What Is the Best Portable AC for RVing? 4 Top Picks

Whether you have an overhead AC and need more cooling power or you don’t and you’re melting away in your RV (hold on!), portable ACs are amazing at cooling down most RVs.

Plus, they’re relatively affordable considering their value and come with a host of the latest smart features (something most RV ACs don’t offer). 

With that said, there are *a lot* of portable ACs on the market and some clearly work better than others. 

So, we’ve broken down our top picks for the best portable AC’s for RVing below to help you find one that works for you. 

Read on to find our picks for the best portable ACs:

What Is the Best Portable AC for RVing: 4 Top Picks

Below are our top picks for the best portable AC. We included a good variety of portable ACs, including a variety of:

• Price points
• Sizes
• And BTUs (i.e. cold generating power)

Let’s take a look:

1. Whynter ARC-14S

Great for larger RVs and trailers, the Whynter ARC-14S is the most powerful portable AC on this list, generating up to an impressive 9,500 BTUs and covering up to 500 square feet. 

As to be expected, that comes in a somewhat larger package. However, despite its power it still comes in close to the size of the other portable ACs listed here at under 36 inches.

2. Black and Decker BPACT08WT

Black and Decker’s 8,000 BTU portable AC unit is another great option for RVing, with it covering a fair amount of space with a good set of features (and a dependable brand).

The AC is a bit on the louder side, so you may or may not be able to deal with it while sleeping. However, it does an exceptional job cooling an average-sized RV rather quickly.

3. LG LP0621WSR

Great for campers and smaller trailers, the LG LP0621WSR is small but mighty, pumping out 6,000 BTUs. 

It measures just under 28 inches, making it the smallest portable AC on this list.

The unit can get a bit noisy if you’re running it at the highest setting, but at lower levels that are ideal for sleeping it runs quiet.

4. Whynter Elite Arc-122DS

The Elite ARC-122DS is the second Whynter portable AC on our list and the spot is well-deserved. 

It has great performance for a smaller portable AC at 6,775 BTUs, but most notably covers an area of 400 square feet, larger than the typical 250 range of portable ACs of its size and power. It comes in at just under 30 inches tall.

Can You Use a Portable AC In an RV?

Yes, portable ACs are safe to use within RVs. 

In fact, a portable AC can effectively cool the average-sized RV making it a decent replacement if you don’t have built-in AC (or simply need additional cooling). 

What Size AC Do You Need for Your RV?

Most RVs use a single AC unit, whether internal or portable. Some RVs such as longer Class Cs, fifth wheels, and Class A buses need two or even three AC units to properly cool the entire RV.

Stay Cool with a Portable AC

Even if you don’t have built-in AC within your RV, you can stay cool with portable ACs. 

Before purchasing a portable AC, make sure to verify what size space the AC you’re considering can cool to figure out if you can get by with one or you’ll need a second. 

Our recommendations above are just a few of the great portable AC brand choices out there. However, it’s important to note that there are a lot of low-quality products out there too.

Make sure to read through online reviews and, when in doubt, ask around on RV forums such as r/RVLiving to see what others think for a second opinion to make sure the AC you’re considering is a reliable brand.

No matter what portable AC you go with, we hope you find something that keeps you and your travel companions cool all season long!