Pop Up Camper Rental

In the world of camping, your options are virtually endless. Travelers with the most discerning tastes might lean toward a luxury Class A motorhome with granite countertops and roomy sectional sofas. On the other end of the spectrum, nature lovers and minimalist campers will find themselves happy with just a hammock tied between two trees. And somewhere in between is a pop up camper rental.

A pop up camper is an RV derivative that tows behind your vehicle and then “pops out” to give you more room once you get to your destination. Typically, the sides and roof of the camper are made with heavy duty canvas that expands with a crank similar to what you’d find with a manual car window.

Because they’re usually much less expensive than a standard RV, they’re a great option for travelers on a budget. Likewise, they’re a good fit for people looking for a more true to form camping experience, as well as those who don’t want to feel like they’re in a hotel.

If you’re in the market for a pop up camper trailer rental, you’ll definitely want to start searching a few months ahead of your trip. With a bit of research, you should be able to find a perfect pop up camper to suit your needs and get you out on the road in style. But before you make your reservation, here’s a bit of information you need to know about how to rent a pop up camper.

Things to Know About Renting a Pop Up Camper

Small but versatile, pop up campers are known for their simplicity. Because they’re compact and fairly lightweight, they’re easy to tow behind your vehicle, whether you have a large SUV, a medium sized station wagon, or a small hatchback. That means that unlike a more bus-like model, pop up camper rentals are among the easiest RVs to drive to your destination and maneuver around a camping site once you get there.

Experienced campers will love that pop ups offer the convenience of an RV mixed with a tent-like experience that allows you to feel at one with the great outdoors. Most pop up models come with mesh windows that are excellent for letting in a cool summer breeze and keeping out light afternoon showers. The open-air feel is quite nice when the weather behaves, but won’t be so fun in the middle of a downpour. For that reason, it’s important to consider where you’ll be traveling and whether or not the weather calls for rain or heavy wind.

So what does the inside of a pop up camper look like? You’ll be happy to hear that most pop up models have beds and small, efficiency type kitchens. Some larger pop up models even come with bathrooms and second bedrooms.

Depending on your personal preference, you’ll want to check with your rental agent about finding pop up campers for rent that meet your needs. In many cases, a communal campground bathroom might actually offer more privacy than you’d find in a basic model pop up camper, since many pop up camper bathrooms don’t offer any walls or separation from the rest of the camper (definitely not for the easily embarrassed!). Either way, it’s something you’ll most likely want to ask about before making a reservation.

Don’t forget to check with your car rental company if you’ll be pulling a pop up camper behind a rental vehicle. Some rental companies have policies restricting towing, so it’s something you’ll want to clear up before you make plans to hit the road.

Pop Up Camper Rental Prices

As mentioned earlier, renting a pop up camper is an excellent way to plan an RV camping trip without breaking the bank. Pop ups can sleep four, six, or even eight adults, but still tend to be a much cheaper option than renting a Class C, a fifth wheel, or even a regular travel trailer.

Depending on how large of a model you’re looking for (or how new you want the pop up camper to be), you can normally get away for as little as $50 a night. At the top of the budget, larger, newer pop up models top out around $150-$200, which in the RV world isn’t bad at all.

Where to Rent a Pop Up Camper Near Me

By now, you’re probably wondering to yourself: “Where can I rent a pop up camper?” The bad news is that compared to other types of RVs, it might be hard to find a dealer near you with a large inventory of pop up campers. You’ll want to call around to rental companies in your area to see if they offer pop up camper rentals, since some dealerships might not even publicly post them on their websites. It can definitely be a bit of a challenge, but don’t be scared off.

If calling local RV dealerships fails you, you may want to consider checking out peer-to-peer rental sites, which work similar to Airbnb but for RVs. Peer-to-peer platforms allow actual RV owners to rent their RVs directly to other travelers, making it a great option for you to save money and them to make a little extra cash. Since pop up campers tend to be purchased more frequently than they’re used on the rental market, it’s likely you’ll have an easier time finding one on a peer-to-peer site rather than hunting one down at an RV dealership.

One last word of caution: Make sure you know how to expand your pop up camper before you hit the road! There’s nothing worse than getting to your campsite and realizing (uh oh) that you have no idea how to pop out the sides. If you’re renting from a dealer, the sales rep should be able to show you how to do this, or at least provide a video with instructions. If you’re renting from an owner, it’s something you should discuss before leaving town.

With that in mind, you’re ready for your RV camping trip! Best of luck and happy camping.