Van Life

Simple and Satisfying Meals for Van Life – Veggie Edition

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meals for van life

So, you’ve downsized your life, quit your nine-to-five, and moved into your dream home on wheels. The days are all yours to spend as you like and the open road stretches out in front of you and the sun is shining on your brand-new lifestyle. Opportunity awaits, the sense of adventure is strong and all you’ve gotta do to stay satisfied is keep yourself clean, warm and fed.

Clean and warm are somewhat subjective terms, but what about food? Have you planned how to choose and store travel friendly food that won’t spoil, requires little or no refrigeration, and isn’t just the same old boring house menu? Are you planning on resorting to dehydrated packaged military style MRE meals or reconstituted powder designed for astronauts and space folk?

First, let’s talk about the tools required. In order to be Van Life’s next Gordon Ramsay, you should have (at least) a two-burner camping stove, preferably one with an oven underneath. A large cooking pot is essential, look for cast iron which is also campfire friendly. A good skillet or frying pan, a smaller pot and a kettle for water.

Utensils like a ladle, large mixing and serving spoons, a thong, a spatula, a whisk, a grater, measuring spoons, a masher, and a good set of knives. Use a range of plastic nesting bowls in various sizes which suit every need in the van. Pyrex casserole dishes are great for grilling and serving your culinary masterpiece. Don’t forget the tin opener!

I think you get the idea.

Table of Contents

f you sometimes feel restricted in the smaller space, are confused with what you can and cannot cook in your tiny kitchen or are otherwise dreading the thoughts of feeding yourself four times a day every day for the rest of your van-living life, fear not! We at VanFocused are here to help you master a few simple meals to fuel your adventures and keep you feeling full and healthy all-the-live-long-day.

If you want to awaken your taste-buds and broaden your horizons in the kitchen, add to your existing culinary repertoire, or try something brand new to you, check out the first in our series of easy, delicious and van friendly recipes. 

Preparing your own meals in your van is cost effective, satisfying, and easy once you get the hang of it! What are you waiting for?

Cooking a gourmet meal in a van is not out of reach with our unique, tried and tested recipes, using mostly shelf stable ingredients. These meals are guaranteed to fill you up, impress your guests AND save you money in expensive takeaways.

In this edition we are going vegetarian, and if you are currently a van dwelling carnivore, after reading our delicious, fresh and tasty ideas, you might just be converted. See what I did there? 

All our recipes are also easily fine-tuned to suit a vegan diet, check out the Make It Vegan section under each recipe! 

Happy eating vanners!

Breakfast

Breakfast is the best part of our day, no matter what time we happen to eat it. Some mornings we wake for sunrise and sit at the back door, dangling our feet and drinking coffee, watching the colors change the skies. On colder days we might sleep until noon, wake slowly and keep the van doors closed to conserve the heat.

Whichever kind of morning we have, it is always served with a generous amount of strong black coffee, to help our brains defog and get the day going with energy. We have detailed some of our favourite van breakfasts here, they are easy to assemble, quick to cook and always full of nutritious and healthy ingredients. We hope you enjoy trying these recipes in your van!

Make sure to check out our “Vanfocused Guide to Camp Coffee”

1) Overland Oats

overland oats for van life

My personal favourite breakfast to wake up to in the van is overnight oats. 

Why? Because it can be a simple as turning on the gas. 

Prep the ingredients the night before by pre-soaking the oats in a pot on the stove and adding whatever else takes your fancy. In the morning, simply add any extras, heat and eat!

Method:

For two servings of Overland Oats: Break out the pot, add a cup of oats and 3 cups of water (or whatever ratio your oats call for). Season with a pinch of salt (or a pinch of dried seaweed) and add your favourite flavors. We like chopped raisins, sultanas, figs or dates. Or you can add nothing but a teaspoon of cinnamon.

In the morning, chop in fresh fruit like apples or pears instead. Sprinkle on some milled flaxseed, chopped nuts or chia, serve piping hot and Voila! A real restaurant quality hot breakfast bowl, a great way to start your day!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

There are no modifications required, it already IS vegan!

2) Vancakes

Any day can be “Pancake Tuesday” when you live in a van. We are guilty of eating vancakes for breakfast, lunch AND dinner on occasion. 

Easy to assemble, easy to cook and even easier to eat–vancake batter mix can be premade and stored in a plastic bottle until use, making it the perfect camp friendly meal. 

