If you love camping as much as I do, there’s no such thing as a “camping season”. All year can be camping season if you want it to be! And if you have a pop up camper, you’re better suited than most. So, can you use a pop up camper in winter weather?
Yes, you can use a pop up camper in winter weather. The key to comfortable winter camping in a pop up camper is proper insulation, layering, and heating! This article will tell you how.
In this article, we’re covering 11 of the best pop up campers for winter weather camping, plus a few tips for staying warm and keeping your pop up camper insulated.
Camping in a Pop Up Camper in Winter Can Be Cozy
With the right camper and the right preparation, camping in a pop up camper in winter can be a cozy and memorable experience.
If you already know that you want to use your camper in the wintertime and you haven’t purchased on yet, you’re in the best position possible! You can pick out a hard-sided pop up that will keep you super toasty no matter what’s happening outside.
But if you have a pop up tent trailer already, don’t worry. You can still enjoy winter weather camping.
Best Hard Sided Pop Up Campers Perfect For Winter Weather Camping
The first section is hard sided pop up campers only. I almost made the entire article dedicated to hard-sided pop up campers, but I know many pop up tent trailer enthusiasts love winter camping, too!
Here are the best hard sided pop up campers for winter camping.
Related: 13 Best Small Pop Up Campers That Don't Skimp on Amenities
1. Aliner Expedition
- Length: 18’
- GVWR: 3,500 lbs
- Price: Starting around $30,000
- Winter Camping Features: furnace, hard-sided insulated walls, dual propane tanks, optional hard pop-out dormers and extreme off road package
The Aliner Expedition is a great choice for a pop up camper in winter.
These hard sided a-frame campers have everything you need to be self contained and super cozy while camping!
You can choose from a permanent bed model or a sofa bed model. Each model has a convertible dinette, kitchen, and toilet.
2. Aliner LXE
- Length: 15’
- GVWR: 3,000 lbs
- Price: Starting around $27,000
- Winter Camping Features: furnace, hard-sided insulated walls, dual propane tanks, optional hard dormers and extreme off road package
I honestly can’t say enough good things about the A-frame pop up campers. These campers are great for year round camping in any location. The LXE model has a convertible sofa bed, a shower and cassette toilet, a kitchen, table, and plenty of storage.
This camper is compact but it has everything you need to stay warm and cozy at the campsite.
Related: 70+ Must-Have Pop Up Camper Accessories for the Campsite, Towing, and More
3. TrailManor 3124KB
- Length: 24’ Closed
- GVWR: 4,735 lbs
- Price: Starting around $30,000
- Winter Camping Features: hard-sided insulated walls, 3-burner stove with oven, 20K BTU furnace, water heater, two propane tanks, full bathroom
Trailmanor campers are awesome hard-sided pop up campers that you can set up in under 5 minutes with one hand. When set up, these campers have an insane amount of interior space, including a full bathroom!
The 3124KB model has a king sized bed, a convertible dinette, and a double bed. This is a perfect pop up camper in the winter for the whole family.
4. TrailManor 2720QB
- Length: 20’ Closed
- GVWR: 4,293 lbs
- Price: Starting around $32,000
- Winter Camping Features: hard-sided insulated walls, 3-burner stove with oven, 20K BTU furnace, water heater, two propane tanks, full bathroom
Another great option from TrailManor, the 2720KB is just like the previous camper, but it has a queen bed instead of a king bed.
This camper is also about 4 feet shorter at just 20’ long when closed, 24; 4” when open. Another great option for a family!
5. Chalet LTW
- Length: 12’ 9”
- GVWR: 2,000 lbs
- Price: n/a
- Winter Camping Features: hard-sided insulated walls, two burner stove, insulated composite walls, roof, and floor, 16kBTU furnace, single propane tank, water heater option
Chalet makes A-frame campers that are perfect for pop up camping in the winter. The Chalet LTW is their smallest offering but it’s big on amenities!
The walls, floor, and roof are made of insulated composite material, there’s an on-board furnace, and even the baggage compartment is insulated. This model has a dinette that converts into a bed for seating during the day and sleeping at night. Best for solo people or couples.
