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Few basecamps in the country offer better road trip opportunities than Salt Lake City. Here’s what to book for your next SLC-based road trip.
Put a six-hour drive radius around Salt Lake City and you’ll have ten national parks, countless state parks and millions of acres of public land waiting to be explored.
It’s no surprise, then, that SLC is a campervan paradise, where heading just about any direction puts you on track to epic landscapes like those in Arches, Zion, Yellowstone or Great Basin National Park.
Here’s a look at 10 of the best campervan rentals in the Salt Lake City area, from budget-focused cargo vans to lux overland campers that’ll take on any dirt road in the Beehive State.
Related Read: Salt Lake City to Zion Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary
1. Escape Campervans
Why you should rent: an OG campervan rental company with a stellar reputation.
Every week, Escape Campervans books hundreds of van rentals from each of its 13 locations, and its Salt Lake City base is one of their most popular spots to embark from. There’s safety in numbers, then, and when you rent from Escape you’re working with one of the most reputable campervan rental companies in the country.
From SLC you can rent either The Mavericks or The Big Sur campervan — each has a queen-sized bed, a convertible table and plenty of storage to stay stocked up on the road. The Big Sur is about two feet longer than the Mavericks, though both models offer kitchenettes and fit up to five campers.
Because Escape is so well-known, they recommend booking peak-season trips several months in advance, and off-season van trips several weeks ahead of time.
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2. Native Campervans
Why you should rent: chic, smartly designed campervans with efficient layouts.
Native Campervans is in the business of offering “perspective-shifting journeys” through the American West, and their Salt Lake City location offers the perfect basecamp to explore the majesty of the region.
Three Ram ProMaster models — The Biggie, The Squad and The Smalls — offer varying degrees of space, storage and sleeping capacity, and each is decked out with modern décor schemes that make these feel more like tiny homes than campervans.
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3. Reparadise
Why you should rent: high-end campervan with all the outdoor bells and whistles.
Reparadise’s restoration shop in Utah offers repair and renovation services for campervans and vintage trailers, and they also rent a decked out Mercedes 4×4 Sprinter on Outdoorsy. Their rig is outfitted to tackle Utah’s best outdoor attractions, with room for mountain bikes, kayaks and other gear.
The Sprinter seats five, sleeps two on a queen-sized bed and includes an observation deck for scoping epic daytime views and nighttime stargazing. “The Sprinter offered by Reparadise perfectly met our needs,” said renter Alexander F. “The staff was helpful and knowledgeable, I would absolutely rent from them again.”
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4. Getaway Vanz
Why you should rent: lux meets rugged in one of the best all-around campervan rentals in Utah.
If the bold topo lines of this campervan don’t give it away, the rest of the build will: this beast is built for adventure. The 20-foot van seats and sleeps five, and comes with a full kitchen stocked better than most Airbnbs.
“It was rugged enough to handle forestry roads, but comfortable enough to feel like home for 8 days,” said Rachel B. “It included everything you could think of — even tools, kitchen wares, and a thorough instruction manual.”
In the back, a convertible bed offers three arrangements: a full-sized mattress, a king-sized layout or a couch-style bench complete with seatbelts. The interior’s as comfortable as the outside is hardy, making it the perfect glamping-style campervan rental for your next Utah adventures.
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5. Basecamper Vans
Why you should rent: affordable van rentals with clean, professional interiors.
Rates at Basecamper Vans start at $109 per night, making them one of the more budget-friendly van rentals out of Salt Lake City. The builds are polished and comfortable, and the lead installer at Basecamper’s been doin’ the damn thing since the ’70s, so he knows a thing or two about vanlife.
They offer five models — a range of ProMasters and Chevy Express vans — and each includes 125 miles per night. There’s no online booking, so you’ll have to reach out for a quote, but Matt and Jen are quick to respond with more information.
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6. Warner Vans
Why you should rent: some of the best custom-built overland campervans in SLC.
The campervans at Warner — Sprinter vans and builds by Storyteller Overland — have a higher price tag than most local rentals, but they’re a relatively good deal compared to the builds’ cost to buy outright. The Storyteller Overland Beast Mode 4X4, for example, rents at $375 per day, but the rig’s selling price is close to $200k.
For overlanders in the know, then, it’s worth the splurge, and these campervans offer the ultimate in off-road comfort and adventure. Warner offers more affordable Sprinter models as well, and those too are built to withstand the West’s rugged terrain.
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7. Wandervans
Why you should rent: budget-friendly campervans with comfortable floorplans.
Wandervans began renting out campervans in Idaho more than six years ago, and today offers rentals in Salt Lake City, Portland and Spokane. Their SLC headquarters, located ten minutes from the airport, rents out three campervan sizes, so it’s easy to find an option that’ll fit your budget and party size.
With rates as low as $98 per day, Wandervans offers some of the most economical campervans in the area, and their interiors are simple, but well-thought out and designed for maximum convenience on the road.
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8. Hippy Digs Camper Van
Why you should rent: stylish Ford Transit with cozy apartment vibes.
Mylee’s converted cargo van feels homier than most campervans you’ll find on Outdoorsy, thanks to a chic kitchen and the interior’s clean, modern lines. It’s practical too, and makes efficient use of its space.
Hippy Digs’ stellar reviews are a testament to Mylee’s willingness to make each renter’s journey unforgettable. “Mylee and Chris were AMAZING hosts,” said Olivia A. “Not only was the van in pristine condition (and super cute!) but their communication was both timely and clear. I’d highly recommend renting their van!”
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9. Kellville Vans
Why you should rent: newer campervans with beautiful interiors.
Kellville Vans rents out a small fleet of Winnebagos, each sleeping anywhere from two to five travelers. Our personal favorite? The Winnebago Solis, a throwback-style campervan with modern amenities and an old-school profile.
The Solis is a six-figure campervan you can rent for $210 per day and up, depending on the season. For a larger party, check out Kellville’s Winnebago Navion, a 25-foot beauty that will change your definition of “roughing it” on the road.
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10. Moterra Campervans
Why you should rent: environmentally-conscious rentals loaded with features.
Two of Moterra’s three campervans offer pop-top sleeping areas, a throwback feature paying homage to the early days of vanlife. The third, a high-roof camper, offers a spacious combo of seating, kitchen and sleeping areas that’s perfect for two.
The founders of Moterra are mindful of environmental impacts of travel, and to date they’ve helped plant nearly 4,000 trees through their partnership with TreeEra. They also stock their vans with reusable materials and avoid single-use plastics and supplies — a win-win for everyone.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 7 Awesome Campervan Rental Companies in Northern California
Salt Lake City Campervan Itineraries
Although it’s never been proven, there is some speculation that Brigham Young headed west in the 1840s mostly to find the “most gnarly desert to get stoked on.”
If that was the case — and again, this is all just modern-day theorizing — he couldn’t have picked a better spot than the Crossroads of the West. If you’re gettin’ your own B. Young exploration vibes on from SLC, here’s a rundown of some of the region’s most popular road trip itineraries:
- The Mighty 5 is hard to beat, and all of Utah’s National Parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion — offer distinct hikes and must-see landscapes.
- If you have time for backcountry side trips, check out the best backpacking in Canyonlands, backpacking in Zion or epic backpacking trips throughout Utah.
- If you’re staying closer to town, check out some of the best camping near Salt Lake City.
- The Bureau of Land Management runs three national monuments in Utah, including Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bears Ears and Jurassic National Monument (here are some of the best hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante).
- If you’re up for a longer drive, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Basin, Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison are all within six hours of Salt Lake City.
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