An Epic Camper Van Rental Phoenix: Roadsurfer (& an Itinerary!)
Are you thinking about taking a road trip in Arizona? Whether you live in Arizona or are traveling to the state, a Camper Van Rental in Phoenix can be the perfect solution! I’ll help you know what to expect when renting a camper van, itinerary options for your Arizona roadtrip, and more about Roadsurfer!
Disclaimer: This post was part of a paid partnership with Roadsurfer, but all text and opinions are my own and are honest!
Why Choose a Camper Van?
You may be wondering WHY I chose to do a Camper Van Rental in Phoenix. Or why I like camper vans in general. Well, for one, if you’re ever interested in having one in the future, it’s great to test out. You may love it or you may not, but at least you know. I also love that you’re avoiding putting wear and tear on your personal car by taking long road trips. I like the peace of mind of being in a rental (especially when I had older cars) and not worrying about breaking down (obviously it could still happen, but a lot less likely). I also love that when you’re traveling for an extended amount of time, your “hotel” and “rental car” are bundled in one! This helps you save money- something everyone wants. I also love the mix of amenities. You’re still “roughing it” while camping, but you also have access to water, a cooktop, air conditioning if you want it, and a cozy bed.
Alternatives to camper vans include CAR CAMPING, TENT CAMPING, or RENTING AN RV. What is your favorite?!
why choose a camper van rental in phoenix?
Arizona is a beautiful state with many diverse landscapes- and sometimes you gotta road trip to see them all! A Phoenix camper van rental gives you the freedom to check out all the amazing places you’ve had on your bucket list. Phoenix is so well situated for roadtrips within the state to out of the state- places like California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado. Summer gets TOASTY in Phoenix, and one of my best solutions to beating the heat is to rent a camper van and get outta town to cooler weather!
Camper Van Rental Phoenix: Roadsurfer
There are multiple options in the Phoenix area for camper van rentals, one of which being Roadsurfer. They’re actually one of the newest options, and I’m excited they decided to join the Phoenix area. If you check out their website HERE, you can see they rent vans ALL OVER THE WORLD, so they definitely know what they are doing! Why should you choose Roadsurfer?
an affordable camper van rental in phoenix!
Let’s get right down to it. Roadsurfer is an AFFORDABLE camper van rental. There are many rental options out there, but some of them are expensive, especially with added fees. Roadsurfer Phoenix rentals start at $115 per night. I think that’s such a great deal. The average hotel room costs $250+ these days + at least $50 a day for a rental car, so you’re definitely saving money on your road trip.
awesome interior features
I’ve done many different camper van rentals over the past few years, and each build is so different! I’ve come to understand my favorite and least favorite features of all of them. Features I loved in my Roadsurfer Camper Van were the bug screens (it’s so nice to leave doors open and NOT have all of the bugs), the ability to fold up your bed (leaves so much more room for walking around during the day- especially if you have dogs), the rear view mirror CAMERA (because you can’t see out a normal rear view mirror with a van), and interior bathroom (toilet and shower). We also loved that our model, the Liberty Lodge, had 2 backseats as well (and a rooftop tent), so you could fit kids if you had them!
Some things I didn’t like as much (because nothing is perfect) were the lighting (I like dimmable LED strips as opposed to bright individual lights), the aesthetic (I’ve been in beautiful wood interior vans which are my fav), and that there’s a bit of a gap between the bed and the back door that you could potentially fall off of (or your pup). Just gotta be honest with you guys!! Check out the options HERE.
Types of Camping for your Camper Van Adventure
There is some planning involved with your Phoenix camper van rental. Do you want to go dispersed camping? Developed? Hook-up/ RV park? What do all these things even mean?
1. Developed Campgrounds
Developed campgrounds are those with amenities, like trash, bathrooms, a camp host, etc. Some even have showers! They are sometimes reservable, and sometimes first-come, first-served. Some popular developed campgrounds need to be booked ahead of time! They usually have spots that are close together, which means less privacy. One of the nice things about reservable developed campgrounds is having peace of mind that you have a spot confirmed! Developed campgrounds usually have a fee of $10-$30.
2. Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping is probably my favorite. Dispersed camping is FREE camping on BLM/ National Forest land. Sometimes dispersed camping areas will have designated “spots” and sometimes they don’t. They’re always first-come, first-served. They’re much more spread apart- sometimes you won’t even see your neighbors. I like the seclusion and peace and quiet of this option! The biggest negative is usually it takes a longer drive time as they are on more secluded forest roads.
