Average Cost of a Pop Up Camper (with 18 Examples)


Pop Up Camper

Pop-up campers are one of the most affordable RVs that you can buy, which is why they’re one of the most popular types of RVs on the road today.

But if you’re new to RVing, you might be wondering just how much pop-up campers actually cost?

Here’s what I found out after extensive research.

Pop-up campers can have a wide price range, but in general, a pop-up camper will cost between $8,000 and $28,000.  With an average well-equipped pop-up camper costing approximately $15,000.  

But if you’re looking for more than just the average price of a pop-up camper and want specific examples, keep reading.

As we provide 18 examples of pop-up campers and their respective prices.

Pop-Up Camper Cost Examples (from Least to Most Expensive)

  • Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD – $8,000 (13′ compact single-pivot pop-up camper with a roof rack)
  • Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD – $9,255 (17′ 2″ very basic classic style pop-up camper with fold-out double bunks)
  • Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD – $9,500 (17′ 2″ basic lightweight pop-up camper with fold-out double bunks)
  • Sylvansport Go Trailer – $9,995 (11′ 10″ basecamp style pop-up camper meant for outdoor adventure and sports)
  • Black Series Alpha Camper – $9,995 (17′ extreme off-road pop-up great for boondocking and off-grid camping)
  • Coachmen Clipper LS 806XLS – $10,500 (17′ 11″ basic classic style pop-up camper with fold-out double bunks on either side)
  • Forest River Rockwood Freedom 2318G – $14,195 (23′ 11″ well-equipped classic style pop-up camper with a slide-out)
  • Flagstaff Forest River Hard Side T12RBST – $14,500 (19′ 2″ hard-sided A-frame pop-up camper with kitchenette and large front storage box)
  • Forest River Rockwood Freedom Series 1950 – $16,500 (20′ deluxe tent-style pop-up camper with dual fold-out sleeping berths)
  • Aliner Ranger 10 – $17,000 (12′ 8″ hard-sided A-frame pop-up camper with side-mount air conditioner and single dormer)
  • Forest River Rockwood Hard Side A213HW – $19,500 (21′ 2″ high-end hard-sided pop-up with dormer and large front storage locker)
  • Black Series Patron – $20,000 (19′ 4″ extreme off-road-capable pop-up with excellent dry camping capabilities)
  • TAXA Outdoors Tiger Moth – $20,000 (12′ 10″ boondocking pop-up with enclosed interior and optional pop-up tent for additional sleeping space)
  • Coachmen Clipper Classic 1285SST – $23,000 (23′ 5″ large premium pop-up camper with 6-person sleeping capacity and a wet bath)
  • Forest River Flagstaff High Wall HW29SC – $25,000 (27′ 9″ oversized premium pop-up with high fixed walls and wet bath)
  • Camp 365 Camper – $26,000 (15′ 6″ unique thin profile pop-up that folds up and out with a flexible interior space)
  • Aliner Expedition – $28,000 (18′ premium hard-sided A-frame pop-up camper with dual dormers and a bathroom)

Tent Style Pop Up Camper

Why Is There Such a Wide Price Range with Pop-Up Campers?

As you can see from the above pop-up camper cost examples, there can be a wide price range between the more budget-friendly and the higher-end pop-ups campers.

With price differences that can be as much as $20,000 from the least to most expensive pop-up.

But why is there such a wide price range, when it comes to the cost of a pop-up camper?

Size Matters

For starters, size makes a big difference in how much the pop-up camper costs.

As the larger pop-ups tend to cost more, while the smaller and more compact pop-ups tend to cost less.

And this makes sense just from a construction and material standpoint, as obviously it costs substantially less for an RV manufacturer to produce a 13-foot pop-up as opposed to a 20-foot pop-up.  

But the larger pop-up campers are also more expensive because they tend to be more desirable.

As they accommodate more RVer’s needs compared to a smaller pop-up camper, especially if the RVer has a family and needs to sleep 4 or more.

Features and Amenities

The most basic and affordable pop-up campers tend to be very stripped-down pop-ups that are really not much more than a glorified tent.

