Many visitors to California dream of renting an RV to tour the state. Here is some brief information about renting an RV, and a list of some of the better known RV rental companies.
The category of "RV" includes a broad range of recreational vehicles. For travelers interested in renting an RV for their visit, these are the types of RVs which are appropriate.
Motorhomes: Motorhomes come in several categories.
The largest are called "Class A". These are the coach or bus type of motorhomes, and usually are longer than about 30 feet.
The next size down are called "Class C". These are the ones you see most often with a rental companies' logo emblazoned on the sides of it. The size of these ranges from about 23 feet up to about 30 feet.
The smallest of the motorhomes are called "Class B". Class B's are about 17 to 21 feet long, and usually do not sleep more than two people. These are sometimes called a "campervan" - see campervan section below.
Any of these motorhomes may be equipped with a "slide out". The slide out is a section of the motorhome which literally "slides out" with a push of a button to provide more interior room when you are parked at an RV park or campground. If you are interested in this, check with the various RV rental companies to see if they provide units with a slide out.
Campervans:
A true "campervan" in the United States is generally considered to be a very basic small van. A campervan most likely will not have amenities such as a toilet or shower, and it may not have a full kitchen with refrigerator and microwave. Some campervans are extremely basic, and provide not much more than a sleeping bed, a few shelves and cupboards, and a tiny icebox.
The difference between a Class B small motorhome and most campervans is that the Class B will have a toilet, shower, full kitchen with microwave, air conditioning, a furnace and often a small generator. A campervan, as stated above, most likely will be much more basic.
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Basic rental / budget information:
- RVs do not come with "unlimited" mileage. You generally get about 100 "free" miles per rental day; anything over that you will pay by the mile. You often have to rent the bedding and kitchen supplies, or bring your own.
- RV parks and campgrounds charge an overnight fee to stay in a campsite. This will range from roughly $20 USD per night up to about $45 USD per night in most areas. However, a deluxe RV park in a popular high tourist area may charge as much as $70 per night or even more.
- An RV will not get good gas mileage (MPG). A Class C will average about 8-10 MPG; a Class A about 8. A Class B or a campervan will get considerably better mileage, roughly 15-18 MPG.
The dream of many potential RVers is to just "wander around', stopping wherever you feel like.
Unfortunately, this is just a dream , not reality, especially between April and October! State Park campgrounds must be booked months ahead of time. Extremely popular National Parks such as Yosemite have very limited campsites within the park and book up within minutes of the opening date & time for taking reservations. Private RV parks do not require booking months ahead, but one should still make reservations several weeks ahead of time.
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Motorhome "buyback" programs: These are not as common in the USA as they are in other countries. However, if you are interested in a long-term stay in an RV, it is an option to consider. Here is one company that offers a buyback progam: Highway Campers
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Some motorhome rental companies:
Moturis - in connection with Camping World
Highway Campers - no additional cost for a one way rental to a few locations, can take to Canada or on to Alaska
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CAMPERVANS The following rent basic campervans. Some of these might not rent one way and most have limited offices:
Jucy (One way okay)
For a fee, this company handles RV rental and route-planning and pre-books campsite and activities: Tracks & Trails
Renting an RV to see California can be an exciting family vacation, but it's not for everybody. Do plenty of research ahead of time and ask lots of questions on the TripAdvisor forums where experts & locals can help you decide if RVing is right for you!
Road Trips forum (multi-state trips)
TripAdvisor articles with more information:
RV rental - Is it right for us?
RV Travel - Where to stay in your RV
Canadian Rockies: RV (Motorhome) Rentals for the Rockies