We had the opportunity to explore a new region of the Canadian Rockies we’ve wanted to visit for a while with one of Roadsurfer’s campervans. We’re excited to share our experience in our complete, detailed, and honest Roadsurfer review.
Roadsurfer is a popular campervan rental company, especially in Europe, that is known for making road trips fun, easy, and comfortable. Their mission is simple: to help travelers explore the world with a sense of freedom and adventure.
Originally based in Europe, Roadsurfer expanded to Canada in the summer of 2024, with Calgary and Vancouver as one of their first Canadian locations. This new offering opens up incredible possibilities for those looking to experience Western Canada’s vast landscapes and natural beauty by campervan.
💡 Our experience is based on the Family Freedom RV Class C campervan model. It was ideal for our family’s needs and the weather. Also, it’s important to note that Roadsurfer’s Canadian locations are seasonal – their Calgary station is open from May 1st to October 31st. So, plan accordingly if you’re thinking about a fall or spring trip.
Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this article was written in collaboration with Roadsurfer, who invited us on a fall campervan trip in the Canadian Rockies. Note that all opinions and words are our own. Also, this free article contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you.
Roadsurfer’s Fleet Overview
Roadsurfer is known for its wide range of campervans that suit different travelers. Each campervan is compact, easy to drive, and well-equipped with essential features. Their fleet is also eco-friendly, with some models tailored for more sustainable travel.
- Liberty Lodge Winnebagos/Thor: sleeps and seats 4 people (including 2 children)
- Family Freedom Thor Four Winds 22E: sleeps and seats 5 people (including 3 children)
- Couple Condo Winnebagos/Thor: sleeps 2 and seats 2 people (not suitable for children)
🚐 🚐 Planning a campervan trip to the Canadian Rockies? Use the code EMILIE24 to get $125 off your Roadsurfer rental until November 11th, 2024.
The Family Freedom RV
The Family Freedom model we rented is one of Roadsurfer’s Class C RVs, perfect for families who need more space without sacrificing ease of use. It’s a larger vehicle that is still compact enough for comfortable driving, even if you’re new to RVs.
Here are a few key features of the Family Freedom campervan:
Size and Layout
This model is designed for up to five people. It has two double beds, a small kitchen, a dining room (which converts into another bed if needed), and a full bathroom. The two main beds are permanent, so we didn’t need to set them up every night—which was a huge bonus after our trip with Happy Campers in Iceland!
Kitchen and Amenities
The kitchen has a three-burner stove, a sink, and a large fridge. It’s easy to cook basic meals, and there’s enough storage for groceries and utensils. But the cooking kit provided is pretty limited.
There’s also a built-in toilet and shower, although we didn’t need the shower.
Storage and Extras
There’s plenty of storage, which was essential for kids, and all the gear that comes with them. We even had room to bring along their bikes, which we could easily store outside. The campervan has a propane heater, which kept us comfortable on the cooler nights—it was very efficient.
🚐 🚐 Planning a campervan trip to the Canadian Rockies? Use the code EMILIE24 to get $125 off your Roadsurfer rental until November 11th, 2024.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Campervan in Calgary from Roadsurfer?
Renting a campervan from Roadsurfer in Calgary offers flexibility in pricing depending on the time of year and the specific model you choose. But it’s not a cheap option (though visiting the Canadian Rockies is never really cheap).
Here’s a breakdown of the costs you can expect:
Daily Rental Fees
Roadsurfer’s daily rental fees in Calgary range from $149 to $349. Prices vary based on the season, with August being the most expensive month due to peak demand. If you want to save, consider planning your trip during spring or early fall, when prices are typically lower.
The good and unique thing about Roadsurfer is that they always offer unlimited kilometers, so there are no extra charges.
Additional Fees
Alongside the daily rental fee, Roadsurfer charges a flat service fee of $219 for each booking. This fee covers essentials like preparing the campervan, cleaning, and maintenance before you hit the road.
If you plan to pick up the campervan in Calgary and drop it off in Vancouver, the one-way fee is $439. This option is convenient for exploring a broader area without returning to Calgary.
Insurance Options
Roadsurfer offers three insurance levels to suit different needs and budgets:
- Basic Insurance (included at no extra cost): This is the standard option that comes with the rental, but it includes a higher deductible.
- Extended Insurance ($22 per night): Offers more coverage with a lower deductible, providing extra peace of mind.
- Premium Insurance ($43 per night) is the highest level of coverage, with no deductible and the most comprehensive protection.
