How much does it cost to rent a camper in California?

California camper rentals range from $85-$350/night depending on vehicle type and season. Campervans on Outdoorsy run $85-$175/night. Class C motorhomes average $150-$275/night. Escape Campervans starts at $80/night from their LA and San Francisco depots. Summer rates along the coast can spike 50-75% above winter pricing.

What are the best camper road trips in California?

Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego is the classic — 5-7 days through Big Sur, Santa Barbara and Malibu. Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra loop takes 4-5 days from LA or SF. Death Valley and Joshua Tree make a great winter desert circuit. Redwood National Park in far northern California is worth the drive.

Which platforms operate in California?

All four major US platforms operate in California. Outdoorsy and RVshare have thousands of peer-to-peer listings statewide. Cruise America has depots in LA, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento. Escape Campervans has pickup locations in both LA and San Francisco. California has the highest concentration of rental options in the US.

USA / California

Rent a Camper in California Coast, Mountains and Desert in One State

California has more rental options than any other state. All four major platforms operate here with pickup locations in LA, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento. The Pacific Coast Highway alone makes California the most popular RV rental market in the country.

California Rental Pricing

Platform	Pricing	CA Locations
Outdoorsy	$85-$350/night	Statewide P2P listings, strongest in LA and SF
RVshare	$80-$300/night	Statewide, good trailer delivery in SoCal
Cruise America	$100-$250/night	LA, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento
Escape Campervans	$80-$165/night	Los Angeles, San Francisco

California coastline with waves crashing on sandy beach — Unsplash

Pickup Cities

Los Angeles

The biggest rental market in the state. All four platforms have strong inventory here. Best starting point for Joshua Tree (2.5 hours), Death Valley (4 hours) and the southern PCH route. Expect heavy traffic leaving LA on Friday afternoons — plan your pickup accordingly.

San Francisco

Second-largest California market. Strong campervan culture thanks to the Bay Area outdoor scene. Great launch point for PCH south to Big Sur, Yosemite (3.5 hours east) and Redwood country (5 hours north). Escape Campervans offers one-way trips between SF and LA.

San Diego

Smaller market but good P2P options on Outdoorsy and RVshare. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 90 minutes east. Cleveland National Forest offers nearby camping. Less traffic stress than LA pickups.

Pacific Coast Highway scenic drive along California coastline — Pacific Coast Highway, California

Best Road Trips in California

Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)

SF to San Diego along Highway 1. 5-7 days. Big Sur is the highlight — dramatic cliffs over the ocean. Some PCH sections have tight turns and low clearance tunnels. Keep your RV under 30 feet. State park campgrounds at Pfeiffer Big Sur, Kirk Creek and Leo Carrillo fill fast in summer. Book 6 months ahead.

Yosemite and Eastern Sierra

4-5 days from SF or LA. Yosemite Valley is stunning but tight for larger RVs. Upper Pines campground takes vehicles up to 35 feet. The Eastern Sierra via Highway 395 — Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Mono Lake — is less crowded and equally beautiful. Open June through October.

Desert Circuit: Joshua Tree and Death Valley

3-5 days from LA. Perfect winter trip — desert temps are mild November through March. Joshua Tree campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Death Valley's Furnace Creek has RV sites with hookups. Skip this route in summer unless you enjoy 120°F heat.

Redwood Coast

5-7 days from SF heading north. Avenue of the Giants is the must-do drive through old-growth redwoods. Jedediah Smith Redwoods has the best campground. Mendocino coast is gorgeous and less crowded than Big Sur. Some redwood groves have low clearance — check your vehicle height.

Desert canyon landscape in Southern California — Unsplash

California-Specific Tips

→ Fire season is real. August through November brings fire risk. National forests can close campgrounds on short notice. Check InciWeb for active fires before your trip.
→ Gas prices are the highest in the US. Budget $5-$6/gallon. A Class C motorhome getting 10 mpg costs serious money on a long trip. Campervans get 18-22 mpg and save hundreds.
→ National park reservations. Yosemite requires a reservation to enter the park from April through October. Campground spots at popular parks sell out 5 months in advance on the 15th of each month.
→ One-way options. Escape Campervans offers one-way between LA and SF. Cruise America allows one-way with a relocation fee. Great for the PCH so you don't backtrack.

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