Are you dreaming of a camping trip but prefer not to sleep in a tent? Consider renting an RV or trailer from your nearest military base!
In this article, guest contributor Julie Chickery examines the wide range of campers available to rent through military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities across the country. Whether you need something compact or more spacious, you’ll discover options with various amenities to fit your camping style.
The authorized patrons for renting recreational equipment from military bases include active-duty members, their families, retired military personnel, disabled veterans, and DoD civilians. Be sure to contact the facilities directly to confirm your eligibility.
Types of RVs Available for Rent at Military Bases
While some military bases provide rentals for Class C motorhomes, most offer towable campers.
Motorhomes
Class C motorhomes are built on a truck or van chassis and are easily recognized by their over-cab sleeping area. They come in various sizes and typically include a living space, kitchen, bathroom, and separate sleeping areas. Many also have slide-outs, which expand the living space when parked.
Make sure to check the number of seat belts available before booking a Class C motorhome. Seat belts are often located in the living area, like on the sofa or dinette.
Trailers/Towable Campers
Here is a quick overview of the types of towable campers available for rent at military bases:
- Teardrop Camper: These compact, lightweight campers have a unique teardrop shape and come with basic amenities like a small sleeping area for 2-3 people, minimal outdoor cooking facilities, and sometimes small storage space.
- Pop-Up Camper: With collapsible canvas sides, these campers expand when set up. Typically, they have a sleeping area at each end and offer a central dining and cooking space. Some even include outdoor kitchens and showers.
- A-Frame Camper: Although collapsible, these campers feature hard sides, making them suitable for locations that may not allow soft-sided options (e.g., areas with poor wildlife). They offer slightly less interior space.
- Travel Trailers: Full-size campers with hard sides, available in various sizes and layouts, most come equipped with full kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, and often separate sleeping areas. Many feature slide-outs for increased living space.
General Requirements for Renting a Camper at Military Bases
Before securing a rental, ensure your vehicle is adequately equipped to safely tow the trailer’s weight. Although requirements may vary between installations, common elements include:
- A Category 3 ball hitch (size depends on trailer type and weight).
- An electronic brake controller (recommended for smaller campers, required for those over 3,000 lbs).
- A round, seven-way electrical connection.
- A valid auto insurance policy that covers the rental trailer.
For safe towing, it is vital to confirm that your vehicle can manage the trailer’s fully loaded weight. For example, larger SUVs like the Chevrolet Traverse or Hyundai Palisade typically have a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which usually corresponds to campers measuring up to 20–21 feet long.
Before finalizing your reservation, take the time to understand your vehicle’s towing capacity in relation to the trailer’s weight, allowing for safety margins.
Military Bases That Rent Campers
Numerous military installations across the country provide campers for rent, primarily through their Outdoor Recreation offices. Below, we highlight 12 such bases, along with other locations that rent campers.
The selection available can greatly differ by location; some bases offer only a few options, while others boast extensive inventories. Factors like pricing, mileage limitations, and seasonal availability can also vary, with locations in milder climates usually offering year-round rentals while others may limit rentals to certain seasons.
For details on pricing, rental policies, and the specific models available, contact the facilities directly.
1. Buckley SFB (Colorado)
Located just outside Denver, Buckley’s Outdoor Recreation office is one of the few military MWR facilities that allow you to take your rental unit anywhere in the continental U.S.
They offer four models of towable campers, including two different teardrops and two travel trailers. One teardrop can be towed by a car, while the other is designed for off-road camping with a reinforced chassis and raised suspension for exploring rugged trails.
Buckley offers travel trailers in 15’ and 17’ lengths, accommodating up to four people comfortably with bunks and a double bed.
2. Camp Pendleton (California)
Camp Pendleton offers various sizes of teardrop travel trailers, making them excellent choices for those transitioning from tent camping to something more comfortable without the bulk of a large trailer. Both models come equipped with roof vents and electrical hookups, while the larger option features a stove, sink, and water reservoir.
