S’mores around the campfire, hot dogs on the outdoor grill and sleeping under the stars is such a great road trip for any family. If you are more of a glamping family verses tents on the ground, here are the best travel trailers for a small family (5 or less unless kids are very young).
If you go to a store and shop travel trailers, you will find a ton of different floor plans. You have to decide for your whole family what are the important things you must have in your camper. Consider your family’s needs now and in the future as your kids get older. It took us a few visits to our local dealer to really decide what was best for us and our family.
Key Features for Travel Trailers
Many travel trailers now come with slide outs, which takes a small space and makes the living area and dining area larger. This is a great option to maximize your living space.
Sleeping Capacity
Many of the new lightweight travel trailers have bunk beds, which helps with sleeping spaces. The Master bedroom usually has a queen short bed and the living area usually transforms into a full-size bed. Make sure and check the storage in the Master Bedroom. Having extra closet space was a must for us and we were so glad we opted to get a camper with extra storage and closet space. See the video below for a tour of our camper.
Bathrooms in Travel Trailers
Check if the travel trailer comes with a full bathroom. If you have little ones who love their baths, then put that on your checklist. Some tiny trailers don’t have that option. Mine does not have a full bathtub and the shower is very short, you can see in the video below. But, honestly it gets us clean and gets the job done, so it was not a game-changer for us!
Other Features to Consider
For a large family taking a camping trip for a week or more, you will want lots of space because there may be days that it rains. To have a happier camper, make sure you have a great air conditioner, USB ports to charge all the electronics and a power awning, so you can put a table and chairs under shelter, so everyone isn’t stuck inside. We love our outdoors space under our awning! We spend a lot fo time out there!
Standard Features for Travel Trailers
- Two-burner stove
- Storage cabinets
- Entertainment center with a TV
- Large windows in the dinning area
- Bench seats in the dining area
- BTU furnace
Extra features to consider
- Solar panels or solar power
- Roof rack for storage
- Extra space for storage
Best Small Travel Trailers
We selected our list of family travel trailers based on the following criteria:
- Floor plans with sufficient sleeping capacity
- Bathroom with a wet bath
- USB ports for charging devices
- Lots of storage space
- Bunk beds when possible
- Air conditioning (that is a MUST in my neck of the woods, for realz)
In recent years, travel trailers have considered that growing families need plenty of storage space and a great deal of features family members need like charging stations for all their electronic devices.
Grand Design Transcend Xplor 247BH [Best Travel Trailers for Family of 4-6]
- Dry Weight (lbs): 5,392
- Sleeping Capacity: 6
- Length: 29′ 11″
- Average Sale Price (New): $26,000
- Width: Not specified
- View Full Specs: Grand Design Transcend
The Grand Design Transcend Xpor 247BH is a great trailer that easily sleeps 2 adults in the queen bed, and 2 kids in the rear bunk beds, and two more guests on the pull-out sofa.
It also has a 3-burner stove, USB ports, countertops you would find in any home, and a good size refrigerator among many of the other features and amenities.
There is lots of storage space in the Transcend both pass-through storage outside and lots of storage space inside the travel trailer creating a great way to take the things your kids think they can’t live without.
Keystone Passport SL 240BHWE travel trailers
- Dry Weight (lbs): 5,069
- Sleeping Capacity: 5
- Length: 27′ 10″
- Average Sale Price (New): $30,491
- Width: Not specified
- View Full Specs: Passport SL
The Keystone Passport SL 240BHWE sleeps up to 5. It includes a walk-around queen bed in the master bedroom, double bunks, and an entertainment center with USB ports. Additional features include an outside kitchen. The fridge is large, and it is 4G LTE and Wi-Fi prepped.
The outside kitchen allows you to cook while watching the kids play.
Jayco Jay Feather Micro 171BH [Best small travel trailers For Family Of 4-5]
- Dry Weight (lbs): 3,865
- Sleeping capacity: 5 people
- Length 20’ 3”
We like that the sleeping spaces are separate. Mom and dad are up front and the kids are in the back on bunk beds.
The fridge comes with a standard 6 cubic feet but can be upgraded to 8 cubic feet.
The Jayco comes with a 32” TV with surround sound bar, so you will have spectacular movie nights or watch your favorite TV shows.
Winnebago Micro Minnie 2100BH travel trailers
- Dry Weight (lbs): 3,860
- Sleeping capacity 5
It was voted RV News 2021 Lightweight Travel Trailer of the Year. The galley has plenty of space and includes a sink, a 10.3 cubic feet double-door fridge, convection microwave, and a recessed 3-burner cook top. There is an option to get a slightly smaller 8 cubic feet refrigerator that runs on either gas or electric to save space in the dining area.
There is a full-size bed at the front of the Micro Minnie and bunk beds for the kids in the rear. The dinette converts to a sleeping space as well. You do have the option to replace the dinette with a sleeper sofa if you like, at an additional cost. Definitely ask to see both options and do note that the other travel trailers had a queen size bed whereas this one has a full-size bed in the master bedroom.
If you are thinking of buying a travel trailer for quality time with the family, just make sure you will have enough space, so everyone is a happier camper. Double-check your truck towing capability and consider that you may be towing up mountains or on dirt roads.
Having plenty of space and the best features will ensure summers are fun and many memories are made. I thought it might be fun to show you the travel trailer we picked for our family. Check it out below!
