It was a dream for a long time, and we were able to make it happen. After more than fifteen road trips in the United States, we took advantage of our long spring road trip in 2023 to test a campervan in the American West. And we did it again in January 2026 in the southwest, and we’ve shared it with you here.
After our first tour in Utah driving Apollo, a Ford T-350, and the second trip between Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas with Bodhi, a Ram Winnebago Travato in “Couple Condo” mode, you had many questions. We felt that you might also want to try vanlife. What better than a practical guide to help you decide.
We are beginners, so this might interest those who also want to have their baptism of fire! How much does it cost? Where to park? How to find the right camping spots? How to handle restroom breaks? How to recharge? We answer all the questions. In short, we tell you everything with the now famous “Questions for a Truck”.
What road trip to rent a campervan for?
Isn’t this the first question to ask? Which part of the United States is most suitable for using a van? Yes, because if you go for a city trip on the East Coast, stringing cities together, the interest is close to zero.
According to us, the American West is the perfect playground, even more so if your road trip is focused on the national parks of Utah or Arizona. You can also look towards New Mexico, Nevada, or western Texas. If your trip is very Californian with many metropolises (LA, SF, Las Vegas), the interest declines.
Other places that are well suited for a van trip?
The Pacific Northwest, a big yes (Oregon, Washington), as well as the Yellowstone region, Glacier NP, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Colorado. Mention also for the Great Lakes tour, some areas in the Midwest and the Northeast (Maine, Vermont…). For the rest, even if it is possible, it will be less suitable.
For the duration, between 7 days and a month.
Where to rent a campervan from?
And yes, to have a campervan, except for buying one or having one brought from Europe, you’ll need to rent it. Several companies share a booming market. During our first van trip, we trusted EscapeCampervans. It was the market leader, but the company went under in mid-2025.
So, for our second experience, we approached Roadsurfer. As the world leader in van travel, the Munich-based company is expanding everywhere in the United States. After its arrival in 2022 on the west coast, the company has opened many branches.
It is present in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Phoenix (the agency we tested), Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, Miami, New York, Dallas, and more. Other companies offer van rentals, including Travellers Autobarn and NativeCampervans.
What does the van look like? Is it comfortable? What equipment?
We will talk in this article about our van rented from Roadsurfer. It was a Ram Winnebago Travato, suitable for two people. But they also have a version for four people with an additional roof tent. What does it look like inside?.
The driving cabin
Nothing remarkable about the driving cabin, classic and spacious with an automatic gearbox. The two comfortable seats with armrests turn towards the “camper” corner. It was equipped with cruise control, automatic headlights, a cigarette lighter, a USB port, and a USB-C port. The dashboard computer is handy, as well as the video rearview mirror and the rear camera given the size of the van (about 6m). This is also where you find the manual and the QR Code with the campervan manual.
The “camper” section: kitchen, bedroom, toilet, and shower
The Roadsurfer is much better equipped than the EscapeCampervan we tested a few years ago. We will give you a tour.
When you enter through the van’s sliding door, you first come across the kitchen corner (sink, two gas burners, a fridge, a microwave, storage everywhere) and the van’s management corner (with modules for heating and air conditioning, electricity levels, propane…).
Then you arrive at night. The two benches transform into a large bed (big enough for JP). All windows can be covered. There are night lights, several lamps, a propane heater, air conditioning, and even a TV. Note the very many sockets (USB and US plugs) throughout the van.
There is a table and chairs for outdoor use, the first one hidden behind a seat, the others under a bench.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, we had two sliding doors leading to the shower and toilet. Essential small space.
Outside
What happens outside the van? Already, there are three lights you can activate: one under the step, and two outside (one at the level of the sliding door, the other at the back). That’s where you will find the electrical connection, the propane tank, and the waste water drainage. At the back, once the doors are open, there is the entire water block.
There is also an external shade.
In summary, the van was well equipped with a toilet, shower, water, fridge, microwave, heating, air conditioning, TV, and many outlets. For more details, a brief FAQ was provided, covering topics such as mileage, cost, stay options, ideal locations, rental companies, etc.
The article closes with practical tips on where to sleep, what to take with you, the different types of sites available, and the difficulty of transitioning from a car to a campervan. It also addresses questions like camping car rentals and the dilemma of choosing between a motel and van life. Travelers are encouraged to follow the guide, possibly offering feedback for further improvements. The authors request support through platforms like Tipeee for the content provided.
The post concludes by expressing the hope that the guide has been helpful to readers and, if so, encouraging them to support the authors by contributing or planning their own trips.
Overall, the article is comprehensive and insightful, providing a detailed overview of the campervan experience and practical tips for readers interested in exploring this mode of travel.
