11 Best Pop Up Camper Air Conditioners to Beat the Heat!

Camping season is here and with it comes longer days, starry nights, campfires, and in some regions: extreme heat. Yuck! The dog days of summer can really suck the fun out of camping, especially if you don’t have an AC. Pop up campers don’t always come with them, so we decided to put together a list of 11 of the best pop up camper air conditioners to help you beat the summer heat!

In this article, we cover:

• The 11 best pop up camper air conditioners
• What BTU rating is and how to use it to pick the right AC
• Pros and cons of the different AC types you can use in a pop up camper
• A pop up camper air conditioner buyer’s guide to help you make the right choice

And more!

There’s nothing better than camping season, and no camper gets you closer to nature than a pop up camper… But without air conditioning, it can be really uncomfortable – especially if you live in the southern US like we do!

Without further ado, let’s get into it. You can click through the table of contents to jump to the section you want to learn about the most!

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11 Best Pop Up Camper Air Conditioners

Types of Pop Up Camper ACs w/Pros and Cons

Before we get started, let’s talk about the different types of air conditioners you can put in a pop up camper.

Some pop up campers come with air conditioning, but the majority of them come without it. This is a feature that is an optional upgrade from the factory, but it’s pretty common to not have a built-in AC in your pop up camper.

There are 3 main types of air conditioners you can put in a pop up camper: portable AC units, rooftop RV air conditioners, and window AC units.

Editor’s Note: we strongly believe portable RV air conditioners are the best for pop up campers in every way, so the 11 AC units on this list are all portable units.

Rooftop RV Air Conditioners for Pop Up Campers: Price, Pros & Cons

Rooftop RV air conditioners are the standard AC units you see on most larger RVs and camper trailers. These AC units are incredibly effective. However, if your pop up camper didn’t come with a rooftop AC, it’s a pretty detailed installation process.

Window Unit Air Conditioner in a Pop Up Camper: Price, Pros and Cons

Campers are creative, and we’ve seen many creative pop up campers using window units to cool down the inside of their campers!

Window units are usually the least expensive of the air conditioner types, and they’re pretty efficient too. But the do require a bit of extra work when putting them in a pop up camper, because they need a rigid wall or window to mount properly.

Portable Air Conditioner in a Pop Up Camper: Price, Pros and Cons

Last but not least, portable RV air conditioners have plenty of benefits. They’re portable, they’re not super expensive, and they work really, really well.

They do take up a bit of space in the camper, but since they’re on wheels you can move them pretty much anywhere you want them.

Do Air Conditioners Really Work in Pop Up Campers?

While it might seem surprising since they’re made out of canvas, yes, air conditioners really do work in pop up campers. They aren’t insulated and so once you turn it off, the cool air may not linger for as long, but an air conditioner will definitely cool it down and keep it much more comfortable than the heat outdoors.

BTU Rating & What It Means

Before we get started on the in-depth analysis of each air conditioner we’re featuring here, it’s important to understand what BTU means. BTU stands for “British Thermal Units” and this number is a reference to the actual cooling capacity of the air conditioner. 

Pop up camper portable AC units that have a lower BTU number will have a lower cooling capacity, and those with a higher number are able to cool a larger space. 

If you have a larger pop up camper, you’ll want to look for an air conditioner with a higher BTU. 

It’s important to keep in mind that a pop up camper isn’t insulated, so you may need a higher BTU air conditioner than you would buy for a house or insulated camper. 

HVAC professionals advise to look for an air conditioner with around 20 BTU per square foot of space in an insulated room. Since pop up campers aren’t insulated, you may want to go above that number if you want your camper to stay nice and cool.

Best Pop Up Camper Air Conditioner In-Depth Analysis

1. Black + Decker BPACT08WT – 8,000 BTU

The Black + Decker portable air conditioners are some of the most popular AC units with RVers. These air conditioners are durable and efficient and the brand is known for quality. 

This 8,000 BTU AC can cool up to 150 square feet, or a space that’s about 15’ by 20’: perfect for smaller pop up campers. It comes with a remote for turning it on and off from bed!

It has multiple fan speed settings and 3 energy efficient functions: cool, fan, and dehumidifier. 

Lastly, this AC unit is self-evaporating, meaning you don’t have to dump the water from the dehumidifer. 

2. Frigidaire FHCP082AC1 8,000 BTU

The Frigidaire 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner is a great choice for pop up campers. One reason we love this AC unit so much is the square shape: most portable air conditioners are rectangular in shape… But this unit only takes up about 1 square foot of space on the floor, which is great for a small space like a pop up camper.

This air conditioner doesn’t have a self-evaporate option for dumping the water, but you can run a drain hose to the outside of your camper so you don’t have to manually dump it. Otherwise, you can expect to dump the water every few hours or a couple of times a day depending on how humid it is.

