Best Camp Stoves For Campervans & Off-Grid Camping

Having a camp stove in your campervan allows you cook awesome meals in your van kitchen. Plus it will save you money in the long run if you can cook most of your meals inside your van.

And don’t worry, campstoves have improved since the days of your dad’s old Coleman campstove (though those still exist and are still the best budget option). There are lots of great camp stoves for campervans on the market, and the one you choose may depend on some key factors.

For example, storage space, fuel type, dual/single burner, indoor/outdoor use, and of course price. 

Below we have listed the best camp stoves for campervans, and explained their key features so you can choose the one that fits you!

This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

---

Propane vs. Butane vs. Electric

But first, we need to identify the 3 different types of camp stoves that are good for campervans: propane, butane and electric (induction). 

Propane Camp Stoves

Propane camp stoves are the most common, but does require proper ventilation. You can find propane at most grocery stores, department stores, or gas stations. 

We use the little green propane canisters, but you can also mount a large propane tank either in an airtight container inside your van that vents out the bottom of your van or mount a tank under your van.

Propane is heavier than air, so both systems are designed to move propane down and away from your living space.

If you’re interested in mounting a propane tank inside your van check out Far Out Ride’s Propane System. 

Butane Camp Stoves

Butane is another great option for the best camp stoves for camper vans. Canisters of butane are a little harder to find in stores.

But it is more efficient than propane and is cheaper.

The main difference between the two fuels, are that propane fuel works at low temperatures (down to -42 degrees Fahrenheit) and butane basically stops working around freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit).

Therefore, propane is more reliable for vanlife because it works below freezing and is easier to find.

Electric Camp Stoves

Another option for best camp stoves for campervans are electric induction stovetops. But they use a ton of electricity, so it’s harder to power them in vanlife.

You will need to have a decent sized gas generator, an obscene amount of solar panels, or be plugged into shore power if you plan to use an electric stovetop regularly. 

This is not a great option to power with solar if you are often camping in cloudy or rainy areas. But if you spend time in sunny areas like the American Southwest then it could be a decent camp stove option for your campervan. 

Electric cooktops are a safer option (assuming your electrical wiring is done properly) because there’s no chance of harmful gasses.

If an electric stovetop is your top choice then check out our post: Vanlife Solar: Beginner’s Guide To Solar Components to figure out how much solar power you will need to power your electric stovetop. 

---

Best Propane Camp Stoves 

Here is a compiled list of the best Propane camp stoves.

Camp Chef Everest:

The Camp Chef Everest is the camp stove Jake and I have and we think it is the best camp stove for camper vans.

It is a large two-burner stove with a great range from simmering to high heat which is essential when cooking more elaborate meals.

The Camp Chef Everest has two 20,000 BTU burners with matchless ignition, making this one of the most powerful camp stoves on the market. The burners are also located a good distance apart, allowing you to use two large pots or pans at the same time to make cooking large meals a breeze!

The stove comes with splash guards and wind shields on both sides which is great for keeping the surrounding area clean.

We use the little green propane canisters which last us about 3+ weeks, so it is pretty efficient. If you are interested in installing a bulk tank, you can use this hose for easy attachment.  But again, make sure you properly vent a large propane tank.

We also had issues with the hose that was provided with the Camp Chef Everest Camp Stove, so we bought a better flexible replacement propane regulator.

Check Price For The Camp Chef Everest: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com

---

Camp Chef Stove/Oven Combo:

If you are looking for one of the best camp stoves for camper vans that also has an oven, the Camp Chef Stove/Oven combo is the best choice.

Unfortunately, it was out of stock when we were building out our van, so we decided to go with just an Everest camp stove (listed above). But, if you like to bake or cook things in an oven, this is the best option for you!

The Camp Chef Stove/Oven heats up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit with the heat power output of 3,000 BTUs and can run up to 7 hours on a 1lb propane canister.

And the oven can fit up to a 9 x 13 pan inside. Making your camper van kitchen meals limitless!

The camp stove two two-burner power output is 7,500 BTUs each so with the space of this camp stove you could make a full-on Thanksgiving dinner in this bad boy!

But it is really quite large, so I would only recommend it to people who know they will use it regularly. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth the precious space it takes up.

