8 Must-See Campervan Awnings to Level Up Your Van’s Outdoor Space

A campervan awning is a great way to increase your van’s living space – it’s like an extra living room or kitchen right outside or sliding door.

A campervan awning provides shade and shelter for sitting, cooking and relaxing on warm days when you don’t want to be inside your van. Plus, an awning also helps keep the interior of your van cooler as the sun won’t be constantly beating on the metal.

The best campervan awnings per category:

• Best Overall: Fiamma F80s Awning
• Most Durable: Thule Hideaway Awning
• Best for Maximum Coverage: DragonFly Awning

The 7 Best Awnings for a Campervan

The Best Campervan Awnings Reviews

On campervan forum after forum, many van owners rave about the Fiamma campervan awning. These best campervan awnings are hardy, easy to deploy and are UV resistant, waterproof, and washable. 

They feature extra-strong arms with a double steel cable, and there’s no way to roll the awning up incorrectly. Fiamma engineered a one-way roll system so you don’t damage your awning.

The most popular Fiamma awnings for campervans include the Fiamma F80S model and the Fiamma F45S. The main difference between the two is the F80S is roof-mounted and the F45S attaches to the wall of your van. A wall-mounted van awning will require you to drill holes in the side of your van. It also doesn’t take up precious roof space, which you may want to use for solar panels. However, you can also attach the F45S to a roof rack or roof rails.

The F80S awning is the newest model offered by Fiamma and is engineered specifically for campervans. It has better aerodynamic performance than previous models, is more compact and integrates closer to your campervan body. The F80S comes in several different sizes depending on the size and type of your van.

Both of these awnings have support legs, which you can either put on the ground or mount to the side of your van. Many van lifers like the body mount option as it can withstand higher winds. The body mount doesn’t absolutely require drilling – you can search for No-Drill Mountain Pads.

Fiamma awnings are our top pick for the best campervan awning. They are easy to deploy, come in a variety of sizes and the new F80S is designed for campervans with a more compact, streamlined design. This Italian-based company has been making RV parts since the 1980s, and is a trusted brand.

• Check Price of the Fiamma F80S
• Check Price of the Fiamma F45S

The Thule Hideaway Awning for a campervan also gets top ratings in van build groups. It’s slightly cheaper and lighter than the Fiamma.

Unlike Fiamma, the Thule awning only comes with a manual hand crank option. You can set the legs on the ground or into wall-mount brackets on the side of your van.

Deploying the Thule Hideaway is super easy. You turn a hand crank, unfold the tucked-away legs, and extend the awning. It’s an easy, one-person job, which makes this ideal for solo travelers who might struggle with a two-person setup.

This lightweight camper awning can be installed directly onto the side of your campervan, or it can be mounted onto a roof rack. You’ll have to decide before you buy, though, as these are slightly different models. 

The Thule Hideaway van awning comes in several different lengths ranging from 8.5′ to 12.3′. We recommend you check the awning’s leg height before you buy to make sure the legs will touch the ground. This is especially important if you have a high-roof campervan. Awnings provide 6.5 to 8 feet of coverage, depending on the size you order.

A spring-loaded tension arm absorbs movement and provides stability in the wind. You can set the awning’s angle, making it usable when your side door is open.

Many campervan and Sprinter van awnings can be paired with various side panels. Thule offers a range of side and front sunshades and rain blockers that easily attach to the HideAway. 

The Overland Vehicle Systems 180-degree awning provides a whopping 88-square feet of shelter. If you’re looking for extra coverage, this van awning is for you.

Unlike other camper van awnings on this list, this is a freestanding awning that unfolds using aluminum rafters and poles. It deploys fairly quickly for an awning of its size and only takes one person to do the job.

This best campervan awning is made out of poly-cotton ripstop material with heat-sealed seams, making it leak-proof in the rain. This is the hardiest awning we’ve found for adverse weather conditions; you can use it in wind, rain and snow. You can also purchase walls for a complete outdoor enclosure.

Reviewers say this van awning is a well-made, sturdy product that’s easy to install and deploy. We also love the super long 4-year warranty on this camper van awning – better than any other awning we’ve found.

Keep in mind that with a high-roof van, you may need an extension ladder to set up and take down this camper van awning.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the other van awnings on this list, you might want to check out the MoonShade portable awning. This is one of the easiest awnings to set up and take down, and provides 9′ by 7′ of shaded coverage.

The MoonShade lightweight awning attaches to your campervan using anchor points and gear tires, depending on what type of van you have. Some examples are suction cups, magnet anchors or anchors meant just for Mercedes Sprinter vans with roof rails.

If you have a high-roof van, the MoonShade portable van awning comes with several thin lines of paracord you can attach to carabiners to create cord pulls. This means you can deploy your awning from the ground.

This MoonShade awning folds down into the size of a yoga mat when not in use and is also lightweight at only eight pounds. Take it anywhere, even hiking, and attach to some trees for instant shade.

