Your Hotel on Wheels
A campervan rental combines accommodation and transportation into one — no hotel bookings, no luggage transfers, no rigid itineraries. You wake up wherever you parked the night before, make breakfast in your own kitchen, and drive to the next adventure. For road trips in scenic destinations like Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, and Scandinavia, a campervan can be both cheaper and more flexible than the traditional car-plus-hotel approach.
Types of Campervans
Micro-campers (2 berth): Converted vans like the VW Caddy or Citroën Berlingo with a fold-out bed, basic storage, and sometimes a portable stove. The cheapest and easiest to drive, park, and maneuver. Best for couples and solo travelers. Typical cost: €50–80/day.
Standard campervans (2–3 berth): Larger vans like the VW California, Mercedes Marco Polo, or purpose-built models with a pop-up roof, proper kitchenette, and more storage. The sweet spot for most travelers. Typical cost: €80–150/day.
Motorhomes (4–6 berth): Full-size RVs with bathroom, shower, kitchen, dining area, and multiple sleeping zones. Maximum comfort but significantly harder to drive, park, and fuel. Typical cost: €120–250/day.
Where Campervan Travel Works Best
Excellent: New Zealand (freedom camping culture, stunning scenery, purpose-built facilities), Iceland (Ring Road adventure, limited but well-placed campsites), Australia (vast distances, great campsite infrastructure), Scandinavia (right to roam, midnight sun).
Good: Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Canadian Rockies, US National Parks (developed campground systems).
Challenging: Central/Western Europe outside Scandinavia (strict wild camping laws, limited legal overnight spots), Japan (excellent but different campervan culture), Southeast Asia (virtually non-existent).
Costs: Campervan vs Car + Hotels
A typical 14-day trip comparison for two people:
| Expense | Car + Hotels | Campervan |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle rental | €350–500 | €1,000–1,800 |
| Accommodation | €1,200–2,000 | €0–350 (campsites) |
| Fuel | €200–350 | €300–500 (higher consumption) |
| Food | €500–800 (restaurants) | €250–400 (self-catering) |
| Total | €2,250–3,650 | €1,550–3,050 |
The campervan typically saves money for trips of 7+ days, especially in expensive countries where hotel costs are high (Scandinavia, Iceland, New Zealand, Australia).
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Compare Car Rentals →Essential Tips for First-Time Campervan Renters
Test everything at pickup. Run the water, test the gas stove, check the battery, try the heating, and make sure all lights work. Campervans have more components than a regular car, and problems discovered 200 km from the rental depot are much harder to resolve.
Plan your overnight spots. Download apps like Park4Night, iOverlander, or Campermate to find legal overnight parking and campsites. Wild camping laws vary enormously — what's legal in Norway is heavily fined in Spain.
Watch your height. Know your van's height (written on a sticker on the visor or dashboard) and check every parking garage, drive-through, and overpass before entering. Height strikes are one of the most common and expensive campervan accidents.
Drive defensively. Campervans are taller, wider, heavier, and have worse visibility than cars. Take corners slowly, allow extra braking distance, and be cautious in crosswinds — a high-sided campervan is vulnerable to gusts on exposed roads and bridges.
For wild camping legality by country, Park4Night and iOverlander provide community-verified overnight spots.