6. Chalet Classic Arrowhead
- Length: 15’ 6”
- GVWR: 3,000 lbs
- Price: n/a
- Winter Camping Features: hard-sided insulated walls, two burner stove, insulated composite walls, roof, and floor, 16kBTU furnace, dual propane tank, water heater option
The Classic Arrowhead is the most popular Chalet model on the market today. This camper is great for couples or small families with a gaucho couch bed in the rear of the camper and a convertible dinette in the front. There is ample storage for all your cold weather camping gear, a fridge, sink, and stove, and much more.
7. Chalet XL
- Length: 18’ 7”
- GVWR: 3,500 lbs
- Price: n/a
- Winter Camping Features: hard-sided insulated walls, two burner stove, insulated composite walls, roof, and floor, 16kBTU furnace, dual propane tank, water heater option
The Chalet XL is the largest Chalet camper and it comes in 3 different floor plans. You can choose to have a bunk in front, a front kitchen, or a front dinette. Personally, I’d go with the front kitchen, but that’s just me!
If you want a large A-frame camper that's great for winter camping, the Chalet XL is a great option. Chalet rivals Aliner in design, and I think they both have great things to offer.
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Best Pop Up Tent Campers for Winter Camping
At first, I wasn’t going to include pop up tent campers for winter camping. It can just be really hard to stay warm and comfortable in a camper made mostly out of canvas.
But, after a lot of thinking and considering, I realized I would be foolish to leave out pop up tent campers.
First of all, these are arguably the most popular and affordable campers on the market. Second, sleeping in and waking up in a tent really just hits different! You have the sounds of the outdoors all around you and it’s an amazing experience.
If you want to feel like you’re camping but still have creature comforts, there’s nothing better than a tent camper. Here are the best pop up tent campers for winter camping.
8. Rockwood HW277
- Length: 19’ 6”
- GVWR: 3,880 lbs
- Price: Starting around $25,000
- Winter Camping Features: hot water package, dual propane bottles, heated bunk end mattresses, 20kBTU furnace, CO2 detector
The Rockwood Tent High Wall series makes a great pop up tent trailer for winter camping.
These campers might be canvas walled, but they’ve got plenty of features to keep you cozy and warm. From heated bunk end mattresses to a powerful 20kBTU furnace, you’ll stay comfy and cozy in winter temps with this pop up camper.
Learn more about the entire lineup of Rockwood pop up campers in this post.
9. Rockwood Freedom 2514F
- Length: 19’ 1”
- GVWR: 3,295 lbs
- Price: Starting around $18,000
- Winter Camping Features: hot water package, dual propane bottles, heated bunk end mattresses, 20kBTU furnace, CO2 detector
This particular Rockwood Freedom pop up camper model is great for winter camping not only because of the furnace and heated bunks, but it has a bathroom.
Aside from the High-Wall series, this Freedom model is the only other Rockwood Pop Up still in production that has a bathroom. And i don’t know about you, but I think that’s super important!
This is a great winter pop up camper for a family with a convertible dinette and two bunk end beds with plenty of storage throughout.
10. Flagstaff HW29SC
- Length: 21’ 6”
- GVWR: 4,999 lbs
- Price: Starting around $26,000
- Cold Weather Features: hot water package, heated bunk end mattresses, bathroom, dual propane tanks, 20kBTU furnace, CO2 detector
The Flagstaff Pop Up HW29SC is the ultimate pop up camper for winter camping if you want a soft sided camper. This camper is loaded! It has two bunk end beds, a sofa with a table, a u-shaped convertible dinette, a stove, microwave, fridge, pantry, sink, bathroom, and even an exterior griddle and awning.
This is one of the heaviest pop up campers around with one of the largest cargo carrying capacities I’ve ever seen! This camper can carry a full 1,200 pounds of cargo, that’s a lot for such a small camper!
11. Coachmen Clipper 1285SST
- Length: 21’ 6”
- GVWR: 4,999 lbs
- Price: $27,512
- Winter Camping Features: heated mattresses, insulated bunk ends, water heater, 20kBTU furnace, optional add-a-room upgrade
The Coachmen Clipper classic pop up camper is a great option for a winter weather camper. This camper has a gaucho couch, a convertible dinette, and two insulated bunk end beds in a queen and king size.
There’s plenty of interior space for hanging out, lots of storage, and lots of amenities to keep you nice and cozy in this pop up camper in the winter!
How Do You Insulate a Pop Up Camper?
Image from Pop Up Gizmos
There are different methods for insulating a pop up camper depending on the type of camper you have. You can use tarps, Pop Up Gizmos, Reflectix, foam board insulation, and more.