If it’s your first time towing a camper, Camp Pendleton is known for its beautiful waterfront campgrounds. You can choose from three wonderful locations: Del Mar Beach, San Onofre Beach, and Lake O’Neill for your initial rental, taking away any travel-related stress.
3. Ellsworth AFB (South Dakota)
Located east of the scenic Black Hills, Ellsworth AFB is in a prime outdoor setting. Fortunately for military patrons, they rent three models of travel trailers. Their smallest camper, the streamlined 17’ Jayco Hummingbird, is perfect for two people. If you’re traveling with a larger group, they also have 21’ and 28’ Jayflight travel trailers equipped with bunks.
Additionally, many of the Black Hills Forest campgrounds are open and free during the fall months, making Ellsworth an ideal choice for a camper rental experience.
4. Fort McCoy (Wisconsin)
Fort McCoy provides a variety of options for your camping needs. One choice is the compact yet functional Jay Series Sport A-Liner, which features a full bed and a fold-down table that converts into another bed, along with a kitchen area that includes a refrigerator, stove, and sink.
The 19’ Jay Feather camper offers a bathroom with a sink, shower, and commode. This hybrid model features two canvas pop-outs at each end for sleeping space.
Fort McCoy also offers Jay Flight travel trailers in 24’ and 29’ lengths; the latter includes bunk beds. Both of these larger units have slide-outs for an expanded living area.
Lastly, they also rent “destination trailers” at their Pine View Campground, which provide a modern “home away from home” experience, sleeping up to seven and featuring full-sized appliances.
5. Fort Belvoir (Virginia)
Located just outside Washington, D.C., Fort Belvoir offers a variety of RV rental options.
A notable addition to their fleet is a Conquest Class C, measuring only 24’ in length, making it ideal for those who want a manageable motorhome. Inside, it features two beds—an over-cab bunk and a shorter RV queen—along with a dinette booth, a small kitchen area, and a full bathroom with a shower.
Fort Belvoir also offers three different types of campers.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s the 15’ Winnebago HIKE Travel Trailer, which includes one bunk and sleeps up to two adults. Noteworthy features of the HIKE include its robust frame and off-road tires, making it suitable for rough terrain. Additionally, it has an exoskeleton storage system for outdoor equipment like bikes and kayaks.
The 17’ Coachman Viking travel trailers can comfortably sleep up to five, featuring a queen bed, bunk beds, and a convertible dinette, making it a great option for small families. With a full kitchen and bathroom, it melds space with towing ease.
The spacious 29’ Winnebago ACCESS Travel Trailer can accommodate five people and has a large slide-out for ample space to entertain.
If you want to try out a camper but lack the vehicle to tow it, Fort Belvoir also provides on-site camper rentals for use right at the Fort Belvoir Travel Camp, overlooking the Potomac River.
6. Hill AFB (Utah)
Hill AFB boasts an impressive selection of RV rentals, including two models of Class C motorhomes and various types of towable campers ranging from 17’ to 28’.
The Class C models include a 22’ Thor and a 28’ Coachmen. The Thor can sleep up to five people, while the Coachmen features two slides for extra space and includes a queen bed, a standard overhead bunk, along with a convertible sofa and dinette.
For towable options, Hill AFB has a fantastic array. Their lightest campers are both 17’ long, featuring either a popular RPOD camper with a Murphy bed and convertible sofa or a Coachman Cub. Both are lighter than standard travel trailers but still come with essential amenities like a kitchen, bathroom with shower, and sleeping spaces.
Hill also offers seven additional travel trailers: six that are 22’, two at 24’, and three at 28’ in length, each with varied interior layouts.
7. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Washington)
Recognizing that there’s no better way to explore the Pacific Northwest than through a camping experience, JB Lewis-McChord offers a suite of campers to meet any travel style. Available options include a teardrop camper and three traditional travel trailers in lengths of 16’, 18’, and 20’, all equipped with kitchens, bathrooms, and sleeping areas.
