RV rental in California

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• San Diego

• Colorado
• Alaska
• Florida

Why is it worth booking a campervan early?

The state of California is a perfect holiday destination for travelers wishing to explore and take in what nature has to offer. The state has vibrant cities, spectacular beaches, stunning natural wonders, and alluring parks that you can explore. It's no wonder campervan rentals in California are so popular, enabling recreation enthusiasts to spend memorable holidays in the state. The good thing is, you're guaranteed to find the best rental companies in various cities to book a campervan and begin your adventure. But which is the best time to visit California and enjoy value for your money? California is a tourism hotspot, with more visitors traveling in April and September to October. These months have pleasant temperatures for outdoor recreations. When booking a campervan reservation with CamperDays, it's always advisable to do it a few months in advance. With early booking, you can rest assured you'll get the best RV rental in California at the most affordable price. Whether you prefer a luxury, comfortable, big or small campervan designed to suit your travel needs, California campervan companies have what you’re looking for. In addition, you will enjoy fair cancellation policies and no additional fees if you want to make reservation changes. While booking an RV rental in California may seem expensive at first, you will end up saving more money. The thing is, you don't have to pay for hotels, food and a car. Your campervan will serve as accommodation with a modern kitchen to cook meals and a travel car. Also, you'll enjoy the freedom of traveling wherever and whenever you want. That means you can travel at your own pace without relying on schedules. Lastly, if you have questions or a problem during booking or driving, CamperDays has a customer service department ready to help. When you contact them, they respond in no time with the help you're seeking.

Discovering California with a campervan is the best way to see its beautiful landscapes   

California, also known as ‘The Golden State’ because of its golden, sandy beaches stretching the entire length of the west coast and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, is actually a very diverse state. Apart from the beautiful beaches with the fun, and ever popular sport of surfing, California also has stunning mountains, forests and desert land making it a great destination for campervan holidays and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It is also home to the world-famous Yosemite National Park renowned for its amazing scenery, wildlife and outdoor activities such as hiking, walking and fishing.

If you want to include some city life why not consider Los Angeles or San Francisco as part of your Californian experience.? Los Angeles and San Francisco are California’s largest, busiest cities with lots to see and do including trying the incredibly varied food. Los Angeles is better known for its tasty Korean food, whereas San Francisco is known for organic and farm- to- table-based food. Whatever your taste or interests California has it all in abundance and by renting a campervan you can enjoy your chosen holiday at your own pace.  

Our top tips on renting a campervan in California:

Campervan holidays in California are ideal for those who enjoy exploring the great outdoors and or enjoying the hustle and bustle of city life. The busiest period for renting a campervan is from May until September so booking in advance is highly recommended.  

At CamperDays we offer flexible bookings which means if your travel plans change, we will immediately contact the rental company and take care of the rebooking free of charge. Many of our partners are accommodating and do not charge any rebooking fees. In case you have any questions before or after booking, you can contact our friendly customer service team by telephone.

Best Campervan Routes

Here at CamperDays we aren’t only campervan experts, as we also give our customers useful tips on campervan routes. Below you will find a small list of campervan routes in California:

• Highway 395
  This is an exciting route that runs along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. On this route just outside of Lake Tahoe, you will drive through National Forest Landwhich is perfect for nature lovers. Quite a large stretch of this route looks like a desert, but there is still so much to discover such as rugged landscapes and Mono Lake.
  

• Highway 1
  Highway 1 has some of the best coastal views in California. The highway stretches from Orange County in southern California to Mendocino County just north of San Francisco. To drive the full route it will take several days. Make sure to stop off and enjoy the good weather and explore Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-sea, which are known for their picturesque scenery and fabulous beaches.
  

• Outdoor Enthusiasts Road Trip
  This route is perfect for anyone that loves spending time exploring national parks. Start at Joshua Tree National Park and finish at Lake Tahoe. On this route you will be able to visit 4 of the state’s 9 national parks. You can visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks together as they are right next to each other.