Unlike other van awnings on our list, you will have to detach and store this awning every time.

We love that you can also attach this awning to anything, including trees or fences. It offers shade during the day and a reflective surface bounces light back toward you at night.

This awning is a great option for those who don’t want one permanently mounted on their van.

The ROAM Adventure Co 6.5ft Rooftop Awning is a great fit for small campervans that need reliable shade without adding bulk. Its compact size provides enough coverage for cooking, relaxing, or escaping the sun, while still fitting comfortably on shorter roofs. It rolls up into a low-profile case, so it won’t interfere with solar panels or other roof gear.

Built with a poly-cotton ripstop fabric and a waterproof polyurethane coating, this awning is designed to handle sun, rain, and light wind. The aluminum frame keeps weight down, and the quick-deploy poles make setup fast and straightforward. It mounts to most roof racks using the included universal hardware, which makes installation simple for most van builds.

This awning is best for van lifers and weekend travelers who want a dependable, no-fuss setup. It does not have the size or complexity of large 180- or 270-degree awnings, which is a plus for smaller rigs. If you want something durable, easy to use, and well-sized for a compact campervan, this is a solid choice.

Specifically designed to provide shade, shelter, and convenience, Dragon Fly Tarps awnings are available in both side and rear configurations, catering to the unique needs of every camper van owner. Although Dragon Fly awnings come in a little more expensive than other portable awnings, their ability to withstand high winds and heavy rain makes this one of the best camper van awnings you can get for the extra cost if you’re limited in storage space.

• Side Awning: The side awning from Dragon Fly is designed to attach seamlessly to the side of your van, extending outward to create a comfortable and shaded outdoor living space. The side awning offers strong protection against the sun, rain, and wind, allowing you to relax, dine, or socialize in the open air without worrying about the elements.
• Rear Awning: Dragon Fly’s rear awning is a specialized solution for camper vans with rear entry configurations or those who enjoy open back doors with extended living space. It attaches to the back of your van, providing a sheltered space that extends from the rear doors.

Dragon Fly Tarps are designed with user-friendliness in mind. They come with all the necessary mounting hardware and clear instructions, ensuring an easy installation process. Once the 3M mounting rail has been installed onto your van, future awning setups can be completed in less than 5 minutes!

Constructed with high-quality materials, Dragon Fly Tarps are built to withstand various weather conditions. The fabric is engineered to be sturdy and durable, providing stability during gusty winds.

Dragon Fly Tarps can be easily rolled up or folded when not in use, occupying minimal space. The adjustable poles fold up easily for storage also. This compact design makes them convenient for transportation and storage, ensuring they won’t take up valuable space inside your camper van.

They come in various sizes, colors, and styles, providing options to match your camper van’s aesthetics. You can choose an awning that perfectly complements your camper van‘s design and personal preferences.

Tips on Choosing the Best Campervan Awning for Your Setup

There are several factors to consider before choosing a campervan awning. Here’s some food for thought to get you started.

What is your budget?

Camper van awnings can cost a pretty penny, with most of the more popular models $700-$1,300. The cheapest route is the MoonShade Portable awning or create a DIY awning using a canopy and telescoping legs.

How often will you use your van awning?

Think hard about how often you will truly use a campervan awning. We watched one interesting YouTube video where the van lifer said he used an awning way more with a smaller campervan. Once he got a Sprinter van he preferred to just sit inside the van on sunny days rather than deal with deploying an awning.

If you think you’ll use your awning all the time, you probably want to consider a sturdy awning that can withstand the test of time, like the Fiamma or Thule Hideaway. You also want your awning top be super easy to deploy.

The MoonShade portable awning is a great choice for outdoor space if you’re not sure how often you’ll use an awning. You won’t have to mount a permanent structure to your van.

What weather will you be camping in?

Some of the best campervan awnings on our list aren’t meant to be used in high winds or inclement weather. If you’re in a windy climate, you probably won’t be able to use most awnings. The Overland Vehicle Systems 180-degree Batwing awning may be your best bet for wind and rain.

Are you okay with extra wind noise and drag?

Keep in mind that anything you attach on the side of your van creates wind noise and drag, awnings not excluded. While the sound won’t be incredibly loud, you’ll most likely hear it.

Luckily, in most van life forums, we haven’t seen any impact on driving or maneuverability with an awning attached.

Conclusion on camper van awnings

Van awnings are an essential accessory for any campervan. They provide shade on sunny days and can make your life easier when you want to cook outside, shower or sleep in the great outdoors.

With so many options out there it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the different aspects that need consideration before deciding which is best for you.

We hope this article helped narrow down your list by providing insight into some key factors like budget, how often you plan on using your awning and what type of weather conditions will be present most frequently where you camp.

If we missed anything important in our post please let us know! We are always happy to help answer questions about campervan gear or give tips from experience if needed!