Car camping is the perfect getaway as it costs almost nothing to park under the stars for the night. With the right vehicle, car camping can be fun and relaxing for an entire family or group. The best car camping vehicles have a rugged construction, four-wheel drive capability, and, of course, plenty of interior room for sleeping. Fortunately, you don’t have to invest your life savings in a recreational vehicle to enjoy car camping.
While most top car manufacturers offer good vehicles for car camping, a few stand out more than others. To ensure a great night’s rest, it’s important to note the cargo space a vehicle offers when the seats are removed. A few SUVs and minivans provide enough cargo space for a queen-size or two kid-size mattresses to lie side by side. Keep reading to learn about the roomiest car camping vehicles available on almost any budget.
The Safety and Comfort of a Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban has been a car camping favorite for decades. With 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seat, it offers more room for sleeping than most SUVs in its class. With the seats upright, it fits eight passengers with plenty of legroom and headroom on all sides. Many passengers will find the large seats comfortable enough for napping on long trips. Kids will have no problem falling asleep inside a Suburban whether the seats are set upright or folded down.
The Suburban’s powerful V8 engine offers 355 horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque. It’s got enough hauling power and traction to tow a camping trailer deep into the woods. With both a trailer and the Suburban’s huge interior, a large group can sleep comfortably for any length of time. It also offers enough roof space for a popup tent.
Camping in the All-Wheel Drive Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is one of the most reliable minivans in production. Its AWD drivetrain and roomy interior make it perfect for car camping. As a minivan, the Sienna is designed for interior comfort and functionality. It fits up to eight passengers in three rows of seats with 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space left over for luggage and gear. With the seats out of the way, it offers a larger sleeping area than most other minivans and SUVs.
The Sienna’s interior can accommodate mattresses for a small family with young children. With 101 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seat, it has enough room for everyone to stretch out and get a restful night’s sleep. With 245 horsepower and 176 foot-pounds of torque, it’s powerful enough for light-duty hauling over pitted gravel roads.
Getting Away from It All in a Ford Expedition Max
With seating for up to eight passengers, the Ford Expedition Max is ideal for car camping. Whether you’re parking in a designated campsite or going off-road for dispersed camping, you’ll be in for a comfortable night’s rest in this vehicle. With the seats folded down, the Expedition Max offers 121.5 cubic feet of room for passengers to stretch out and relax. The Expedition Max’s 4WD drivetrain and 9.7 inches of clearance will ensure that your off-road adventures go smoothly.
The Expedition Max is a good choice for large groups with lots of luggage and gear. With a towing capacity of 9,000 pounds and 470 foot-pounds of torque, the Expedition Max can safely haul a trailer over mountain trails and steep inclines. Its V6 engine offers good fuel economy along with 375 horsepower for responsive driving.
Driving Overland in a Dodge Durango
The AWD Dodge Durango is a dependable family vehicle with enough clearance and traction to go off-road when needed. Its 3.6-liter V6 engine has good fuel economy and range, so you can take it to your favorite remote campsite without any worries. With 85.1 cubic feet of cargo space, the Durango is roomy enough to accommodate up to two sleeping bags or a queen-size mattress.
Car campers will appreciate the Durango’s rugged construction and abundant passenger space. It offers 8.1 inches of ground clearance for driving over rough roads. With around 40 inches of leg and headroom in the front and back seats, riding in the Durango is a pleasure. Groups of more than four people can easily haul a trailer to their campsite or pitch a popup roof tent for even more room.
Getting Comfortable in a Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada is a 4WD SUV with enough interior room for eight passengers to ride comfortably over any terrain. Its 5.6-liter V8 engine is strong enough to haul a small camper trailer across unpaved mountain roads. With 413 foot-pounds of torque and 400 horsepower, the Armada is designed to be a workhorse as well as a pleasure cruiser.
Inside, the Armada offers enough room for a small family to sleep on mattresses or sleeping pads. Its 95.4 cubic feet of area behind the front seat provides the perfect sanctuary for campers to enjoy after a long day of hiking, fishing, or bird watching. With its six-speaker audio system and heated seating, the Armada offers a relaxing interior space where passengers can easily fall asleep whether the seats are upright or folded down.
A Glamorous Night’s Rest in a Toyota Land Cruiser
When it comes to comfort and luxury, the Toyota Land Cruiser is a great option for car campers. While it’s not the largest SUV on the road, it has a more powerful engine than the Suburban or the Yukon while still offering excellent fuel economy. The Land Cruiser’s interior is designed to fit up to eight passengers in three rows of very comfortable heated seats. It offers 81.7 cubic feet of space with the seats folded down, so campers will have no problem sleeping inside on mattresses or sleeping pads.
The Land Cruiser comes with a few features that could make car camping trips even more relaxing. Its interior HVAC system offers air ducts and controls for each seat, and its 120V AC power outlets enable passengers to charge their phones or laptops with ease. In the front center console, the Land Cruiser offers a refrigerated cooler for storing drinks and snacks.
Backcountry Camping in a GMC Yukon
Car campers looking for a great night’s sleep should consider the GMC Yukon, one of the largest and safest SUVs on the road. The Yukon is a more upscale version of the Chevrolet Suburban with a slightly different interior layout. It fits up to eight passengers in three rows of seats with over 42 inches of head and legroom in each seat. With the rear seats out of the way, the Yukon offers 122.9 cubic feet of space for sleeping bags or mattresses.
Like the Suburban, the Yukon is ideal for car camping because it has a powerful 5.3-liter V8 engine with enough horsepower and torque for medium-duty hauling. Not only will you sleep well in a Yukon, but you’ll have access to some of the more remote campsites where fewer car campers can go.
With the right vehicle and a little planning, every car camping trip can be exciting, relaxing, and safe.
