✅ Quick Answer
Escape is the cheapest way to sleep in a campervan near a national park — a converted minivan from about $69–$149/day, 24/7 self-service airport pickup at 14 US cities, bedding and kitchen included. No bathroom, no heater, pavement only.
Which Escape is this? This review covers the relaunched Escape Campervans (escapecampervans.com). The original company closed in November 2025 and its hand-painted vans were sold at auction. In 2026, Avanti Campervans (a family-owned van rental and conversion company operating since 2014) bought the name and relaunched Escape as a separate company with a new minivan fleet. Older reviews and photos of painted Escape vans don’t apply.
If you’ve been searching “Escape Campervans review,” you’ve probably seen confusing results: glowing posts about artist-painted vans, complaints about mileage fees and breakdowns, and a closure notice. Here’s the short version: that was the old company. The new Escape Campervans is a different business with a different product — late-model minivans (mostly Chrysler Pacifica / Voyager) with a bed, linens, a camp kitchen and a solar shower, picked up from a lot at or near the airport.
We’re based in Utah and write about national park road trips constantly, so this review focuses on what matters for that kind of trip: what you get, what it really costs, where you can pick up, and when you should pick a different rental instead.
TL;DR — Who Escape Is (and Isn’t) For
Book Escape if:
- You’re 1–2 adults and want the lowest-cost “sleep in the vehicle” option
- You’re flying in — pickup is 24/7 near the airport with no rental counter
- Your route is on pavement or graded dirt (national park scenic drives, campgrounds, BLM pullouts off paved roads)
- You want something easy to drive and park — it’s a minivan, and it gets 25–30 mpg
- You’re fine using campground bathrooms and showers
Skip Escape if:
- You want 4×4 access to remote dispersed camping — look at Moterra (our review)
- You need a real bathroom, or you’re 3+ people who all want beds — look at Blacksford (our review)
- You’re camping in real cold — the vans have no built-in overnight heater, so plan on a warm sleeping bag
- You need standing room to cook and change inside
Checking dates? Rates change daily — lock a quote early:
The Two Escape Vans: Voyager vs Caravan
Escape rents two classes of minivan campervan. Both sleep 2 adults on a 48″ x 72″ memory-foam bed and seat 4 with factory seatbelts. Neither has plumbing.
| Voyager Class | Caravan Class | |
|---|---|---|
| Base vehicle | Chrysler Pacifica / Voyager | Dodge Grand Caravan |
| Model years | Mostly 2024+ (avg. ~2 yrs old, under 50k miles) | 2017–2020 |
| Sleeps / seats | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Kitchen | Patent-pending slide-out kitchen drawer (doubles as a table) | Camp stove + folding table |
| Trip types | Long-distance, cross-country, one-way | Local and regional only |
| Canada | Allowed, no extra charge | Not allowed |
| Best for | Multi-park road trips | Short regional trips on a tight budget |
| See Voyager | See Caravan |
Our pick: the Voyager for any national park trip. The newer chassis matters when you’re 200 miles from the nearest town, the kitchen drawer is genuinely faster to set up, and the Caravan’s regional-only restriction rules out most one-way park routes anyway.
What’s Included
Everything below comes with every rental at no extra charge (per Escape’s included-gear page):
- Bed: 48″ x 72″ memory-foam mattress, fresh linens, comforter and pillows for two
- Kitchen: gas camp stove, cookware and utensils (slide-out kitchen on Voyager; folding table on Caravan)
- Camp gear: two folding chairs, a folding shade canopy, solar camp shower
- Privacy: blackout window covers
- Power: USB and 12V sockets (some vans have 110V and USB-C)
- Miles: 150 free miles per rental day, pooled across the trip
- Pickup: 24/7 self-service, no counter; usually a free shuttle from the terminal
- Extras for renters: a free trial of The Dyrt campsite app
Not included: bathroom or toilet (you can bring a small portable one), heater, Wi-Fi, bike rack, tow hitch, GPS unit, tents or sleeping bags for extra people.
