7 Must-See Pop Up Campers of 2024 [Buying Guide] (2024)

Do you want to camp more often but feel sick of setting up a tent? Not ready to pony up big bucks for an RV? The best pop-up campers are a great middle-ground between tent camping and full-on RVing.

The best pop up campers are lightweight, portable, and easy to tow with a mid-size car, minivan or SUV. They fit neatly into a garage or driveway. Their canvas walls give you the feeling of sleeping under the stars, but with more amenities of home.

Most pop up campers for sale have beds, kitchens, and sitting areas. Some even have toilets and showers!

If you’re into more rugged camping, there are even off road pop up campers!

The best pop up campers can sleep up to six people depending on the model, and are much more affordable than a travel trailer or fifth wheel.

While pop up trailers do have a lot of benefits and are great for first-time RVers, they also have drawbacks as well.

After we show you the best pop up campers for sale, we’ll walk you through the positives and negatives of pop up trailers so you can decide if they are the right fit for your family.

The best pop up campers for sale

If you’ve decided you want a pop-up tent trailer, there are many to pick from right now.

Here are the best pop up campers we’ve found.

1) Air Opus Pop Up Camper – $19,000

• Weight: 1,557 pounds
• Features:Electric heater, 2-way refrigerator, comfortable seating, gas stove, running water, 12-volt and 120-volt outlets

The Air Opus is a cutting-edge pop up camper as it’s gotten rid of the telescoping poles and cranking system most pop up trailers use. Instead, using Air Pole Technology, all you have to do is flip a switch and your camper pops up in 90 seconds.

This pop up tent trailer deflates in 30 seconds, so it’s even easier for you to pack up and get out when you’re camping trip is over. The Opus’ light weight means it’s towable by most 6-cylinder SUVs.

We love that this tent camper was really built for rugged adventures. In some models, you’ll find a slide-out kitchen and fridge, rough terrain chassis and off-road tires.

You can buy the Air Opus pop up trailer in four different styles: the OP 4, OP2, OP15 and OP Light.

Want to go off-roading? You can get the Air Opus in an off-road camper edition, which is ruggedly made to reach those off-grid destinations.

Learn more about the Air Opus here.

2) Clipper Pop Up Trailers by Coachman – price varies

• Weight: 1,200-2,800
• Features:Depends on the model. Here is a sampling: high-density cushions, kitchen with 2-burner range, 12-volt on-demand water pump, built-in shower, porta potty, fridge, furnace, water heater

Coachman makes four different styles of Clipper pop up campers: the Express, the LS, the Sport/Classic and the V-Trek. Then, all those pop up trailers come in a variety of sizes!

Among the various models, you’ll find 16 different floor plans so you’ll find something that exactly suites your needs.

With all the models, you’ll raise the roof using a dual-drive winch and drill bit, with a crank handle for backup. Coachman says this camper pops up in just 30 seconds.

Coachman Clipper pop up trailers will have any amenity you’re looking for. Do you absolutely need a pop up camper with a bathroom? You’ll find that in the Classic and the V-Trek. Want something small and portable? Check out the Express.

Clipper bills itself as making ultralight pop up trailers so you cane easily tow them with a variety of vehicles. The V-Trek is the off-grid model so you can go out boondocking in style.

When it comes to all the options with Coachman, it’s probably best to head to a dealer and tour these pop up trailers yourself.

Learn more about Coachman Clipper campers here.

3) Rockwood Hard-Sided Pop Up Camper by Forest River – price varies

• Weight: 2,000-2,700 pounds
• Features:Water pump, hot water heater, kitchen with range and microwave, optional shower and porta potty

We love this hard sided pop up camper because it’s the best of both worlds. Not only does it have the portability and storability of the best pop-up campers, it also has the hard sides of a typical travel trailer.

Yes, this amazing little A-frame camper does condense down into a sleek, towable camper. This hard-sided pop up camper is made out of fiberglass and is quick and easy to set up.

