A pop-up camper is a specific type of travel trailer — one that, as its name suggests, “pops up,” expanding from a small box into a spacious living space thanks to collapsable walls (usually made of canvas).
Many first-time RVers compare pop-up campers to other types of travel trailers, trying to figure out which would make the most sense for their travels. Both offer their own advantages (and drawbacks!) depending on your travel budget, comfort preferences, the tow capacity of your vehicle, and your other goals.
Below, we’re going to dive into all the details you need to decide whether a pop-up camper or a regular travel trailer makes the most sense for your trip. The good news? No matter what you decide, you can find a rentable version of your dream vehicle on RVshare before making a purchase decision. Renting different types of rigs (including pop-up campers as well as teardrop trailers, fifth wheels, and more) and seeing how they really are on the road is a great way to understand what you’re getting into before making a commitment.
Now, let’s dive into the details that separate these two trailer types.
Pop-Up Camper vs Travel Trailer: At a Glance
A pop-up camper is a lightweight, collapsible camper designed for easy towing and camping. A travel trailer is a fully enclosed towable RV that offers more living space, amenities, and comfort. The best option depends on your towing vehicle, budget, travel style, and desired level of convenience.
| Feature | Pop-Up Camper | Travel Trailer |
| Weight | Lightweight | Varies from lightweight to heavy-duty |
| Towing Capacity Requirements | Often less than 3,000 pounds | From 1,000 to over 10,000 pounds |
| Storage Requirements | Compact when folded | Larger storage footprint |
| Setup Time | Requires campsite setup | Minimal setup |
| Sleeping Capacity | Good for families | Excellent for families and groups |
| Weather Protection | Moderate | Strong |
| Bathroom Availability | Can be limited | Common in most models |
| Kitchen Amenities | Often basic | Full kitchens in many models |
| Climate Control | Limited | Better insulation and HVAC |
| Rental Availability | Peer-to-peer markets | Can be found more widely available |
| Best For | Budget-conscious campers | Comfort-focused travelers |
What Is a Pop-Up Camper?
As mentioned above, pop-up campers are small, lightweight travel trailers whose spaces “pop up.” In storage, they collapse into small boxes thanks to folding walls, often made of canvas. Then, when you set them up at camp, the walls expand to create often surprisingly spacious accommodations — but while maintaining the ease of towing something much smaller.
How Pop-Up Campers Work
Using a foldable design and canvas sidewalls, pop-up campers collapse a larger living space into a compact towing profile. They often weigh less than 1,000 pounds (and usually not more than 3,000 pounds), making it possible for them to be towed even behind much smaller vehicles than regular travel trailers usually require. They’re also smaller and easier to store.
Advantages of Pop-Up Campers
Pop-up campers offer many advantages over larger travel trailers, such as:
- Lightweight construction makes them easy to tow
- Because they’re lighter, they also have a lower fuel impact
- The compact footprint makes for easier storage at home or during the off-season
- Importantly, they also come at a more affordable entry point, making them good for beginners
Potential Drawbacks
There are, of course, also some drawbacks to consider, such as:
- The longer setup process at camp
- Limited weather protection and climate control thanks to canvas walls
- Fewer onboard amenities making for a more rugged experience
- Less privacy than comparable trailers with hard side walls
What Is a Travel Trailer?
Travel trailers are a larger category of RV type, which actually encompasses pop-up campers. A travel trailer is any RV that you tow behind another vehicle.
However, for the purposes of this comparison, we’re referring specifically to travel trailers that are not pop-ups. These are fully enclosed, towable RVs with hard sidewalls that allow for climate control and privacy, but also demand more towing capacity and expense.
How Travel Trailers Work
Travel trailers come in a wide range of sizes and floor plans, from a tiny fiberglass Casita or Scamp to a huge fifth-wheel trailer with slide-outs. Depending on your travel desires, you can find travel trailers set up for staying moderately comfortable in rugged adventure conditions or ones that truly feel like dragging your whole home along with you for the ride.