Additionally, JB Lewis-McChord provides permanently stationed camper rentals at the Northwest Adventure Center Travel Camp on Lewis North, perfect for visitors flying into the area without a tow vehicle.
8. Joint Base San Antonio (Texas)
Located in central Texas, JBSA offers a great selection of camper rentals. Each of the three base locations has its own Outdoor Recreation office, each featuring distinct rental inventories (check the individual “ODR brochure” for details).
The camper options available include Jayco travel trailers that range from 14’ to 30’. For those seeking compact fun, the smallest option, the Jay Flight Swift, features a Murphy bed and a small kitchen with a bathroom. The largest model includes two sleeping areas (one with bunks) and a large kitchen island!
9. Little Rock AFB (Arkansas)
At Little Rock AFB, two sizes of travel trailers are available for rent. The smallest is a 17′ Forest River RPOD with a uniquely aerodynamic design. Though it appears compact from the outside, it ingeniously incorporates a Murphy bed, convertible sofa, a small kitchen, and bathroom.
The larger camper available is a 22’6″ Salem trailer that, despite its larger size, remains lightweight at under 4,000 pounds, ideal for families, featuring a Murphy bed, convertible dinette, and bunk beds.
10. MacDill AFB (Florida)
Make the most of Florida’s beautiful outdoors with MacDill’s range of travel trailers, available in 17’, 18’, and 21’ lengths that can be rented and taken throughout the state. Each equipped with indoor kitchens and bathrooms. The larger two options even include bunks along with a queen bed.
Additionally, MacDill features a lovely waterfront campground and stationary campers available for rent directly on-site, with options for 33’ or 40’ models that can accommodate up to 7 people.
11. Nellis AFB (Nevada)
Nellis AFB offers three camper options: a Boondock Teardrop equipped with off-road tires, suitable for rugged trails, and two Winnebago Micro Minnie travel trailers in 19’ and 21’ configurations. The smaller model features a queen bed layout with a convertible dinette, while the larger version boasts a full bed slide-out design and bunkhouse.
12. Presidio of Monterey (California)
The Presidio features four models of towable campers, ranging from 21-23’, suitable for 4-6 guests. A unique offering is their ‘toy hauler’—which combines a travel trailer with a built-in garage for carrying recreational gear such as ATVs and bikes, offering convertible sleeping space once the gear is unloaded.
Additional Military Bases for Camper Rentals
This article showcases several excellent locations for military camper rentals, but this is just the beginning! Click on any of the bases listed below to explore rental options at other military installations.
- Barksdale AFB, LA
- Beale AFB, CA
- Fort Carson, CO
- Fort Huachuca, AZ
- Fort Knox, KY
- Fort Jackson, SC
- Grand Forks, ND
- JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
- JB Langley-Eustis
- JEB Little Creek, VA
- Mountain Home AFB, ID
- Naval Station Oceana, VA
- Peterson SFB, CO
- Redstone Arsenal, AL
- Schriever SFB, CO
- Scott AFB, IL
- Vandenberg SFB, CA
- Whiteman AFB, MO
Rental prices differ significantly depending on location. One effective cost-saving tip is to ask about weekly rates, which often offer discounts of up to 50% compared to nightly rates.
Additionally, don’t forget to check for other rental equipment you might need from Outdoor Recreation to ensure a seamless camping experience: generators for off-grid camping, outdoor kitchen supplies, camp chairs, shade canopies, and much more!
Author Bio: Julie Chickery is a travel writer with a zest for exploration. She developed her passion for travel during her 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. After retiring, Julie and her husband, Sean, lived in a fifth-wheel RV for six years before settling down near their grandchildren. Through her blog, Chickery’s Travels, she shares travel tips and itineraries for incredible road trips.
The inclusion of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
