive throughout national parks and beautiful coastal drives!
Lil’RV has two vehicles in their fleet, the Trailblazer and Wayfarer. They are both converted minivans.
The Trailblazer is perfect for small families. It has two double beds, a sink, stove, fridge, and two bench seats- keep in mind, one of their beds is a rooftop tent.
The Wayfarer is perfect for two, and has an interior double bed, stove, fridge, and sink.
These vehicles are perfect for anyone who isn’t comfortable driving a larger van or RV, but still wants the vanlife roadtrip experience!
Cruise America has been renting RVs for over 45 years, and has 127 locations across the United States and Canada. They’re very experienced, and knowledgeable when it comes to helping with the RV rental, and road trip experience.
They add new RVs to their fleet every year, and take note of customer feedback to continuously update their RVs to make the renter experience more comfortable.
With a wide variety of RVs and knowledgeable and friendly staff, Cruise America is an all around great option for RV rentals in San Francisco!
Cruise America has 4 different models of Class C RVs in their fleet, as well as a truck camper.
Their smallest RV is a Compact Class C RV. The compact RV sleeps 3 people, and is ideal for two adults, with additional space for a small child.
The largest RV in their fleet sleeps 7, and is the perfect vehicle for big family road trips!
The truck camper also sleeps two adults and a child, and is great for first-time RV renters, or anyone nervous about driving a large vehicle.
All vehicles in their fleet are completely self-contained, and have a toilet, shower, microwave, generator, fridge, kitchen, and more!
The RVs in Cruise America’s fleet are extremely reliable, and if anything is to ever go wrong, Cruise America offers 24/7 renter’s assistance to help solve the problem.
With an emphasis on safety and family-friendly Rvs, Road Bear is one of the best luxury RV rental firms in San Francisco!
They have the newest fleet out there, with all of their RVs 18 months old or newer.
Their online booking process is simple and straightforward, and every renter receives a personalized orientation upon picking up their rental.
Road Bear offers one-way rentals between some of their locations, as well as 24 hour, 7 day emergency assistance.
Road Bear has five total vehicles in their fleet- from a 21’ Class B campervan rental, to a 31’ Class C Rv that sleeps 7.
All of their RVs come with an exterior awning, and all vehicles in the fleet have a shower and toilet, kitchen equipment, leather upholstery, and hotel-quality linen and bedding.
Not to mention, each vehicle has a TV and wifi hotspot!
If you’re looking for luxury, comfort, and a seamless RV rental experience, Road Bear is the top choice.
Britz Campervans is an all-around great option for RV rentals in San Francisco! They provide new, high-quality, compact 4-berth RV rentals.
With Britz Campervans, the rental process is super simple. All rentals include 100 miles/day, insurance, and convenience kits so you don’t have to worry about dealing with or budgeting for add-ons.
They also offer one-way rentals for your convenience, and all vehicles in their fleet are 2020 or newer!
Britz Campervan keeps it simple and practical with their fleet of 4-berth compact RVs.
Each RV comes with an awning, camping table, cookware, bedding, a bathroom, and more.
Britz Campervans make the RV rental process easy as can be by including everything you need for your trip.
With locations all across the US and over 50 years of experience, El Monte RV knows their stuff when it comes to campervan rentals!
They have a great reputation for providing a simple and seamless rental experience for their customers.
A couple of ways El Monte RV is unique from the rest include the fact that they are open on Sundays, offer airport transfers, and have a multi-lingual support staff!
If you’re looking for a professional and easy RV rental in San Francisco, El Monte RV is the way to go.
El Monte RV has 5 different RVs in their fleet. Their RVs range from a 22-foot Class C 5-berth RV, to a 30-foot long Class C RV that sleeps a whopping 8 people!
They also offer a Class A, bus-style RV that is 33-feet long and sleeps up to 6 people.
Each RV rental has a kitchen, shower and toilet, microwave, and everything you could need while on the road.