Advantages of Travel Trailers
Travel trailers offer tons of advantages, including several that it holds over pop-up campers. These include:
- More comfort and convenience thanks to hard side walls that don’t need to be set up at camp
- Private sleeping areas, often with multiple rooms making camping families more comfortable
- Full kitchens and bathrooms to create a self-contained camping experience
- Better four-season capability thanks to hard side walls and HVAC compatibility
Potential Drawbacks
Still, there are also drawbacks to travel trailers, especially as compared to pop-up campers, like:
- Higher towing requirements that may mean investing in an expensive tow vehicle
- Larger storage needs since they don’t fold down into a tiny, compact “box”
- Higher rental and ownership costs which can make them more difficult for beginners to access
Which RV Is Easier to Tow?
For many newbie campers, the biggest question is always, “Will I really be able to tow/drive that thing?”
Here’s the good news: No matter what RV or travel trailer you choose, the driving and towing is on a learning curve. You can definitely learn to do it with a little bit of practice and time!
But for beginners, we have to admit that towing a pop-up camper can be easier than towing a full-size travel trailer. Here are some more details.
Pop-Up Camper Towing Benefits
The benefits of towing a tiny pop-up camper include:
- Suitability for being towed with smaller vehicles, including some compact SUVs and crossovers (though you always want to check the tow capacity of your specific model year and trim package)
- Lower wind resistance thanks to the low-profile “box” these campers become when they’re not in camping mode
- Easier maneuverability thanks to overall smallness in size
Travel Trailer Towing Considerations
Meanwhile, there are considerations to keep in mind with travel trailers, including:
- The need for larger, more capacious tow vehicles, which can be expensive investments in their own right
- A larger turning radius, requiring careful attention and calculation
- Some trailers may require weight-distribution hitches or trailer brakes to increase safety
Still, with both models, the basic physics is the same — and it’s important to practice turns, back-ups and other maneuvers before you’re out on the road!
Which Camper Is Better for Families?
Traveling with family is what it’s all about. But how do travel trailers and pop-up campers stack up in this regard?
Pop-Up Camper Family Benefits
Pop-up campers do offer benefits for families, including:
- A relatively large sleeping capacity as compared to their size (this surprises a lot of folks at first!)
- An outdoor-focused camping experience, more like an upgraded tent camping adventure
- Lower overall trip costs, which can be very important for families wrangling with the costs of raising kids
Travel Trailer Family Benefits
On the other hand, travel trailers offer their own suite of benefits for families, such as:
- On-board bathrooms which can make it a lot easier for kids who gotta go when they gotta go
- More storage for all their gear
- Comfortable, controlled climates during hot or cold weather
- Protection from bad weather like sudden storms
Best Choice Based on Trip Length
If you’re renting an RV, the good news is, you can always change your mind about which type of vehicle you want depending on the specific trip. In general, pop-up campers work best for shorter trips like long weekends, whereas full-sized, enclosed travel trailers may be better suited to weeklong vacations or cross-country travel.
Pop-Up Camper vs Travel Trailer Costs
Sticking to your travel budget isn’t always the most fun part of travel planning, but it is one of the most powerful. By carefully budgeting ahead of time, you can enjoy stress- and guilt-free vacations — and plenty of them, to boot.
When it comes to comparing a pop-up camper with a travel trailer, budget does play a part. Pop-up campers do tend to be a bit less expensive to rent than other types of travel trailers, but there are still budget-friendly travel trailers out there, too.
Rental Costs
On a peer-to-peer market like RVshare, you can find both pop-up campers and regular, hard-sided travel trailers for rent. However, their costs are a little different.
- Pop-up campers cost about $75 to $125 per night, on average, to rent
- Regular, mid-size travel trailers, on the other hand, cost about $100 to $160 per night
- Large and luxurious travel trailers like fifth wheels can cost closer to $300 per night
Keep in mind, too, that other factors will affect the total cost of your rental, including mileage, generator use, campground stays, and other costs associated with travel itself.
Ownership Costs
If you’re looking to buy, a pop-up camper can be a very affordable way to get into the RVing lifestyle. However, travel trailers can be affordable, too.
- A used pop-up travel trailer can cost between about $4,000 and $12,000
- A new pop-up camper usually costs from about $9,000 to $21,000
- A used mid-sized travel trailer might cost between $15,000 and $30,000
- A new mid-sized travel trailer costs around $24,000 to $45,000
Remember, though, that there are other costs associated with ownership aside from the initial purchase price. These include:
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Storage
- Depreciation
Fuel Economy Considerations
Whether you’re renting or buying, it’s just a fact: traveling in an RV does mean high fuel costs. Of course, the smaller your RV (and the better mileage your tow vehicle gets), the better your overall fuel economy will be. Both overall weight and aerodynamics give pop-up campers the edge in this regard.
