Rental company field guide

Cruise America review

Cruise America offers a straightforward take on the North American RV holiday.

Explore the fleet

Profile reviewed and updated on

Background

Company overview

Robert Smalley Sr. founded the business in 1972. It began as American Land Cruiser with twelve vehicles, and his sons Bob Jr. and Randall helped develop the company. Budget Group acquired it in 1997; the Smalley family later bought it back. The business has been wholly employee-owned since 2014.

Cruise America, Inc. is based in Mesa, Arizona. Its Canadian operation uses the Cruise Canada brand, with Cruise Canada, Inc. identified as the Canadian company. Both sit within the same rental offering, alongside a business selling used RVs.

The network combines dedicated rental and sales centres with local agencies. Rentals are arranged through the company’s centres and agencies, with vehicles booked by category.

Our verdict

Editorial review

The appeal lies in usable holiday accommodation rather than refinement. Cruise America’s conventional layouts and choice of optional equipment make sense for travellers who know how much comfort they need and what they can bring themselves. Mileage and optional equipment add to the nightly vehicle rate.

Our main reservation is consistency. The customer accounts contain both successful rentals and disrupted journeys, so dependable preparation matters more to our assessment than decorative features.

Good points

  • Collection points beyond the main gateways.The US network reaches smaller places such as Anniston and Flagstaff as well as major arrival cities. That gives travellers more starting points when they already live in the country or are combining the rental with another part of a trip.
  • Helpful local teams.Customer accounts from Carson, Henderson and Delta describe patient explanations, friendly service and straightforward dealings with staff. For a renter learning unfamiliar controls, that time and attention are a useful part of the service.
  • Preparation can begin before the handover.The rental resources bring together orientation material, assistance guides and explanations of individual onboard systems. This gives a first-time renter something concrete to work through before facing all the controls at collection.

Things to consider

  • Vehicle preparation is uneven in customer accounts.Reports from Carson and Delta include cleaning shortcomings and defective equipment, alongside accounts of clean, well-functioning vehicles. That variation weakens the reassurance a renter can take from choosing a familiar category.
  • A support contact does not always mean a quick solution.One customer describes useful help during the trip, while others report assistance that failed to resolve the problem. The practical concern is the time an unresolved fault can take out of a holiday, particularly when it affects equipment used every day.

Vehicle categories

Cruise America fleet

30’ Large — Cruise America

Class C motorhome

30’ Large

Class C motorhome

Seats
7
Sleeps
7
Toilet
Yes
Shower
Yes
Transmission
Automatic
25’ Standard — Cruise America

Class C motorhome

25’ Standard

Class C motorhome

Seats
5
Sleeps
5
Toilet
Yes
Shower
Yes
Transmission
Automatic
21’ Compact — Cruise America

Class C motorhome

21’ Compact

Class C motorhome

Seats
4
Sleeps
4
Toilet
Yes
Shower
Yes
Transmission
Automatic
Ultra Compact — Cruise America

Class C motorhome

Ultra Compact

Class C motorhome

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
Yes
Shower
Yes
Transmission
Automatic

The Ultra Compact changes the campsite requirements

Despite its name, this is still a Class C motorhome. It has a rear bed, a toilet and shower, an electric fridge and an electric kitchen. There is no generator: the living-area heating, air conditioning and water heater require an external electrical connection. A pitch with electric hook-up is therefore central to using those comforts.

The Ultra Compact is offered at Bozeman, Denver, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle in the US, and Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. It is not part of the Halifax range.

Locations

Cruise America pickup locations

Open each country to see its pickup locations.

United States 120

  • Anniston 512 South Quintard Avenue, Anniston, AL, 36201

  • Enterprise 818 North Ouida St, Enterprise, AL, 36330

  • Anchorage 2230 Cinnabar Loop, Anchorage, AK, 99507

  • Flagstaff 2220 S. Flagstaff Ranch Rd., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001

  • Phoenix (Mesa) 11 West Hampton Ave., Mesa, AZ, 85210

  • Prescott (Chino Valley) 2895 State Hwy 89, Chino Valley, AZ, 86323

  • Tucson 3101 E Prince Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85716

  • Yuma 10541 S Frontage Rd, Yuma, AZ, 85365

  • Antioch 2425 Willow Ave, Antioch, CA, 94509

  • Bakersfield 1300 Ogden St., Bakersfield, CA, 93305

  • Castroville 11455 Wood St #1, Castroville, CA, 95012

  • Costa Mesa 2624 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627

  • Fillmore 437 Main Street, Fillmore, CA, 93015

  • Fresno (Clovis) 707 Jefferson Avenue, Clovis, CA, 93612

  • Indio 84420 Cabazon Rd, Indio, CA, 92201

  • Lake Elsinore 16831 Grand Ave, Lake Elsinore, CA, 92530

  • Los Angeles (Carson) 2233 E. 223rd. St., Carson, CA, 90810

  • Los Angeles (Downey) 8460 Telegraph Rd, Downey, CA, 90240

  • Oceanside 2372A Industry Street, Oceanside, CA, 92054

  • Riverside 2822 Main Street, Riverside, CA, 92501

  • Sacramento (East) 8631 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA, 95826

