Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to motorhomes. The smallest Class C motorhomes still pack a kitchen, a bathroom, and beds for up to four or more. That’s a full motorhome in a footprint that drives, parks, and fuels up more like a large van, with no trailer to hitch and no towing to learn.
They’re a natural fit for couples, solo travelers, small families, and first-time motorhome buyers, as well as owners stepping down from a larger rig. A shorter Class C opens up smaller national park and state park campsites, makes city errands and fuel stops simpler, and still gives you a real bed and a bathroom at the end of the day. Below, we’ve grouped our picks into the smallest models, the best under 25 feet, and other top picks under 28 feet.
What Is a Small Class C RV?
Class C motorhomes range from about 20 to 40 feet long. Our picks for the best small Class C RVs are all under 28 feet. These compact motorhomes are typically less expensive than Class A and Class B RVs, making them ideal for RVers on a tighter budget. With a surprising variety of floorplans for their size, shorter Class C motorhomes offer something for everyone.
Explore small Class A motorhomes and our comprehensive Class B vs Class C RV comparison.
What Is the Smallest Class C RV?
The smallest Class C RVs are about 20 to 22 feet long, with our favorites including options from Winnebago, Thor, and Jayco. If you need the smallest Class C RV with a bathroom, every model here has a toilet and shower. All four are also Class C motorhomes with no slides. Let’s dive in.
Winnebago Resa 19DC
Images by Winnebago
As the newest addition to Winnebago’s motorhome lineup, the Resa 19DC is designed for gear-hauling families. The rear of the coach is a convertible gear garage: load bikes and bulky gear through the rear hatch for the drive, then turn the same space into a lounge or a dining area at camp. The power-lift residential queen bed lowers from the ceiling, and the sofas fold down, creating sleeping space for up to four.
At 20’4″ on a RAM ProMaster® chassis, it drives and parks more like a van than a larger motorhome. The bathroom is a clever space saver, too: a pivoting wall turns a dry toilet room into a 24″ x 30″ shower. Just know the toilet is a cassette you empty by hand rather than a black tank. You’ll see this coach sold as both the Resa and the Elora, depending on the dealer.
Compare the Resa 19KC and the Elora variants: Elora 19DC and 19KC.
Thor Freedom Elite 19HE
Images by Camping World
For solo travelers who want the shortest traditional Class C, the Freedom Elite 19HE is my pick. What makes it different is where the living space sits. Instead of a rear bed, a U-shaped dinette wraps the back wall, giving you a comfortable spot for meals, cards, or a book. At night, it converts into a bed, or you can leave it set up and sleep in the cabover.
A flip-up countertop extends prep space in the galley, and a wet bath fits a toilet and shower into very little floor. It’s a simple, easy-to-own coach that makes the most of its length.
Check Price & Availability:
Check price and availability for the identical layouts in the Coleman 19EZC and 19EZF.
Thor Coleman 19CX
The Coleman 19CX is the floorplan I’d choose for larger families because it sleeps four but has seat belts for up to six passengers. That means a family of six willing to set up a tent outside can easily use this as their adventure rig. Two benches face each other, each with a removable table, so you can seat everyone for dinner or board games.
The benches convert into two small beds or one full-width sleeping space. But that brings up a choice you’ll have to make: Is the cabover bunk the main sleeping space, or is this?
At 21’3″ with no slides, it’s one of the shortest Class Cs with a rear wet bath and wardrobe, giving you the essentials with the benefit of a private rear washroom. The trade-off is a smaller galley than the 19HE, but if seating for a crowd matters more than counterspace, it’s hard to beat.
Check Price & Availability:
Check price and availability for the identical layouts in the Freedom Elite 19HXC and 19HXF.
Jayco Redhawk SE 20LF
If you want a full bathroom without going over 22 feet, the Redhawk SE 20LF is the pick I’d recommend. It measures 21’11” and gives up the wet bath most coaches this short rely on. Instead, it uses a full bathroom, so the toilet and shower aren’t sharing one wet space.
Like the 19HE, the rear U-shaped dinette is the centerpiece. It works as a dining and game table by day and converts to a bed at night. A 12V refrigerator, a wardrobe, and overhead cabinets round out the essentials. It’s built on a Ford® E-350 chassis with a 7.3L V8, and the optional 200-watt solar panel with dual controller and second house battery is an upgrade worth considering if you’re heading off the grid.
Check price and availability for the identical layout in the Entegra Coach Odyssey SE 20LF .
What Is the Best Class C RV Under 25 Feet?
In our picks for the best Class C RV under 25 feet, you’ll start to see slide rooms show up. The smallest Class C RV with a slide-out on our list is the College Avenue 2201S at 23’10”. But if you’d rather skip slides, we’ve got options for you.
East to West College Avenue 2201S
The College Avenue 2201S is the pick for campers who want upscale finishes and plan to camp into the shoulder seasons. Solid surface countertops and soft-close hardwood cabinets give it a residential feel that’s rare under 24 feet. The kitchen also boasts a three-burner cooktop, a 12V fridge, and a flip-up countertop for meal prep.
The rear queen sits in a slide-out, which frees floor space in the bedroom. The sink sits outside the bathroom, so one person can shower while the other washes up. The Arctic Package, with 12V tank heaters and a heat pump, extends your season, and Starlink® prep keeps you connected.
Prefer a no-slide floorplan? Compare the College Avenue 2001NS.
Thor Freedom Elite 21HE
Images by Camping World
The Freedom Elite 21HE sleeps up to five without a single slide-out. That’s what the extra four feet over the 19HE buys you: a dedicated full-size bed in the camp-side corner, so nobody converts a dinette at bedtime, plus a full shower and larger closet space.