Best Travel Scenarios for Each RV Type
The honest truth? Different campers are best suited for different types of camping trips. Both pop-up campers and larger travel trailers have a place.
Here are some rules of thumb to help you decide which might be best suited for your individual travel needs, at least this time around. (After all, they can — and do — change!)
Choose a Pop-Up Camper If You:
- Prefer tent-like camping experiences (but upgraded)
- Have a smaller tow vehicle or are prioritizing good fuel economy
- Camp primarily in mild weather
- Want a lower-cost option
Choose a Travel Trailer If You:
- Prioritize comfort and convenience
- Travel frequently
- Need an onboard bathroom and kitchen
- Camp in varying weather conditions or simply want climate control
The Smartest Way to Decide: Try Both Before You Buy
Being on the market for a new (or new-to-you) RV is exciting! But thousands of dollars spell a big commitment — which is why it’s so important to try out the various types of RVs you’re considering ahead of time.
Each type of camper has its own drawbacks and benefits, and you never really know exactly what you’ll discover about each of them until you hit the road in them yourself. That’s exactly why a peer-to-peer rental marketplace like RVshare can be such a powerful option for RV shoppers. You can try out not just the type of RV you’re looking for, but even specific models and floor plans!
Why Renting First Makes Sense
A relatively low-cost way to experience the RV you’re considering first hand, renting gives you the opportunity to:
- Experience real-world towing (which no amount of description can replace!)
- Test your campground setup ahead of time
- Evaluate sleeping arrangements for your family
- Understand storage and comfort needs so you’re not stuck with an unfortunate situation
How RVshare Makes Comparing RV Types Easy
RVshare offers the largest nationwide selection of RVs owned by real people, just like you. On our marketplace, you’ll find both pop-up campers and travel trailers, not to mention pretty much any other type of RV you can think of (including Airstreams, fifth-wheel trailers, sleeper vans and so much more).
We also offer built-in protection and support on each rental, so you’re covered every step and mile of the way. Find your next vacation adventure vehicle today!
Pop-Up Camper vs. Travel Trailer: Frequently Asked Questions
Many drivers do find pop-up campers easier to tow than larger travel trailers, and it’s true that they’re often light enough to be towed even behind compact SUVs and crossovers. However, most drivers can get accustomed to driving even large travel trailers with practice and time.
For many campers, yes! Having a separate vehicle with which to explore and run errands can be very freeing as compared to traveling with a motorhome, and the self-contained camping experience of travel trailers is a major upgrade over tent camping or other more rugged ways of staying outdoors.
It depends on both the pop-up camper and the family. A family with two small children may be able to make a pop-up camper work, but canvas walls don’t allow for much privacy, which can make them a more difficult choice for families with older kids. But again, it all depends on your personal comfort level.
Many beginners find Class B sleeper vans to be among the easiest to drive, and small pop-up campers can be among the easiest travel trailers to tow.
Renting before buying an RV is a great way to understand how the specific type of RV you’re considering actually works on the road. A walk-through can only tell you so much! Using a peer-to-peer rental market like RVshare allows you to choose from a much wider range of RVs, including pop-up campers, teardrop trailers, Airstreams and more.
In many cases, yes, an SUV can tow a pop-up camper. However, it’s imperative to double-check the towing capacities of your specific SUV’s model year and trim package. Towing a vehicle outside of your car’s towing capacities is dangerous, and insurance won’t cover claims made if tow capacities are exceeded.
Not always! While many travel trailers are heavy enough to require a pickup truck for towing, smaller travel trailers, like pop-up campers and teardrops, can often be towed behind smaller vehicles including some SUVs.
Final Verdict: Pop-Up Camper or Travel Trailer?
The question isn’t which type of trailer is better — it’s which type of trailer is better for you in this moment. For scrappy, rugged adventures at a low cost (and low storage footprint), pop-up campers can be a godsend. For a more luxurious, climate-controlled camping trip (or longer road trips), mid-sized travel trailers with hard sides often win.
No matter what you decide, RVshare is the ideal way to test both options (and even others!) before committing to ownership.
Browse RV rentals near you and discover which RV type feels right for your next adventure.
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