Every road trip is epic, but one through the Southwest of the US and California is... ULTRA epic. With incredible National Parks and hikes, there are a ton of things you can see and enjoy on any route in this part of the world. The best way to explore it is with a campervan road trip!
Before you get to sit comfortably on that camping chair enjoying a campfire under a sky full of stars, you still got some planning to do. In this article, we will share with you the essentials you should consider for preparing for such an adventure. These are the topics we will cover:
- Car vs. Campervan? Which one is usually cheaper and better
- Money & Costs
- How campgrounds and free camping work in the US
- What should you wear for your adventurous vancation
- Do you need an International Permit for driving
- Weather & when to go
- Visa for the US
- Insurances
- Our recommended time for you to spend on this road trip
- Miscellaneous things like how to buy alcohol, firewood, and propane gas
- USA vs. Canada as a first road trip
Car vs. Campervan?
One of the first questions that pop up in our mind when planning a road trip is whether to rent a car or a campervan. This is mainly because we wonder what would be cheaper and allow us to experience a place better: staying at hotels or Airbnbs and renting a car or renting a campervan and overnighting at campgrounds.
The result of this comparison depends on the type of accommodation you usually stay at and if you like cooking or eating out all the time. In general, though, campervanning is cheaper than renting a car and staying at hotels.
We answer this question in full detail in our article 'Car or Campervan: What Is Better and Cheaper?'.
Money & Costs for an American Road Trip through the Southwest and California
Rating: Mid-range. Average per person US$1,740 for 15 days (excluding flight)
Costs of renting a campervan in L.A.
The daily rate for renting a campervan in low season is US$60 and US$120 in high season.
For our 15-day campervan rental from L.A. we paid a total of US$1,560. This price includes full insurance and 4,426 km / 2,750 miles.
We chose to rent from Lost Campers in L.A. because of the following reasons:
- They offered vans that are discreet (no big ads on the vehicle)
- Excellent customer service
- The bedding kit and kitchen kit are included in the rental price
- The company is local
- 24/7 drop off and pick up
When we rented our van, they did not offer unlimited mileage, but now they do! So this is another plus for them.
We were super happy with our rental, and if we would make this trip again, we would also rent from them. We have created a curated list of all campervan rentals in L.A. to help you compare them easily and be able to pick the rental company that is best for your adventure.
Fuel costs for a 15-day campervan road trip
Fuel in the U.S. is sooooo cheap compared to Europe. For the 4,426 km / 2,750 miles, we paid a rough total of US$380!
Campground costs in the Southwest of the US and California
The campground network in the U.S. is amazing. There are so many options to choose from, and the average price per night is US$35.
There are very expensive campgrounds like the Circus Circus RV Park in Las Vegas (US$50) and campgrounds near San Francisco (US$120).
But don't worry, we explain in this itinerary how to avoid paying over US$100 to stay in San Francisco in our post: 'San Francisco and Beyond in 48 Hours'
For a more detailed overview of what to expect of campground prices and how to avoid paying a lot, check out our article: 'How Do Campgrounds Work - a Quick Guide on How to Find, Book and Stay'
Food costs for a campervan road trip
It is tough to calculate how much you should budget for food, as this figure depends on your diet. If you only eat organic food, this might increase the average price per meal. If you are the type of person who only likes to eat out, this again will increase the cost.
On our road trip, we mainly cooked every meal ourselves. It was only in cities like Las Vegas, Santa Monica, and San Francisco, where we actually ate out.
We spent on supermarket purchases ~US$340. These were purchases made at Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Safeway.
How much you might spend on activities in a campervan road trip
If you are an active traveler like us and will be exploring more than 3 National Parks during your trip, we highly recommend getting an 'America the Beautiful Pass'. This pass costs US$80 and allows an entrance to over 2,000 National Parks of one vehicle with up to 4 passengers.
It is easiest to buy this pass in person at your first National Park. For more details, check out the official page from the National Park Services Website.