Driving in California

• Remember that in America they drive on the right, it is important to keep this in mind when overtaking or turning.

• You can turn right at a red light unless stated otherwise.

• Most motorways and roads in California are toll-free. However there are a few sections where you will have to pay a toll. For some bridges you will also have to pay a toll.

• The following speed limits apply when driving in California: in urban areas 25 mph and on other roads it is usually 55 mph. On motorways also known as freeways and interstates the speed limit is usually 65 mph.

Some of California’s best known attractions

California is renowned for its amazing coastline, the stunning wildlife and fantastic scenery and its bustling cities where many of the rich and famous reside:

Alcatraz Island

• Alcatraz Island also known as ‘The Rock’ is located in San Francisco Bay and is home to the famous Alcatraz maximum security prison.
  

• Guided tours are available. You can visit the gardens and remodelled buildings. You can also see the dated architecture and hear old legends, including the infamous Birdman of Alcatraz story. 

Hearst Castle 

• Hearst Castle, also known as La Casa Grande, originally belonged to William Randolph Hearst.

• The Mediterranean Revival mansion is known for its opulence. It has 165 rooms and is set in 127 acres of land with numerous walkways, gardens, terraces, and fountains.

• Hearst’s collection of antiquities is another must see with an array of artefacts from different cultures.

Griffith Park

• Founded in 1896, the park is a popular tourist spot spanning over 4,300 acres of land. 

• The park offers a varied and sizable range of attractions including Los Angeles Zoo, the botanical gardens, an open-air Greek theatre and a museum. The park also houses the famous Griffith observatory with its breathtaking views of Los Angeles including the iconic Hollywood sign.

Yosemite National Park

• Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains the park has a wide range of attractions, including five cascading 1,000-foot waterfalls and giant sequoia trees.

• Visitors can also enjoy other scenic locations such as Glacier Point, which overlooks Half Dome, High Sierra, Tenaya Canyon and even the Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Events and festivals in California

Mission Federal ArtWalk (April-May): an annual, 2 day event that takes place in San Diego. It is California’s largest and longest running arts festival where artists and art enthusiasts come together to sell and purchase against a backdrop of performing arts such as music and dance.

California Strawberry Festival (May): considered one of the top festivals in America with over 50 food stalls most offering all things strawberry themed including flans, pizza and kebabs, or if you fancy something sweet candy floss and margaritas. The festival also involves live music, numerous contests, rides and attractions.  

California Wine Festival (April-May -July): one of the largest outdoor festivals in the state of California. The Wine Festival is an annual event held in four locations. You may choose to try one or more of California’s vintage wines, or simply enjoy the delicious gourmet foods prepared by some of the region’s best chefs whilst listening to the varied live music performances.

Campsites in California

Questions? We have answers. The 5 most frequently asked questions

• Do I need a special driving permit or any other documents?

  You can drive a campervan in California if you are aged 25 or over and you hold a full UK driving licence. Before hiring a campervan make sure to check with the individual providers if they need any permits or further information and before driving in California make sure to check local traffic laws and speed limits.

• How much do campsites in California cost?

  Camping in California is a popular holiday choice and prices do vary depending on the location and facilities. Average prices start from around £25.00 per night, but some campsites are only open during the high season so it’s always best to check before booking.

• Is wild camping in California allowed?

  Wild camping in California, also known as ‘’boondocking’’, is legal on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of reclamation although some of these agencies may have restrictions in certain places. Wild camping in parks, national parks or urban areas is not permitted and as such it advisable to check with the local municipality or visitor centres before going wild camping.

• How many days should I plan on staying in California?

  We would recommend staying in California for around ten days. This will give you enough time to explore the beautiful scenery, the many available outdoor activities and the hustle and bustle of city life.

• When is the best time to visit California?

  The best time of year to visit California is during the summer months when the average temperatures are between 19°C and 30°C.