Check Price For The Camp Chef Stove/Oven Combo: Amazon.com | Walmart.com

---

Coleman Two-Burner Camping Stove:

A budget-friendly option that is one of the best camp stoves for campervans is the Coleman Two-Burner Camping Stove.

This is the stovetop Jake and I initially started vanlife with and it is great, but we found the simmer control to be almost non-existent, so we would often burn food if we didn’t keep a close eye on it.

But it is still a great option if you are looking for a less expensive camp stove that can cook food fast.

It is a two burner stovetop with a power output of 10,000 BTU’s each.

The stove top also comes with a cover and wind shields on each side making it great for keeping the surrounding area clean. It also has a smaller footprint so it will take up less space then the Camp Chef Everest, but you might not have as much surface space to cook. 

Check Price For The Coleman Two-Burner Camping Stove: REI.com | Amazon.com | Walmart.com

---

Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove, Single Burner:

If you won’t be doing a ton of cooking in your van, you might consider a one burner stovetop, because it takes up less space in your campervan. One of the best camp stoves for campervans for a single burner is the Coleman Powerpack Propane Stove.

This stovetop can fit up to a 12-inch pan and outputs 7,500 BTU’s for cooking. 

There are a few drawbacks to having a minimal campstove, which is no wind shields and longer cook times for meals.

But if you don’t think you will be cooking a lot of meals in your campervan, then a single burner campstove might be the right choice for you. 

Check Price For The Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove: Amazon.com | Walmart.com

---

Best Butane Camp Stoves

These are the best butane camp stoves on the market today.

Eureka SPRK Camp Stove:

The Eureka! SPRK+ Camp Stove is a great option for a single burner butane camp stove. It fits into a small footprint but still packs 11,500 BTUs through the burner, but still has decent simmer control. Plus it has a built in auto-ignition rotary dial.

The butane canisters slide right into an internal compartment on the side. The Eureka! SPRK+ has adjustable feet to level the stove.

The Eureka SPRK+ has some wind protection, but not quite enough for very windy outdoor use.

Or the Eureka SPRK Camp Stove is original version of this campstove with slightly worse features. It has only 10,000 BTUs and less precise simmer control.

Check Price Price For The Eureka SPRK Camp Stove: Amazon.com | REI.com

---

Coleman Single Burner Camp Stove 

The Coleman Single Burner Butane Stove is a budget-friendly camp stove option for campervans. The butane canister fits right inside the housing for an incredibly sleek stove. And the fuel canister just drops into the slot to connect, rather than the normal threaded “screw-on” canisters.

The burner power outputs 7,650 BTU’s, but does require a match or lighter to start. 

Butane definitely has its drawbacks, such as harder to find in stores, and doesn’t work below freezing.

But this Coleman Single Burner Butane Stove is the most compact on the list of gas stoves.  It’s sleek design makes it easy to store away when not in use.

The Coleman Classic a great camp stove for small vans and car camping.

Check Price For The Coleman Single Burner Camp Stove: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com

---

Gas One Dual Burner 

The Gas One Dual Burner stove is a great camp stove option for campervans because it can run off both butane and propane. Therefore, if you primarily want to cook with butane, but have trouble finding it in certain stores, then you can always pick up a propane canister until you find more butane. 

The dual burners have matchless ignition and outputs 8,000 BTU’s for each burner.

This stovetop is made of stainless steel making it easy to clean. But there is no cover or wind shields so wind can make it less efficient when cooking the great outdoors.

The Gas One Dual Burner is a great option if you want to cook with both butane and propane. 

Check Price For The Gas One Dual Burner: Amazon.com | Walmart.com | Homedepot.com

---

Electric Stove Tops

NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop:

If electrical power is not an issue in your campervan, then the NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop is one of the best camp stoves for campervans.

But do note you will need a magnetic pot or pan to work properly with this electric induction cooktop. If the stovetop doesn’t sense a magnetic connection it will automatically turn off. But most stainless steel and cast irons will work with this stovetop. 

There are 6 different programmed temperature settings built-in, and in addition, there are 52 different temperature increments (10 degree increments) between 100-575 degrees.

There are also 3 different wattage settings, 600, 900, and 1300.

This electric cooktop is one of the best on the market but will drain your batteries quickly.

Check Price For The NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop: Amazon.com | Walmart.com | Homedepot.com

---

Sunavo Portable Induction Cooktop

One of the more budget-friendly electric camp stoves for campervans is the Sunavo Portable Induction Cooktop.

