Many people use the terms “campervan” and “motorhome” interchangeably. Despite being recreational vehicles, they are not the same thing. Clarifying the differences between these two camping options might not be necessary for an average person. But for an outdoor enthusiast trying to distinguish between them or decide which one is best, it is really important to understand what makes a campervan different from a motorhome and which one is more suitable.

This post compares a campervan Vs Motorhome based on three major factors in choosing the best outdoor living vehicle.

Size

Campervans are smaller and lighter-weight compared to motorhomes. These light campervans are regular vans fitted with space for cooking and sleeping. The limited space in a campervan means the driving cab is a part of the living space.

Unlike the much-bigger motorhomes, the seats of campervans are designed to either fold to form a bed or turn to face a table. Motorhomes are built from the onset as outdoor recreational vehicles. As such, they have longer wheelbases, so there is enough space to separate the driving cab from the living space.

The design of this outdoor vehicle aims to replicate the kind of space and comfort you would enjoy in your home. Most of them have toilets and bathrooms, a feature that needs to be added in campervans.

In addition to the absence of bathroom facilities in campervans, the space restrictions may also mean cramped spaces for more than two people.

Driving

The small size of campervans is not an absolute disadvantage. Even though they lack the comfort an average motorhome would provide, they fit better in parking spaces and are easier to manoeuvre on roads and campsites.

Height barriers at entrances would not be much of an obstacle for them too. When it comes to driving, motorhomes are at a greater disadvantage. You may have to obtain a special driving license to drive motorhomes in some parts of the world.

Apart from this, their big sizes make driving them a little more stressful. Since you must be extra careful during transit, driving will be slow, and parking will be more tricky. Due to space restrictions, small parks tend to favour campers over motorhomes.

Cost

In certain situations, smaller sizes usually mean lesser costs. The same principle can be applied in this situation. Because campers are smaller and lack many luxurious features, they are less pricey than most motorhomes.

Their small sizes also mean that they are more fuel efficient. So, a conventional campervan would be a great option for road adventure lovers on a budget. This does not imply that campervans are cheaper than motorhomes in all cases. More recent sophisticated models can be as expensive as motorhomes as well.

Conclusion

Whether to go for a campervan or a motorhome depends on the situation and your specific requirements. Campervans could be a favourable choice if you are on a budget and plan to be on the road with a few others. If your priority is comfort and luxury, a motorhome would be a recommended alternative.

On top of that, modern models of both vehicles may come with features that make them even more similar. To make your ultimate choice, you must consider the models more specifically to get the best value for your money.