Before selecting an insurance option, check with your car insurance provider to see if they cover RV rentals. In some cases, your existing policy may already provide the coverage you need, which can help you save on the overall cost.
The last time I called my insurance, they mentioned they did cover car rentals but not RV rentals or Turo.
How Much Did We Pay for Our 5-Day Fall Rental?
For our 5-day, 4-night rental with the premium insurance package, it would have cost us $987 (or $815 with the basic option). We are grateful to have been hosted by Roadsurfer for this fun fall road trip.
🚐 🚐 Planning a campervan trip to the Canadian Rockies? Use the code EMILIE24 to get $125 off your Roadsurfer rental until November 11th, 2024.
First Impressions of the Campervan
Picking up the campervan at Roadsurfer’s Calgary location was smooth. The station is in southwest Calgary, a bit off the beaten path if you’re coming from the airport.
Since there is no shuttle service or direct public transportation from YYC, your best option will probably be to take a taxi, which costs about $70. Remember this when budgeting for your trip, as Calgary’s transit options aren’t super convenient.
Since we are locals, we drove our car (you can leave it in the Roadsurfer parking lot, but we decided to drive it back home to be safe).
The pickup area is a simple parking lot with a small sea can office, so it initially felt bare-bones. But once we met the staff, we were reassured. The staff member who assisted us was friendly and walked us through the campervan’s details. We should have asked the guy his name.
We appreciated the detailed explanations on everything – from setting up the bed to using the propane heater and managing the bathroom facilities.
We were even able to tour their other campervan models.
A few days before our trip, Roadsurfer sent us a detailed online guide. This guide walked us through each step-by-step feature of the campervan, which made the orientation at pickup faster and easier. However, it felt overwhelming. After doing the tour with the staff, it turned out it wasn’t complicated and we stressed for no reason.
👉 All in all, while the Calgary location might not have all the frills, Roadsurfer makes up for it with excellent customer service and thorough instructions. When we hit the road, we felt confidently ready to start our fall Canadian Rockies road trip!
On-the-Road Experience With Roadsurfer RV Rental
Once we hit the road in the Family Freedom campervan, we were pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to drive. Despite being a larger vehicle, it handled more smoothly than expected, even on the winding mountain roads.
Fuel Efficiency
One thing to keep in mind with this model is the fuel efficiency. The Family Freedom campervan uses about 22.9 liters per 100 km, which isn’t exactly ideal compared to other models like their Winnebago models (which average around 14.5 liters per 100 km).
That said, we found it a fair trade-off for the space and amenities it offered, especially with a family on board.
Comfort
The campervan exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort. It has a ton of storage space, which meant we could pack everything we needed in overhead cupboard space—and still have room for the kids’ bikes (and it’s a good thing we brought them because the Crazy Creek Resort had a pump track!)
The seats were comfortable for long drives, and the layout of the amenities made everything accessible while on the road. For instance, having a fridge and a small kitchen area was a bonus for quick snack breaks without finding a picnic table or a restaurant. We could simply stop in a rest area or parking lot.
Setting up the Roadsurfer RV
Setting up the Family Freedom campervan at each campsite was quicker and easier than expected. The whole process – from plugging into electricity to handling the water tank – took about 10 minutes at most.
We loved the simplicity of the “plug and play” design. It made setting up and packing at each stop a breeze so we could focus on enjoying our surroundings instead of dealing with complicated setups.
Living in the Family Freedom Campervan in the Fall
The campervan’s amenities really made a difference in our fall camping experience. The bed setup was a highlight, as the beds were already in place. We didn’t have to worry about setting them up each night.
This was especially great when we were tired from a full day of exploring and wanted to settle quickly.
And we didn’t have to change the seating in the dining area, which was also amazing.
The kitchen area, though small and minimally stocked, was functional. It had a three-burner stove, an almost full-size fridge, and enough counter space for basic meal prep. Cooking in the campervan was straightforward, and we enjoyed having the option to prepare hot meals even when we were deep in the mountains.
There was plenty of storage space—storage everywhere. We were gone just for four nights, but there were five of us and we had to pack for all seasons (welcome to the Canadian Rockies in the fall), and we could have packed a lot more.
Weather and Convenience
We also encountered some colder weather, but the van’s propane heater kept us warm and comfortable during those chilly nights. The heater was low-consumption, making it practical for off-season travel.
It was a bit loud when it was running overnight, but having a small USB fan helped to balance out the noise.