Don’t like the A-frame? Forest River has other Rockwood varieties, including one that looks more like a typical pop up trailer.

To boot, you can get any Rockwood camper with the “Extreme Sports Package,” which is designed for active couples and families. The ESP comes with mount crossbars that can store outdoor gear like bicycles and kayaks, and more tech than their pop-up counterparts, such as the WiFi Ranger.

Head here to learn more about the Rockwood hard-sided pop up camper.

4) Quicksilver Pop Up Trailer by Livin Lite – $12,000

• Weight: 694-1,106
• Features:Hand-pump sink with water tank, marine-grade vinyl cushions, 12-volt fans for each bunk. Add-ons include a stovetop, furnace, and air conditioner

These pop up campers for sale by Livin Lite are meant to be hardy and very lightweight. Their aluminum cabinetry, tubular aluminum frame and composite countertops all contribute to their extremely light design.

You won’t get tons of bells and whistles with this best pop up camper, but you can choose your exterior color and from four different floorplans.

Unlike most pop up campers, the Quicksilver camper does not have a hard roof. Instead, the entire thing is made from canvas and folds together to create a watertight seal for storage. One benefit of a soft roof is you don’t have to deal with winches and cranks to set up this pop up camper.

This is a great budget camper that can be easily towed, stored and set up.

Livin’ Lite is no longer making these pop up trailers, so you’ll have to buy one used from a site like RVTrader.com.

5) Aliner – Somerset Camper Trailer – $20,000

• Weight: 2,700
• Features:Kitchen with stove and refrigerator, 6-gallon water heater, 16,000 BTU furnace, toilet, 12-volt electric water pump and a stereo with both inside and outside speakers

The Aliner Somerset pop up campers for sale come in several different varieties – the Grand Tour Ultra Light, Grand Tour and Evolution, offering five different models.

Grand Tour Series pop up trailers come with two king-sized beds in the pull-out slides. All the campers have a no-spill, swing-level galley which allows for super easy setup.

The Somerset camping trailer is the only folding trailer made with a 6-inch tubular steel frame construction and Posi-Lock™ lift system, which all makes setup a breeze.

Need something more rugged? You can check out the Evolution series, meant to withstand off-road adventures with its 15-inch off-road tires and alloy rims.

Learn more about the Somerset Camping Trailers.

6) Sylvansport GO Pop Up Camper – $11,000

• Weight: 840
• Features: Elevated blow-up tent, outdoor awning, several dining and sleeping configurations

This lightweight pop up trailer is an adventure mobile in a tiny package. When it’s folded down, this best pop up camper can carry up to a dozen bikes or kayaks, and even motorcycles and ATVs! Plus, there’s a lockable, waterproof storage box with 9-cubic feet of space that doubles as a cooler.

This amazing little pop up camper for sale can be towed by almost any car and you won’t see a huge ding to your gas mileage. The Sylvansport pop up camper is also a breeze to set up, with a spacious, elevated, self-inflating waterproof tent.

The GO gets you closer to nature than other best pop up campers. When fully inflated, it has 6’5″ of ceiling height, oversized windows and screens and multiple sleeping and dining arrangements. A fold-out awning gives you an outdoor living space, too.

When you’re not camping, you can even turn this pop up camper into a utility trailer or a gear hauler. Talk about a versatile little rig.

Learn more about the SylvanSport pop up camper.

7) The Adventure Trail by TurtleBack Off-Road Pop Up Campers – $18,495

• Weight: 1,300
• Features: Kitchen with stove, sink and propane tank, 21-gallon water tank, on-demand water pump

This is the tiniest off-road pop up trailer for sale we could find, and it’s perfect for the adventurer who loves going to remote spots. This pop up camper comes with an easy-to-deploy tent with a queen-sized mattress, tent-side storage and 200-square feet of living space. It can sleep six people and any SUV can tow it.

This tiny pop up camper can go anywhere you want to take it with its steel wheels and off-road tires. You can even camp in the cold as the tent walls and roof are insulated.