For a-frame and other hard side pop up campers, you can insulate with pool noodle strips in any large seams and reflectix on windows. Since these campers are hard-sided, they already have more insulation and heat retaining ability than pop up tent trailers do.
When you’re camping in a pop up tent camper in the winter, it’s a bit harder to insulate, but you can definitely do it!
Keep all your windows zipped tightly shut. Use a tarp over your bunk ends or a product like Pop Up Gizmos to retain as much heat as possible. Pop Up Gizmos makes interior and exterior pop up camper insulation products to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Additionally, you can place foam board insulation under the bunk end mattresses, too.
How Do You Keep a Pop Up Camper Warm in Winter?
Keeping warm in a pop up camper requires a combination of layering clothes, a heater, and insulation.
Many pop up campers come with a furnace, but some don’t. If your pop up doesn’t have a furnace and you want to take it out in the winter, you will need to be prepared with a heat source!
While many campers love heated blankets and heated mattress covers, you can also bring along a space heater to help keep the air inside your camper warm.
A popular choice for pop up camper heaters is the Mr Heater Buddy propane heater but be warned: you shouldn’t operate this heater when you’re sleeping.
You can bring along an electric space heater instead, but you will need to plug in directly to the power pedestal. Make sure you have a heavy duty and large gauge extension cord for your space heater to prevent melting and fires.
Related: Learn How to Level a Pop Up Camper the Right Way
Do Pop Up Campers Need to Be Winterized?
Yes, pop up campers need to be winterized. Whether you have a plumbing system or not, there are steps to take to winterize your pop up camper, like removing the batteries and protecting it from the elements.
If your pop up camper has a water system or toilet, you will need to take the appropriate winterizing steps to be sure your entire camper is protected during freezing temperatures.
Other Tips for Staying Warm in a Pop Up in the Winter
Staying warm in a pop up camper can be tricky, but it’s so worth it! Camping is so much fun, don’t let a little winter weather get in your way.
Layer Up
Pack layers and wear layers all the time. Make sure you pack enough layers to have plenty of clean clothes and in case some get dirty or wet. Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm!
Lots of Blankets
Bring along lots of cozy warm blankets for your pop up camper. This seems like an obvious tip, but it’s worth saying. It’s a great idea to invest in sub zero sleeping bags to keep you extra warm and cozy while you sleep!
Prepare Warm Meals and Drinks
There’s nothing better in cold weather than a hot meal, hot soup, or a hot drink.
Hot Water Bottles Will Keep You Cozy
Before you go to bed at night, fill up a hot water bottle with hot water and stuff it in your sleeping bag to help you warm up.
I’ve seen people doing a similar method with a cast iron pan by heating it up and putting it into their bed area. If you choose this method, be extremely careful not to burn yourself!
Sleep With Your Clothes
Keep your clean clothes for the next day warm by sleeping with them in your bed or sleeping bag. Not only will they help keep you warm overnight, in the morning you won’t have to put cold clothes on. It’s a win-win!
What To Look For In the Best Pop Up Camper For Winter Camping
If you're shopping around for a pop up camper to use in the wintertime, here are some key items to look for.
- Furnace: Pop up campers with a furnace will automatically be a great contender for winter camping. Bonus if it comes with dual propane tanks instead of single!
- Water Heater: An onboard water heater makes a world of difference when camping in the winter.
- Insulation: Hard walled pop up campers have more insulation than canvas walled pop up tents. But, you can still find canvas walled pop up tents with more insulation than others.
- Heated Mattresses: You might not think you need heated mattresses, but you will be so glad to have them!
- Kitchen and Bathroom: Weather in the winter is a little unpredictable. It's best to be able to be fully self sustaining inside your camper in case the weather keeps you cooped up.
Is Using a Pop Up Camper in the Winter Worth It?
Camping in the winter is magical. It’s quieter, less busy, and you can see out for miles and miles when the leaves are off.
If you love camping, don’t let a little winter weather stop you! Just make sure you’re prepared and soon enough you’ll grow to love winter camping.
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Carrie Wilder
Carrie has a passion for location independence and nomadic lifestyles. After traveling full-time in an RV and living the van life, she created Making Money and Traveling to help others make the switch to a remote lifestyle. Learn more about Carrie on the About page or connect on social media below.Â
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