If you are searching for a last-minute RV rental in Los Angeles for Christmas or New Year, you are not too late. Seven weeks is a comfortable window for most travellers, and winter is the season when the California deserts are at their best. The harder part is not finding a van but choosing a route that works in December, when days are short, mountain roads can be icy and many campgrounds need a reservation.

This guide is built from the CampervanPlanet Los Angeles listing and general US road and campground rules. We flag where you should check details, and we have not driven these routes in a rented RV ourselves, so treat it as a researched planning guide. If you have never hired a motorhome in the United States, our guide to RV rental in the USA for Europeans explains licences, sizes and campground costs first.

Is a last-minute RV rental in Los Angeles realistic?

Usually yes, with two caveats. First, the days that matter most are the ones around 24 December and 1 January, when families travel and demand rises. If your dates are flexible by a day or two on either side, prices and availability are better. Second, the cheapest listings are often small vans with limited choice of pick-up time, so the more flexible you are, the better the options.

The Los Angeles page showed that from 10 November 2026 the cheapest RV for 7 nights from LAX was $48 a day, which works out at $379 for the week. For March 2027 the same search showed from $41 a day, and for June 2027 from $65 a day. Those figures are for the cheapest vehicle on the cheapest dates, not for Christmas week, so use them as a rough guide to the price level rather than a quote. The live search on the Los Angeles RV rental page shows prices for your exact dates and compares the rental brands.

One practical point: compare the total price, not the daily rate. Mileage, generator hours, insurance and one-way fees can change the picture, and our Los Angeles RV costs guide breaks those down.

Which RV size suits a winter trip from Los Angeles

For two people, a compact RV or camper van is easier to park, cheaper to run and fine for desert routes. For a family of four, a standard Class C motorhome gives you separate sleeping areas and a bathroom, which matters when it is cold and dark by 5 pm. A large Class A motorhome is more comfortable but harder to drive, and some winter mountain roads and older campgrounds are unsuited to it.

• Heating: make sure the van has a working heater and check how it runs. Desert nights in December and January can drop close to freezing even when the days feel warm.
• Water system: in cold spells the water lines can freeze, so ask how the company winterises its vehicles.
• Driving experience: an RV is much longer and taller than a car, and Los Angeles traffic is dense. Allow a quiet hour to get used to the van before you head onto a freeway.

Route one: Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and Anza-Borrego

The desert east of Los Angeles is the classic winter RV trip. Joshua Tree National Park is about two to three hours from the city, depending on traffic, and winter is its best season, with comfortable days and clear nights. Nights can be near freezing, so pack warm bedding even though the daytime feels mild.

From Joshua Tree you can drop into the Palm Springs area for shops, palm-lined streets and a change of pace, then head south to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is quieter and has dark skies for stargazing. Return along the coast via San Diego if you want a city stop. The loop is easy to do in five to seven days and keeps you within a few hours of Los Angeles at all times, which is reassuring for a first RV trip.

Campgrounds in the national and state parks fill up over the holidays, so reserve before you arrive. National park campsites are usually booked online through the official reservation system, and some close or limit facilities in winter. Check the park’s own page for current conditions rather than relying on old blog posts, including this one.

Route two: Death Valley and the Mojave in winter

Death Valley is an extreme place in summer and a pleasure in winter. Daytime temperatures are typically comfortable for walking from late autumn to early spring, and the salt flats, dunes and canyons look their best in low light. It is a long drive from Los Angeles, roughly 5 hours each way, so plan to spend at least two nights.

Fuel and services are limited inside the park, so fill the tank before you enter and carry water. Cell coverage is patchy, so download offline maps. The park has campgrounds that suit RVs, and some are open year-round, but check conditions and reservations before you go. If you want a longer trip, our California RV national parks loop shows how Death Valley fits with Sequoia and Yosemite, although those two can see snow in winter and may need chains.

Route three: the coast north to Santa Barbara and Big Sur

If deserts are not your thing, drive north along the coast. The Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara is an easy first day, and the road continues up to Big Sur and Monterey. Winter brings rain, and parts of Highway 1 near Big Sur have closed after landslides in the past, so check road conditions before you set out. Some stretches have restrictions on large vehicles, so look at the rules for your RV’s length.

The coast is cooler than the desert but milder than the mountains, and campgrounds are generally less crowded than in summer. If you only have a week, Santa Barbara, the Central Coast wine areas and a night near Pismo Beach make a relaxed trip. If you are ending in San Francisco, ask about the one-way fee before you book, because California one-way rentals usually add a charge that depends on the route and the season.

Practicalities for Christmas and New Year

• Pick-up hours: rental depots may close or shorten their hours on 25 December and 1 January. Confirm your pick-up and return times in writing.
• Groceries and propane: stock up before the holiday itself, because shops and propane suppliers close or have short hours.
• Campground reservations: book before you collect the van. A van without a campsite is only a rental problem.
• Daylight: days are short in December, so plan your driving for daylight and arrive at campgrounds before dark.
• Driving rules: Americans drive on the right, distances are in miles and fuel is sold by the gallon. Our USA guide for Europeans covers licence and insurance questions.

It also helps to know the answer to a simple question before you leave the lot: where will you sleep each night? In the desert you have good options, and on the coast you have fewer, so plan accordingly.

How to book a last-minute RV and save money

Compare several companies for the same dates rather than booking the first listing you see. A small difference in the daily rate can be wiped out by mileage limits or extras. On the CampervanPlanet Los Angeles page you can search your exact dates and see the prices of all the rental brands side by side, and every booking comes with a free 1GB eSIM, which is handy for maps when you land.

Check the cancellation terms in case your plans change, the deposit and insurance excess, and what is included in the price. If you are flexible, moving your pick-up day by a day or two around the holidays can change the price noticeably. Code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 takes €20 off at checkout when you book through our links, and a booking within 30 days of your click is credited to us.