There are plenty of upgrades you can add onto this camper, including solar, inverter, a deep sink and refrigerators.

Learn more about The Adventure Trail here.

Love a popup, but need a bathroom? Check out the best pop up campers with bathrooms.

Need more help deciding?

Buying a new pop up camper is a big decision. In this next section we’ll go over exactly how a pop up camper works, and the main positives and negatives of this type of camper.

What exactly is a pop-up camper?

You’ve probably seen pop up campers when you’re driving down the highway. They are flat and compact and usually towed by smaller vehicles. Minivans and SUVs can tow these campers!

Pop up campers don’t actually “pop up” when you arrive at your campsite. To set up your tent camper, you’ll use a winch or a hydraulic lift to raise the hard roof, which extends with telescoping metal poles.

Then, you pull out the two bed slides by hand. Keep in mind that putting up your pop up camper in the pouring rain or gusty wind will not be fun at all.

You might have to wait until a calmer time to set up your pop up trailer.

The walls of the best pop up campers are made out of canvas or vinyl with screened windows, so you’ll be more exposed to the elements than a traditional hard-sided RV. This gives a pop-up camper the feeling of being in a tent.

You won’t be as far removed from nature and sounds as you would in an RV.

The benefits of a pop-up camper

Like any outdoor toy, pop up campers have both positives and negatives. You’ll have to weigh each to see if a pop up camper is right for your family. Many people who use these campers swear by them, where others would rather have a campervan, small RV or travel trailer.

Here are the positives of why you might consider purchasing a pop up camper.

Affordability

Pop up trailers are the most affordable RV out there, hands down. You can get a used pop up camper for $1,000-$2,000 or buy a new one for anywhere between $4,000-$20,000.

The amount you spend on a tent trailer is entirely up to you, as there are so much variety and options out there.

Another aspect of affordability is the gas mileage. Since folding tent campers are so light and thin, they won’t create as much drag with towing. You won’t notice much of a difference in your car’s gas mileage when you’re towing a pop up camper.

Portability

The best pop up campers for sale are very light, between 800 and 2,000 pounds. Compare that to the 5,000-pound weight of a typical travel trailer! Some can even be towed by mid-sized cars!

You won’t have to buy a hefty pickup truck like you would with a travel trailer or fifth wheel. Many people tow their pop up tent campers with minivans or SUVs. Their folding size makes them very easy to tow and store.

They are also higher clearance than some travel trailers and fifth wheels and are easier to take off-grid.

Closeness to nature

Some people hesitate to buy an RV because they don’t want to be removed from nature. How many times have you heard that people in RVs aren’t really camping?

Pop up campers are the best of both worlds.

They’re part camper, part tent. The canvas walls and screen windows will make you really feel like you’re in nature. You’ll be able to hear the birds in the trees when you wake up and the coyotes when you fall asleep.

Amenities that make you feel like home

If you’re used to sleeping in a tent, a pop up camper will feel like pure luxury.

You’ll have a stove, refrigerator and counter space. Some pop up campers even come with small bathrooms.

There are so many add-ons you can get with a pop up camper, like a WiFi extender, hot water heater and outdoor shower.

You can sleep a good amount of people

Instead of setting up multiple tents in one campsite, a pop up camper might be able to fit everyone! Some pop up trailers can fit up to six people. This means less set up and tear down overall.

The downsides of a pop up camper

Many of the things that make pop up campers a top pick for some are absolute dealbreakers for other people. For one, even the best pop up campers aren’t meant for heavy use. They’re made out of lightweight material which can rip or get worn out with frequent use.

Pop up campers are best for people who do weekend camping a few times every summer.

Here are some of the main downsides of going with a pop up camper.

They have no insulation

Zero insulation in your camper means you can hear everything. I mean everything. This can be lovely sounds like birds, the wind rustling in the trees, or a babbling brook. But it can also mean annoying sounds like your neighbor’s generator, or even your own generator.

