Campervan Rental near Long Beach

Campervan Rental Long Beach

Located on the coast about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is famous for its waterfront attractions. You might have heard of crime rates being high in Long Beach in the 1990s. In the past decade, however, crime in the area has decreased to some of its lowest points in forty years. The result is that Long Beach is now as safe as any other city in California.

Feeling touristy? When you rent a RV in Long Beach, visiting the beach itself you can swim, sail, kayak, water ski, whale watch, take a harbor cruise, go surfing, ride a waterbike (yes, it’s a thing), go windsurfing, visit the Queen Mary, and more.

Further inland, don’t miss the aquarium, or the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). You can also take day trip tours further inland towards Los Angeles visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Olvera Street, and the Sunset Strip. And who can forget the biggest attraction of them all: Disneyland, which is about an hour’s drive away.

Getting to Long Beach

Interstate 710 runs north and south, heading directly into the Long Beach area as your main entry point, if you rent a campervan in Long Beach. Driving is on the right hand side of the road. The maximum speed limit in the state of California on most highways is 65 miles per hour (mph) unless otherwise posted, and 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways.

Kids 8 and under are required by law to sit in the back seat, and those who are older but shorter are always safer in the back due to the danger of airbags.

The area also has its own airport, Long Beach Airport (LGB), and Amtrak runs in and out of the city. So, whether you like planes, trains, or automobiles, you can get here.

Once in town, L.A.’s Metro Link (light rail transit) runs the Blue line to downtown Long Beach, with $1.75 getting you around for two hours. Long Beach Transit costs the same for a one-way fare, and the Passport Shuttle offers services for free to local attractions. In summer months, water taxis that host bicycles also operate in the area.

Parking in Long Beach

Amazingly, there is free parking for the first two hours at Long Beach City Lots A, B, and C. Getting a spot might not be so easy, however. You can try to stay one step ahead by booking a parking spot online. Do some research, there are a few different companies that offer this useful service. 

Metered parking is paid, and it is enforced, so don’t try to park for free where you can’t. On certain holidays, however, parking is even free in metered spaces, so be sure to do some checking around before setting out.

Almost all metered spots accept credit cards and you can also find spots with contactless payment systems, something that was developed to help stop the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Some of the most popular parking areas include lots in downtown Long Beach, lots next to the Convention Center, and those found in the port area.

Annual Events in Long Beach

Long Beach is full of fascinating events year round making it a perfect cite to rent a motorhome and explore the vibrant cultural space with something for everyone. 

• Grand Prix: (usually April)  IndyCar Series race downtown $20-$995
• Long Beach Marathon: October Free to watch, $105-$129 to enter
• Long Beach Jazz Festival: August 3-day traditional, smooth & Latin jazz, $65-$235
• Pow! Wow!: September International mural festival, free
• Long Beach Pride Festival and Parade: July free parade, 3-day festival celebrating LGBTQ 

Camping in Long Beach

When you rent an RV in Long Beach, you have a fantastic choice of campgrounds to choose from, including the following popular destinations:

• Sunset Vista RV Park: Located directly on Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean, you have full access to sun and surf.  WiFi, pets allowed, showers, restrooms, Electric 30/20/15 and 50 amp, and pull-thru sites. Pricing varies.
• Golden Shore RV Resort: This is a beautiful site located just north of the Golden Shore Marine Biological Reserve in downtown Long Beach. Heated outdoor pool & spa, picnic areas, showers, laundry, dog run, convenience store, games, full hook ups, 30/50 amp service, and WiFi. Two-week maximum stay in summer months (July and August), $74/night.
• Seal Beach RV Park: This is a US military campground near the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. It’s reserved for active and retired military individuals as well as caregivers of veterans. Facilities include tennis, beach volleyball, BBQ stations, golf, fitness center, showers, laundry, car wash, medical clinic, free WiFi and playground. $40-$44/night.
• Dockweiler RV Park: Dockweiler is a state beach making this site the only recreational vehicle campground in L.A County that places you directly on the sand. Visitors get the sea breeze, panoramic views of Malibu and Catalina Island, volleyball courts, and all the sandy expanse has to offer. Complete hook-ups, dry sites, pump-out stations, showers, laundry. $65-$75/night.