The 10 Best Cars for Camping

in Best for Demographic
Inside of a camping tent

Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash

If you’re into the outdoor life and need a vehicle that will better accommodate your passion, consider our guide to the best cars for camping. Here, you will find a collection of the most versatile rides for roughing it. 

Whether it’s just you and your companion or the whole family, we have the perfect solution to your needs.

2017 GMC Acadia

If you are the proud parent of a large family who loves camping, the Acadia is right up your path. Featuring a complement of seven seats and nearly 80 cubic feet of cargo space (with seats down), you’ll have the ideal vehicle for taking trips near and far. 

Whereas cars and crossovers give you limited cargo space, the Acadia laughs at the competition by offering enough room for your loved ones, camping gear, and the family dog.

If your outdoor adventures take you off-road locales, you can rest easy knowing that GMC offers the Acadia in an all-wheel-drive configuration. As one of the best cars for camping trips, the Acadia is more than capable of pulling its weight.

More specifically, it can tow between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds. Today, you can find 2017 GMC Acadias for anywhere between $25k and $38k. It’s worth mentioning that when the vehicle was introduced, it sold for $29,995. Food for thought.


OTHER CAR SHOPPING APPS ARE OUTDATED

You won’t realize how outdated other car searching apps are until you try the CoPilot car shopping app. CoPilot does the hard work for you by searching all of the listings in your area and intelligently creating a personalized list of the best buys in the area that match what you’re looking for.


2016 Honda Odyssey

Honda’s Odyssey admittedly isn’t the first thing most people think about when considering the best cars for camping. But we’re thinking outside of the box, and the Odyssey is a home run for anyone who wants a reliable and capable vehicle.

This is a Honda we’re talking about here. As such, you can look forward to lasting quality that will stand the test of time. That’s a must-have feature for any vehicle, regardless of the need. But as great as that is, it’s not the star of the show.

Rather, it’s the phenomenal storage that got our attention. When you invest in the 2016 Honda Odyssey, you’re getting nearly 150 cubic feet of cargo space, ensuring that you will have more than enough room to haul your gear.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee is considered by many to be one of the best camping vehicles around. A big part of that is the fact there are three 4-wheel drive systems to choose from. What’s more, the Grand Cherokee is more than capable of traversing rough or rocky terrain. 

Inside, you’ll be able to comfortably seat five passengers, with plenty of room left over for storage. And if you need to haul something, the Grand Cherokee can tow between 3,500 and 7,200 pounds depending on the configuration you bought.

2016 Subaru Forester

If you need a vehicle with plenty of ground clearance, Subaru’s 2016 Forester has an impressive 8.7 inches of it, ensuring that you’ll be able to drive over various types of terrain without issue. 

Other nice additions are almost 75 cubic feet of interior cargo space, respectable gas mileage, and a compact design. The Forester’s towing abilities aren’t in the same league as its counterparts, but it’s still able to pull up to 1,500 pounds. If you don’t have a lot to tow, the Forester is a fine entry that’s worth your consideration. 

2016 Land Rover Range Rover

While still fairly expensive for a vehicle nearly five years old, the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover offers incredible luxury that justifies the higher price tag. If you want to give your family the absolute best time on the road, this is the way to go.

The towing capabilities of the Range Rover are impressive, to say the least. Depending on the model you buy, you can pull between 6,614 and 7,716 pounds. As such, this is a worthy investment if you like living the high life and frequently tow a considerable amount of weight.


THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000

We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten. 


2016 Ford Expedition

Ford’s 2016 Expedition is a solid buy if you need a vehicle that’s capable of pulling a camping trailer and you have a large family. The Expedition can comfortably hold up to eight passengers while towing as much as 6,600 pounds.

Fair warning, though. The gas mileage is rather minimal, with only 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway.

2016 Kia Soul

When many people think of Kia’s Soul, they envision city driving and running errands. However, there’s more to the Soul than meets the eye. With ground clearance sitting at an impressive 6.7 inches, Kia’s Soul is more than capable of getting you to your camping destination.

Gas mileage is reasonable for a vehicle of this size, too, affording you up to 31 miles per gallon. You can get these cars at budget-friendly prices these days, so check them out if you’re trying to find a bargain.


THE BEST USED MINIVANS ON THE MARKET

When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat. We’ve factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list of the 8 best used minivans on the market today.


2016 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

Toyota’s 2016 4Runner TRD Pro is a fantastic choice, as it offers plenty of room inside and can tow quite a bit of weight behind it. If you have a camping trailer or need to haul another vehicle, the 4Runner can easily pull up to 5,000 pounds without breaking a sweat.

And considering that it sports 9.9 inches of ground clearance, you’ll have no trouble climbing over rocky terrain and other rough surfaces. If you like to camp in remote locations that few can reach, this is one of the best cars for camping in the wild.

2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Many campers will agree that Jeeps make excellent off-road companions, regardless of the model. The Unlimited boasts commendable towing capabilities and can seat up to five passengers with plenty of cargo room to spare.

The fuel economy isn’t the greatest, however, so you’ll need to take that into consideration if you typically camp in distant locales.

2017 Ford F-250

For the ultimate in towing, Ford’s 2017 F-250 has you covered. Capable of pulling up to a staggering 32,500 pounds with a 5th-wheel hitch, you can essentially bring everything you could possibly need on your camping excursions.

Not only is the F-250 a big vehicle in its own right, but it has plenty of luxuries to keep your family comfortable while you’re on the road.

Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.

Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.