3. Black + Decker BPACT10WT – 10,000 BTU

If you want the Black + Decker quality but the 8,000 BTU isn’t enough power for you, the BPACT10WT has more oomph at 10,000 BTU. This is one of the best pop up camper air conditioners for pop ups of all sizes. 

It has plenty of power to keep your camper cool no matter how hot it gets. 

This particular AC unit is rated for spaces up to 250 square feet, which makes it a great choice for almost any pop up on the market today. 

It comes with everything you’d want in a portable AC: multiple fan speeds, cool, dehumidify, and fan settings, and it has a remote control. Oh, and it’s self-evaporating too. 

4. LG LP0621WSR – 8,000 BTU

This LG portable air conditioner is rated at 8,000 BTU and will effectively cool a space up to 250 square feet – or spaces that are around 10’ by 25’. 

What we love the most about this option is the automatic oscillating air vent: this portable air conditioner automatically moves the air vent to evenly distribute cold air. Similar to an oscillating fan, it won’t constantly blow air in one spot, which is really helpful for circulation in a pop up camper. 

It has multiple fan speeds and 3-in-1 operation: cool, fan, and dehumidify. 

This particular model isn’t self-evaporating, but it does have a spot to hook up a drain hose that you can run outside your camper for easy draining.

5. LG LP0721WSR – 10,000 BTU

If the 8,000 BTU unit won’t do it for ya, the LG 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner is a great choice for pop up campers.

This model has all the great features that the 8k BTU model does, but it cools a larger area. This AC unit is great for mid-size to large pop up campers.

The LG 10,000 BTU unit can effectively cool spaces up to 350 square feet. 

It has an awesome automatic oscillating air vent that blows the cool air all around instead of in one spot, remote control, 3 modes, and multiple fan speeds, too. 

6. Honeywell MO08CESWK6 – 9,100 BTU

The Honeywell 9,100 BTU portable air conditioner can effortlessly cool down spaces up to 400 square feet. So, it will have no problem cooling a pop up camper of any size – this thing can handle a lot. 

This model has auto-evaporation so no worrying about dumping water buckets unless you’re in an area of high humidity. And if so, it’s got a drain hookup for continuous draining – no worrying about doing it manually.

The built-in dehumidifier can remove up to 44 pints of water every 24 hours, which means your pop up camper will stay nice and cool. 

This AC has multiple fan speeds, a remote control, and 3-in-1 cooling, dehumidifying, and fan modes.

7. Costway FB10120US-GR AC – 10,000 BTU

The Costway portable air conditioning unit is another great option for pop up campers. This is another square unit – which is great for campers that have a small little square nook. 

This AC unit comes in 3 color choices, too: blue, gray, and white. 

This particular model can easily cool spaces up to 350 square feet, making it a good choice for most pop up campers. 

It has a 24 hour timer and a sleep mode where it operates at a lower decibel for easier sleeping. 

This model comes with a remote control and has 3 modes: cool, dry, and fan – plus adjustable fan speeds.

8. SereneLife SLACHT108 – 10,000 BTU (Portable A/C And Heater All in One)

The SereneLife 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner has 4 modes: cooling, dehumidifying, fan, AND heating! 

That’s right – you can use it in cooler weather with the built-in 9,000 BTU heater.

It has a digital touch button control panel and also comes with a remote control. 

This portable air conditioner removes around 1.5 liters of water vapor from the air per hour, and you can set it up to automatically drain out from your camper by hooking up a drain hose to the back.

9. TOSOT 8,000 BTU

The TOSOT portable 8,000 BTU A/C unit is a great option for pop up campers that don’t have a lot of space. This compact air conditioner is 11.8 inches wide and 15.4 inches deep, so it doesn’t take up a ton of floor real estate.

Although it’s compact, it can effectively cool a space of up to 300 square feet. 

Like most other ACs on this list, it can do 3 things: cool, dehumidify, and circulate air with the fan. 

10. Zafro 8,000 BTU

If you like square portable air conditioners, the ZAFRO brand shouldn’t be overlooked. This compact portable air conditioner has an even smaller footprint than the last: this one is 11” deep and 13” wide – just over one square foot. 

This AC provides fast and effective cooling for rooms up to 200 square feet and has a 24 hour adjustable timer to set the ideal temp for your camper.

11. Waykar 10,000 BTU

The Waykar 10,000 BTU air-con is sleek and square – and we’ve established that’s a great shape for using in your pop up camper.

This AC looks great and works great – it cools spaces up to 300 square feet with ease, so it’ll work in almost any sized pop up camper. 

