If you’re planning some camping trips this summer, you’ll want to find the right vehicle. Whether you camp in a tent, under the stars, or decide to sleep inside your vehicle, we’ll help you find the perfect match.
Best Camping Cars
Technically, if all you need is to load up some stuff, you can take any car camping. However, if you’ve got a long route in mind, have a lot to pack, or just want to make the most out of your trip with a vehicle built for where you’re going, you can narrow your search to find the best cars for camping, like these:
Hybrids
Check out this article for tips on road tripping with an electric vehicle.
SUVs
- Jeep Wrangler
- Ford Bronco Sport
- Toyota Land Cruiser
Trucks
Wagons
Best Cars to Sleep In
If you’re going to sleep inside your car while camping, you’ll want to have enough space to lie back without feeling crowded by your luggage. If you don’t need a ton of space, you may be able to sleep in your vehicle, but if you go for something small, you’ll need to pack very efficiently.
Here are some of the best vehicles to sleep in. Once you tuck some seats away, they should provide you with a good amount of room to stretch out:
Overlanding
For those more interested in the journey than the destination, look for a vehicle that’s built for overlanding.
Think of overlanding like hiking to remote locations, but with a vehicle. It’s about taking in your surroundings throughout your travels. So, instead of having a set point in mind, overlanders find the adventure in every mile.
It sounds similar to off-roading, but there are a few key differences.
Off-roading focuses on getting over rugged, uneven terrain, whereas overlanding can happen across any kind of land (mainly unpaved roads). Overlanding journeys also involve camping, whereas off-roading is typically a fun trip that’s over within a day at the most.
You’ll need a robust 4×4 to overland properly. This means an SUV, truck, or (camper)van that can handle long road trips. Here are some recommendations:
SUVs
- Ford Excursion
- Ford Expedition
- Land Rover Defender
Trucks
Vans
These campervans have been converted from standard van models to equip them with everything you need for a long overland haul. If you’d rather customize or DIY your camper, check out the original vans these conversions were made from.
- Oasis Sienna Campervan (Toyota Sienna conversion)
- Storyteller Overland MODE (Mercedes Sprinter conversion)
- Sportsmobile Classic 4×4 (Ford Cutaway conversion)
All of these cars are great for camping, so consider them as options even if you don’t plan to go overlanding.
More Camping Tips
You can find various camping accessories for your car to further enhance your trip. To help you pick the destination for your next campout, check out this article on some Canadian national parks that are worth a visit.
For those planning to bring a trailer camping, review the seasonal load limits on Ontario roads. If you decide to go camping in the winter, make sure you’ve got the right equipment to stay safe and warm. For more automotive tips and news, check out our blog.