The Short Answer
If your trip is 1-3 nights and you're going to a state park or festival: conversion van. If you're going more than 4 nights, taking 4+ people, or want a real bathroom and kitchen: RV (the Keystone Passport).
That's about 80% of the decision. The rest is detail.
Conversion Van (Explorer)
Sleeps 2 comfortably. Has a built-in bed, blackout curtains, USB charging, a roof vent fan. You get gas mileage close to a regular SUV (~16-17 mpg). It drives like a van — easy to park, fits in normal lots, won't scare you on backroads.
Best for:
- Couples or solo trips
- State park weekends
- Festival camping (Indy 500, Gen Con, music festivals)
- People who want to keep things simple
Limitations: No bathroom, no kitchen, no AC when parked. You're using campground bathrooms and either eating out or doing camp cooking outside.
Keystone Passport RV
Sleeps up to 6. Has a real bathroom (toilet + shower), full kitchen with fridge/stove/microwave, dinette, and sleeping areas. Plug it into 30-amp power at a campground and you've got AC, lights, everything.
Best for:
- Families
- Groups of friends (3-6 people)
- Longer trips (4+ nights)
- Anyone who doesn't want to use campground bathrooms
- Bad weather trips where you'll spend more time inside
Limitations: You need a campsite with hookups. It's bigger to drive (you'll feel it on backroads). Gas mileage is lower (~10-12 mpg). You can't really park it just anywhere.
Cost Difference
The van is cheaper per night. The RV is cheaper per person if you're filling it up. A family of 4 in the RV often works out better than the same family in 2 hotel rooms. A couple in the van is almost always cheaper than a hotel.
Driving Confidence
If you've never driven anything bigger than a minivan: start with the van. The RV is not hard to drive but it's noticeably bigger and you'll feel it the first hour. After that you adjust.
The Trip Decides
Tell us where you're going and how many people, and we'll usually be able to point you to the right one. We're not trying to upsell you to whichever costs more — we'd rather you have a good trip and come back than fight with the wrong vehicle.