Every sound in the campground will come zooming into your pop up camper, for better or for worse.

They can be very hot or very cold

As we talked about before, pop up campers have no insulation. That doesn’t only affect the sounds you hear inside the camper, but your rig’s susceptibility to temperatures.

Many pop up campers don’t come with air conditioning or heating, so if you want those amenities, you’ll have to buy small, portable AC units and heaters. That means you’ll need to run a generator to keep them powered.

Pop up campers can have problems with leakage

Some previous owner’s of pop up campers complain that the campers leak. Pop up campers aren’t meant to withstand driving rains or blustery winds like a hard-sided travel trailer or RV.

Water getting into your pop up camper means you may have a problem with mold.

You’ll need to air out and dry our camper frequently to avoid issues with moisture and condensation.

You’re limited with where you can stay

Pop up campers are basically meant for campgrounds, with some of them good for boondocking down dirt roads. However, you won’t be able to pull over and sleep for the night in rest stops or WalMarts, which many RVers enjoy doing.

Takedown and setup of even the best pop up campers can get old

If you’re camping every single weekend or going on extended RVing road trips, you might get sick of taking down and putting up your pop up camper. With a hard-sided travel trailer or RV, there is no setup required. You just park and you’re ready to go.

Lack of privacy

Given that pop up campers are basically glorified tents, you don’t have as much privacy as you would with a traditional RV.

Even someone in the next campsite over can see you moving around behind those canvas walls. Given that the toilet area doesn’t have it’s own separate room with a door, this can get awkward.

The beds aren’t very comfortable

It’s known that the beds in pop up campers are not very comfortable. Most people bring along extra padding to go onto their camper beds. If you’re looking for a luxury mattress, you’ll probably want to consider an RV or even a campervan.

Things to consider before you buy a pop up camper

There’s a lot to consider before you purchase your very first pop up camper. Here are a few factors you should think about before heading to the dealer lot.

Do you need a toilet?Not every single pop up camper comes with a toilet. If having a bathroom in your camper is super important to you, you’ll want to look for a camping trailer with a toilet. Keep in mind a toilet doesn’t get its own separate room. It’s usually divided from the rest of the camper with a curtain.

How many people will you want to sleep?Think about how many people you’ll want to sleep inside your camper. Many of them can sleep six people easily. If you’re sleeping fewer people, you might want a smaller camper trailer.

What amenities will you need?Do you need WiFi when you’re camping? What about hot water? Do you feel uncomfortable without air conditioning? Pop up campers come with different amenities depending on the make and model. Write a list of the amenities you’ll need in a camper so you’re prepared when you head to the RV lot.

Do you want to take your camper off-roading?If your dream is to get far from people and go boondocking, you’ll want a pop up camper with off-road capabilities. Some campers come with an off-road package that includes better tires and steel wheels so the rig can take a beating.

How often are you planning on camping?If you’re going on months-long road trips, a pop-up camper might not be right for you. Pop up campers are designed for shorter-term usage and don’t have the durability of hard-sided travel trailers and RVs. If you’re doing weekend camping trips, a pop up camper could be just what you need!

Conclusion on the best pop up campers for sale

Pop up campers are a great way to upgrade from a tent without buying an expensive travel trailer or RV. Travel trailer tent campers are easy to set up and can be towed with mid-sized vehicles like an SUV or a minivan.

The sides of a pop up camper are made of canvas or vinyl, so you’ll feel more like you’re out in nature than with a hard-sided RV.

Popup campers are the most affordable RV out there. If you want to buy a used pop up camper, you could get one for as cheap as $1,000.

These campers aren’t rugged and durable enough to be used for full-time use, and some people report problems with leakage.

If you want to live in your camper, you’re better off with a travel trailer, fifth wheels, RV or campervan.

Check out our other articles:

• 40+ ways to make money while living in an RV
• The best fifth wheel trailers for fulltime living
• 9 stunning small campers you can tow with any car