The Best RVs for Beginners

RV camping is one of those activities that’s easy to fall in love with, but can be intimidating to first get started. After all, it’s a great way to travel and explore the country and it’s fun to hang out with friends and family, but finding the best RVs for beginners can be a challenge. In fact, with so many things to consider and models to choose from, it can take weeks or even months to find the right rig for you.

Fortunately, there are some excellent options available for first-time buyers and newcomers to the RV space. To help narrow down your choices, we’ve come up with a list of the best RVs for beginners, along with some tips for what to think about as you get ready to buy.

What to Consider When Buying Your First RV

Purchasing an RV—even a small, beginner-friendly model—is a major investment, requiring not just time and money, but plenty of patience, research, and planning. As you start shopping for you first camper, here are a few things you might want to consider:

What’s Your Budget?

One of the first things you should figure out before you start shopping for an RV is how much money you can afford to spend. Take a look at your monthly budget and determine how much discretionary income you have available. From there, you can decide how much of that money can go to purchasing an RV and your travels in your camper. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend so much money on a rig that you can’t afford to take anywhere.

We recommend buyers take their time with the shopping process and don’t overspend on their first RV. This is especially good advice for beginners, because you’ll learn a lot in the first few years of RV camping and travel. Buying a less expensive model keeps expenses down while you figure out what you want or need from your next motorhome or travel trailer. That way, when you make your second RV purchase, you won’t mind spending a little more to get something that’s more ideal to your needs.

Motorized or Towable?

One of the first major choices you’ll have to make is deciding whether you want a motorized RV or a towable. There are pros and cons to both, so making this decision isn’t always as easy and straightforward as you might think. For instance, travel trailers and fifth-wheels tend to be less expensive than a motorhome, but they also require a tow vehicle large enough to haul them around. But once you get to the campsite, you can park your trailer and use that tow vehicle to explore the area. That’s not quite as easy when driving a large motor coach.

New or Used?

Much like buying a new car, there are benefits and drawbacks to purchasing new or used. A new RV will come with the latest furnishings, appliances, and technology, not to mention a warranty. But you can probably save a lot of money—and potentially get a larger, more well-equipped vehicle—by purchasing a used model. The downside is that it can be hard to tell how well the previous owners maintained their rig, which can lead to unexpected, and sometimes pricey, issues down the line.

The good news is that there are more reputable places to purchase used RVs than ever before, giving you access to a wider selection of models to choose from. Those outlets usually offer some level of service and warranty, even on preowned RVs. Still, there is nothing quite like owning a new model that you get to be the first to enjoy.

Once you’ve settled on a budget, type of RV you’re interested in, and whether or not you want to buy new or used, you’re ready to start looking for your first camper. Read on for our suggestions for beginner-friendly models you’ll want to have on your short list.

The Best RVs for Beginners

While nearly every RV manufacturer has a model or two designed to ease first-time buyers into camping, some options are better suited for newcomers than others. With that in mind, these are our picks for the best RVs for beginners.

Jayco Jay Flight SLX

The Jayco Jay Flight SLX is a great example of an RV that’s perfect for first-time buyers, but also offers room to grow as they transition into veteran RVers. Versatile and comfortable, this travel trailer offers everything you could ask for in an RV, while remaining simple to tow and simple to set up at the campground. Highlights include hardwood cabinetry, large holding tanks, spacious interiors, a tankless water heater, and bright, airy, and modern décor.

Available in an astounding 31 floor plans, Jayco offers a Jay Flight SLX to meet just about every need. This towable comfortably sleeps 4-10 people depending on the model, and with weights starting at 2,890 lbs., you won’t necessarily need a large tow vehicle to haul it around. Queen beds are standard across the line, and several bunkhouse models are available for families. Pricing starting as low as $17,843, making this travel trailer very budget-friendly, too.

Forest River Campsite Reserve

Another model that’s perfect for beginning RVers, yet offers room to grow, the Forest River Campsite Reserve delivers a lot of bang for your buck. Standard features include nice touches like a tankless water heater, hidden storage behind the entertainment center, back-up cameras, and ample storage inside and out. Larger models offer nice upgrades, including king-size beds, residential-style refrigerators, a fireplace, and more.

Forest River offers the Campsite Reserve in 11 standard floor plans, plus three additional models with lofted sleeping areas. The towables range in size from 21’ 10” to 43’ 4”, with weights between 3,584 – 12,380 lbs., with smaller models being much more beginner-friendly. The rig sleeps 3-10 people and has a starting price of $24,999.

Keystone Coleman Travel Trailers

The Coleman brand has been around for a long time, with several manufacturers building models over the years. Recently, Keystone took up production of this venerable nameplate, bringing improved build quality and an expanded list of standard features along with it. As usual, the goal is to deliver an RV that makes camping simple and fun, without putting a major drain on the wallet. And with the most recent offerings, it’s safe to say that those goals have been achieved.

