Road trips and overlanding are more popular than ever — but not everyone can afford (or wants to) own an RV, an Airstream Classic or a custom-built overlanding rig. For some, the occasional weekend getaway to a nearby destination will quell whatever travel bug may bite (even if it leads to being bitten by new bugs).
To that end, small travel trailers are a great option for those who want the convenience of adventure but don’t have the budget or storage space to maintain the typical large vehicle associated with exploring the great outdoors.
Mini-campers are budget-friendly, with many available for less than $10,000. The more the amenities, though, (like a bathroom) and the higher the price tag. Nevertheless, they are compact and light, which makes them easier to maneuver. And most can fit in a standard carage.
For this list, we focus on small camping trailers that have a gross weight vehicle rating (GVWR) of no more than 5,000 pounds, do not exceed 20 feet in length (so they can fit in the average-sized garage), and can be easily towed by a mid-size truck or SUV — or, in some cases, even a regular sedan.
The Classic Small Camping Trailer
Airstream Bambi
- Weight: 3,000 lbs
- Length: 193"
- Sleeps: Up to 4
- Base Price: $59,300
No surprise that the road-tripping icon has a line of lightweight single-axle trailers. Along with Airstream’s classic design, Bambi models feature neutral interior colors, stainless steel appliances, plenty of windows, and a retractable awning. The entry-level Bambi 16RB measures about 16 feet long, and has a maximum GVWR of 3,500 pounds.
The Most Affordable Small Camping Trailers
Polydrops P19 Shorty
- Weight: 640 lbs
- Length: 140"
- Sleeps: 2
- Price: $12,500
We love Polydrops' space capsule-like trailers. The P19 shorty is a basic but super affordable trailer option. It's durable with a rust-free frame, insulated for all four seasons and provides sleeping accommodations for two. It's also an awesome option for towing with an EV with a weight of just 640 lbs.
SylvanSport GO
- Weight: 840 lbs
- Length: 140"
- Sleeps: 2
- Price: $14,495+
The SylvanSport GO may not look like much of anything in road mode, but it’s basically a Transformer — a boring trailer that transforms into a tent camper/utility hauler/equipment rack. Measuring less than seven feet long, the pop-up tent setup expands to accommodate two XL-twin mattresses or one king. Also, it's extremely lightweight at just 840 pounds.
Scamp Travel Trailers
- Weight: 1,500 lbs
- Length: 156"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $19,921
Because Scamp trailers are sold factory direct, each order is essentially a custom build. The small trailers fit four, come in 13-, 16-, and 19-foot lengths, and are available in Standard or Deluxe trims — which really just means, bathroom or bunk beds? The GVWR for the 16-footer is 3,500 pounds, but Scamp says all sizes have been designed to be towed by small vehicles.
Off-Road Camping Trailers
Colorado Campworks NS-1
- Weight: 1,750 lbs
- Length: 156"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $75,000
Built for overlanding with a small footprint of barely nine feet, the Nomadic System One (NS1) is 100 percent solar-powered for on-demand hot water and induction cooking. Rugged but towable with a sub-2,000-pound dry weight, other features include a galley, a winter-ready structure and exterior mounts for gear. It comes in one fully stocked version with several color options. You can place a reservation with a $5,000 deposit.
Taxa Outdoors Woolly Bear Overland
- Weight: 1,400 lbs
- Length: 136"
- Sleeps: 3 (w/rooftop tent)
- Base Price: $18,750
Taxa Outdoors's Woolly Bear was the ultimate mobile campsite for two. We say was because the brand just came out with a more robust Woolly Bear Overland. It packs a full-size kitchen, a pull-out cooler drawer, ample storage and a platform for a rooftop tent within a package that weighs just 1,400 pounds and is only five feet wide. The Overland version adds a reinforced frame, electric brakes, a Timbren Axle-less suspension and nearly three inches more ground clearance.
