Campervan hire in San Diego
from £57.38/night

Affordable Campervan hire in San Diego

If laid-back beach towns, tacos by the ocean, and palm trees swaying in the breeze sound like your kind of thing, welcome to San Diego. This Southern Californian city is all about sunshine, salty air, and the open road. It’s the kind of place where you want to keep your shoes off and your windows down. Cruise along the Pacific or head inland towards desert canyons and pine forests.

Finding cheap campervan hire in San Diego is easy through CamperDays. Use the filters to narrow things down - automatic or manual, pop-top or hard roof, space for surfboards or just snacks. If you’re planning a weekend away or a two-week wander down the coast, we can help you find the perfect campervan, so all you have to do is pick the perfect playlist.

Top tips for your Campervan trip to San Diego

Spring and Autumn are the sweet spot for motorhome rental in San Diego. Warm weather, less packed beaches, and most importantly of all, you are not stuck in summer holiday traffic. Winter can be quite cold at night. San Diego is a popular area, and the best campsites do book up ahead of time, so plan ahead.

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  Driving
  Parking near the beach can be hard work on the weekends, but if you park just away from the beach, you should be fine. The roads out and around the city are well maintained and are your best bet to head to when you rent a campervan in San Diego. Watch your speed
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  Family Friendly Adventures
  If you have the family with you, then San Diego will deliver. San Diego Zoo is one of the best in the world, and everyone will love it. La Jolla Cove is another winner - the sea lion show always goes down well. LEGOLAND California is also only 30 minutes away - and who doesn’t love Lego?
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  The outdoors
  San Diego could be classed as one big outdoor playground. Torrey Pines State Park is great for hiking. Sunset Cliffs has miles of beaches and some incredible sunsets. Head inland towards places like Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, where you can swap the ocean air for mountain air.

Best Campervan routes in San Diego

San Diego to Joshua Tree National Park
Rent a motorhome in San Diego and head northeast into the California desert, where the landscape starts changing into something you’d see in Mad Max. Stop at Palm Springs because it's Palm Springs, which is perfect for a campervan layover. There are many lovely walks in the area, or you can just visit some fantastic restaurants. After that, carry on to Joshua Tree National Park with its weirdly shaped trees, giant boulders, and star-filled skies.

San Diego to Big Bear Lake
The drive takes you inland through scenic forests and roads, with the road slowly climbing up and up. About halfway, theres a historic gold rush town called Julian that's worth stopping at. This town is known for its bakeries and famous apple pies, which are worth picking up for a midnight dessert in your campervan. Once you arrive at Big Bear Lake, you will find that campervans are well catered for. Here, you can take to the water or get out on the trails. The choice is yours.

San Diego to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
If you want somewhere closer to start your Californian adventure, hire a campervan in San Diego and drive the 140km route to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is the largest state park in the country. Once you reach Borrego Springs, you will come across giant metal sculptures of dragons, elphenats, and dinosaurs (perfect for Instagram pictures). Set up camp at one of the many camp sites in the area and relax. It's the kind of toad trup that makes you feel like you’ve discovered somewhere secret.

Sites of interest and excursions in San Diego

Cabrillo National Monument
A short drive after picking up your motorhome for hire in San Diego is Cabrillo National Monument. You can get great views of the city from up here where you can see the downtown area, harbour and even Mexico if its a clear day. There are coastal trails to walk around, and you can learn all about Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore present-day California.

Mount Soledad
Another place to get up high (800 feet above sea level) in San Diego is Mount Soledad, which welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year. At the top, theres a veterans' memorial that's genuinely moving. There are often special events held up here for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Navy Day. Parking is at the top, but this can be busy during peak time, so head up early if you can.

Coronado Island
Ok, it's technically a peninsula, but calling it an island sounds so much better. Just driving over the Coronado Bridge to get there makes it worth it. You’ll love the island, as it has real campervan vibes, park trees, beaches, and the famous Hotel del Coronado, full of history. If you’ve picked up a camper van for hire in San Diego, this is the kind of place that makes you glad you did.

Compare the prices for different campervans, locations, and dates in our price comparison tool and find the most affordable option for your trip.

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