  • Sacramento (Olivehurst) 4131 Hazel St, Olivehurst, CA, 95961

  • San Clemente 63 Via Pico Plaza, San Clemente, CA, 92672

  • San Diego (Lakeside) 13606 Hwy 8 Business, Lakeside, CA, 92040

  • San Diego (Spring Valley) 8637 Troy Street, Spring Valley, CA, 91977

  • San Francisco (Newark) 5623 John Muir Drive, Newark, CA, 94560

  • San Mateo 1899 S Norfolk St., San Mateo, CA, 94403

  • San Pablo 3131 San Pablo Dam Road, San Pablo, CA, 94803

  • Santa Rosa 3150 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407

  • Stockton 3240 E Hammer Lane Ste A, Stockton, CA, 95212

  • Vacaville 1055 Vaughn Road, Dixon, CA, 95620

  • Victorville 14185 Palmdale Rd, Victorville, CA, 92392

  • Yucca Valley 56928 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA, 92284

  • Colorado Springs 2000 Barrett Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80926

  • Denver (Frederick) 4180 Busch Place, Frederick, CO, 80504

  • Hartford 150 Enfield St, Enfield, CT, 06082

  • Bradenton 5734 15th St East, Bradenton, FL, 34203

  • Delray Beach 13400 S Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL, 33484

  • Fort Myers 7011 Alico Rd, Ste #1, Fort Myers, FL, 33912

  • Ft. Lauderdale 2051 Griffin Rd. Lot 3, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33312

  • Ft. Pierce 3223 North 25th St., Ft Pierce, FL, 34946

  • Jacksonville (Yulee) 850700 US-17, Yulee, FL, 32097

  • Miami (North) 8201 N. Miami Ave., Miami, FL, 33150

  • Miami (South) 23501 S Dixie Hwy, Princeton, FL, 33032

  • Orlando (Kissimmee) 2915 N. Orange Blossom Tr., Kissimmee, FL, 34744

  • Pensacola 6216 Hwy 90, Milton, FL, 32570

  • Tallahassee 346 KOA Rd, Monticello, FL, 32344

  • Tampa (Riverview) 6509 US Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL, 33578

  • Atlanta (McDonough) 537 Industrial Blvd, McDonough, GA, 30253

  • Atlanta (North) 3446 Buford Hwy, Duluth, GA, 30096

  • Boise (Caldwell) 6213 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID, 83607

  • Idaho Falls 3170 E 113 North Ste 1B, Idaho Falls, ID, 83401

  • Chicago (E Dundee) 895 Richardson Rd, E Dundee, IL, 60118

  • Chicago (Lakemoor) 907 W Il Rte 120, Lakemoor, IL, 60051

  • Chicago (St. Charles) 102 S 13th Ave, St. Charles, IL, 60174

  • Chicago (OHare Area) 2732 Mannheim Rd, Franklin Park, IL, 60131

  • Chicago (Plainfield) 23824 W Andrew Rd #105, Plainfield, IL, 60585

  • Indianapolis (Plainfield) 4164 E US 40, Plainfield, IN, 46168

  • South Bend 850 Fellows St, South Bend, IN, 46601

  • Baton Rouge 1625 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802

  • Germantown 19590 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD, 20876

  • Boston (Bellingham) 1114 S Main Street, Bellingham, MA, 02019

  • Boston (Lawrence) 637 Andover Street, Lawrence, MA, 01843

  • Boston (Worcester) 156 SW Cutoff, Worcester, MA, 01604

  • Grand Rapids 12315 Northland Drive, Cedar Springs, MI, 49319

  • Westland 1118 S Newburgh Rd., Westland, MI, 48186

  • St. Paul (Hastings) 3175 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN, 55033

  • Joplin 1134 Jaguar Rd, Joplin, MO, 64804

  • Kansas City 1650 Southwest Market St, Hwy 50 & 291 South, Lee`s Summit, MO, 64081

  • Billings 720 Central Ave, Billings, MT, 59102

  • Bozeman 69 New Ventures Drive, Bozeman, MT, 59718

  • Missoula 12787 US Highway 93 S, P.O. Box 1538, Lolo, MT, 59847

  • Omaha 4114 S 90th Street, Omaha, NE, 68127

  • Las Vegas 551 N. Gibson Rd, Henderson, NV, 89011

  • Las Vegas (North) 1700 Industrial Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89102