It comes with the 3 standard modes for fan, cooling, and dehumidifying, and it also has an option for oscillating vents. 

For 10,000 BTU, this AC comes at a budget price. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t pass this one up! The only downsides we see with this budget model: no remote control and manual emptying.

Benefits of Having an Air Conditioner in Your Pop Up Camper

If you’re here and still reading this article, I’m willing to bet you’re already sure of the benefits of having an air conditioner in your pop up camper. Personally, I wouldn’t go camping without one (at least not in the summer)! Here are the top benefits:

• Better Sleep: I don’t know many people who can get a good night’s sleep when it’s sweltering hot. We live in the southern US and summers down here are brutal! An air conditioner in your camper can help you get a good night’s sleep and be well rested for the next day’s adventures.
• Camp More Places, More Often: With an air conditioner in your pop up camper, you have the ability to travel farther and camp more often. If you’re in the southern US like we are, you know that camping during the middle of the summer can be hazardous to your health due to the heat… But if you have an air conditioner, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re free to travel to hotter climates with your trusty pop up camper AC.
• Dehumidification: portable air conditioners (really any type of AC) have a built-in dehumidifier. When running on AC mode, it automatically pulls humidity out of the air, but it also has a dehumidifying mode. This is great in all seasons, but in the summer it helps it feel much cooler inside your camper. No sticky humidity = happier campers.

Disadvantages

Of course there are always disadvantages, even to a good thing. Here are some potential drawbacks to keep in mind.

• Space: No matter what type of AC you choose for your pop up camper, you need to be mindful of the space. Portable ACs take up floor space, but roof mounted or window units take up space in the roof and walls, and often require alterations to the camper structure.
• Power Consumption: If you like to camp without hookups, you’ll need to change that if you want to run your AC often. Of course, you can run your air conditioner on a generator, but I don’t think your camp neighbors will be too happy if you do that all night long… Plus it uses a lot of gas!

Pop Up Camper Air Conditioner Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose The Best One For You

It can be difficult to choose the right air conditioner for your pop up camper. Aside from reading personal reviews, how do you know what’s right for you? It can be really hard, especially when all the air conditioners seem the same.

Admittedly, aside from different BTU ratings, most air conditioners do the exact same things. So the main deciding factors for which one is right for you will come down to:

• Price
• Aesthetics
• Sizes/Dimensions
• Features

Price

When it comes to finding the best air conditioner for your pop up camper, your overall budget is the main starting point. How much you can afford will decide what type and what size of air conditioner you can buy.

All the portable air conditioners in this article range in price from around $260 – $400 depending on brand, size, and model.

Generic brands are always going to be cheaper than name brands, and oftentimes they work just as well. So if all you can afford is generic, we say: go for it! If you purchase from Amazon you can always return or exchange it if you end up not liking it… And you can also read reviews first to find out how other buyers like it.

Space

Pop up campers have limited space, so you’ll need to decide where you want to put your air conditioner. If you choose a roof or window unit, you don’t have to worry about this part as much.

But if you go with a portable unit (which we highly recommend), you have two options: rectangle or square. Depending on your floor plan, one style might work better than another. And you can always place it on a counter or bench, as long as you secure it first.

Size and Weight

Most portable air conditioners are similar in size and weight. Keep in mind that you will have to move the portable air conditioner in and out of your camper when you set it up and take it down, and you’ll need space for it in storage, too.

Installation

Installation is one of the biggest factors when considering what type of air conditioner to get. All the air conditioners included on this list are portable and they don’t require any installation. All you have to do for a portable unit is vent it out a window and possibly run a drain tube… But window units and rooftop units are another story. If you don’t want to mess with cutting a hole in your camper, a portable AC unit is the best way to go. Unless you’re replacing your camper air conditioner, in which case it will be pretty straightforward.

Features

Last but not least: features. Almost all portable air conditioners come with a cool mode, a dehumidify mode, and a fan mode.

But some come with other cool features, like:

• Automatic oscillation
• Sleep mode
• Timers
• Heating mode

And more!

Portable AC units can truly be year-round accessories, especially if you get one that has a heating mode, too.

Wrapping Up Best Air Conditioners for Pop Up Campers

To sum it all up: the best air conditioner for a pop up camper is a portable air conditioner (unless you have a rooftop unit installed already!)

They’re not too expensive, they’re energy-efficient, they cool really well, and they don’t take up a ton of space. Plus, there’s no installation required!

And you can’t go wrong with any of the portable air conditioners for pop up campers on this list – just know what BTU rating you want and pick your favorite one based on the features you like the most.

We know that adding an air conditioner to your pop up camper will extend your camping season, help you sleep better, and have a more comfortable overall experience. Stay cool out there and happy camping!