By RV through the USA and Canada
National parks, long roads, nights out in nature: an RV is one of the freest ways to travel the USA and Canada. Here is what to know beforehand – and in the planner you see the nearest campgrounds for every day of your trip.
Last checked on 19 September 2026
Which vehicle?
- Campervan (Class B): a converted van – nimble, fits almost any parking space, best for two.
- Class C: a living box on a truck chassis with a bed over the cab – the classic for families.
- Class A: the size of a coach – lots of room, but too long for narrow mountain roads and some national parks.
- Check the length: many campgrounds and some roads have maximum lengths. On Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park vehicles over 21 feet are banned on the central section.
Renting
- Licence: bring your national and international licence. Minimum age, extra drivers and vehicle sizes differ between rental companies – read the terms before booking.
- One-way and border crossing: picking up and returning in different places, and driving between the USA and Canada, is not allowed with every company and vehicle – ask explicitly.
- Insurance: check for sufficient liability cover and the excess; mileage is often not unlimited.
Sources: Auswärtiges Amt: USA – Reiseinfos
Where to stay
- Campgrounds in US national parks, national forests and reservoirs are booked on recreation.gov, in Canadian national parks through Parks Canada. Popular ones book up early.
- Dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management land is mostly allowed unless posted otherwise – generally up to 14 days within 28 days and away from water.
- Private campgrounds usually offer power, water and sewer at the site (“full hookup”); public campgrounds less often.
Sources: Bureau of Land Management: Camping · Recreation.gov · Parks Canada: Camping
On the road
- Waste water is emptied at a “dump station” – at many campgrounds, rest areas and some gas stations.
- Generators may usually only run at set times in campgrounds – different in every park, posted at the entrance.
- Plan shorter daily legs than by car: the planner assumes a lower speed for RVs.
Canada
- German citizens flying to Canada need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA, CAN$7) – apply only on the Canadian government’s site.
- Most national parks charge admission. The annual “Discovery Pass” covers more than 80 Parks Canada places for 12 months.
Sources: Regierung von Kanada: eTA · Parks Canada: Eintritt
Where the rental companies have stations
Stations in the main arrival cities (as of 19 Sept 2026, according to the companies’ sites). Our sample routes start and end in such cities – a round trip saves the one-way fee.
| City | Cruise America | El Monte | Road Bear | Escape | Indie Campers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| San Francisco | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Las Vegas | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Phoenix | ● | – | – | ● | ● |
| Denver | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Seattle | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Salt Lake City | ● | ● | – | ● | ● |
| Chicago | ● | ● | – | on request | ● |
| New York / Newark | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Miami | ● | ● | – | ● | ● |
| Orlando | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Dallas | ● | ● | return only | – | ● |
| Anchorage | ● | – | – | ● | ● |
| Boston | ● | – | – | ● | ● |
| City | Fraserway | CanaDream | Cruise Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | ● | ● | ● |
| Calgary | ● | ● | ● |
| Edmonton | ● | ● | – |
| Toronto | ● | ● | ● |
| Montréal | ● | ● | ● |
| Halifax | ● | ● | seasonal |
| Whitehorse | ● | seasonal | – |
From the airport to the station
Most stations are not at the airport, and RVs are usually only handed over in the afternoon. After a transatlantic flight a hotel night before pickup is the norm – some companies even require it.
- Cruise America / Cruise Canada: No shuttle – taxi or Uber/Lyft. Pickup usually 1–4 pm, return 9–11 am, many stations closed on Sundays. One-way between most stations, but not between the USA and Canada. (Sources)
- El Monte RV: No free shuttle. Afternoon pickup; after a long-haul flight El Monte strongly recommends picking up the next day. One-way possible, trips to Canada allowed. (Sources)
- Road Bear RV: Free shuttle from selected airport hotels in seven cities – book at least 30 days ahead in online check-in. No pickup on the day you arrive from overseas. One-way from 7 nights. (Sources)
- Escape Campervans: Vans wait at or near the airport, often with a free shuttle from the terminal; pickup and return around the clock. One-way between most major airports. (Sources)
- Indie Campers: No shuttle – taxi, ride-hailing or public transport. Pickup 2:30–6 pm, return 8:30–11:30 am. One-way on many routes (not from Anchorage), Canada allowed. (Sources)
- Fraserway RV: Free shuttle from selected hotels, book with the station 3–5 business days ahead. No pickup on arrival day after a flight of more than 6 hours. One-way within Canada for a fee. (Sources)
- CanaDream: No transfer – taxi; stations are 1 to 46 km from the airport. Pickup 1–4 pm, return 8–10 am. One-way within Canada, trips into the USA for a fee with permission. (Sources)
Relocation deals: cheap, but with conditions
- Rental companies need to move vehicles between depots and rent out these trips very cheaply – often from $1 a day, but with a fixed route, fixed days and limited miles.
- New from the factory: Cruise America offers brand-new motorhomes from Franklin Park and East Dundee near Chicago (in Canada from Bolton near Toronto) – at least 7 nights, phone booking only.
- From Canada to the USA in autumn: in 2026 CanaDream and El Monte offer relocations such as Calgary to Denver or Vancouver to Los Angeles (pickup 15 October to 30 November).
- The real cost is in the small print: booking fee, bond, fuel mostly at your own expense (sometimes an allowance against receipts), no refund on cancellation, extra days at full price, penalties for late delivery. The vehicle class is often not guaranteed.
- Offers appear at short notice. Only book flights once the company has confirmed the relocation – ideally flying into one city and out of another.
Sources: Cruise America: One-Way Specials · Cruise America: New Vehicle Relocation · CanaDream: Relocation Specials · El Monte: Kanada → USA · Fraserway: Relocation Specials · Imoova (Vermittlung)
Rental companies
In alphabetical order, no ranking. We receive no commission – prices and terms are on the companies’ own sites.
More for your trip
Fees and rules change. The linked official sources always prevail – this page is not legal advice.