Best family travel trailers in Canada: A CampMart Buyer’s Guide
Learn what to look for in a family travel trailer, compare important features and explore options for Canadian camping adventures.
Why Choose a Family Travel Trailer?
A family travel trailer can provide flexibility, comfort and a familiar space throughout your trip. Once you reach the campground, you can unhitch the trailer and use your tow vehicle for day trips, shopping and exploring nearby attractions.
Create Memorable Family Experiences
Travel trailer trips give families opportunities to spend time together, explore new places and build traditions around campfires, outdoor activities and shared meals. Having your own beds, kitchen and bathroom can also make travelling with children more comfortable and predictable.
Travel at Your Own Pace
A travel trailer allows you to plan trips around your family’s schedule. You can choose shorter weekend getaways, longer road trips or extended stays at a favourite campground. Before travelling, confirm campsite availability, trailer-length limits, electrical service and other campground requirements.
Enjoy Familiar Comforts
Depending on the model, a family travel trailer may include a private bathroom, refrigerator, cooktop, dining area, storage and separate sleeping spaces. These features can help families stay organized and comfortable during both short and extended camping trips.
What to Look for in a Family Travel Trailer
Choosing the right trailer begins with understanding how many people will travel with you, what your vehicle can safely tow and how you plan to use the interior.
Layout and Sleeping Capacity
Consider how many people need permanent sleeping spaces and how often you expect guests to join your trips. Bunkhouse travel trailers can provide dedicated beds for children or guests. Convertible dinettes and sofa beds may add sleeping capacity, but they also require daily setup and conversion. Walk through the floorplan and think about how family members will move through the trailer during meals, bedtime and rainy days.
CampMart Travel Trailer Brands
CampMart carries travel trailers from brands such as Grand River, Starcraft, Deer Ridge, Valley Ridge, Avenir and Comfortline. Available options range from compact and lightweight trailers to family bunkhouses and spacious extended-stay models. The CampMart team can help you compare floorplans, sleeping capacity, storage, kitchens, bathrooms and towing requirements.
Kitchen and Dining Features
A practical family kitchen may include a refrigerator, cooktop, microwave, pantry and counter space for food preparation. Some floorplans also offer outdoor kitchens or exterior cooking connections, allowing families to prepare meals outside when campground conditions permit. Consider how much refrigerator and pantry space your family will need for weekend trips or longer stays.
Bathroom Access
Compare the bathroom’s location, shower size, storage and accessibility when the trailer is being used by several people. Some family layouts include a tub-and-shower combination, which may be useful for families with younger children.
Interior and Exterior Storage
Family camping trips often require clothing, food, chairs, outdoor equipment and campsite supplies. Look for wardrobes, pantry storage, under-bed compartments, bunk storage and exterior pass-through areas. Remember that cargo adds weight to the trailer, so storage capacity should always be considered alongside the trailer’s weight ratings.
Family-Friendly Travel Trailer Features to Consider
- Bunk beds: Provide dedicated sleeping spaces for children or guests without converting the main dining or seating areas.
- Convertible dinettes and sofas: Add sleeping capacity when needed while serving another purpose during the day.
- Exterior storage: Provides space for levelling blocks, chairs, hoses and other campsite equipment.
- Power awnings: Create a shaded outdoor area at the campsite when weather and campground conditions permit.
- Outdoor kitchens or cooking connections: Allow meals to be prepared outside and may help keep heat and cooking odours out of the trailer.
- Entertainment and connectivity options: Can provide indoor activities during poor weather or downtime.
- Multiple entry points: May improve access in certain family floorplans, depending on the trailer.
Features vary by model and may be standard or optional. Confirm the equipment included with the specific trailer before purchasing.
Multi-Season Features for Extended-Season Camping
Some family travel trailers offer multi-season features that may support extended-season camping during cooler spring and fall conditions. Depending on the model, available features may include upgraded insulation, an enclosed underbelly, holding-tank protection and an appropriately sized furnace. Multi-season equipment does not automatically make a trailer suitable for every temperature or weather condition. Confirm the model’s seasonal capabilities and follow the manufacturer’s instructions whenever freezing temperatures are possible. When the camping season ends, professional winterization can help protect the trailer’s freshwater and plumbing systems. De-winterization service can help prepare those systems for use again in the spring.