It felt great to know we could handle below-freezing temperatures with no issues, and the battery-powered lights and fridge kept us fully functional even while dry camping at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Challenges and Considerations
While the Family Freedom campervan was mostly convenient, we encountered a few challenges, especially with young kids (and their car seats). The van’s seatbelt setup is a lap-only belt, which isn’t ideal for car seat safety (compared to Class B RV models).
There are tether anchors available in forward-facing vehicle seats. We recommend double-checking with your car seat manufacturer to ensure it can be installed with a lap-only belt.
Otherwise, it’s best to wait for the oldest kids to be older or to rent the Roadsurfer Liberty Lodge (which has regular vehicle seats).
For those considering traveling with young kids, it’s worth doing a little extra research to ensure the setup will work for your needs (here’s a helpful resource: Safe Ride 4 Kids).
Pros and Cons of Roadsurfer RV Rental
After spending 4 days and 4-nights in the Family Freedom campervan, we got a pretty good sense of its strengths and where it could improve. Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons based on our experience:
| PROS ✨✨ | CONS ❌❌ |
| Brand New Campervans Roadsurfer’s fleet is modern and clean. The campervan felt fresh, well-maintained, and ready for our adventure. Summer 2024 was their first season operating in Calgary and Vancouver. | Not Ideal for Young Kids (Family Freedom) The lap-only seatbelt setup isn’t the safest for young children. We managed with our car seats, but it’s something to consider if you travel with little ones. Do your research and use your judgment here. |
| Easy to Drive and Set Up As two moms traveling with three kids under eight, we found the Family Freedom model surprisingly easy to drive and set up, even as first-timers with a Class C campervan. The quick setup process allowed us more time to enjoy our stops. | Lower Fuel Efficiency The Family Freedom campervan averaged around 22.9 liters per 100 kilometers, which isn’t very fuel-efficient, especially compared to other RV models like the Roaddsurfer’s Winnebago models. Be prepared for higher fuel costs. We did just over 1000 kilometers and it cost us $400 CAD total (we filled up at Costco before dropping the camper back to Roadsurfer, which saved a good chunk of change). |
| Plenty of Storage Space The van offers tons of storage space, which is ideal for family travel. We spent an entire rainy morning inside, and it didn’t feel cramped. There was room for everything—even the kids’ bikes fit in the outside storage compartment! | Limited Customer Service Roadsurfer doesn’t have a phone number for customer support. If you have any questions or need assistance, you must rely on email or website resources, which is a bit annoying if you need immediate assistance. We didn’t run into any issues during our trip, so we don’t know how the process is in case of a problem. |
| Toilet and Shower Onboard Having a toilet was a huge convenience, especially for those middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. While we didn’t use the shower, knowing it was there if we needed it was nice. | Seasonal Availability The Calgary station is only open from May to October, so if you’re planning a winter trip, you’ll have to explore other options. |
| Low-Consumption Propane Heater This feature was a lifesaver on our coldest night when the temperature dropped below freezing. We kept the heater running all night and barely made a dent in our propane tank. Refilling it was inexpensive, too—just $1.86 (this included cooking meals, too!) | Basic Kitchen Supplies The kitchen gear is limited, so you should bring a few extras. The campervan came with basic pots and pans, but we would have appreciated it if they included a dish rag, garbage bags, and a larger pan for cooking. Check out our suggested packing list below for ideas on what to bring along. |
| Great Autonomy With battery-powered lights, a fridge, and a gas stove and heater, we had all the essentials. We even spent a night dry camping at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. | |
| Unlimited kilometers Unlimited kilometers are included with the rental. This feature is fantastic for those planning longer road trips, as you don’t have to worry about racking up extra fees for going the distance. |
Overall, Roadsurfer offers a solid campervan rental experience with several perks for family travelers. While a few areas could be improved, the pros far outweigh the cons. With a little planning, Roadsurfer’s Family Freedom campervan can be a comfortable and convenient RV rental option for exploring Western Canada!
🚐 🚐 Planning a campervan trip to the Canadian Rockies? Use the code EMILIE24 to get $125 off your Roadsurfer rental until November 11th, 2024.
Fall Campervan Road Trip Packing List with Roadsurfer
Fall is a beautiful time to explore the Canadian Rockies, but the weather can be unpredictable, so it’s essential to pack wisely. Here’s a list of items that will help make your campervan trip more comfortable and enjoyable:
Clothing
- Layers: The temperature can vary significantly, so pack layers that you can easily add or remove. Consider items like long-sleeve shirts, fleece jackets, and lightweight sweaters.