Small Camping Trailers With Bathrooms
Airstream Basecamp REI Co-op Special Edition
- Weight: 2,700 lbs
- Length: 192"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $52,900
The Basecamp is Airstream's most affordable 16-foot camping trailer. The company collaborated with outdoor retailer REI Co-op on a special edition for 2023. Upgrades for the REI Co-op version include fabrics and laminates made from sustainable materials and a solar power upgrade for going off the grid. A wet bath with a toilet comes standard. You can upgrade to a composting toilet.
Happier Camper HC1 Studio
- Weight: 1,800 lbs
- Length: 161"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $39,950
Built for long-term travel, this 1,800-pound camper packs in all the essentials you'd find at home: a bathroom equipped with a dry-flush toilet and a shower, a full kitchenette with a dual-burner stove, battery-powered fridge and sink, and Happier Camper's Adaptiv system, a partially modular layout that allows for the unique configuration of furniture. A Premium Package adds more features like a solar package.
Winnebago Micro Minnie
- Weight: 3,360 lbs
- Length: 233"
- Sleeps: 3
- Base Price: $37,182
The ever-familiar Winnebago offers the Micro Minnie. These trailers are small in size but offer plenty of room for families. Even though it's a double-axle camper (most small camping trailers use a single axle), the Micro Minnie is just seven feet wide — but smartly laid out. Sleeping quarters accommodate up to five, and windows on either side provide a nice cross-breeze on cool nights. Other amenities include USB ports and WiFi connectivity.
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Small Pop-Up Camping Trailers
Taxa Outdoors Cricket
- Weight: 1,753 lbs
- Length: 180"
- Sleeps: 2 + 2 children
- Base Price: $34,950
With a NASA-inspired design, the 15-foot Taxa Outdoors Cricket was built to handle the outdoors. Lightweight and rugged, the small trailer can sleep two adults and two children, features a modular design, innovative storage solutions inside and out as well as lots of windows for cross ventilation. It includes an integrated plumbing and electrical system with an air conditioner optional.
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Dub Box
- Weight: 1,433 lbs
- Length: 193"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $22,824
Not a familiar name, sure — but in terms of design, if you don’t think Volkswagen when you think of road camping, are you even thinking? The Dub Box, which sits about 16 feet long and has a 2,314-pound GVWR, will definitely make people do a double-take. Other standard features include a kitchen with a two-burner stovetop and fridge, LED lighting, and room for a double-sized mattress. A pop-up rooftop, you ask? Of course, that’s an option.
Teardrop Camping Trailers
nuCamp Tab 400
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Weight: 2,831 lbs
- Length: 219"
- Sleeps: 3-4
- Base Price: $50,089 (suggested)
The nuCamp Tab 400 features an old-school teardrop design but with new school amenities, like instant hot water and air conditioning. A compact 18 feet in length, the Tab 400 still offers a dedicated queen-sized bed sleeping space, a spacious kitchen with storage, a three-person dinette area, and a wet bath. You can also tack on a Boondock off-road package and a Lithium power package.
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Timberleaf Classic Teardrop
- Weight: 1,500 lbs
- Length: 168"
- Sleeps: 2
- Base Price: $24,500
The Classic Teardrop Trailer by Timberleaf features one of the largest skylights of any teardrop-style trailer on the market. At 10 feet in length, there’s plenty of usable space for a queen-size mattress, storage shelves, and an equally laid-out kitchen galley. The camper can also be customized with All Road and Off Road packages depending on your needs. Timberleaf also sells smaller Kestrel and Pika models.
The Small Camping Trailer We Wish Existed
Airstream Studio F.A. Porsche Concept Travel Trailer
Airstream and the design firm Studio F.A. Porsche presented a “what if” collaboration, the Airstream Studio F.A. Porsche Concept Travel Trailer. It’s essentially what would happen if Porsche used its sports car sensibilities to design and build an Airstream. It's a small 16-foot trailer about the size of the Bambi. It crams everything you'd want into that small footprint with some innovative features like a rear-opening hatch, an adjustable suspension for lowering into a garage and a smooth aerodynamic outer shell.