Match the Travel Trailer to Your Tow Vehicle
Safe towing begins with understanding the ratings of both the travel trailer and tow vehicle.
Important Trailer Weight Ratings
Review the trailer’s dry weight, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, cargo capacity and expected loaded hitch weight. The actual loaded weight will increase when batteries, propane, food, water, clothing and camping equipment are added.
Important Tow-Vehicle Ratings
Review the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity, payload rating, hitch rating and Gross Combined Weight Rating. Passengers, cargo, accessories and trailer hitch weight all use part of the tow vehicle’s available payload. Do not rely only on the vehicle’s maximum advertised towing figure. Ratings can vary between vehicles with the same model name based on engine, drivetrain, axle ratio and installed equipment.
Towing Equipment
Depending on the trailer and tow vehicle, equipment such as a brake controller, weight-distribution hitch or sway-control system may be recommended or required. Follow the instructions provided by the tow vehicle, trailer and hitch manufacturers and review the current towing requirements for the province where the trailer will be operated. CampMart can help explain trailer specifications, but the vehicle owner is responsible for confirming that the final combination meets all manufacturer and legal requirements.
New vs. Pre-Owned Family Travel Trailers
Both new and pre-owned travel trailers can provide strong options for family camping.
New Travel Trailers
New trailers offer current floorplans, modern features and available manufacturer warranty coverage. Buyers may also have more opportunities to compare current colours, equipment packages and layouts.
Pre-Owned Travel Trailers
Pre-owned trailers can provide excellent value for families looking for a lower purchase price, a previous model-year floorplan or specific equipment. CampMart’s pre-owned units are rigorously and carefully inspected as part of the dealership’s PDI (Pre-Delivery-Inspection) process. Ask the team about the condition, inspection and available coverage for the specific trailer you are considering.
RV Financing for a Family Travel Trailer
CampMart works with Canadian lenders to help eligible customers explore available RV financing options. Financing rates, terms, down-payment requirements and approvals vary by applicant, lender, trailer and amount financed. Depending on the lender and application, payment schedules may include monthly, bi-weekly or weekly options. Certain programs may also offer no-down-payment options for qualified applicants.
Travel Trailer Service and Ownership Support
Regular towable RV maintenance can help identify worn components, seal concerns, water intrusion and equipment issues before they interrupt a family camping trip. CampMart service technicians can assist with inspections, maintenance, repairs, winterization and de-winterization at participating locations. Service availability varies by location, trailer and required work. Contact CampMart before booking to confirm the services available for your unit.
Parts and Accessories
The CampMart parts team can help customers explore available towing equipment, replacement components and camping accessories. Product availability varies by location and trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Travel Trailers
What features should I look for in a family travel trailer?
Consider sleeping capacity, bunk beds, kitchen storage, refrigerator size, bathroom access, exterior storage and the trailer’s expected loaded weight. The best features depend on your family size and camping style.
How do I choose the right size travel trailer for my family?
Consider how many people need sleeping spaces, how much storage you require and how the interior will be used. The trailer must also remain within the tow vehicle’s towing, payload and hitch ratings when fully loaded.
Does CampMart offer financing for family travel trailers?
CampMart works with Canadian lenders to help eligible customers explore available financing options. Rates, terms, payment schedules, down payments and approvals vary by applicant and lender.
What after-sales support does CampMart offer?
CampMart offers towable RV service and access to parts and accessories at participating locations. Available services may include inspections, maintenance, repairs, winterization and de-winterization.
Does CampMart offer multi-season family travel trailers?
Some CampMart travel trailers offer multi-season features such as upgraded insulation, enclosed underbellies or holding-tank protection. Equipment varies by model, so confirm the specific trailer’s capabilities before extended-season camping.
Find the Right Family Travel Trailer at CampMart
Choosing the right family travel trailer begins with understanding your household’s sleeping, storage, towing and camping needs. CampMart can help you compare new and pre-owned trailers, floorplans, towing requirements, financing options and ownership support. Whether you are planning local campground visits or longer Canadian road trips, the right trailer should match your family, tow vehicle and travel plans.