What Escape Really Costs
Escape publishes a range of about $69–$149 per day, depending on city, season and trip length. Here’s how the add-ons stack up:
| Cost item | Price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Daily rate | ~$69–$149 |
| Free miles | 150/day, pooled for the whole trip |
| Extra miles | $0.35/mile |
| Unlimited miles add-on | $20/day |
| Collision damage waiver (optional) | Varies; $750 deductible. Or use your own insurance (must cover the van) |
| Young driver (21–24) | $10/day |
| Pet cleaning fee | $150/trip (registered service animals exempt) |
| One-way fee | Varies by distance; lowest between Escape hubs |
| Minimum rental | 3 days (winter) to 5 days (summer) |
Do you need unlimited miles?
Do the math before you add it. A 7-day trip includes 1,050 miles. If you’ll drive 1,400 miles, the overage is 350 x $0.35 = $122.50, while unlimited would cost 7 x $20 = $140. Unlimited only wins once you’re roughly 400+ miles over the allowance on a week-long trip. You can switch to unlimited mid-trip, so start without it if you’re unsure.
Sample 7-day budget (2 people, Voyager)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Van (7 days) | $483 | $1,043 |
| Fuel (~1,200 mi at 27 mpg, $3.50/gal) | $155 | $155 |
| Extra miles (150 over) | $53 | $53 |
| Campsites (car sites, not RV sites) | $0 (BLM) | $280 |
| Total | ~$690 | ~$1,530 |
Tip from Escape’s own FAQ: book passenger car campsites, not RV sites. The vans need no hookups, and car sites are cheaper and easier to get. Get a real quote for your dates.
All 14 Escape Locations
Pickup is at or near the main airport in each city. Escape says Orlando, Calgary and Vancouver are coming soon. See all locations.
| Hub | Closest parks & trips | |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Grand Teton | View hub |
| Las Vegas, NV | Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Valley of Fire | View hub |
| Phoenix, AZ | Sedona, Grand Canyon South Rim, Saguaro, Petrified Forest | View hub |
| Denver, CO | Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon, Mesa Verde | View hub |
| Los Angeles, CA | Joshua Tree, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Channel Islands, Big Sur | View hub |
| San Francisco, CA | Yosemite, Redwoods, Lassen, Pinnacles | View hub |
| San Diego, CA | Anza-Borrego, Joshua Tree, coastal highway | View hub |
| Seattle, WA | Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades | View hub |
| Portland, OR | Crater Lake, Columbia Gorge, Oregon Coast | View hub |
| Anchorage, AK | Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell–St. Elias | View hub |
| Boston, MA | Acadia, White Mountains | View hub |
| Jersey City, NJ (NYC) | Shenandoah, Catskills, Adirondacks | View hub |
| Washington DC | Shenandoah, New River Gorge, Blue Ridge Parkway | View hub |
| Miami, FL | Everglades, Biscayne, Florida Keys | View hub |
For Utah trips: Salt Lake City and Las Vegas both work for a Mighty 5 loop. A one-way SLC → Vegas (Voyager only) avoids backtracking. For Arizona, see our Grand Canyon + Sedona road trip; for Wyoming, the Yellowstone + Grand Teton campervan guide.
Rules That Catch People Out
- No off-road driving. Paved and properly graded dirt roads only. The vans are front-wheel drive with low clearance, and 4×4 roads aren’t covered by insurance. That rules out places like the White Rim Road or Cathedral Valley.
- Insurance must be in the primary driver’s name. Use your own policy (confirm it covers a campervan) or buy Escape’s CDW. CDW doesn’t cover tires, windows, personal injury or belongings — travel insurance is worth considering.
- Minimum age is 21. Drivers under 25 pay $10/day.
- Cancellation: full refund until 7 days before pickup. After that, 30% back on unused days or full credit toward a future trip.
- Mexico is only allowed in specific vans with special insurance arranged in advance. Canada is fine in a Voyager.
- Tolls: on the West Coast, an optional toll pass covers bridges and tunnels. In Central/Eastern time zones, tolls are billed to you plus a 10% fee.
- Get a US SIM or eSIM if you’re visiting from abroad — roadside assistance coordinates by text.
