13 Best Portable AC Units for Camper

Nobody likes it when you’re all wet and sweaty from the menacing heat of summer. That’s way too true if you’re an RVer. Being a regular camper driver, you must know how terrible riding a hot, exhausting camper van feels, right? Well, no doubt, parking under a tree to cool down a bit is a good option. But to beat the heat while on the move, the best way is to use a portable AC unit for a camper inside the cabin. That said, the search for the best portable ac for camper travel is a real challenge.

There’s a variety of AC units on the market with several complex functions. Plus, you need to weigh up different brands for the right choice. That makes picking the best portable AC unit for campers much more difficult. But, don’t worry, we are going to make the job fairly easy for you. Below, after thorough research, we’ve put together a roundup where you can find your coolest yet smallest AC unit for campers. Read through the descriptions and note which one of the 13 AC units below matches the performance you’re looking for!

JHS 8,000 BTU Small Portable Air Conditioner

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The JHS 8,000 BTU Small Portable Air Conditioner is a powerful cooling machine that will easily fit in your RV van. This air conditioner contains a fan and a dehumidifier, so you can choose how you’d like to cool your car. The amazing thing about this RV AC unit is its cooling capacity of approximately approx—170sq.ft. Therefore, apart from the RV, you can even put it to use in your home. The AC has a remote control function. That makes it easy for you to control the room temperature from anywhere. Moreover, the AC is portable with easy movement, containing four reliable stainless castors and one strong, steady handle. So, this one might fit the bill in your quest for the best portable AC unit for camper vans.

BLACK+DECKER 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

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This product fits the definition of a perfect portable AC unit just right. The BLACK+DECKER 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a three-in-one AC unit with an effective cooling option and fan and dehumidifier modes. These multiple modes allow you to set the temperature of your room according to your needs. That also helps you ventilate better.

Moving on, the AC is portable and takes little to no effort to install. This portable AC unit for camper travel is suited for RVs and any place around 15′ x 20′. So, if you wish, you can carry it inside your house and use it for household cooling.

LG LP1417GSR 115V Portable Air Conditioner

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This might click with you as the best portable AC unit for camper vans if you’re OK with a second-hand ac. The LG LP1417GSR 115V Portable Air Conditioner is a pre-used air conditioner refurbished to function like its new equivalent. The ac unit has been thoroughly inspected by the Amazon quality control department to make sure it works without a hitch. The ac is portable with automatic evaporation and has a power of 14,000 BTU.

Moreover, considering its extraordinary capacity, the AC can easily cool a room up to 400sq.ft. You might dismiss it as “not cut out for” an RV. But it is, particularly if you want extra cooling in your RV cabin or frequently travel in hot regions. On the other hand, you might also be interested in the best portable car heaters if you often drive around in freezing cold regions!

NEKPOKKA 12V DC air conditioner

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Best Quality. Well, we all hate feeling like a sweaty mess when riding a camper, right? This amazing air conditioning option is all your camper needs to beat the sweat. The NEKPOKKA 12V DC air conditioner is a battery-operated portable AC unit for campers that saves a lot of your fuel costs. The highly economical system makes negligible noise while generating a pleasant, cool atmosphere inside your RV. It can be fitted to the roof of your RV cabin.

The AC unit has a two-in-one feature with both cooling as well as heating facility. Furthermore, the AC unit protects the environment with almost zero pollution. So, with this economical electric AC unit, you get a cool, comfortable ride in your RV while enjoying huge cost savings.

EENOUR QN750 Portable Air Conditioners

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The EENOUR QN750 Portable Air Conditioner comes up to standard as the smallest AC unit for camper vans. But don’t make the mistake of underestimating its power by looking at its small size. In fact, with its 2900 BTU capacity, this portable ac leaves its counterparts far behind when it comes to cooling efficiency. The AC has a dual-hose system that removes heat from the room while pouring in lots of cool air for a quick improvement in temperature.

Moving on, this AC unit is easily portable and can be used on various occasions like annual backyard BBQs, outdoor fun activities, and much-needed family gatherings. The air conditioner has a sleep mode as well as a fan mode for better management of room temperature at will.

Whynter ARC-101CW Cool Size 10,000 BTU

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If you’d like to control the temperature of your cabin from a distance and also save on cooling costs, Whynter ARC-101CW Cool Size 10,000 BTU could fill the bill. The powerful AC unit may not be the smallest portable AC unit for a camper, but it still has got whatever it takes. The ac unit has the capacity to cool a room as large as 300 square feet. The system is pretty easy to set up and requires only a little effort.

Moreover, a self-evaporating mechanism built into the AC unit exhausts condensation on its own. The ac can also function as a dehumidifier at 70 pints per day. Overall, it will make a great portable AC unit for your life inside the RV, offering comfy sleep and a pleasant daytime. On a side note, the AC alone can’t do much about your sleep; you also need a perfect bed. So, do check out the best bunk beds for RV!

Honeywell 9000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner

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Most Powerful. The Honeywell 9000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner is one the best portable AC for camper cars. The AC unit has a high-tech remote control that can work long distances. It can cool an area of up to 300 – 400 square feet. This model’s amazing cooling capacity is a great fit for RVers roaming around uncomfortably hot regions. The installation is easy and simple!

Dust often damages the inners of portable AC units. The AC unit has been manufactured with dual dust filters to tackle that and prolong its life. The dust filters will readily stop any hair, pet dander, and dust from sneaking in and messing with the performance. Plus, the portable AC functions without noise, which is one of its unique selling points.