  • Reno (Sparks) 465 S. Rock Blvd., Sparks, NV, 89431

  • Boston (Hampton) 121 Lafayette Rd, North Hampton, NH, 03862

  • Jersey City 11 Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ, 07302

  • Kenvil (Morris County) 574 US-46, Kenvil, NJ, 07847

  • Trenton (Mt Laurel) 2969 Marne Highway, Mt Laurel, NJ, 08054

  • Albuquerque 9525 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87121

  • Buffalo (Hamburg) 4923 Camp Rd., Hamburg, NY, 14075

  • Islip (Bay Shore) 1490 Sunrise Hwy, Bay Shore, NY, 11706

  • Rochester 912 State Rt 104, Ontario, NY, 14519

  • Charlotte 8533 Old Concord Road, Charlotte, NC, 28213

  • Charlotte (Monroe) 4804 Hwy 74 W, Monroe, NC, 28110

  • Durham 5412 US-70, Durham, NC, 27705

  • Fayetteville 6216 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28303

  • Fayetteville (Tar Heel) 397 Tar Heel Ferry Rd, Tar Heel, NC, 28392

  • Cincinnati 2619 Bobmeyer Rd, Fairfield, OH, 45014

  • Cleveland (Newburgh Heights) 4133 E 49th Street, Newburgh Heights, OH, 44105

  • Columbus (Hilliard) 3790 Scioto Darby Rd, Hilliard, OH, 43026

  • Oklahoma City 950 N Council Rd, Oklahoma City, OK, 73127

  • Eugene (Albany) 6225 Old Salem Rd NE, Albany, OR, 97321

  • Portland (Sherwood) 25500 SW Grahams Ferry Rd., Sherwood, OR, 97140

  • Harrisburg (Carlisle) 1122 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA, 17013

  • Philadelphia (Limerick) 444 W Ridge Pike, Limerick, PA, 19468

  • Pittsburgh (Carnegie) 23 Chestnut St, Carnegie, PA, 15106

  • Wilkes Barre (Kingston) 445 Pierce St, Kingston, PA, 18704

  • York (Red Lion) 800 W. Maple St., Red Lion, PA, 17356

  • Beaufort 1555 Salem Rd., Beaufort, SC, 29902

  • Charlotte (Rock Hill) 521 Anderson Road South, Rock Hill, SC, 29730

  • Rapid City 3465 Sturgis Road, Rapid City, SD, 57702

  • Chattanooga 3500 N Hawthorne St, Chattanooga, TN, 37406

  • Knoxville 2305 Hatcher Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37921

  • Nashville (Lebanon) 443 Tott St, Lebanon, TN, 37087

  • Austin (North) 10106 N IH 35, Austin, TX, 78753

  • Dallas 2908 Samuell Blvd #100, Dallas, TX, 75223

  • Houston (Kingwood) 22532 Loop 494, Kingwood, TX, 77339

  • Houston (West) 13505 Alief Clodine Road, Houston, TX, 77082

  • Lubbock 7405 Marsha Sharp Fwy., Lubbock, TX, 79407

  • San Antonio 16415 S Access Rd, Canyon Lake, TX, 78133

  • Salt Lake City 4125 South State Street, Millcreek, UT, 84107

  • St. George 1295 E Red Hills Pkwy, St. George, UT, 84770

  • Fredericksburg (Locust Grove) 32415 Constitution Hwy, Locust Grove, VA, 22508

  • Manassas (Warrenton) 6599 Merchant Pl, Warrenton, VA, 20187

  • Richmond 3308 N Arthur ASHE Blvd., Richmond, VA, 23230

  • Olympia (Shelton) 120 SE Brewer Rd, Shelton, WA, 98584

  • Seattle (Everett) 12201 WA-99, Everett, WA, 98204

  • Spokane 1917 Hayford Road, Spokane, WA, 99224

Canada 5

  • Calgary 2980 26TH Street NE, Calgary, AB, T1Y6R7

  • Vancouver (Delta) 7731 Vantage Way, Delta, BC, V4G1A6

  • Halifax 3070 Highway 1 (Sackville Dr.), Upper Sackville, NS, B4E3C9

  • Toronto (Bolton) 12275 Hwy 50, Bolton, ON, L7E1M1

  • Montreal (St-Eustache) 705 Rue Dubois, Saint-Eustache, QC, J7P3W1

Before booking

Practical facts

The policies, inclusions and services that are specific to a Cruise America rental.