As they offer very few features other than a place to sleep and a few basic amenities such as a dinette booth, small kitchenette, and zip-up screen windows, which helps to keep the price of these basic pop-up campers down.

Pop Up Camper Interior

On the other hand, more premium pop-up campers such as the Forest River Rockwood HW296 tend to be loaded with high-end features.

That often rival what you might find in a more traditional hard-sided travel trailer.

As they often offer both air conditioning and heat, a full-featured kitchenette, ample seating and sleeping space, an exterior awning, a wet bath, and sometimes even a slide-out to provides extra interior space.

But all these features and amenities don’t come cheap.

As a fully-loaded pop-up camper can often cost $10,000 or more compared to a more basic pop-up.  

Tent Style vs Hard Sided Pop Up Camper

Another factor that can greatly affect the price of a pop-up is whether it has canvas or hard-sided walls.

As hard-sided pop-up campers such as the Aliner Expedition with fold-out fiberglass walls tend to be more expensive compared to traditional tent-style pop-up campers with canvas walls.

Due to the advantages that the hard-sided pop-up camper provides such as better insulation and R-values and better sound deading capability.

Which helps the hard-sided pop-up stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter for longer and reduces the amount of noise you hear inside the camper.

For a list of the best pop-up campers for winter, check out our article “8 Best Pop-Up Campers for Winter Camping“.

Type of Pop Up Camper

The last factor that can have a big impact on the price of a pop-camper is the type of pop-up camper it is and what type of camping the pop-up is meant for.

This is because basic pop-up campers such as the Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD that are intended to be used primarily in campgrounds need far fewer features and capabilities compared to the TAXA Outdoors Tiger Moth, which is meant for extended periods of boondocking in remote and off-grid areas.

And because of this, the basic pop-up camper usually costs substantially less compared to an extreme off-grid pop-up camper.  

Other Costs Associated with Buying and Owning a Pop-Up Camper

If you’re thinking about buying a pop-up camper, it’s important that you understand all the costs associated with buying and owning a pop-up camper in order to get a full picture of the true costs.

Pop-Up Camper Buying Costs

  • Sales Tax – Often one of the biggest expenses beyond the cost of the pop-up is the sales tax you will have to pay when you purchase the camper, which varies from state to state.  But assuming an average sales tax of 6% and average pop-up camper price of $15,000.  Sales tax in this example would be $900
  • Dealer Title, Doc, and Tag Fees – A cost that new RVers often forget to add in when buying a pop-up camper is the title, doc, and tag fees that they will need to pay.  Which can vary depending on the RV dealer and the state you’re in but generally will cost around $300.
  • Batteries and Propane Tanks – While you might assume that batteries and full propane tanks come with a pop-up camper, for many dealers these are extra and add-on costs.  So if you don’t work these items into the deal, plan to spend about $150 per RV battery and $50 per 20-pound propane tank.
  • Spare Tire – Another item that most beginner RVers expect to come with their pop-up camper is a spare tire.  However, many pop-up campers do not come with a spare tire.  Meaning you will need to buy one separately, which usually costs around $160.
  • RV Accessories – While your pop-up might come with a few accessories.  You more than likely will need to buy several RV accessories when you purchase your pop-up such as hoses, extension cords, wheel chocks, and leveling blocks.

For a list of must-have RV accessories that every RVer should have, check out our article “20 Must Have RV Accessories Under $20“.

Costs of Owning a Pop-Up Camper

  • Monthly Storage Fee – Unless you plan to store your pop-up camper in your driveway, you will need to pay to store your pop-up at an RV storage lot.  Which will usually run anywhere from $50 to $100 a month depending on how nice the storage lot is, what level of security it offers, and whether the storage space is covered or enclosed.
  • Pop-Up Camper Insurance – Part of owning and taking care of a pop-up camper is maintaining RV insurance to help protect against damage or theft.  Which is really a no-brainer considering pop-up camper insurance usually only costs around $200 a year depending on the level of coverage and deductible.  
  • RV Maintenace and Repair – It’s really not a question of if something will break or wear out on your RV, as it is when something will break or wear out.  So you should plan on spending anywhere from $100 to 300 a year to keep your pop-up camper in tip-top shape.  