They also offer a “Run of fleet” rental option, where you get a discount on your rental, but aren’t assigned a specific vehicle until your pick-up date. This is a great option for anyone renting an RV on a budget, and you’re guaranteed a high-quality RV no matter what!
AIYRE Pacific Campervans is an eco-friendly camper van rental group in San Francisco. They are dedicated to sustainable carbon neutral travel, and purchase carbon offsets for every mile driven in their vehicles!
With a fleet of converted 2018-2019 Dodge Caravans, their vehicles are easy to drive and navigate. AIYRE also promises reliability, and will quickly replace your vehicle if any issues arise during your trip!
Not only does AIYRE Pacific Campervans offer affordable pricing, but they guarantee to offer the lowest price out there for week-long trips in comparable vehicles.
Some other great features they offer include 150 included daily miles, and 24/7 pickup and drop off!
The vehicles in this fleet include newly converted Dodge Caravans. Each vehicle is immaculately cleaned, label free, and perfect for stealth camping.
The campers are all equipped with a double-size memory foam mattress, cruise control, an excellent sound system, fresh linens, towels, a portable shower, full cooking set, and more!
These compact campers are ideal for couples and solo travelers looking to stealth camp their way across California in an eco-friendly way.
RV Share provides the largest marketplace of trusted RV rentals in the country!
Similar to Outdoorsy, they connect RV owners with people looking to rent. The key difference is that RV share specializes in RV rentals specifically.
It’s never been easier to rent an RV than with RV Share. With a quick search, you can compare hundreds of different RVs side by side, so you can pick the RV that best suits your needs.
RV Share also offers insurance and 24/hour roadside assistance, so you can book with confidence and focus on enjoying your trip.
The fleet varies from year to year, but they always have a wide variety of RVs, from compact campers perfect for solo travelers, to Class A buses for the whole family!
Some RVs have plushy, luxury interiors, while others are perfect for the minimalists out there.
No matter what type of RV you’re looking for, RV Share is bound to have something you’ll love.
Moterra Campervans is a luxury campervan rental group located in San Francisco. Their small but dedicated and detail-oriented team’s goal is to “create unique and dynamic adventures for [their] guests.”
And, with their all-inclusive fleet of luxury campervans, they do just that!
Moterra’s office is conveniently located only 10 minutes from the San Francisco International airport, the perfect starting point for a campervan road trip.
Moterra Campervans hosts a luxury fleet with three different models of 4WD Mercedes Sprinter Vans. Each Sprinter Van is fully converted with a professional buildout.
All vans come with heaters, AC, toilets, a kitchen, heater, and a solar-powered electrical system.
Their High Roof Campervan model is perfect for couples looking for a luxury campervan. It has plenty of standing room, sleeps 2, and has a convertible bed in case you prefer to dine inside.
For bigger groups, the Pop-Tent Plus is ideal. It has the capacity to sleep 4, while seating 8! In day mode, the pop-tent plus has 8 seatbelted seats- perfect for large groups!
In night mode, 4 seats fold down to form a Queen-size bed, and the roof tent pops up to comfortably sleep 2 more!
Cypress Overland is a boutique rental company in San Francisco that specializes in 4x4 overland campervans.
With their overlanding vehicles, Cypress Overland provides all the amenities of an RV, with the off-roading capabilities of a truck or Jeep. It’s the best of both worlds for outdoor adventurers!
Cypress Overland is ideal for people who love to experience remote natural areas without the crowds- and also without roughing it.
Cypress Overland has three vehicles in their fleet: A Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Tacoma, and a Jeep Wrangler.
The Toyota Tacoma can hold 5 passengers, and sleeps 2-3 in its rooftop tent. This vehicle is ideal for people looking to explore more remote areas, but who need plenty of room to stash their gear.
The Jeep Wrangler also holds 5 passengers and sleeps 2-3, and is ideal for couples and friends who want a remote adventure in an iconic vehicle.
