Have you been dreaming of an epic adventure? Do you have a bucket list of places in North America you’d like to see someday? Have you considered a North America road trip in a campervan?
If you haven’t considered a cross-country campervan trip yet, we’re here to tell you that it’s the best way to experience everything North America offers. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a novice explorer, hitting the highways and byways in a campervan offers unparalleled freedom, flexibility, and adventure.
In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of planning the ultimate North American road trip, and why traveling by campervan is the best way to do it!
Table of Contents
Why Rent a Campervan for Your Road Trip?
Renting a campervan for your North America road trip offers a plethora of benefits that can enhance your travel experience:
1. Cost-Effectiveness: Opting for a campervan over traditional accommodation can significantly lower your travel expenses, allowing you to allocate more funds to experiences like exploring national parks, trying local cuisine, or engaging in adventure activities.
2. Flexibility: With a campervan, you have the freedom to change your itinerary on a whim. Discover a hidden gem? Stay an extra day. Want to linger longer in a picturesque mountain town? No problem. The flexibility of a campervan allows you to tailor your journey to your preferences. Small campervans work well inside big cities as well as outside. You can park them anywhere, and they have no height restrictions on roads or in parking structures.
3. Convenience: Your campervan is your home on wheels, complete with sleeping quarters, a kitchenette, and storage space for your gear. This convenience means no more lugging heavy suitcases in and out of hotels or searching for restaurants at odd hours. You have everything you need right at your fingertips.
4. Environmental Friendliness: Taking a road trip across the country in a campervan is not only an adventure but also an eco-conscious choice. By consolidating transportation and accommodation into one vehicle, you reduce your carbon footprint compared to traditional travel methods.
What Campervan is Best for a North America Road Trip?
Avanti Campervans checks all of the boxes for your cross-country road trip! They offer stealthy, fully equipped minivan campers that can be picked up and dropped off at most major airports. The best part? You can book a one-way trip across the entire country or point-to-point between the key places you want to visit.
With all the campervan rental companies out there, why Avanti Campervans?
- Avanti Campervans are minivan campers, so they are incredibly comfortable to drive, fit in normal parking spots, get great gas mileage, and you’ll never worry about how tall you are when driving under overpasses or into parking garages.
- Fully equipped at no extra charge with bedding, pillows, cookware, cutlery, a camp stove, cooler, camp shower, chairs, table, shade canopy, and even towels, all you need to bring is your personal items like clothing and hiking gear and fill up the cooler with food, and you’re ready to go!
- Need to bring more items? No problem. Avanti Campervans have ample storage under the bed for your luggage and adventure gear!
- Sleep soundly with Avanti Campervans’ memory foam mattress and pillows. Blackout curtains are included to block out light, heat, or cold and give you privacy when you need it.
- With pickup and dropoff locations available 24/7 near most major airports, you can start, end, or pause your North American road trip almost anywhere!
- Avanti Campervans are carbon neutral! That’s right, they buy carbon offsets for every mile driven, making an already sustainable way to travel even better.
- You won’t look like a tourist! Avanti Campervans have no exterior branding and look just like a regular minivan. Have peace of mind if you’re traveling solo or want to bring expensive camera equipment or outdoor gear with you.
- Bring Fido along! Yep, Avanti Campervans are pet-friendly (with an additional cleaning fee per trip).
- 150 free miles per day, with an upgrade to unlimited miles for an additional fee. When you’re driving across a continent, this is a benefit you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about Avanti Campervans and book your North America Road Trip today!
Buying vs. Renting a Camper Van
If you are planning a trip for three months or more, buying a campervan instead of renting one can save you a significant amount of money—assuming you can find, purchase, register, insure, equip, maintain, and, lastly, sell the van within your trip time frame…. But there is a solution to all of this complexity—Avanti Campervans!
For budget travelers who want to explore North America affordably, buying a car, using it for the trip, and selling it at the end is the cheapest option. However, there are some challenges that prevent most people from choosing this route:
- You need time to find and purchase a car when you arrive.
- You need a US address to register the car and get insurance, and you may need a social or tax ID number for that.
- You need a large sum of money upfront to pay for the car and possible repairs.
- You need to equip the car with gear and installations for car camping.
- You need time to sell the car at the end of the trip. Even competitively priced used cars take 2-4 weeks to sell.
Avanti Campervans can do the work for you!
You can purchase one of their campervans for your North America road trip. Here’s how it works:
- Complete the entire process online upfront, then drive directly from the airport in your fully equipped campervan. They can deliver your van to most major US airports.