Dometic Brisk II Rooftop Air Conditioner

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The Dometic Brisk II Rooftop Air Conditioner has a power of 13,500 BTU. That’s a good deal of power to drop the temperature of any room. The AC unit can be fitted to the top of your RV van, and you can enjoy comfortable and cool long-distance journeys. This model has been engineered to offer better results than the previous versions. On top of that, the AC is environmental-friendly, strong, and considerably light in weight.

To maximize the flow of air, the air conditioner offers a 15% more airflow increase than others. Dampening brackets around the machine absorb noise and provide a quieter environment. Also, the AC is durable. So, this one will prove the best portable AC unit for camper travel in the long term.

P.S. Don’t miss out on the detailed review of this Dometic product by Erin Lawrence on YouTube!

BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner

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The Smallest. BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner is the ideal portable AC for RVers aiming for smaller units. It is small yet strong and compact. The AC has an ergonomic handle so that you carry it wherever you want. One interesting feature about this thing is you can even use it outdoors to keep yourself cool. So, while camping, having a BBQ, or fishing, all you need to do is set it right next to you and revel in the cool air.

Moving on, a built-in Panasonic compressor supports fast cooling in no more than 15 seconds. So, with the fast-cooling option, you won’t have to wait for the AC to adjust to the surrounding temp to begin cooling. In a nutshell, the AC is truly ideal for RV owners. It’s a no-brainer. It could also make one of the best gifts for RV owners!

Emerson Quiet Kool EAP02 Camping 1,500

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The Emerson Quiet Kool EAP02 is the ultimate choice for camper owners. It suits RV owners that enjoy as much time outside the RV as inside. The AC unit is small and easily moveable, so you can use it outdoors while camping, fishing, or tinkering with the car in the garage. The ac unit has a power of 1500 BTU and can conveniently cool an area of up to 100 square feet.

Further, it has several function modes to give you the desired cooling. The AC unit also has a continuous drain for effortless drainage. And overall, the machine is easy to clean with a brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner. There’s a clear temperature display on the front as well.

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Battery Powered Portable Air

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This portable AC unit is definitely the best thing to have handy while on the road. The Zero Breeze Mark 2 Battery Powered AC is a high-tech, state-of-the-art cooling machine. This portable AC unit for camper life runs off-grid on a battery. So you won’t have to depend on an uninterrupted power supply. The model is designed to save energy and work without noise.

The AC unit has a built-in, high-quality compressor with a capacity of 24V, and the cooling capacity is as mighty as 2300 BTU. Moving on, an interesting feature is the multiple charging options that allow you to recharge the battery in so many convenient ways!

NewAir Compact Portable Air

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Best Value for Money. Do you want to cool your RV but are on a budget? Well, the NewAir portable AC unit for camper vans is the perfect thing for anybody on a tight budget. The AC unit offers excellent cooling in the shortest time, yet it’s small and easy to move. Moreover, this unit can easily cool a room of up to 525. sq. ft and three different fan modes exist for effective cooling at will.

The portable AC also has a dehumidifier, which allows you to rest more comfortably while the room loses humidity. There are intuitive control options and a programmable timer so that you can have the camper temperature precisely to your liking!

Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500

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Best Overall. This AC unit can be called your “personal sea breeze.” The Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500 adapts so smoothly to outdoor life that you will soon find yourself carrying it on every road trip. The AC unit is not just portable but easily mobile and has several cooling modes, like an air cooler and humidifier. There’s a built-in, powerful evaporative technology that helps it run efficiently.

Furthermore, this portable air conditioner has luxury LED lighting, a removable water tank, and an exclusive sleep timer. Last but not least, the AC unit is highly durable and will last longer than you can imagine.

Our Verdict!

In our roundup of the best portable AC for camper cabins, we have made sure to include AC units with the most fitting features. So, each of the above will turn out to be a healthy investment and improve the quality of your camper rides tremendously. But, having said that, you might still need one final recommendation based on a specific preference. So, apart from the best overall, Evapolar EvaLIGHT Plus EV-1500, we’ve categorized four other AC units according to their most outstanding attributes. Here they are:

• Best value for money: NewAir Compact Portable Air
• Best quality: NEKPOKKA 12V DC air conditioner
• Most powerful: Honeywell 9000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner
• The smallest: BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner

How to Choose the Best Portable AC Unit For A Camper

Be prepared. Buying the right portable AC unit for campers could be tough! The reason is that RV ac units are complicated, and many RV owners cannot wrap their heads around the tech jargon. They just need a great ac unit for their camper cabin, but making the accurate choice with so many features is not easy-breezy. So, here are the key features to look for when choosing an air conditioner for your RV. If the ac checks these, it’s bound to be a good fit.

Cooling Capacity

Before buying a portable AC unit for your RV, confirm that the cooling capacity matches your needs. For this purpose, you might want an expert to take a look at your RV. They will give you a reliable estimate of the capacity you should go for.

Compactness

Compactness matters the same, if not less. Because camper vans have a limited area, you don’t want the AC to hog all the space for itself. So, go for the AC unit that fits your needs but is compact and small.

Noiseless Functioning

Finally, make sure the AC unit you choose makes no noise when on. A little noise is still tolerable, but if you desire peaceful sleep inside the camper, noisy AC units will kill your sleep. So, review the buyer reviews and see what they say regarding the noisiness.

What Size AC Do I Need In A Camper?

To figure out the size of the AC unit that fits your camper, simply divide the total volume of your camper van by 416. You can calculate the volume by multiplying your RV’s length, width, and height together.

Can You Run a Camper AC All Night?

Yes. If your camper van is plugged into residential shore power or a power station for RVs, you’ll find no issues using the camper AC throughout the night.

How Much Electricity Does A Camper AC Use?

For a rough estimate, for every 1000 BTU output, the camper AC unit will consume around 100 watts of electricity input.