Escape vs Moterra vs Blacksford
These are the three rental companies we recommend most for national park trips. They aren’t really competitors — they’re three different price and comfort levels. Full breakdown in Moterra vs Escape.
| Escape | Moterra | Blacksford | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Converted minivan | 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter | Class B / C Winnebago RV |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2–4 | 4–8 |
| Bathroom | No | Some models | Yes |
| Off-road | No | Yes | No |
| Typical daily rate | ~$69–$149 | ~$350–$575 | ~$250–$600 |
| US hubs | 14 | 7 | 4 |
| Best for | Couples on a budget | Backcountry couples / small families | Families wanting RV comfort |
| Check Escape | Check Moterra | Check Blacksford |
Want a peer-to-peer option instead? Outdoorsy and RVshare list privately owned vans and RVs in most cities — more variety, but quality and policies vary by owner.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lowest daily rate of any campervan rental we cover
- 14 airport-area hubs, more than any competitor we review
- 24/7 self-service pickup — no counter, no waiting
- 25–30 mpg and minivan-easy to drive and park
- Bedding, kitchen, chairs, canopy and shower included
- One-way rentals and Canada trips (Voyager)
- Newer fleet: average Voyager is about two years old
- Unmarked vans blend in when you park in town
Cons
- Sleeps only 2 adults
- No bathroom, plumbing or heater
- No standing room — cooking happens outside
- Pavement and graded dirt only
- 150 miles/day goes fast on big Western road trips
- The relaunched company is new, so its long-term track record is still being built
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Escape Campervans still in business?
Yes. The original Escape Campervans closed in November 2025. In 2026, Avanti Campervans acquired the name and relaunched Escape as a new, separate company with a new fleet of minivan campervans at 14 US locations.
Is the new Escape the same company as before?
No. It has the same name but is a separate company owned by Avanti Campervans. The old hand-painted vans were sold at auction and aren’t part of the new fleet, and the new company isn’t responsible for the old company’s bookings.
How much does an Escape campervan cost?
Escape quotes about $69 to $149 per day depending on location, season and trip length. Each day includes 150 free miles; extra miles are $0.35, or you can add unlimited miles for $20 per day.
Do Escape campervans have a bathroom?
No. There’s no toilet, shower or plumbing inside. A solar camp shower is included, and you can bring a small portable toilet. Most travelers use campground, park and gas station restrooms.
Can you take an Escape campervan off-road?
No. Escape allows only public paved roads and properly graded dirt roads. Off-road or 4×4 driving is prohibited and not covered by insurance.
How many people can sleep in an Escape campervan?
Two adults. The van seats four with factory seatbelts, so extra travelers would need to bring their own tent and sleeping gear.
Does Escape have a location in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Escape has a Salt Lake City hub, plus Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver, which together cover most Utah, Arizona and Colorado national parks.
Can I bring my dog in an Escape campervan?
Yes. Pets are allowed with a $150 cleaning fee per trip. Registered service animals are exempt with documentation.
What is the minimum age to rent from Escape?
21. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young driver fee of $10 per day.
Final Verdict
The relaunched Escape Campervans is the best-value way for two people to road-trip the national parks without paying for a motel every night. You get a newer, fuel-efficient minivan, a real mattress and a ready-to-cook camp kitchen at a lower daily rate than any Sprinter or RV rental, and the 14 airport hubs make fly-and-drive trips simple.
Pick something else if you need off-road access (Moterra), a bathroom or room for a family (Blacksford), or warmth on sub-freezing nights. For a spring or fall Utah, Arizona or California trip on pavement, Escape is the one we’d book first.
✅ Quick Answer
Peak-season dates near the parks sell out first. Check your dates:
Related Guides
- Moterra vs Escape Campervans
- Moterra Campervan Rental Review
- Blacksford RV Rental Review
- Utah Mighty 5 by Campervan
- Yellowstone + Grand Teton by Campervan
- Glacier National Park by Campervan
- Grand Canyon + Sedona RV Trip
- Best GPS Apps for Overlanding (offline maps)
UT Overland earns a commission if you book through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies are from Escape’s website as of October 2026 and can change.