The best camping vehicles don’t all follow the same formula. A pickup with a rooftop tent can work well for one trip, while another camper might prefer a van with enough interior space for a bed. Someone else may simply want an SUV that can carry basic gear and handle a rough road to the campsite.
That makes the choice of vehicle more interesting than simply looking for the biggest cargo area or the highest ground clearance.
Several mainstream models can handle those jobs without being sold as traditional campers. The five best camping vehicles below cover a wide range, from the Rivian R1T‘s 14.9 inches of available ground clearance to the Toyota Sienna Woodland’s 101.0 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.
1. Rivian R1T
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Cargo Space | 11.7 cu. ft. frunk / 11.7 cu. ft. gear tunnel |
| Power | 665 hp / 829 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | Premium Dual-Motor AWD |
| Ground Clearance | Up to 14.9 inches |
| Starting Price | $80,190 |
The Rivian R1T is one of the best camping vehicles here for its combination of storage, ground clearance and camping-specific features. It has an 11.7-cubic-foot frunk, an equally large gear tunnel and up to 14.9 inches of ground clearance.
Its adjustable air suspension can provide up to 14.9 inches of ground clearance, which gives the R1T plenty of room for rocky or uneven routes. The pickup bed handles larger camping equipment, while the truck also has an 11.7-cubic-foot frunk and an 11.7-cubic-foot gear tunnel.
Rivian’s Camp Mode is another useful feature. The truck can level itself when parked, which can make setting up camp easier on uneven ground. Climate control can also remain operating when the vehicle is being used for sleeping, while Camp Courtesy reduces some exterior lighting and locking sounds.
The R1T can travel up to 420 miles on a charge, depending on configuration, giving it useful range for longer camping trips.
Best for: Campers who want an electric pickup with serious ground clearance, multiple storage areas and dedicated camping functions.
2. Toyota Sienna Woodland
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Cargo Space | 35.5 / 75.2 / 101.0 cu. ft. |
| Power | 245 hp / 176 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive |
| Ground Clearance | 6.9 inches |
| Starting Price | $53,695 |
The Toyota Sienna Woodland may not look like one of the best camping vehicles at first, but its interior makes it a practical choice for people who don’t need serious off-road capability.
The Woodland trim combines a hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. Its 6.9 inches of clearance isn’t intended for difficult trails, but it can be useful on gravel roads and rough approaches to campsites.
The bigger advantage is inside. Folding the seats creates up to 101.0 cubic feet of cargo space, giving campers enough room for sleeping gear, food, coolers and other equipment. The setup can also be removed when the vehicle needs to return to normal family duty.
The roof provides another place to carry equipment, and a rooftop tent can be used when additional sleeping space is needed.
The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain is also useful for long road trips where fuel efficiency is more important than outright off-road performance.
Best for: Families and couples who want a practical daily vehicle that can also handle weekend camping trips.
3. Jeep Wrangler Willys
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Cargo Space | 72.4 cu. ft. (four-door) |
| Power | 285 hp / 260 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | 4×4 |
| Ground Clearance | 9.7 inches |
| Starting Price | $47,630 |
The Wrangler Willys is one of the best camping vehicles here for reaching campsites that require more off-road capability. It gives up some of the interior space offered by the Sienna and Transit in exchange for much stronger off-road equipment.
The four-door Willys has 9.7 inches of ground clearance, 33-inch all-terrain tires, a rear locking differential, upgraded suspension, rock rails and additional underbody protection.
Those features become valuable when the campsite is located beyond a maintained gravel road. The Wrangler can deal with terrain that would force many crossovers to turn around.
Inside, there is enough room for basic camping equipment, although most owners will probably want to use a ground tent or rooftop tent rather than turn the Wrangler into a full-time sleeping space.
The Willys also gives campers a relatively straightforward way to reach more remote locations without stepping up to a larger pickup.
Best for: Campers who spend more time getting to the campsite than inside the vehicle.
4. Ford Transit Trail
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Cargo Space | Up to 487.3 cu. ft. |
| Power | 300 hp / 400 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| Ground Clearance | 6.5 inches standard / 6.7 inches Trail |
| Starting Price | $53,795 with EcoBoost V6 |
If the goal is to build an actual camper rather than simply carry camping equipment, the Ford Transit is one of the best camping vehicles here for the job.
Ford’s van has a maximum of 487.3 cubic feet of cargo area which provides significantly more space for a bed, storage, cooking supplies, etc., when converting the van into a camper. The Ford EcoBoost V6 generates 300 hp and 400 lbs-ft of torque.
Customers have the option to purchase either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the Transit Trail includes additional features designed for both camping and outside activities.
The Trail version has 6.7 inches of ground clearance and more rugged tires. That won’t make the Transit a dedicated off-road vehicle, but it can make the difference when a campsite is reached by a rough dirt or gravel road.
The large interior also means owners can build the vehicle around their own needs rather than relying on a temporary sleeping arrangement.
Best for: Campers who want enough interior room for a serious camper conversion.
5. Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Cargo Space | 27.5 / 69.0 cu. ft. |
| Power | 194 hp / 199 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive |
| Ground Clearance | 9.3 inches |
| Price | $41,970 |
The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is a better fit for campers who want to keep their setup simple.
With 9.3 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, the Wilderness model has the hardware needed for many of the dirt roads that lead to campsites. It isn’t intended to compete with a Wrangler on difficult trails, but it offers more clearance than a conventional family crossover.
Fold the rear seats down and the Forester provides up to 69.0 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s enough for a sleeping pad and basic camping equipment without requiring a permanent interior conversion.
The roof rails provide another option for carrying gear or mounting a rooftop tent. That leaves the cabin available for equipment while providing a separate sleeping area.
The hybrid powertrain also makes the Forester a practical option for longer trips where fuel consumption is a consideration.
Best for: Solo campers and couples who want an everyday crossover that can handle dirt roads and overnight trips.
How These Best Camping Vehicles Fit Different Trips
These five best camping vehicles have very different strengths when it comes to space, off-road ability and sleeping arrangements.
The Rivian R1T combines an electric powertrain with high ground clearance, large storage compartments and dedicated camping functions. The Toyota Sienna Woodland takes advantage of its minivan layout to provide a huge amount of usable interior space without requiring a full camper conversion.
The Jeep Wrangler Willys is your go-to option if you want to reach those remote campsites that are hard to get to, and the Ford Transit Trail is perfect for building a larger and more complete camper inside the vehicle. The Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid is somewhere in the middle of these two options as it has off-road capabilities that can be used to camp but it doesn’t have the size or features of a specialized camper.
The right choice ultimately depends on the trip rather than the vehicle’s size. Established campgrounds don’t require the same hardware as remote forest roads, and a weekend tent camper has very different needs from someone planning to live out of a van.
Cargo space, ground clearance, drivetrain, sleeping arrangements and the roads you expect to travel are all worth considering when choosing the best camping vehicles for your type of trip.
