Top 10 Anchorage RV Rentals + Why You Should RV in Alaska

Getting an RV rental in Anchorage is one of the best ways you could explore Alaska. You’ll make epic memories, get to stay at the most beautiful places, and you’ll have the freedom to go at your own pace. We’ve delved through all the RV rentals in Anchorage and have picked the top RV rentals in Anchorage for any type of traveler.

We went back and forth many times on whether we should RV in Alaska or not. Now, we own an RV ourself so if we wanted to RV in Alaska we really had to drive the entire Alaska Highway. We weren’t super stoked to drive 1,400 miles through Canada to get to Alaska but in the end, we did end up driving to Alaska.

In the future however, I would personally just fly to Anchorage and rent and RV. Driving through Canada is long and quite boring!

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Our crazy RV journey started ten years ago when my mom was bored with our resort style Hawaii vacations and so, she rented an RV and made my dad drive us to the Sequoias. It was our first road trip and our first time to ever visit a national park. You can say that this first trip was the spark we needed.

Since then we’ve been to dozens of national parks, rented an RV in Europe for 6 months, taken a 1 month car camping road trip through New Zealand, and overall, probably have covered over 100,000 miles in road trips just in the last decade.

RVing is our favorite way of travel and Outdoorsy makes it so easy for you to get a taste of this epic lifestyle we’re kinda obsessed with.

We hope this guide to renting an RV in Anchorage will help you to plan an amazing RV adventure in Alaska!

Why You Should RV through Alaska

The first reason you should RV in Alaska is because it’s freaking Alaska, The Last Frontier. It’s raw, it’s rugged, it’s wild.

Alaska is nature at its finest and what better way to explore rugged America than by camping.

Camping puts you in the most pristine locations, allows you to take your time, and saves you a ton of money on accommodation. The best part about RVing is that you get to experience stunning campgrounds but you have nearly all the comforts of a house. RVing is amazing and it’s probably why we’ve lived and traveled in our RV for 8 years now.

Alaska is no exception to all the awesome parts of RVing, in fact of all places to RV in the world, Alaska is probably the best. What Alaska lacks in civilization it makes up for campgrounds. You could drive hundreds miles in Alaska and not run into a single hotel, hostel, or B&B but there’s a good chance you’ll pass multiple campgrounds. And they’re not just any campgrounds, they’re beautiful campgrounds.

Why You Should Rent an RV in Anchorage

A lot of people decide to road trip to Alaska, ourselves included. The Alaska Highway is rad however if you read our blog on Everything You Need To Know to Drive to Alaska, you’d know that while we loved the process of driving the Alcan Highway, seeing so much wildlife, and exploring the stops along the way next time I go to Alaska I will probably opt to fly into Anchorage.

The Alaska Highway is beautiful but it’s nothing compared to Alaska.

Why You Should Rent An RV in Anchorage and not in Fairbanks

Now, I know some people opt to rent an RV out of Fairbanks but here’s the thing, Fairbanks is not nearly as good of a basecamp as Anchorage. It’s really far to get to and from Fairbanks and while Fairbanks can be cool, there isn’t much in Fairbanks besides Fairbanks.

In addition, flights are going to be way cheaper to Anchorage rather than Fairbanks. I’ve already got my eye on Skyscanner to snag cheap flights to anchorage next summer so we can go on an RV trip again.

You may find it hard to believe, but just the Anchorage area is one of the best destinations in the world. Why? Anchorage is surrounded by some of the most incredible nature on earth and you’re definitely going to want to spend some time in the area on the way in and out of Anchorage.

Planning Your Anchorage RV Trip

Best Time For an Alaska Road Trip

Prime time in Alaska is no doubt summer. Alaska season runs from May through September however note that each season brings different benefits.

May has fewer mosquitos and let me tell ya, those buggers are demons, but the negative is that nearly every hiking trail is snow covered. June is still uncrowded and most (but not all) hiking trails are snow free. June is when we visited and it’s definitely one of the best time’s to visit Alaska, but we certainly had a lot of mosquitos to deal with in some areas.

Exit Glacier, things to do Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Adventure destination

July and August are the most crowded season but you’ll never have to worry about snow covered trails. This is also peak of mosquito season so prepare to bathe in Deet. In addition, this may come as a surprise but these are the rainiest months of the year. Come prepared with rain gear if you visit during this time.

September, like most places in the world, is probably the best time to visit Anchorage and Alaska. It’s warm, much less crowded than July/August and the bugs are dying away.

Note that anytime you visit in the summer months will bring lots of daylight. In an RV it’s not too much of a problem since most windows have shades. Tip: dAsk the RV rental owner if the RV is equipped with blackout shades.

Tips For Your First RV Trip

While some RVs provide add-ons so you don’t have to deal with sewer, water, and propane yourself, I still recommend that you have a small understanding of basic RVing.

If you’ve never taken an RV road trip before, download our free adventure resource bundle which has my free ebook, 1000 Miles of Memories, with helpful tips on RVing.

Besides the logistical tips of preparing for your first road trip, the more important part of planning a road trip has to do these 14 things that will make your first RV trip a resounding success. This is less about everything going well physically but rather everything going well for each individual so that everyone has the time of their life.

Where to Stay With Your RV Rental

Once you decide on the RV you want to rent you’ll have to pick where you’re going to camp. That’s not to say you need to worry about not having a place to stay. There are sooo many campgrounds in Alaska and even if campgrounds are full, there are endless boondocking opportunities.

The reason you should plan your campgrounds in advance is just so you can score the most scenic camping spots in Alaska. Campgrounds do get packed in the July/August so go check out our guide to the best campgrounds in Anchorage so you can make reservations.