The Keystone Coleman Travel Trailer line consists of nine different floor plans, with a starting price of just $13,256. All versions are fairly lightweight, with entry-level trailers tipping the scales at 2,408 lbs and stretching 15’ 11” in length, while the largest weighs 6,094 lbs and is nearly 32’ in length. Depending on the layout, you’ll have room for 2-8 people, with queen beds, a dry bath, and even a fireplace found on most versions.

KZ Connect Mini

KZ’s entry into the beginner-friendly segment comes in the form of the Connect Mini. This lightweight and affordable model may be small in stature, but it is large on luxuries and amenities. Nice touches like residential-grade linoleum flooring, trimmed slide-out windows, and four-season insulation are somewhat unexpected, as are the laminated sidewalls and one-piece seamless roof membrane, which should add durability and reliability.

While KZ won’t overwhelm you with a lot of floor plans—there are just three options to choose from—it does make each of those models feel unique and distinct. All three include well-appointed interiors, modern kitchens, and cozy living spaces. The Connect Mini can sleep 4-6 people depending on the layout, and the two larger versions include an outdoor kitchen. Pricing starts at $34,688.

NüCamp TAB Teardrop Trailer

Teardrop trailers have always made good options for beginner RVers, deftly combining simplicity and a lightweight design in a fun, retro-inspired package. Some of the best teardrops on the market come from nüCamp, which has built a very loyal following thanks to its excellent build quality and great customer service.

The company’s TAB series of towables is especially impressive, offering would-be buyers three sizes to choose from at a variety of price points. The TAB 320 is the smallest, although with its spacious sleeping space, central air conditioning, wood cabinets, mini-fridge, and cassette toilet, it isn’t lacking many features. The TAB 360 ups the game with more space and off-road features, while the TAB 400 rounds out the lineup with a larger refrigerator, two-burner stove, and a 24” media center. Pricing starts at $25,999.

Airstream Basecamp

There are few RV brands as iconic and well-known as Airstream, which has been producing outstanding towables for decades. And while the company usually focuses on more upscale models, it does offer a great option for beginners in the form of the Basecamp. This small travel trailer features Airstream’s famous “silver bullet” aluminum exterior, making it durable enough to offer many years of use. A rear hatch makes loading and unloading gear easier, while also providing excellent ventilation and views.

The Basecamp is available in 16’ and 20’ sizes, with two floor plans to choose from. Airstream does offer two special edition models that add features and functionality, but beginners will find the standard models have versatile and comfortable interiors with room for 2-4 people. Features include a large U-shaped dinette, a wet bath, and a comfy main sleeping area. Pricing starts at $48,300.

Winnebago Solis

Camper vans don’t come much more beginner-friendly than the Winnebago Solis. This easy-driving Class B model rides on the Ram ProMaster chassis, which provides good power and handling, while offering a sense of comfort and confidence when sliding behind the wheel. The rig offers a great introduction to #vanlife, with an interior that includes a wet bath, a galley kitchen, and seating for four, with a removable table.

Winnebago offers the Solis in two floor plans, both of which comfortably sleep four. The vehicle comes with a pop-up sleeping space located on the roof and a primary bedroom in the rear. A 13,5k BTU Truma Combi heating system, paired with outstanding insulation, gives this camper van true four-season credentials, while a 2,800W gas generator comes standard, facilitating off-grid adventures. Pricing starts at $156,254.

Thor Freedom Elite

Sometimes a camper van is a bit on the small side, even for RV newcomers. A Class C model is a nice step up, offering more space without becoming too large. The Thor Freedom Elite is especially well suited for first-time buyers, offering a motorized coach that isn’t large and ponderous. This model is built on the Ford Transit platform, which means in addition to being easy to drive, it is extremely reliable, too.

With eight floor plans to choose from, the Freedom Elite gives RV newbies and veterans a lot to love. The rig provides room for 3-7 people, with most models offering both a queen-size bed and a spacious cabover sleep space. A large dinette is standard across the entire line, and all but the smallest two models include slide-outs for increased interior space. Best of all, this Class C coach has a starting price of $118,860, making it approachable to a wide audience, including buyers who may have thought a motorized camper was out of reach.

Coachmen Euro

Due to their size and price, Class A models don’t always make the best choices for first-time buyers. But the Coachmen Euro is the exception to this rule. Luxurious and comfortable, the Euro is relatively small compared to most other motorhomes, which helps remove the indication factor that can come with driving a bus-sized RV. Plus, this rig just feels so sleek and modern, it immediately puts just about anyone at ease.

The Euro is available in three floor plans, with the main difference being the sleeping quarters. This coach is specifically designed with two people in mind, with the 25EU model offering a king-size bed, while the 25LE and 25TB both come with two twins. The interior designs vary somewhat, but most of the features are the same across all three options. A posh living room, open kitchen, and a surprisingly large bathroom give this rig an apartment-on-wheels feel. And with a price of $159,999, it isn’t much more expensive than some camper vans.