Pop Up Camper

How Much Does a Used Pop Up Camper Cost?

While pop-up campers are one of the most affordable types of RVs that you can buy, if your willing to buy a used pop-up camper, you can save even more money.

As a used pop-up camper that was manufactured in the last 10 years, in general, will cost between $5,000 and $15,000.  Allowing you to save anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 compared to the cost of a new pop-up.

And to illustrate this point let’s take a look at some actual used pop-up camper prices below.  

  • 2012 Coachmen Clipper Sport 126 – $5,599
  • 2011 Jayco Jay Series Sport 8 – $5,900
  • 2015 Quicksilver 8.0 – $6,895
  • 2011 Forest River Rockwood Premium 2317 – $6,995
  • 2013 Jaco Jay Series Sport 10 – $6,995
  • 2014 Forest River Flagstaff Hard Side T19QBHW – $9,500
  • 2017 Jayco Jay Series Sport 10SD – $9,995
  • 2018 Viking LS Series 1706LS – $9,995
  • 2014 Starcraft Comet 3611HW – $9,999
  • 2016 Forest River Flagstaff 625D – $11,995
  • 2018 Forest River Rockwood Extreme Sport 2280BHESP – $13,500
  • 2017 Coachmen Clipper 1285 SST – $14,995

For even more examples and information on used pop-up campers, check out our article “How Much Does a Used Pop Up Camper Cost? Answered“.

Best Pop Up Campers Under 10K

If your looking for a new pop-up under $10,000 your options will be somewhat limited.

As most new pop-up campers will usually cost quite a bit more than $10,000.  

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find some great pop-up campers that cost under $10,000.

And to illustrate this point, I have highlighted 5 of the best pop-up campers under 10K below.

Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD

Quick Specs

  • Cost:  $8,000
  • Open Length:  13 Feet
  • Dry Weight:  1,418 Pounds
  • Sleeping Capacity:  2

The Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD is not only one of the best pop-up campers under 10K but it also has the distinction of being one of the cheapest pop-ups that you can buy, with an average price of just $8,000.

But it’s not just its low price that makes it so great, as it’s also a really well-equipped pop-up camper that includes numerous features to make your next camping trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

Including such features as LED interior and exterior lights, 12V on-demand water pump connected to a sink and 16-gallon freshwater tank, 6-gallon water heater, 20,000 BTU furnace, Bluetooth stereo, 120 Watt/12V fridge, and a Thetford porta potty.  

For more information on the Coachmen Viking Express 9.0TD, check out Coachmen’s website by clicking here.  


Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD

Quick Specs

  • Cost:  $9,255
  • Open Length:  17 Feet 2 Inches
  • Dry Weight:  1,465 Pounds
  • Sleeping Capacity:  3

If you’re looking for a basic and lightweight pop-up camper that you can pull with a wide variety of vehicles, then you need to check out the Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD.

As the Rockwood 1640LTD is one of the most popular lightweight pop-up campers on the market today.

Thanks to its numerous features and amenities that include dual sleeping berths, a small kitchenette with kitchen sink, fridge, and two-burner propane stove, a nice size dinette booth, and a decent amount of cabinets and counter space.  

And if your someone that likes to spend a lot of time outdoors while at the campsite this budget-friendly pop-up camper from Forest River has you covered, thanks to its 7-foot awning that provides plenty of shade and its portable outdoor grill for when you feel like cooking outside.  

For more information on the Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD, be sure to check out Forest River’s website by clicking here.  


Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD

Quick Specs

  • Cost:  $9,500
  • Open Length:  17 Feet 2 Inches
  • Dry Weight:  1,465 Pounds
  • Sleeping Capacity:  3

Another great option if your looking for a budget-friendly and lightweight pop-up camper is the Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD.

Which is actually very similar to the Forest River Rockwood 1640LTD from above except for the interior and exterior color schemes and design.  

Because as was the case with the Rockwood 1640LTD, the Flagstaff 176LTD offers loads of features and amenities that you don’t normally find on more basic and affordable pop-up campers.

