Do I need a special licence to hire a campervan in California?

In general, a special licence is not required to hire our campervans in California. However, a valid driving licence is required to operate our vehicles. For some non-EU citizens, a IDP is required, in addition to their home country's driver's licence. Other considerations such as a valid vehicle licence to the vehicle type (manual or automatic) will also be required. For more information regarding our licence requirements read this.

Are pets allowed in your campervans?

Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just make sure to purchase the extra cleaning service during your booking. This service includes professional anti-allergic cleaning after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per motorhome, and it must weigh no more than 30kg. Keep in mind, we are not responsible for any legal fees related to travelling with your pet. For marketplace bookings, check the "vehicle rules" section for the pet-friendly icon to confirm if pets are allowed in that specific vehicle.

How many people can sleep in a campervan/motorhome?

The number of people who can sleep in our campervans will depend on the size of the vehicle and the model. In general, our class C motorhome models can sleep up to 4-8 people, whereas our class B motorhomes can sleep up to 2-4. For cars with a rooftop tent, around 2 people can sleep in this vehicles. More details on our models and sleeping capacities can be found here.

Where can I stay overnight in California with a campervan hire and is it safe?

If you are travelling in a campervan, motorhome or caravan around California, it is important to understand official camping rules of the country you are visiting. As natural areas are generally protected by laws, using an official campsite or designated overnight parking area is highly recommended. This helps protect local communities and ensures you can all enjoy safely. Read more safety tips and protocols here.

Is it safe to hire a campervan in California, will I be protected?

We offer three protection plans to cover incidents and damages during your hire period. All Indie Campers motorhomes come with insurance for third-party vehicles and property damage (valid insurance will depend on the country). For marketplace vehicles, insurance options may vary based on the host. Learn more about our protection plans here.

Can I hire a campervan hire near me?

Yes, our search filter allows you to find a campervan near your location using a 60km radius system. This means depending on the location you are searching from, you will be able to find an Indie campervan hire pick-up centre near you.

Do your campervan hire in California come with unlimited kilometres?

Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers campervan hire in California include unlimited kilometres, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited kilometres applies exclusively to Indie Campers campervans and is subject to responsible use.

Campervan hire in California

Explore California With Us!

Embark on a campervan hire in California journey with Indie Campers and discover the Golden State's endless adventures. Cruise Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, explore Yosemite's granite cliffs, or surf San Diego's sun-soaked beaches. Choose from our range of reliable campervans equipped with unlimited kilometres, flexible one way options, and 24/7 assistance. With thousands of five star reviews, Indie Campers is your perfect partner for California's coast, mountains, and deserts.

Campervan Road Trips Across California

California contains more distinct road trip landscapes within a single state boundary than most countries contain within their national borders. The Pacific Coast Highway runs 1,055 km (656 miles) of two-lane coastal highway from the Oregon border to San Diego, passing through redwood forest, sea cliff, and chaparral-covered headland continuously. Fifty-four kilometres east of the coast, Yosemite Valley sits at 1,200 metres in the Sierra Nevada. Six hours southeast of San Francisco, Death Valley drops to 86 metres below sea level and regularly records the highest air temperature on Earth. The same state park system that manages beachside campgrounds in Malibu manages alpine campgrounds at 2,400 metres in the southern Cascades. No other state in the US network asks you to make this many decisions about what kind of landscape you want to sleep in.

The three Indie Campers pick up centres are in San Francisco,

California by Sub-Area: Where to Go and What to Expect

Northern California: Redwoods to Mount Shasta

Nearest pick up centre: San Francisco
Distance across sub-area: Approximately 500 km (310 miles) from San Francisco north to the Oregon border
Character: Old-growth coast redwood forest is the defining landscape: Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest living species on Earth, grows in a narrow fog-fed coastal belt running from Muir Woods (26 km north of San Francisco) to Jedediah Smith Redwoods on the Oregon border. The redwood zone averages 60-100 metres canopy height. Inland, the Klamath Mountains and Shasta-Trinity National Forest transition to volcanic plateau; Mount Shasta (4,322 metres, GPS: 41.4092° N, 122.1949° W) is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and visible for 160 km on a clear day. US-101 north of San Francisco alternates between coast-hugging bluff sections and inland valley segments; the Avenue of the Giants (32 km, GPS south entrance: 40.3245° N, 124.0650° W) runs beneath the tallest unprotected redwood grove remaining in California.

Best for: Travellers who have already done Yosemite and the PCH; first-timers who specifically want old-growth forest and dramatic coast with low crowds
Signature route: US-101 north from San Francisco to the Oregon border (1,046 km, 4-6 days)
Don't miss: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the Fern Canyon slot canyon, Trinidad Head Trail
Best months: May through October; summer marine fog clears by mid-morning most days; July-September has the longest clear windows

One of the most memorable things to do in California is to hire a campervan and visit the national parks. National parks are very distinctive in the United States, particularly in California, as they all have original features that will leave you in awe.