Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to rent in California, listed by private owners and local rental businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for RV rental in the USA, then book online with insurance included.
California packs coastline, desert, mountains and redwood forest into one state — the Pacific Coast Highway, Yosemite, Death Valley and Lake Tahoe are all genuine RV road trip destinations reachable from the same handful of pickup cities. Enter your California pickup details on the search page and you’ll see insured RVs, motorhomes and camper vans listed by owners and local operators near you.
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RV, Motorhome and Camper Van Rental in California
The choice runs from compact camper vans that suit city driving and coastal turnouts easily to full-size Class A motorhomes with a kitchen, bathroom and slide-outs. A camper van or smaller travel trailer is the easier choice for the Pacific Coast Highway’s tighter curves and Yosemite Valley’s crowded seasonal roads; a larger motorhome is fine on I-5, the state’s main north–south spine, and most of the interstate network. California is genuinely huge — roughly 770 miles from the Oregon border to Mexico — so plan driving days around the state’s size rather than assuming everything is close.
Rental cost depends mainly on vehicle class, season and rental length — a camper van is consistently the cheaper option, a Class A or large travel trailer the most expensive, and per-night rates usually drop the longer you book. Summer weekends, especially toward the coast and Yosemite, push demand and prices up sharply; enter your dates above for a live quote rather than a generic average.
Pickup cities in California
- Los Angeles — the natural base for the southern half of the Pacific Coast Highway and the desert Southwest.
- San Francisco and the Bay Area — the closest major pickup point to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the Wine Country.
- San Diego — the southern gateway, close to the Mexican border and Joshua Tree.
- Sacramento — the practical inland base for Yosemite, Tahoe and the Gold Country.
Best road trips in California
- The Pacific Coast Highway — Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles and San Diego, with Big Sur’s cliffs in between. 5–10 days depending on how much of the coast you cover.
- Yosemite National Park — about 4 hours from the Bay Area or Sacramento. Waterfalls, granite domes and giant sequoias; Tioga Road across the high country closes with the first heavy snow, typically not reopening until late May or June.
- Lake Tahoe — about 3–4 hours from the Bay Area or Sacramento. Alpine lake scenery straddling the California–Nevada line, good for both summer and winter trips.
- Death Valley National Park — about 4–5 hours from Los Angeles. The hottest, driest and lowest national park in the country; summer temperatures make a winter or spring visit far more comfortable.
- The Redwood Coast — about 4–5 hours north of San Francisco. Ancient coast redwoods, quieter and cooler than the rest of the state in summer.
Driving around California
Wildfire season runs roughly June through October, most active in late summer and fall — check current conditions and air quality before a trip into forested or mountain areas during that window, and know that some roads and campgrounds can close with little notice if a fire is active nearby. California’s mountain passes, including Tioga Road into Yosemite and routes over the Sierra Nevada toward Tahoe, close for winter snow and may require chains by state law when open in shoulder season. Many California cities and beach communities ban overnight RV parking on their streets — plan on a campground or RV park rather than street parking anywhere in the state.
When to travel
Late spring through early fall is peak season for the coast and the Sierra Nevada, with July and August the busiest and priciest stretch. Death Valley and the desert Southwest flip this pattern — winter and early spring are the comfortable season there, while summer heat is genuinely dangerous. Fall brings wildfire risk in many years alongside good weather; check conditions before a late-summer or fall mountain trip.
RV rental near you — other locations
Las Vegas · Reno · or search any USA location on the main RV rental search page.
RV rental California — FAQs
Which California city should I pick up from for Yosemite or Tahoe?
San Francisco, the Bay Area or Sacramento are all closer than Los Angeles or San Diego — Sacramento in particular is the most direct inland base for both.
Can I drive an RV on the Pacific Coast Highway?
Yes, though a camper van or smaller travel trailer is the easier choice for the tightest curves around Big Sur. A large Class A motorhome can manage it but requires more caution on the narrower stretches.
Is wildfire season a concern for an RV trip in California?
It can be, roughly June through October and most active late summer into fall. Check current conditions and air quality before heading into forested or mountain areas during that window.
Can I camp in an RV in Yosemite, and how far ahead should I book?
Yes, but sites are limited. Most Yosemite campgrounds fit RVs up to 35 feet, with only a handful of Valley sites taking 40 feet, and none has hookups. Reservations open five months ahead on the 15th of the month, and Valley campgrounds are usually full from around April to September. Generators run only during set hours, so check the National Park Service campground page.
Do I need tyre chains to drive to Yosemite in winter?
Possibly. Yosemite says tyre chains may be required on open park roads from around October to April, depending on conditions, and Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close from about November to May or June. Yosemite is about 195 miles (4 to 5 hours) from San Francisco and about 313 miles (around 6 hours) from Los Angeles, so check the park's driving page before you leave.
Planning a road trip? See our Pacific Coast Highway RV road trip guide, with a day-by-day route, where to stay and driving tips, or browse more road trips.