TopicWhat to know
Drivers and documentsDrivers must be at least 21 and bring a valid physical driving licence. Every driver must attend collection and sign the agreement; overseas visitors also need their passport where required. The 2026/27 tour-operator packages advertise no fee for additional drivers or drivers under 25.
Payment cardsUS direct rentals accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Canada excludes Discover, debit and Interac. Virtual and prepaid cards and cash are not accepted.
Booking payment and security depositDirect rentals require a booking payment of US$300 in the US or C$300 in Canada, followed by a refundable security deposit of at least US$500 or C$500 at collection. Event rentals can require a higher deposit. The security deposit is separate from the amount for which the renter may be liable for damage.
CancellationFor ordinary direct rentals returning to the same depot, the booking payment is refundable with at least seven days’ notice. One-way booking payments are non-refundable; event bookings require at least 45 days’ notice for a refund.
MileageStandard direct-hire charges are US$0.39 per mile in the US and C$0.39 per kilometre in Canada. The initial estimate for a return-to-base rental is 100 miles or 160 km per night; for a one-way trip it is 250 miles or 400 km. This distance is paid for in the estimate, not supplied free. Direct rentals are adjusted to the distance actually driven, while unused prepaid distance in the 2026/27 tour-operator packages is not refundable.
Preparation, environmental charges and taxesThe 2026/27 tour-operator packages carry a preparation charge of US$50 in the US or C$50 in Canada, plus an environmental charge of US$9.95 or C$9.95 per vehicle. Taxes and local charges are additional components of the total. For example, the 2026/27 terms for Denver include US$5.34 per night for the first 30 nights.
Generator useWhere a generator is fitted, direct rentals charge US$3.50 per running hour in the US or C$3.50 in Canada. The 2026/27 tour-operator packages also describe an optional unlimited-use arrangement at US$8 or C$8 per day.
Kitchen and bedding kitsOptional kits can be reserved in advance. The kitchen kit costs US$125 per vehicle in the US or C$125 in Canada and includes cooking equipment, crockery and cutlery. The personal kit costs US$75 or C$75 per person and supplies bedding and towels. Neither kit is automatically included in the direct rental.
Damage responsibility and Zero Damage PlanThe basic contractual damage responsibility is US$3,000 per incident in the US or C$3,000 in Canada, subject to the rental agreement. The optional Zero Damage Plan costs US$24.95 or C$24.95 per night, charged for a maximum of 30 days. It is a contractual reduction of liability, not insurance or third-party cover. Exclusions include interior damage, reversing damage, overhead impacts, freezing, wrong fuel and prohibited use; breaches of the agreement can remove liability limits.
Collection and returnStandard collection is 1–4pm, with return 9–11am. Collection includes a mandatory orientation lasting about 25 minutes. Collection on the day of arrival in North America is allowed, but a delayed flight does not extend the handover window. Returning early does not produce a refund.
Getting to the depotOrdinary direct rentals leave the transfer to the traveller. Collection points can be well outside the city they serve: Carson is approximately 18 miles from LAX, while the San Francisco depot in Newark is approximately 32 miles from SFO and 14 miles from Oakland Airport.
One-way rentalsReturning to another depot must be arranged in advance and carries a route-dependent charge. For 2026/27 tour-operator packages, domestic one-way fees range from US$350 to US$1,000 in the US or C$350 to C$1,000 in Canada.
Borders and permitted routesUS–Canada travel is allowed with return to the country of hire; international one-way returns are not permitted. Canadian residents face additional restrictions when hiring a US motorhome. Travel into Mexico is prohibited, and the rental also restricts certain roads, summer desert travel and access to Manhattan and tunnels.
PetsPets are allowed. The vehicle must be returned clean, including after travelling with an animal.
Winter useWinter preparation against freezing can take the water system out of use. At Denver, this can mean the sink, shower and toilet cannot be used, even though the vehicle has heating.
Breakdown assistanceTravelers Assistance handles breakdowns and accidents on +1 800-334-4110, with WhatsApp messaging on +1 480-605-2921 for both brands and countries. Obtain approval before arranging repairs or a jump-start. A spare wheel is supplied, but the vehicle does not carry wheel-changing tools.
Return conditionReturn with the waste-water tanks empty and the interior clean. The 2026/27 tour-operator terms also require fuel and LPG to be at the levels received. Smoking inside is prohibited.
Longer rentalsThe long-term offer discounts the nightly rental and distance charges by 5% for 21–30 nights and by 10% for 31 nights or more. It covers motorised models across North America and cannot be combined with other discounts.

Quick answers

Cruise America FAQ

Can I request hand controls?

Yes. Cruise America accepts requests for hand controls with at least 30 days’ notice; a steering-wheel spinner knob is not included. This provision concerns driving controls and does not establish wheelchair access or an adapted bathroom. Discuss the particular access requirements before choosing a vehicle.

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