The Jeep Gladiator is the newest addition to their fleet, and its rooftop tent fits a massive king-size bed, with plenty of room for 4. The Gladiator is perfect for families or groups of friends who want to take a longer trip, as it has so much space.
All the vehicles in Cypress Overland’s fleet come equipped with all the kitchen and high-quality camping gear you could need for an outdoor adventure.
Bliss RV is a local RV rental company that specializes in luxury RV rentals. They pride themselves on having impeccably clean, and full-outfitted leisure travel vans.
Bliss RV is unique in that they are not just a RV rental service.
They are on-call 24/7 for their clients, and share personal camping expertise, and do their best to accommodate special requests to create the perfect trip.
They are all about sharing adventure, and creating the perfect experience for their clients.
Luxury is the name of the game when it comes to Bliss RV’s fleet. They have three different types of RVs, built on either a Mercedes or Ford Chassis, all 2020 or newer.
All of their vehicles are 25-feet or shorter, meaning they can fit into tent camping spots for a more “off the beaten path” adventure.
The interior of their vehicles is exceptional. Each vehicle has everything, from a luxury kitchen and bedding, to lavish showers and bathrooms.
Bliss RVs’ vehicles are economical as well, with each vehicle getting no less than 16 mpg.
Whether you’re looking for a spacious, open layout, or a modern fit for two, Bliss RV has you covered.
Trekker Vans is a family-run campervan rental company located in San Francisco. Born from a dual love for road trips and automobiles, Trekker Vans is here to help outdoor lovers have a fun and easy campervan rental experience.
Trekker Vans is all about simplicity and functionality. Their rentals are all-inclusive, affordable, and the rental process is made easy by their knowledgeable and caring staff.
They offer one vehicle, which takes the guesswork out of which van to take on your adventure!
Trekker Vans provides one vehicle to their customers- the Trekker Van!
The Trekker Van is a 2016 or newer, fully-equipped Ford Transit. It comes with a queen bed, stow-away dinette, fridge, and kitchen.
The Trekker Van sleeps 2-3 as it comes, and there is an option to add a rooftop tent to sleep 2-3 more people.
The van is clean, easy to drive, and a great affordable option for couples or small families looking to explore California in a modern campervan!
Traveling by campervan or RV is the most affordable way to travel in California! The cheapest you can typically get a campervan rental for is going to be around $100 for a basic yet sufficient vehicle.
For $200 a night, you can get yourself a pretty high-quality camper rental. For luxury RV and Campervan rentals, it’s not unusual to be paying upwards of $500 a night- but keep in mind that covers transportation and accommodation prices.
If that sounds like a lot to you, then you can hire a car in San Francisco instead. However, you'll then need to pay additional costs for a hotel.
To rent a campervan in San Francisco, you have to be at least 21 with a valid driver's license. Many companies will only rent to people 25 and older, and this list features a variety of companies that will rent to people as young as 21!
Yes! Wilderness camping is allowed on BLM land (Bureau of land management) and off of forest service roads.
It’s a good idea to check in with your rental company about the best options for wilderness camping in your area, they'll have good recommendations about not only the best places to go, but also places that should be avoided due to hazardous road conditions.
Forest and park rangers are another great resource, they’ll be able to tell you the best options for wilderness camping in your area.
Keep in mind, pulling off and camping anywhere on the side of the road is typically not legal in California, and could result in a parking ticket.
While most of the rental companies on this list won’t allow you to take your rental to Burning Man due to the infamous corrosive dust, some will for a premium fee.
If you want a campervan or RV rental to take to Burning Man, it’s a good idea to inquire directly with the rental company.
There are plenty of great rental options in San Francisco, and there really is something on this list for everyone.
I'd be interested to hear which one you're going for?
Or maybe there's another recommendation you think we missed?
Drop a comment below and let me know!
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