It can work from as low as 100 watts to as high as 1800 watts.

There are 15 different temperature ratings from 100 degrees to 460 degrees. You must also use a magnetic pot or pan to work properly with this induction stove.

This electric stove top will run a little more efficiently on low temperatures, but still requires a sizeable amount of solar power. 

Check Price For The Sunavo Portable Induction Cooktop: Amazon.com

---

Backpacking Stoves:

If you only plan to cook meals from time to time, you might want to consider a backpacking stove to save space. And if you like backpacking, it serves as a dual purpose! 

MSR Pocket Rocket 2

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is just about the smallest and lightest backpacking stove available. It is extremely popular among the ultralight backpacking community because it packs down small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

But the compromise is durability and stability.

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 has an adjustable flame so you can cook on simmer or crank it up to a rapid boil. If you don’t plan to cook often in your van, it might be nice to have this around for occasional use.

It’s much better suited to boiling water or heating simple one-pot meals, rather than cooking elaborate meals.

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com

---

Jetboil Flash Cooking System

The other most popular backpacking stove is the Jetboil Flash Cooking System.

Plus it comes with its own pot and insulated sleeve.

It boils water faster than anything else in an average time of 3 minutes and 20 seconds. The Jetboil starts via a push button, making it easy to get the water started boiling quickly.

But if you want to use other pots and pans with it, you need an extra attachment. 

The one negative is it is designed for boiling only, so it doesn’t have an adjustable flame for simmering capabilities. Making it a bit expensive for only boiling water in your campervan.

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com

---

What To Consider When Choosing A Camp Stove For Vanlife

Here’s what to consider when choosing a camp stove for vanlife.

Fuel Type

As we covered in the beginning of this post, fuel type is an important consideration when choosing a camp stove. The three biggest options are Propane, Butane, and Electric.

Electric is very expensive to power because it requires a lot of electricity. They can work well for campground-campers who are often plugged in to hookups. But for vanlifers who stay off-gird with solar or gas generators, it’s more of a challenge to use electric burner stovetops.

Butane is a popular choice for smaller single-burner stoves, lightweight stoves, backpacking stoves, etc. It burns more efficiently than propane and is cheaper. But butane does not work below freezing.

Propane is the most popular choice because of it’s abundance and ability to burn in most climates.

With either propane or butane you need to be careful about fumes. Make sure you have good ventilation for your campervan. And it’s not a bad idea to install a propane or butane detector inside your van.

Frequency Of Use

Be honest with yourself about how often you will cook on your camp stove. If you are someone who cooks daily, then it may be worth it to spend more money and dedicate more space to your stove.

But if you seldom cook, then you may be better off with a smaller, cheaper stove to save room for other priorities.

Size / Number Of Burners

Depending on your needs, and bigger or smaller stove may suit you better. Some stoves are not adequate for large pots or pans. For example, you can’t easily cook with a 12″ frying pan on a small backpacking stove.

Also, couples and families will also benefit more from having a two-burner stove. Single burners are better for solo vanlifers and people who cook mostly one-pot meals.

And since space is limited inside a van, you want to make sure you have space to store your camp stove when not in use.

Portability

Having a portable camp stove gives you the ability to cook outside. You can take the stove out to a picnic table or camping table to cook outdoors.

And if you do like to cook outside, then prioritize getting a camp stove with windscreens for windy conditions.

Heat Output

The heat output of camp stove burners are measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). A higher BTU means it will be able to produce more heat. This can make it faster to boil water and hotter for searing food.

However, in our experience maximum heat is not the shortfall of camp stoves. In fact, it’s often the opposite.

Many camp stoves lack the ability to simmer on a very low setting. Depending on the type of cooking you do, this may or may not be a huge issue.

---

Takeaway: Best Camp Stoves For Campervans

Having one of the best camping stoves in your campervan is a huge perk that greatly expands your culinary options. Making meals inside your van will help cut costs and make life much easier on the road.

If you plan to travel to remote locations, then it’s nearly essential because grocery stores and restaurants are not abundant.

The camp stoves listed above are all awesome for vanlife.

Also check out: Best Fridge Options For A Campervan Conversion | Ultimate Guide

---

Save These ‘Best Camp Stoves for Campervans’ For Later