Jersey City, NJ — Escape Campervans, the brand that helped popularize affordable van-life road trips across North America for nearly two decades, is starting a new chapter.
Following the original company’s closure in November 2025, Avanti Campervans, a family-owned campervan rental operator and outfitter, acquired the Escape Campervans name and trademark and relaunched Escape Campervans in 2026 as a new company with a new fleet. Today, the new Escape serves travelers from 14+ airport locations across the U.S.
This isn’t a comeback of the original business. It’s a new company taking the wheel.
The original Escape Campervans ceased operations after 16 years of operating its iconic fleet of hand-painted vans. When the opportunity came to give Escape a new chapter, Avanti saw a chance to continue the mission behind the brand while evolving the campervan experience for how people want to travel today: making road trips accessible, affordable and fun without requiring a big RV, complicated setup or a big travel budget.
“Our mission aligns closely with what Escape has always represented: making road trips easier and more accessible,” said Mike Verdi, owner of Avanti Campervans. “We’ve spent the last 12 years in the campervan rental business, and when the opportunity came to give Escape a new chapter, it felt like a natural fit. We’re not trying to recreate what came before. We’re carrying that spirit forward with a different kind of campervan designed around how many people want to travel today.”
What has not changed
- The mission. Making campervan adventures easily accessible, affordable and fun throughout North America.
- A nationwide network. Escape continues to offer a broad network of campervan rental locations across the U.S., with extensive options for one-way trips.
- Personal customer service. Travelers get support from people who know van travel and understand what it takes to plan a trip on the road.
- Plenty of help planning the adventure. Escape continues to offer curated itineraries, destination inspiration and practical trip-planning information for travelers looking for ideas about where to go next.
A new kind of Escape
The most visible change is the fleet itself.
The original Escape vans were known for bold, hand-painted artwork commissioned from independent artists, providing a signature look that became inseparable from the brand’s identity. That fleet was sold at public auction when the original company closed and isn’t part of the new Escape.
The new fleet takes a different approach: clean, unmarked minivan campers designed to blend in rather than stand out. Voyager and Caravan models seat four and sleep two, with a memory-foam bed, kitchen setup, storage and everything travelers need to hit the road.
It’s a real change, and Escape isn’t trying to recreate or replace the vans that came before.
Instead, the new fleet is designed around a different kind of road-trip experience: fuel-efficient vehicles that are comfortable and easy to drive, fit anywhere a normal car does and give travelers the freedom to explore without standing out.
What’s new
- Everything you need is included. Bedding, kitchen gear and camp essentials are always included at no extra charge.
- Newer, fuel-efficient vans. Voyager-class vans are late-model, reliable and comfortable to drive, with a practical setup for sleeping, cooking and life on the road.
- More places to start and finish. Escape currently operates in 14 locations across the U.S., with Vancouver and Calgary planned for 2027.
- Easy airport pickup and drop-off. Vans are available for pickup a short shuttle ride from the terminal, with 24/7 pickup and drop-off options.
- More one-way possibilities. Travelers can plan road trips without having to circle back to where they started, with one-way options to many major U.S. airports.
- More freedom to roam. Escape allows travel throughout the U.S. and Canada, with an easy-to-set-up option for travel into Mexico.
- Options for longer adventures. Long-term rental deals and van purchase options are available for international travelers planning extended trips.
For customers of the original Escape
Past customers of the original Escape Campervans are invited to experience the new Escape with 20% off their next trip. Travelers can provide an original Escape rental contract from a past trip to receive the discount on their booking.
The new Escape Campervans is a separate legal entity and does not have access to the former company’s reservation, customer or payment systems.
Availability
Escape Campervans is currently operating in 14+ locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Anchorage, Boston, Jersey City (NYC), Orlando and Miami, with Calgary and Vancouver planned to open in 2027.
About Escape Campervans
Escape Campervans was originally founded in 2009 and helped pioneer the modern campervan rental movement in North America. The original Escape Campervans ceased operations in November 2025.
In 2026, Avanti Campervans acquired the Escape Campervans name and trademark and relaunched Escape as a new, separate company with a modernized fleet of unmarked minivan campers serving travelers across the U.S. and Canada.
The new Escape continues the brand’s mission of making campervan adventures easily accessible, affordable and fun throughout North America.
Media Contact
Mike Verdi
CEO
Escape Campervans
mike@escapecampervans.com
980-437-2273