3. RV Park
An RV Park/Resort offers the least privacy and the most amenities. Many will have bathrooms, showers, PLUG INS (allowing you to power up your van and use A/C to the max capacity), sometimes pools, food, etc. I don’t love this option, but it is an option!
photos of camping in northern arizona
Arizona Road Trip Ideas
So where should you go with your Phoenix Camper Van Rental? You can go on a road trip in Arizona any time of the year. If it’s summer in Phoenix, I suggest taking a road trip to the cooler, forested parts of the state. If you want to travel in winter, I’d suggest visiting the deserted parts of the state. Let’s go over some of the best Arizona road trip ideas.
1. Foresty Destinations
- Flagstaff (2-3 Days): Flagstaff is one of the most underrated mountain getaways in the United States. It’s a gateway to so many amazing locations within Arizona, like the Grand Canyon (only an hour away). There are so many outdoorsy things to do from hiking to mountain biking to a scenic gondola to National Monuments, to camping.
- Pine/Strawberry (2-3 Days): I love this area, because it’s only an hour and a half from Phoenix. Such an easy weekend trip. It’s a quaint, small town with lots of areas to relax outside and support local businesses (local Meadery, lavender farm, etc). It’s more of a calm, quiet vibe compared to Flagstaff.
- The White Mountains (2-3 Days): The White Mountains consist of the area around Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, and Greer. Most of the land is either National Forest Land or part of the White Mountain Apache Reservation. It’s a green lush area in the summer with countless streams, waterfalls, and blooming wildflowers. The towns of Pinetop-Lakeside and Greer have quaint restaurants, coffee shops, etc.
My Favorite Arizona Camper Van Road Trip
I’ve taken a similar road trip in a van TWICE and love it. So here’s what I normally do. On day 1, drive up to the Mogollon Rim. Enjoy time at Woods Canyon Lake or Diamond Point and camp on top of the rim (both dispersed and developed options). On day 2, enjoy more time in the forest before driving to the White Mountains (another 1.5 hrs). Spend time enjoying local food in Pinetop-Lakeside before going back to the forest (either camping in Greer or on the White Mountain Apache Land with a permit). Spend the next day or two doing local hikes (Government Springs, East Baldy, Thompson Trail), foraging for berries, spending time on the many lakes in the area (Big Lake, Reservation Lake, Hawley Lake), and enjoying time in nature.
2. Desert Destinations
- Sedona (2-7 Days): Sedona is one of the most iconic deserty destination in the USA. The stunning red rock sunsets are a hard sight to beat. I love Sedona because you can visit any time of the year. In the summer, you can enjoy one of the many watering holes. In the winter, you can hike your little heart out. In the fall, you can enjoy fall colors in Sedona.
- The Grand Canyon (3-4 Days): The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world for a reason. It is absolutely stunning and totally worth your time. Did you know there’s both a South Rim and North Rim, that are hours apart by driving?! Please ALWAYS be cautious with hiking in the heat.
- Page (3-4 Days): Page, Arizona is an adventure hub located about 4 hours north of Phoenix. It’s in between Lake Powell, Zion, Flagstaff, Moab- all the things. There are iconic landmarks like Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page. Highly recommend it. NOTE- not my favorite in the dead of summer.
Southwest Road Trip Ideas Beyond Arizona
If you have time, I highly suggest extending your road trip BEYOND Arizona. We are surrounded by so many beautiful states- so go explore them. From California to Utah to Colorado and Nevada, there is so much to see.
1. Arizona to Colorado Road Trip
I’ve taken a 5 day, 4-night road trip from Phoenix to the San Juan Mountains in Colorado (Ouray & Silverton Area) and it was AMAZING. I did do a Camper Van Rental Phoenix, with a different company than Roadsurfer. Whatever rental you use, highly suggest checking out my in depth itinerary below!
2. Arizona to Utah Road Trip
Highly suggest a visit to our northern neighbor. Visit some of the “Big 5” National Parks in southern Utah. I’ve taken many trips through Page, Arizona and to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the surrounding areas. I’ve been in winter and summer- both are great!
3. Arizona to California Road Trip
We took a 1 week Camper Van Road Trip from Phoenix to California and had a BLASSSTTTT. We went to Sequoia, Yosemite, Napa, San Francisco, Carmel, and Big Sur. Best trip ever. I mean look at my camper van view window to Yosemite below. WOW.
Final Thoughts about Camper Van Rental Phoenix Options
Embark on the ultimate Arizona adventure with a roadsurfer campervan rental from Phoenix, your gateway to boundless exploration! Forget the confines of traditional travel and embrace the freedom of the open road, where stunning desert vistas, vibrant red rock formations, and majestic canyons become your backyard. roadsurfer makes “van life” accessible and comfortable, offering a diverse fleet of fully-equipped campervans complete with all the essentials for cooking, sleeping, and relaxing. Whether you envision staying at amenity-rich developed campgrounds or discovering the tranquility of dispersed boondocking, a roadsurfer van provides the perfect home on wheels to chase sunrises over saguaros, hike through ancient landscapes, and create unforgettable memories on your personalized Arizona road trip.