Add fresh fruit like bananas, choco spread, nut butter or fruit jam, make it as messy or as healthy as you wish. Just take care flipping these bad boys in a low roof situation! Serves four half-starved souls, guaranteed you’ll be fighting over the last one!

  • 1.5 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 teaspoons butter, melted
  • 1 ¼ cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • Butter or oil for frying

Method:

Add dry ingredients to large bowl and mix. Pour in wet ingredients. Whisk until smooth and bubbly. If you can bear it, and you probably won’t starve in the meantime, leave the batter to sit for 5 minutes. Brew up the coffee while you wait! 

Use 1/3 cup measure to scoop and drop the batter onto a smooth, medium heat pan that is lightly oiled. Cook for one minute or until golden brown, flip em over and repeat. Serve warm with fruit, choco spread, or a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sugar. This is quality food worth getting out of your van bed for!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

To make your vancakes vegan, you’ll need a different recipe entirely. First, you need to make a “flax egg” by adding 1 tablespoon ground flax seed to 3 tablespoons warm water in a small bowl and leave it to settle.

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 flax egg
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil, melted
  • 1 ¼ cups soya milk
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • Sunflower oil for frying

Method:

Add the wet ingredients to the dry, whisk until smooth and bubbly. There you have it, vegan vancake batter! Now flip away to your hearts content!

3) Sunday Sunrise Scramble

We like to take it easy like a Sunday morning, especially on an actual Sunday morning. What says “it’s the weekend” like a classic creamy scramble, some sizzling veggie sausages and multiple rounds of golden-brown toast? 

This recipe serves two hungry souls in a lazy Sunday mood.

  • 4 veggie sausages (whatever is your favorite brand)
  • 1 punnet of mushrooms
  • 2 tomatoes, halved
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 – 14 oz can baked beans
  • Oil for frying

Method:

Fry ‘em up, warm ‘em up and eat ‘em up, in that order! A fry is the easiest dish in the world.

Start with the sausages, with a little oil, in a large pan. When half cooked, add mushrooms and tomato halves. 

In another pan scramble up your eggs with a knob of butter/oil, some salt and pepper. 

Warm the beans, grill some toast and put the kettle on for more coffee. A veggie fry up will keep you feeling full and happy for the day, no matter what adventure awaits. Warning: Do not attempt to recreate this recipe naked as oily splash back is unavoidable! Put some trousers on man, have some shame!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Make this vegan by scrambling 100g tofu instead of eggs. Dice the tofu, add turmeric, yeast flakes and garlic salt, and cook in a pan or griddle on medium heat until it resembles eggs. Delicious and nutritious!

4) Vantastic Vandwich

Ok, ok, we know its highly subjective what should and shouldn’t be considered ‘vantastic’, but this quick and tasty sandwich is a go-to in our van and appears magically on our plates at least once a day. 

There is really nothing like a thick slathering of rich crunchy nut butter, a mashed-up banana and a sprinkle of your favourite seeds piled high on thick fluffy slices of a freshly baked loaf. I can attest to corn-flakes and cheerios being excellent vandwich fillers too, especially when quantity matters over quality. 

This combo makes the perfect lunchbox sandwich too, for day trips away from your van. The vantastic vandwich is best paired with a cup of juice or a flask of coffee and best enjoyed on a snow-capped mountain side!

Method:

Slice the bread thick. Add any combination of the below:

  • Nut butter, banana and chia
  • Banana, honey, cereal and flaxseed
  • Nut butter, fruit preserve and flaxseed
  • Chocolate spread, cornflakes and banana
  • All of the above, all at once, Why not?

Really there is no end to the ingredients you can put between bread and call it a meal. The ball is in your court, now go out there and create the best, most mouth-watering vandwich you can dream of!

We would love to see what you can create, post your favourite combination in the comments!

Maybe we should start a hashtag?! #Vandwich

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

The vandwich is all vegan, all the time.

Lunch

Lunchtime in our van is usually spent outside, and our meals tend to be eaten from lunchboxes as we walk, hike and sightsee.

Packing a lunchbox will save you money as the temptation to spend on food when you get peckish while out and about is hard to ignore! These meals can be prepped in advance, are perfectly portable and, most importantly, won’t spoil sitting in Tupperware.

Keep your lunches light, fresh, healthy and affordable, your body and your budget will thank you for it.

