Whether it’s alone, with a loved one, or with the entire family, road tripping can make for some of the best experiences and is a great way to discover new and exciting places. Many of today’s vehicles cater to those who love to go on road trips and who want to really take the adventurous trails, so while it’s not necessarily ideal to take your BMW M3 camping, there are other options out there.
This means with the right vehicle and preparation, anybody can just about go anywhere. Obviously, the segment best suited to this is the crossover and SUV class; that doesn’t include your performance variants like those from BMW M Sport or Audi’s RS lineup, as the wild is no place for such beasts. But here are five more mainstream offerings for camping:
Kia Telluride
Regarded as the ‘king of three-row SUVs, the Kia Telluride is one of the most popular family SUVs in the USA and one of the best available for under $50,000. It offers room for up to eight passengers and still reserves enough space in the cargo hold for everybody’s stuff. Its powerful V6 engine, available all-wheel-drivetrain, and enormous size make it an ideal choice for adventure seekers and campers. There’s the option of adding heating, cooling, and ten or twelve-way power adjustability to the front seats and switching out the second-row bench for two captain’s chairs. These are just some of the many features that make the Telluride an ideal road trip car and camping companion.
Chevrolet Blazer
The new Chevrolet Blazer is a midsize crossover SUV designed to be more fun to drive than the average utility vehicle. A rather underpowered engine underpins the base model while higher-tier models come fitted with a far better-turbocharged four-cylinder or one of two powerful V6 units. Within the cabin, a stylish dashboard and center console exude a sense of sporty charisma and premium taste. The front and rear seats are comfortable, supportive, and featureful, making them perfect for long road trips. With its spacious cabin with plenty of storage points and a massive 30.5 cubic foot cargo area behind the back seat, the Blazer is truly a highly practical cruiser.
Subaru Forester
The thing that sets the Subaru Forester apart from most other crossover SUVs is its penchant for all-terrain and road surface grit and stability. It’s also one of the most well-rounded vehicles out there overall, offering a balanced combination of on and off-road drive dynamics, an eye-catching aesthetic, a commodious and featureful interior, and exceptional fuel economy. All these qualities make it a great choice for those who go on regular adventures across the country. It also scores exceptionally well when it comes to safety and reliability which, along with its comprehensive selection of standard and advanced driver-assist and safety features, make it a consummate road tripper, daily runabout, and family hauler.
Ford Expedition
If you’re looking to turn the back of your car into a king-size bed on your car-camping adventures, then the Ford Expedition is your go-to SUV. It will probably even have room to spare for your equipment and luggage, and if not, then the Expedition Max certainly will. V6 power and either a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain bless the Expedition with capable on and off-road prowess. The Expedition is easy to drive and really firmly planted cruiser despite its gargantuan size. Ford has also comprehensively outfitted the SUV with contemporary specs and technologies for the most comfortable and convenient experience. The Expedition is essentially a couch on wheels, perfect for grand camping getaways.
GMC Acadia
Though appealing in its combination of affordability and decent levels of luxury to stand out from the crowd, the GMC Acadia is actually a mixed bag. It is definitely proffered at a relatively attractive price, but, as the saying goes, you do get what you pay for. The cabin is made up of many subpar materials and the third-row seats in the three-row variants are essentially useless; they’re so confined. Otherwise, the Acadia is a good-looking SUV, and it’s appreciably comfortable on the road. It has an intuitive infotainment system and many comforts and convenience features to keep everybody happy.
Tips For Camping In Your Vehicle
Here are five tips that will make your camping experience in your vehicle a whole lot more pleasant.
- Park out of the way of scenic views, vehicle and pedestrian paths, or park mindfully enough as to not intrude on other travelers’ chosen spots. In other words, try to blend in with the surroundings.
- Sleep with your head toward the front of the vehicle as there is usually more shoulder and elbow room in the center and front while the wheel wells usually dig into cabin space at the rear.
- Set upon a flat surface and in a shaded spot for optimal comfort. The sensation of lying at an angle can be really discomforting and you wouldn’t want the morning sun hitting you in the eyes and heating up the cabin.
- Take advantage of your adventure vehicle and invest in a comfortable bed, one that will deliver more than a measly blow-up mattress or floor mat.
- Be sure to maintain good ventilation within the cabin to ensure good airflow and prevent your windows from fogging up If you can, crack a window a little.
With this list of top-rated vehicles for camping and tips to improve your camping experience in such a vehicle, you’ve got all you need to commence on an amazing adventure.