During our epic road trip we spent the following on activities, in addition to the America the Beautiful Pass:
- Antelope Canyon hike and kayak: US$175 per person
- 17 Mile Drive: US$10.50
Total cost for a 15-day campervan road trip through Southwest US & California for two people
*based on our trip in April 2018
The Lowdown on Campgrounds
As mentioned before, the amount of campgrounds in the US is astonishing. The super cool thing that we both loved about them is the self-check-in service they all have.
Be sure to bring cash with you, as not all campgrounds will accept credit cards or will have a reception open when you arrive.
If you don't always want to stay in campgrounds, you can free camp without any problem. The US has a network of public lands called BLM, which allow you to overnight with your campervan for free.
Here is a funny story of our first time free camping.
What should you wear for your next active road trip
If you are like us and you are planning to be active during your road trip through different outdoor activities like hikes and kayaking, make sure to read our article on 'What to Pack for Your Next Active Campervan Trip'.
International Permit
I, Jen, have a license from Guatemala, and Yvonne has a license from Germany. We were told by the car rental company that we did not need an international permit as long as our licenses would be in a Latin Alphabet.
We would recommend to double check with the car rental company you will hire your campervan from to be on the safe side.
Weather & When to Go
It is no secret that this part of the US has nice weather most time of the year. That being said, we highly recommend not traveling during summer, which is high season and very hot.
Instead, we recommend traveling during shoulder season: spring and fall.
Should you choose to travel in winter, just be aware and prepared for some snow in the Canyons. Also, not all campgrounds will be open, and some roads will be closed, e.g., in the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
The Boring Stuff
Visa for the USA
If you are European, you will only need to apply for an ESTA online. This online visa usually takes up to 24 hrs to be processed. This visa is good to stay in the US for up to 90 days and costs around US$14.
If you are not European, we highly recommend you check your countries requirements to enter the US.
I am from Guatemala, and I need to get a visa from an embassy. This process should be done at least three months in advance. This type of visa is good to stay in the US for up to 6 months.
Insurance for a campervan road trip in the USA
We highly recommend that you are protected while traveling. Anything could happen on this adventurous trip, and it's better to have some ease of mind and not have to worry about 'what if' all the time.
So, make sure to have protection for the following things:
- Your health
- Your valuable stuff
- The campervan you are renting
- Third-party vehicles and people you might injure in an accident
We have written an article with all the details you need to know when looking into insurances.
How Much Time to Take for the Southwest & California
We believe that the perfect amount of days for this road trip is 15 days. Having said that, that does not mean that seven days would not be an amazing experience. In seven days, you can explore the Southwest of the US and will be blown away by its beauty and diverse landscapes.
If you are super lucky and have tons of time on your hands, you could spend up to a month exploring this area.
Miscellaneous Things You Need to Know for Your Road Trip
Alcohol - how and where to buy it
The purchase of alcohol is state-regulated. This means that every state determines the rules of where and when alcohol is being sold. In California and Arizona, we were able to purchase alcohol at the supermarkets without any issues. In Utah, on the other hand, we had to go to liquor stops as the supermarkets were not allowed to sell any alcohol.
Firewood - can you buy it anywhere?
You can buy it anywhere: at pit stops, supermarkets, liquor shops, and campgrounds. Please be sure to purchase your firewood locally as there are certain parasites that live inside the wood, and it is not recommended that you transport the wood across state borders.
Propane - always buy more than what you need
Buying propane bottles is super cheap. We paid, on average, US$5 per bottle. The only thing that you need to be aware of is that on Coleman burners, not all Coleman bottles will work with your gas stove. We experienced that some bottles didn't quite seal to the burner stove, and when talking to fellow campers, they told us it is quite common. So it's best that you buy a couple of extra bottles, just in case you might need to throw one out.
Why the US and not Canada as a First Choice?
If you are wondering if you should make a road trip through the US or through Canada, you are not the only one. We also wondered the same thing while planning our road trip through the US. We answer this question in our article: 'USA vs. Canada'.
Are you ready to start planning your epic road trip through the Southwest and California? Make sure to continue reading our article:
