The Honda Odyssey is a popular choice when it comes to selecting a family minivan.
The average Honda Odyssey can tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg). The towing capacity for a Honda Odyssey varies depending on the year:
| Year of Honda Odyssey | Towing Capacity |
| 2013 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2014 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2015 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2016 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2017 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2018 | 3,000-3,500 lbs |
| 2019 | 3,000-3,500 lbs |
| 2020 | 3,500 lbs |
| 2021 | 3,500 lbs |
Source: Car and Driver
This table is a general representation of the towing capacity according to the year of the Honda Odyssey. There are more specific details based on which trim of the Honda Odyssey you have.
To find the exact towing capacity for your specific Honda Odyssey, you can check the owner’s manual. The site Car and Driver covers from 2007 to 2021 Honda Odysseys.
On average the maximum towing capacity for a Honda Odyssey is between 3,000 to 3,500 pounds. It may sound like a decent amount but that range can be the same as the standard dry weight of a travel trailer without accounting for gear or passengers.
Dry weight refers to the weight of the trailer when it is empty. Be sure to keep track of the weight you load inside your vehicle. If you aren’t careful, before you know it you may reach or exceed your Honda Odyssey’s maximum towing capacity.
The general rule of thumb to go by is to follow the 80/20 principle when it comes to towing. Most Honda Odysseys can handle towing 3,500 lbs so you should aim to keep your load under 2,800 lbs.
Can a Honda Odyssey Tow a Camper?
2014 Wolf Pup Travel Trailer at the campsite with our 2007 Honda Odyssey
Yes, a Honda Odyssey can tow a camper or travel trailer. There are various types of campers a Honda Odyssey can handle. However, it’s best to stick with smaller and shorter length campers that typically weigh less. The longer the heavier generally speaking. By sticking within a lighter range, you can ensure you shouldn’t have any towing problems.
Here’s a table of a few different campers that a Honda Odyssey can tow:
| Camper | Dry Weight | Length (in feet) |
| Pop Up Camper | 600-2,500 lbs | 8-16′ (box only) |
| Hybrid Trailer | 2,000-3,000 lbs | 16-20′ (unextended) |
| Teardrop Trailer | 700-3,000 lbs | 6-21′ |
| Airstream | 2,000-3,500 lbs | 16′ |
| Travel Trailer | 2,000-3,000 lbs | 10-20′ |
All of the dry weights within the table fall under or within the towing capacity range for a Honda Odyssey between 2,000 to 3,500 lbs. Keep in mind you do not want to max out your towing capacity on the dry weight as that does not include all of your camping gear that will add additional weight.
This means you do not want to select a larger pop-up, hybrid, Airstream, or travel trailer on the maximum end of your towing capacity.
For example, the camper shown in the image is a 2014 Cherokee by Forest River Wolf Pup Series M-16BH. It weighs about 2,600 lbs which leaves an extra 900 lbs of margin to account for gear and passengers.
Can a Honda Odyssey Tow a Trailer?
As seen in the video, yes, a Honda Odyssey can tow a small cargo trailer for carrying a dirt bike, motorcycle, ATV, or UTV. The weights listed in the following chart do not include the weight of the trailer.
| Vehicle | Dry Weight |
| Dirt Bike | 100-250 lbs |
| Motorcycle | 150-1,000 lbs |
| ATV | 200-900 lbs |
| UTV | 500-2,000 lbs |
Can a Honda Odyssey Tow a Boat?
Yes, a Honda Odyssey can tow a boat such as a Jon boat, small outboard boat, jet ski, a set of kayaks, or a canoe. The weights listed in the following chart do not include the weight of the trailer.
| Boat | Dry Weight |
| Jon boat | 100-1,000 lbs |
| Small fishing boat | 600-1,000 lbs |
| Jet Ski | 300-1,100 lbs |
| Kayak | 25-130 lbs |
| Canoe | 50-100 lbs |
Can a Honda Odyssey Tow a Pop Up Camper?
Rockwood Freedom Pop Up at the campsite with our 2007 Honda Odyssey
Yes, a Honda Odyssey can tow a pop-up camper. As mentioned in the list of campers a Honda Odyssey can tow, tent trailers fall under the safe towing weight range.
For example, the pop-up camper shown in the image is a Forest River Rockwood Freedom. It weighs about 1,200 lbs leaving an extra 2,300 lbs of margin to account for gear and passengers.
How To Tow With a Honda Odyssey
To tow with a Honda Odyssey, you’ll need a few towing accessories. You may need additional towing gear depending on your specific vehicle and towing setup. These are a few key pieces of equipment that come to mind:
1. Trailer Hitch
A trailer hitch, or a hidden hitch, is essential for towing with a Honda Odyssey.
2. Trailer Wiring Kit
For connecting your trailer lights, you’ll need a wiring kit.
3. Trailer Brake Controller
Depending on what state you live in or plan to travel to, there are specific driving laws for trailer brakes. Trailer brake controllers also improve the overall safety of towing your trailer on the road.
Should You Upgrade To a Truck for Towing?
After many years of towing the pop-up with a Honda Odyssey, after upgrading to a travel trailer, it was time to upgrade the tow vehicle as well to a Chevy Silverado. The minivan worked well for the pop-up weight, yet the travel trailer was pushing its limits.
While the truck may seem like overkill for such a small camper, now we have the extra breathing room to tow gracefully well under our towing capacity of 10,000 lbs. If we want to upgrade the camper again in a few years, no need to change the tow vehicle.
While upgrading to a truck from a minivan is not necessary for towing, it opens the doors to more towing power and smoother driving.
Should You Tow With a Honda Odyssey?
The question of whether or not you should even tow with a Honda Odyssey is valid. To be clear, yes, a Honda Odyssey does work well for towing small loads like the campers and boats mentioned above.
However, if you live in areas with more hills, then maybe you shouldn’t tow at all with a Honda Odyssey. Putting the additional strain on the engine over long distances may not be worth it. You’ll also feel every hill when driving closer to its towing capacity.
For us, living and traveling primarily in Florida where it’s very flat, towing the pop-up camper and even the travel trailer worked just fine.
Honda Odyssey Alternatives for Regular Towing
If you’re not sold on towing with a Honda Odyssey, you can opt for a more beefy family vehicle or SUV such as:
- Ford Expedition
- Chevy Tahoe
To Conclude
Honda Odysseys are great family minivans. They work well to shuttle around children, journey on road trips, and have the towing capacity to handle a small camper or boat.
With all that flexibility, the Honda Odyssey is hard to beat. As a towing vehicle, it’s good enough. However, if you need more towing power, or plan on towing more frequently, you may be better off choosing a truck or SUV.