Including such features as a 7-foot awning, outdoor grill, small kitchenette with sink, fridge, and two-burner propane stove, 20,000BTU furnace, and a 25 Amp converter with built-in battery charger.

For more information on the Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD, make sure you check out Forest River’s website by clicking here.  


Sylvansport Go Trailer

https://youtu.be/M4jIZ6vn4EE

Quick Specs

  • Cost:  $9,995
  • Open Length:  11 Feet 10 Inches
  • Dry Weight:  840 Pounds
  • Sleeping Capacity:  4

A departure from the more classic pop-up camper is the Sylvansport Go Trailer, which was built with the outdoor adventurer in mind.  

As the whole pop-up camper actually doubles as one large storage trailer for all your outdoor gear and equipment, thanks to its built-in gear deck, equipment rack, and large front storage box.

And when it’s time to catch some shut-eye after a long day of outdoor sports and exploring the Sylvansport Go Trailer has you covered, thanks to its tent pod which can sleep up to 4 campers at a time.  

For more information on the Sylvansport Go Trailer and to learn how you can buy one, check out Sylvansport’s website by clicking here.  


Black Series Alpha Camper

Quick Specs

  • Cost:  $9,995
  • Open Length:  17 Feet
  • Dry Weight:  1,997 Pounds
  • Sleeping Capacity:  4+

If you want the ultimate in off-road and boondocking capabilities in a pop-up camper then you need to look no further than the Black Series Alpha Camper.  

As this rugged pop-up camper is loaded with off-road and off-grid camping features that will allow you to take this affordable pop-up camper just about anywhere.  

And to illustrate this point, below is just a small sampling of the off-road and off-grid camping features this pop-up camper offers.

  • Duragal Tube Reinforced Chassis
  • Heavy-Duty 10-Inch Brakes with Hand Brake
  • Rugged Fully Independent Suspension
  • High Ground Clearance
  • Quad Shock Absorbers
  • 12 Volt System with multiple 12 Volt Power Sockets
  • Deep Cycle 100 Amp Hour Battery that can be charged by the Tow Vehicle
  • LED Lighting
  • Twin Lockable Propane Tank Holders
  • Twin Lockable Jerry Can Holders
  • Outdoor Kitchen

For more information on the Black Series Alpha Camper, be sure to check out Black Series website by clicking here.  

How Much Does a Pop-Up Cost to Rent?

If you think you might like camping with a pop-up camper but not quite ready to pull the trigger and buy your very own.

The next best thing can be to rent a pop-up camper.

To see if it’s actually something that you would enjoy.

But how do you go about renting a pop-up camper and what does it cost?

While there are many places you can rent a popup camper, the two main places most people use are either rvshare.com or outdoorsy.com

As both of these websites offer a wide selection of RVs and pop-ups to choose from and are available nationwide. 

In regards to the cost, pop-up campers can generally be rented for a price between $50 and $100 per night depending on the age, size, and desirability of the pop-up.

Below are just a few examples of pop-up campers I found for rent including their cost.

  • 2006 Starcraft 816 – $54 per night
  • 2005 Fleetwood Tacoma – $65 per night
  • 2006 Coleman American Series – $65 per night
  • 2011 Forest River Flagstaff 176LTD – $70 per night
  • 2014 Forest River Rockwood Hard Sided A122 – $74 per night
  • 2008 Fleetwood Avalon – $75 per night
  • 2006 Jayco Jay Series 1206 – $85 per night
  • 2008 Chalet, Inc. Chalet A-Frame – $85 per night
  • 2015 Forest River Rockwood Hard Sided A122SXR – $88 per night
  • 2014 Forest River Rockwood Freedom Series 2560G – $100 per night

 

If you’re looking for even more cost and pricing information on pop-up campers, make sure you check out our article “15 Awesome Pop-Up Campers with Pricing“.

Jason Kidd

Jason is an avid lover of RVs and the RV lifestyle. He is both a writer and editor for RV Owner HQ and has been RVing and camping for over 20 years.

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