5) The Convoy Combo

convoy combo for van life

The Convoy Combo got its name as we first enjoyed it while travelling through the country with friends in their van. We were halfway to our destination and had limited ingredients in stock, and still managed to whip up a delicious fresh lunch to satisfy both drivers and passengers alike. 

Tomato soup and a toasted cheese sambo is a worldwide favorite lunch combo but you can swap both out for whatever suits your tastes. With a pot of soup prepared ahead of time, this quick and hearty meal is warm, satisfying, it fills the hole and keeps you moving onwards to your destination.

For Tomato Soup:

Method:

We cheat with a tin of tomatoes instead of fresh but if you find a fresh food market or vegetable stall on your travels, add a couple of fresh chopped tomatoes that have been blanched and skinned to take your version of this recipe up a notch.

  • 2 teaspoons salted butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 28 oz can crushed Roma tomatoes
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 veggie stock cube
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Choose a large pot. Sauté onions in butter until translucent. Add all the other ingredients. Simmer uncovered in the pot for 40 minutes. Blend if required, add fresh basil to fancy it up and enjoy with the melty, toasty sandwich below. 

Store extra soup in a sealed Tupperware container between journeys and always have a quick meal on hand when you need one!

For Toasted Cheese:

Method:

While the soup is reheating, activate your grill or griddle, lay the fresh bread and toast it halfway towards brown. Pile one side high with grated cheese, add onion, ham, tomato or gherkins, close the lid on the sandwich, butter up the lid and flip it over. Butter the other slice and return to under the grill to toast a few minutes each side until the cheese is melting magically and the smell fills the air. Delightfully cheesy!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

The vegan Convoy Combo is the very same but substitute the butter for veg oil (or Miyoko’s Vegan Butter!) and a cheese substitute grated on top instead. Choose a good melty one, smoked for a more intense flavour, or add a smear of mustard inside. Easy Cheesy!

6) No Fuss Cous Cous

Cous cous is a very versatile ingredient in your tiny kitchen. It lasts forever and requires just boiling water to reconstitute, giving you a great, filling meal in just 5 minutes and leaving you plenty of time to get on with your daytime hobbies.

Some cous cous comes flavored with curry or dehydrated apple and raisin chunks… this is a meal in itself!

I like it best served cold, mixed with a tablespoon of mayo into a salad of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions and any leafy greens we have lying around. Add feta, pine nuts, red onion, or peppers, and any spices that take your fancy for a big healthy cold cous cous salad.

For a real Mediterranean feel, impress your van-fam with your own version of the recipe below.

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, chopped into chunks
  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped into chunks
  • 1 medium carrot, chopped and sliced thinly
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • ½ cup raisins
  • 1 cup couscous
  • 2 lemon wedges for serving

Method:

Prepare the couscous with boiling water as per instructions on the packet. Cover and put aside for five minutes. While you wait, prep the veggies. Add oil to the pan, fry onions and garlic lightly. Add the rest of the vegetables and sauté until tender. Add water, stock cube and salt. Bring this to the boil and add raisins. 

Mix through the couscous and serve warm with fresh herbs and lemon wedge.

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

MAKE THIS VEGAN! No Fuss Cous Cous IS vegan! Hazzah!

7) Vroomous and Chips

hummus for van life

Some call it humus, some say hummous and because we love a good van pun, we call it Vroomous. Some call them garbanzo beans, to others they are chickpeas. Potato, potatto. Either way it is a delicious way to get your protein and refill your energy levels without being bogged down by a very heavy meal.

We like ours vroomous a little chunky, a texture that is easy to achieve without a blender. Serve with a pile of crispy pita chips, breadsticks or crackers, add fresh veggies like carrot and celery cut into sticks or fancy things up with some cauliflower florets.

  • 1 14 oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • Juice of one fresh lemon
  • 2 teaspoons tahini mixed with 2teaspoons of water
  • 1 clove of garlic, crushed to paste
  • ¼ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Mash the garbanzo beans in a large mixing bowl with a potato masher or the back of a fork. In another bowl, mix lemon juice and tahini, add the oil and whisk until light and smooth. Add this mixture to the smashed garbanzo, season with salt, pepper and cumin. 

Toast pita bread and let cool to chop into rough triangles. Serve the vroomous with paprika sprinkled on top pitta chips and veggie dippers. Enjoy!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Too late, it already is!