The cabover bunk and convertible seating handle the kids (or guests), and a 32” swivel TV in the cabover can face the bunk or the dinette. With no slides, set-up at camp is quick, and you have full access to the bed, bathroom, and kitchen at rest stops. It’s a practical choice for campers who want a little more room without a lot more to maintain.
Check Price & Availability:
Check availability of the identical layouts in the Coleman 21EZC and 21EZF.
Forest River Forester LE 2151S
As a slight variation from the previous models, the Forester LE 2151SLE swaps the standard booth dinette for a larger U-shaped dinette. That one furniture change has two benefits: a larger sleeping area that’s more comfortable for a couple and two additional seat belts, making this an excellent small Class C for a family of six.
The slide-out holds the dinette and a wardrobe, so the central living area has more room for everyone to move around. The bathroom is split, with the sink outside, which makes mornings faster when everyone is trying to get ready at once. If you’re traveling with a large family and want to stay under 25 feet, this is the layout I’d start with.
Check Price & Availability:
Prefer a no-slide floorplan? Compare the Forester LE 2351C and 2351F.
Jayco Redhawk SE 22CF
The Redhawk SE 22CF is another great small Class C for first-time motorhome buyers who want a real bedroom without stepping up in size. The 60″ x 70″ corner queen sits in a slide-out, with dual nightstands and overhead storage. The central pantry and wardrobe are substantial, and the booth dinette and cabover bunk boost the sleeping capacity to five.
The main difference between this layout and the College Avenue above is the bathroom. Instead of the split bath, everything is contained in one room here, providing additional space and privacy. Jayco also backs the Redhawk SE with a two-year limited warranty and a three-year structural warranty, which is reassuring on a first motorhome.
Compare the Redhawk SE 22AF.
Other Top Small Class C RVs Under 28 Feet
These are the roomiest picks that still count as small. All three are under 28 feet, so they also suit anyone shopping for a Class C under 30 feet. This is where you’ll start to find layouts with a single larger super slide or multiple slide rooms to increase the living space.
Jayco Redhawk 24B
Images by Camping World
The Redhawk 24B is my pick for longer trips that require more gear and clothing. My favorite feature is the storage capacity. There’s a large rear wardrobe in the bedroom, another wardrobe in the hall, a dedicated pantry, and overhead cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. That’s easily room for a week or more of clothes, food, and gear.
A driver’s-side super slide holds the queen bed and a U-shaped dinette, which makes this coach feel more spacious than its 26’8” length would suggest. The kitchen has a three-burner cooktop and a residential-size microwave, and the corner bathroom covers the basics. For extended trips in a still-manageable size, it’s a comfortable choice.
Thor Eddie Bauer 25EBF
The Eddie Bauer 25EBF solves a problem many couples don’t realize they have until the first night: not everyone sleeps the same way. Its rear twin beds can stay separate or convert into a full-width king — one of the largest beds you’ll find in these small Class C. So you can choose your setup trip by trip, all in a coach under 27 feet.
The Eddie Bauer line is designed for outdoor enthusiasts, and the layout of the 25EB makes an expansive under-storage compartment possible. With access from both sides and the back, there’s no shortage of space for fishing rods, inflatable SUPs, ski and snowboard equipment, and any other bulky gear you want to bring. If you and your camping partner want options at bedtime and space for recreation gear, this is the floorplan to see.
Forest River Forester 2441DS
The Forester 2441DS is the only floorplan on our list with two slide-outs, one for the U-shaped dinette and one for the bedroom. In the latter, a 60″ x 74″ walkaround queen bed makes it easy to get in and out from either side without crawling over your partner.
The full rear bathroom has a 24″ x 36″ shower and a private toilet, so two people can use the room at once. A three-burner cooktop and a 60″ x 80″ cabover bunk round it out. At 27’1″, it’s the longest pick here, and that length arguably buys the most livable layout on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how long you stay put. A no-slide Class C has fewer seals and motors to maintain, weighs less, and gives you full access to the bed, bathroom, and fridge on travel days. A slide-out adds living space you’ll appreciate on longer stays or rainy days inside. If you mostly move every night or two, a no-slide floorplan is often the simpler choice.
Yes. Several models under 25 feet sleep four or more, including the College Avenue 2201S, Freedom Elite 21HE, and Forester LE 2151S. In most cases, the cabover bunk does the heavy lifting for kids, with a convertible dinette providing an extra bed. If you need dedicated bunks, see our picks for the best Class C RV with bunk beds.
On our list, they run from 20’4″ to 27’1″ long. Most cutaway-chassis models are about 8’4″ wide and around 11’6″ tall, while the ProMaster-based Resa is narrower at 7’6″ and about 10’3″ tall. When it comes to weight, these small Class C motorhomes boast GVWRs ranging from 9,350 to 14,500 pounds, and their GCWRs are roughly 11,500 to 22,000 pounds.
It depends on the chassis. On our list, the tow ratings range from 2,500 to 8,000 pounds. The Freedom Elite 19HE and 21HE, Coleman 19CX, and Eddie Bauer 25EBF are rated at 8,000 pounds. The College Avenue 2201S, Redhawk 24B, and Forester 2441DS handle 7,500 pounds, and the Redhawk SE 20LF and 22CF and the Forester LE 2151S handle 5,000 pounds. The narrower Resa 19DC is the outlier at 2,500 pounds.
None of these will fit in a single standard space. A typical US parking space is 7.5 to 9 feet wide and 16 to 20 feet long, while even the shortest Class C here is just over 20 feet and about 7’6″ wide. Plan on two spaces end-to-end or a pull-through spot. If you truly need to fit in one space, consider Class B camper vans.
For more options, see our list of the best Class C RVs.
Which small Class C motorhome is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments below!
The post The Best Small Class C Motorhomes of 2027 appeared first on Camping World Blog.