- Warm Jacket: A waterproof, insulated jacket is a must for staying warm and dry on chilly mornings and brisk evenings.
- Thermal Underwear: Great for those extra cold nights and early mornings.
- Hat, Gloves, and Scarf: Temperatures can dip, especially at higher elevations, so having some winter accessories will keep you warm.
- Comfortable Hiking Boots: Waterproof, sturdy boots are ideal for exploring trails and dealing with wet or muddy conditions.
- Wool Socks: A few pairs of warm, moisture-wicking socks will make all the difference in keeping your feet warm and dry.
Camping Essentials (in addition to what is already provided by Roadsurfer)
- Blankets: Extra blankets add both warmth and comfort. Fleece or wool blankets are lightweight and cozy.
- Headlamp or Flashlight: Handy for navigating around the campsite at night.
- Rubber Gloves for the dump station while handling the hose for black & grey water disposal.
Kitchen and Cooking Supplies (in addition to what is already provided by Roadsurfer)
- Extra Pots, Pans, and Utensils: Roadsurfer’s kitchen setup includes basic supplies, but it’s helpful to bring a larger pan and a few extra utensils if you plan to cook a lot.
- Sponge, Dish Towels and Paper towel: Basic cleaning items will make it easier to clean up after meals. Keep in mind that your towels might not dry if you camp in colder months, so a few extras will be handy.
- Reusable Containers and Ziplock Bags: Perfect for storing leftovers or packing snacks for hikes.
- Thermos or Insulated Water Bottle: Keeps hot drinks warm and cold drinks cool, perfect for sipping coffee on a morning hike.
- Lighter and fire starter
- Salt, pepper & oil
- Garbage bags
- Electric Water kettle (deluxe 😉) to save propane or a bigger pot from boiling water
Personal Items
- Refillable Water Bottles: Stay hydrated, especially on hikes. It’s also eco-friendly to refill along the way.
- Toiletries, extra toilet paper and Towels: Quick-dry towels are ideal for campervan trips. Also, bring your preferred toiletries, as campervan facilities are minimal.
- Sunscreen and Lip Balm: Even in cooler weather, the sun can be strong, especially at higher altitudes.
- First Aid Kit: A small kit with essentials like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any personal medications.
- Insect Repellent: Bugs aren’t as prevalent in the fall, but it’s always good to have some on hand.
Electronics and Gear
- Camera: Fall colors in the Rockies are spectacular, so bring a good camera if you want to capture the scenery.
- Binoculars: Perfect for spotting wildlife or taking in the expansive views.
Extras
- Board Games or Card Games: Great for entertainment inside the campervan, especially if the weather takes a turn.
- Notebook or Travel Journal: Capture memories, jot down highlights, and track your adventure.
- Daypack: A lightweight backpack is essential for hiking and day trips, allowing you to carry water, snacks, and extra layers.
Packing for a fall trip in the Canadian Rockies means being prepared for cooler weather and having the essentials for both outdoor and campervan comfort. With the right gear, you’ll be able to enjoy everything this beautiful season has to offer!
Why Choose Roadsurfer for a Canadian Rockies RV Trip?
Overall, our experience with Roadsurfer in Canada was positive, and we’d definitely consider renting from them again for future trips. The Family Freedom campervan was comfortable, easy to use, and well-equipped for our family road trip.
Roadsurfer is an excellent choice for families exploring Canada at their own pace. Their campervans are designed for convenience and comfort, with features that make road trips both enjoyable and manageable. Built-in amenities like the propane heater, spacious storage, and compact kitchen are perfect for those who want to enjoy nature without sacrificing basic comforts.
🚐 🚐 Planning a campervan trip to the Canadian Rockies? Use the code EMILIE24 to get $125 off your Roadsurfer rental until November 11th, 2024.
For those considering a Canadian road trip, my main tips would be to:
- Plan your route and book campsites in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.
- Pack a few extra kitchen essentials and personal items to make the campervan even more comfortable.
- Review seatbelt setups and safety features if you’re traveling with young kids, as this might affect your campervan choice.
If you’re curious about trying out a Roadsurfer campervan, I encourage you to visit their website or follow their social media channels to learn more about their fleet and services. Roadsurfer offers a unique way to explore Canada, and it’s a great option for those seeking flexibility, adventure, and a touch of comfort on the road.
If you have any questions about our experience or are interested in learning more about campervan travel in Canada, feel free to drop a comment! We’d happily share more insights and tips with anyone considering a similar adventure.
