Co-written by Geoff Nudelman
When many think of a “camper van” they typically imagine a tricked out Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit van with all the bells and whistles, plus space for all of that weekend gear—and likely a very Good Dog, too.
But there’s a quirkier, more simple side to living the road life, and it’s been “a thing” loooong before #vanlife ever became one. We’re talking about the veritable Volkswagen van (or bus), of course. No matter the format—bus, Westfalia, or Vanagon—there’s a dedicated community of enthusiasts, and rental services, keeping the tradition alive since the 1940s.
Today, there are no shortage of VW camper van rental companies in every corner of the US offering a perfectly modest, low-speed approach to van camping for those not quite ready for the reality of full time #vanlife. As one of our featured van’s owners, Duke Geren, puts it: “These vehicles were never meant to go fast. If you’re doing 400, 500, 600 miles a day, you’re missing the point.”
Scroll on for our top picks of VW camper vans to rent near you. And yes, they are all named. So read on and don't forget Duke's wise words.
A Brief History of the VW Camper Van
In the begining, Volkswagen originally had two models—the appropriately named Type 1 and Type 2. The first, Type 1, is what we commonly and fondly call the Beetle. Type 2 is the microbus so popular with hippies from the 60s and campers of today (as shown in this very article lead image). Two models of the type two—the Combi, short for “combined-use vehicle", and Splittie, named for its split windshield—went into production on March 8, 1950.
Before long, many VW van owners and outdoor enthusiasts started converting their Type 2’s into camper vans. Soon after bringing the first Type 2 vans to market, VW joined forces with a company called Westfalia to produce camper van conversion kits, originally called the Camping Box. These camper van conversion kits essentially turned a VW van into a tiny home on wheels.
The first VW Westfalia campers made it to U.S. shores in 1956 and remained popular until production of the VW camper van was halted on December 31, 2013. Though with the recent resurgence in popularity, it's no surprise rumor has it that VW is working on an electric version due to make its appearance in late 2022.