Which Anchorage RV Rental is Best For You?

Maybe you’re an experienced RVer, maybe you’ve never RVed a day in your life. Maybe you’re a luxury traveler, maybe you’re a hardcore adventurer. We’ve been RVing for 10 years and have been full time RVers for almost 5 years. Basically we’re experts on RVing so we’re going help you make sure you pick the perfect Anchorage RV rental for your travel style.

Best RV Rentals in Anchorage for Couples + Solo Travelers

When it comes to RVs, it’s hard to beat the simplicity of a van and it’s one of the definite perks of only being 1 or 2 travelers. Vans are comfortable, fit in any parking lot, are easy to drive, and are honestly are way more photogenic than other RVs (#vanlifetotallydiscriminates). Vans are awesome however there are a few exceptions for when 1-2 travelers should opt for a Class C RV (see this section).

For example, do you want your own toilet and shower? A big part of answering that question also has to do with if you plan on staying at campgrounds. Campgrounds have restrooms however if you want to boondock in Alaska (and trust me, there are a lot of boondocking opportunities) you may want a toilet (unless you’re totally cool with the woods). Note that some vans do have portable toilets. Shower wise, it’s totally understandable to want that comfort however you will need to find campgrounds with hookups and those tend to be not as beautiful of campgrounds. After living in a Class C RV for 4 years, let me tell you that paying for a shower at a campground is just easier sometimes.

2020 Ram ProMaster 2500- “Alaska” Unlimited Mileage!

This is basically the dream adventure van. This Ram Promaster has a modern, clean, spacious interior with a built in kitchen with butcher block counter and sink, Yeti cooler, and on-demand hot water shower.

This van is entirely insulated and comes stocked with all the kitchen essentials, fresh linens and towels, as well as an auxiliary battery for device charging. It’s easy to drive, takes unleaded gas,

Check prices and availability here

Black Betty

2009 Subaru Outback that is ready to take you car camping. Easy to drive, cheap for gas, and can get you to epic camping locations like this beach in Homer. The setup includes a yakima 3 person 4 season rooftop tent with a queen sized mattress with a rain fly.

Your car camping adventure will be easy with 2 camping chairs, Yeti cooler, propane stove, 5 gallon water carrier, and pots/pans/cutlery kitchen set. Plus, it includes an Alaska State Parking Pass sticker!

Check availability and prices here

Cozy Alaskan Camper Van

This van isn’t chic or luxury however, it’s one of the cheapest rental options in Anchorage and you could say that’s it’s pretty retro. Seriously though, at only $125 per night this is as good as it gets if you’re on a budget.

This plush, cozy van will keep you warm and dry as you experience the best of Alaska. The rear passenger seat converts to a comfy, full sized bed with space to spare. Pull down shades create privacy.

Includes small cooler, camp stove, cooking utensils, outdoor shower set up, water jug, and 2 camp chairs. Guests need to supply their own bedding/sleeping bags.

Check availability and prices here

Best RV Rental in Anchorage for Small Families

The Roaming Wolf

The 2017 Wolf Creek 840 cab over camper sits on a 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty with Platinum trim package. With a queen sized mattress and stowable bunk bed for children, it sleeps up to 3. There’s also a bathroom with toilet, sink and shower and an outdoor shower.

With solar and a propane generator, you’ll be ready for off-grid Alaska adventures, but please no dirt or gravel roads with this one.

Check prices and availability here

2022 Winnebago Solis – Denali Dreamer

This van is perfectly suited to a couple or a small family. It’s only 19 feet and has a back up camera which means it will be very easy to navigate when touring Alaska. Most importantly, especially if you are traveling with kids, is that it has a toilet.

Besides the usual kitchen and bedding essentials, it also has solar, an inside and outside shower, and a fridge. Family’s or digital nomads will love having an inverter keeping computers and electronic devices charged.

This RV is very reasonably priced at $350/night and will drop off or pick up at Anchorage airport.

Check availability and price here.

Best RV Rentals in Anchorage for Families

If you have 2 or less kids, or 4 adults, then a van or smaller class C might be best for you. While you can absolutely van life with kids, take note on whether you’ll want the amenities of a Class C like a generator, toilet, shower, the option to move around while driving, a full refrigerator/freezer, a microwave, and more.

If your kids are older or you simply want more space to cook and feed everyone, check out the large family RVs or if your kids are younger, take a peek at the previous category.

2015 Coachmen Freelander 21 QB

This class C gives you the nimbleness of a van with the comfort of motorhome. I chose this one specifically because you are renting from a person and not through a company. #goodkarma

Check availability and prices here

Best RV Rentals in Anchorage for Big Families/Groups (6 or more)

2019 Thor Four Winds Bunkhouse sleeps 8

This RV is perfect for families and groups who want a more upscale interior. Being a new 2019 model, this RV is clean and modern with leather couches.

Like all Class Cs, this RV has an overhead bed, a queen in the rear, and this model has a couch and a dinette that both turn into beds for 2 for a max of sleeping 8 people.

Includes pots, pans, dishes, bedding, silverware, knifes, outdoor camp chairs, outdoor tables, outdoor rugs, gas grill and everything to go with it, campfire cooking sticks, cooler and more things upon request.

Check availability and prices here

Escape in Style with our Chateau on Wheels

Similar to the class C above, but with less bells and whistles, this mid range RV has everything you need for your Alaska adventure. Though it’s an older model, this RV is well maintained clean and bight so you can save money and have a comfortable experience.

Check availability and price here.

Hope this helps you plan an amazing RV trip in Alaska! If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments, we’re happy to help! Don’t forget to check out the related Alaska resources below for tips, guides, and inspiration on where you should visit with your RV rental.