- You’ll get a 30-day/1000-mile drivetrain warranty.
- Avanti campervans will handle registration and insurance for your trip’s duration.
- Instead of paying the full amount upfront, you can pay in monthly increments.
- At the end of your trip, you can sell your van on the open market or sell it back to them at its KBB trade-in value.
Already have a minivan that you can use, but don’t know how to set it up for a long road trip? Avanti Campervans sells minivan camper conversion kits! Designed and refined the perfect kit after years of real-world feedback from their customers, and many of their own long road trips themselves. These kits are easily installed in minutes and are removable when you want to use your minivan for normal commuting purposes.
Reach out to Avanti Campervans today to buy your campervan or conversion kit today!
Ten Must-See Stops for Your Campervan Adventure
The possibilities are literally endless when it comes to planning an itinerary for a North America road trip. You can drive through in two weeks or spend an entire year (or more!) exploring.
We could write a book for you with all the places you can go. But since we don’t have time for that, here is a list of some of our favorite places to visit (in no particular order) to help get your planning juices flowing.
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho): Yellowstone National Park is a geothermal wonderland, home to iconic features such as Old Faithful geyser and the Grand Prismatic Spring. Visitors can explore a diverse landscape of geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and wildlife, including bison, elk, and grizzly bears.
- Banff National Park (Alberta, Canada): Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park offers stunning alpine scenery, turquoise lakes, and rugged mountain peaks. Visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives along the Icefields Parkway, with opportunities to spot bears, elk, and mountain goats.
- Zion National Park (Utah): Zion National Park is renowned for its towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and verdant river valleys. Popular activities include hiking the iconic Narrows, exploring the scenic Zion Canyon, and witnessing breathtaking sunsets over the dramatic landscape.
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona): One of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, the Grand Canyon astonishes visitors with its immense size and breathtaking beauty. Whether hiking along the rim, rafting the Colorado River, or admiring panoramic views from scenic overlooks, the Grand Canyon offers awe-inspiring experiences at every turn.
- Pacific Coast Highway (West Coast of California, Oregon, Washington): Stretching along the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Coast Highway offers breathtaking views of cliffs, beaches, and seaside towns. Highlights include Big Sur’s dramatic coastline, Oregon’s rugged coastline, and Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, with opportunities for whale watching, beachcombing, and scenic drives.
- Acadia National Park (Maine): Acadia National Park encompasses a rugged coastline, granite peaks, and pristine forests on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. Visitors can explore scenic coastal trails, bike along carriage roads, and enjoy panoramic views from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee, North Carolina): One of America’s most visited national parks, the Great Smoky Mountains captivate visitors with their mist-covered peaks, lush forests, and diverse wildlife. Hiking, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Southern Appalachians.
- Glacier National Park (Montana): Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier National Park boasts rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and over 700 miles of hiking trails. Visitors can marvel at glaciers, explore alpine meadows, and encounter wildlife such as grizzly bears, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
- Big Sur (California): Big Sur is a rugged stretch of coastline along California’s Highway 1, renowned for its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and scenic vistas. Visitors can explore state parks, hike through redwood forests, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from iconic landmarks like Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls.
- Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario, Canada): In central Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park is a wilderness paradise characterized by dense forests, crystal-clear lakes, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can paddle serene waterways, hike scenic trails, and camp beneath starlit skies, immersing themselves in the tranquility of Canada’s wilderness.
Four bonus destinations for the urban enthusiast
Looking for something starting from the big city? Try these destinations, which all conveniently have an Avanti Campervan pickup/dropoff location right near the airport!
- Seattle, WA: Nestled between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, Seattle is renowned for its vibrant culture, thriving tech scene, and stunning natural beauty. Visitors can explore iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, indulge in gourmet coffee and cuisine, and immerse themselves in the city’s eclectic arts and music scene.
- Boston, MA: Steeped in history and culture, Boston is a charming blend of colonial heritage, prestigious universities, and vibrant neighborhoods. Visitors can walk the Freedom Trail, explore historic sites like Faneuil Hall and the Paul Revere House, and experience the city’s rich cultural offerings, from world-class museums to lively Irish pubs.
- New York, NY: As the epitome of the American dream, New York City captivates visitors with its iconic skyline, diverse neighborhoods, and endless array of attractions. From Times Square and Central Park to the Statue of Liberty and Broadway theaters, the city offers a whirlwind of experiences, including world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment.
- Portland, OR: Known for its quirky charm, craft beer scene, and stunning natural surroundings, Portland is a haven for foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, and creatives alike. Visitors can explore eclectic neighborhoods like Pearl District and Alberta Arts District, dine at farm-to-table restaurants, and discover the city’s lush parks, gardens, and nearby Columbia River Gorge.
Avanti Campervans also has a growing itinerary list with destinations near some of their pickup/dropoff locations. You might want to start there and then plan your add-ons next.
Planning Your North America Road Trip Route
Before you hit the road, planning your route and itinerary is essential. Here are some tips to consider:
- Research Campsites: Identify campgrounds along your route and book in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. National parks often have campgrounds with stunning natural settings, but they fill up quickly. With an Avanti Campervan, you won’t need hookups, so oftentimes, a simple tent campsite will work if you are allowed to sleep in your campervan while it’s parked instead of setting up a tent.
- Map Out Key Destinations: Make a list of must-see destinations along your route, such as iconic national parks, scenic drives, and charming small towns. Balance popular attractions with off-the-beaten-path gems for a well-rounded experience. Traveling with a friend or partner? Consider creating a shared Google map so you can add destinations or mark places you want to see while on the road.
- Consider Driving Distances: While spontaneity is part of the allure of a road trip, it’s essential to have a rough idea of daily driving distances to avoid fatigue and ensure you have enough time to enjoy each destination. You might want to book a few days here and there where there is no drive time just to keep yourself fresh and excited for the next destination. A huge perk of an Avanti Campervan is that they are comfortable to drive and they get great gas mileage!
- Pack Accordingly: Since space is limited in a campervan, prioritize versatile clothing, outdoor gear, and essentials like food, water, and toiletries. Avanti Campervans come fully equipped with everything you need, so all you have to do is bring your personal essentials and pick up some groceries.
- Shower and Restroom Planning: If you won’t have frequent access to showers, consider a gym membership with a nationwide chain. Avanti Campervans don’t have toilets, so be sure to plan for bathroom breaks along the way, just like you would on a regular road trip.
Essential Gear and Tools
To make the most of your campervan adventure, pack the following essentials:
- Navigation Tools: These days, everything you need is on your smartphone—until there’s no cell service. You might consider investing in a GPS device or, at minimum, downloading offline maps to navigate remote areas with limited cell service.
- Snacks, Snacks, and more Snacks: Stock your campervan’s cooler with perishables or drinks. An Avanti Campervan has a camp stove and all the cookware you’ll need, but opt for easy-to-cook meals and snacks to simplify meal prep on the go.
- Outdoor Gear: Pack hiking boots, backpacks, water bottles, and other outdoor essentials for exploring trails, scenic overlooks, and hidden gems.
- Versatile Clothing: Pack layers of clothing that will work in various environments. Remember that you can go from the desert to snow-packed mountains in a day’s drive easily in North America (hello, Utah!), so what is appropriate at 9am might not be at 5pm after a long day of driving.
- First Aid Kit: Be prepared for minor injuries and illnesses with a well-stocked first aid kit that includes bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any personal medications.
Safety Considerations
Safety should always be a priority when embarking on a road trip. Here are some tips to stay safe on your campervan adventure:
- Vehicle Maintenance: Before hitting the road, ensure your campervan is in good working condition by checking tires, brakes, fluids, and other vital components. Familiarize yourself with basic maintenance tasks or have a professional inspect the vehicle. Avanti Campervans are all serviced prior to each trip, so you’ll have peace of mind that you won’t break down while on your trip!
- Emergency Supplies: In case of unforeseen circumstances, pack emergency essentials such as a flashlight, extra batteries, blankets, a multi-tool, and a portable jump starter.
- Stay Informed: Use apps to monitor weather forecasts and road conditions along your route, especially if you’re traveling through diverse climates or remote areas. Be prepared to adjust your plans accordingly to ensure your safety.
- Share Your Itinerary: Share your travel plans, including your route, destinations, and estimated arrival times, with trusted friends or family members. Check in regularly to provide updates on your whereabouts.
Start Your North America Road Trip Today!
Embarking on a road trip across North America in a campervan is not for the faint of heart. It’s a challenging yet exhilarating journey filled with unforgettable experiences and breathtaking landscapes.
With careful planning, essential gear, and safety precautions, your North America road trip will be an epic adventure through some of the continent’s most stunning destinations.
So, pack your bags, hit the road, and go Find Your Outside™ in an Avanti Campervan!