8) Guac and Roll

This is an anytime snack, just like a hipsters avocado on toast but mashed into a thick wholemeal bread roll instead. Fresh herbs, sharp lime and raw onion makes this bread roll a party in your mouth. 

Guac travels well in Tupperware and is a wonderful addition to the vegetarians weekly meals planning. We often make it from the very leftover veggies like sad looking tomatoes and wilted leaves right before we go to restock our supplies.

  • 4 tomatoes, diced finely
  • 1 red onion, diced finely
  • 2 fresh avocados
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, diced finely
  • 4 spring onions, diced finely
  • 1 bunch fresh coriander
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Method:

As this meal is raw, there is nothing much to do except assemble the ingredients. Mash one avocado until smooth and leave the other a little chunkier for more texture. Add the ingredients and toss to combine, squeeze in half the lime juice. Season with a little more salt and pepper if required and serve with remaining lime wedge on a thick brown wholemeal bread roll. 

Alternatively, you can use crackers, bread sticks, pitta pockets or tortilla wraps, whatever medium is going! Guac and roll baby!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Provided the bread you have chosen is vegan, it already is.

Dinner

By dinnertime, we are usually exhausted, exhilarated and looking forward to our rest so a couple of quick and easy recipes are the ones we keep going back to. One pot dishes are great to cut down on washing up, because, well, who likes washing up?! Not I, I would rather chow down on a curry or a big bowl of steaming hot stew and go to sleep full and satisfied. Add your own flair and ingredients to our recipes, play around with what you have and always choose high quality local ingredients for the freshest taste, right from your tiny van kitchen!

9) Campervanner's Curry in a Hurry

curry in a hurry van life

You wouldn’t believe it, but this delicious veggie curry is ready in 10 minutes! Perfect for those late arrivals at your park up, when the night is falling fast and your hunger levels are peaking. Minimum fuss, maximum taste! 

This recipe feeds 4 hungry vanners from one pot.

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • ½ inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 14 oz can chopped tomatoes, drained
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 14oz can of garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), drained and rinsed
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1 package fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 14oz can coconut milk
  • 1 lime
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups rice

Method:

Prepare the rice as per instructions on the packet. 

Heat a large pan or skillet. Melt coconut oil, add onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté until onions are slightly sweet and caramelized, brown but not burned. Add spices and cook out for a minute. 

Add chopped tomatoes and garbanzo beans and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer, add spinach and when wilted, the juice of the lime. 

Season with salt and pepper, serve with a portion of rice and a fresh coriander garnish. Bowls of mango chutney and toasted naan bread optional!

You can also add optional tofu or your meat of choice.

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Again, this recipe is already vegan!

10) The Gypsy Goulash

This quick and easy one pot dish is deep in flavor and rich in taste. A classic Hungarian dinner, it is spicy, filling and adaptable to whatever veg you have in your kitchen. Throw in some carrots or any winter vegetables for a thicker stew.

A perfect recipe for campfire cooking, it takes 30 minutes and smells great bubbling away on the stove. Bring some crusty bread chunks for dipping!

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 3 teaspoons butter or oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon marjoram
  • ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
  • ½ lemon peel, grated
  • 1 14 oz can whole Roma tomatoes
  • 3 medium onions, chopped
  • 1 large sweet potato, chopped into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Method:

Fry the onions and garlic in butter or oil for 5 minutes. Add spices and cook on medium heat. Add tomatoes, sweet potato, salt and pepper, water and stock cube, bell pepper and lastly, the sugar. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the sweet potato is tender. 

Serve with a big pile of mashed potato for a van life version of a classic Hungarian staple!

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

The Gypsy Goulash is vegan if you choose to use oil instead of butter for frying. No other mods needed!

11) Chili Van Carne

Chili and rice is another of our van favorites. Its cheap, cheerful and full of beans and dry ingredients you can store easily. Melt a high-cocoa content dark chocolate square in at the very last minute to amaze your guests and take the taste up a notch! 

We love to make this meal on an open fire, one pot for the chili, one for the rice. I am guilty of ‘checking’ the chili way too much and eating my fair share before its even served! 

This recipe serves 2 with leftovers for the last recipe in our list.

  • 1 ½ teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 glove garlic, crushed
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon hot chili powder
  • 5 fl oz water
  • 1 veggie stock cube
  • 1 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon tomato puree
  • 1 square dark chocolate
  • 1 14 oz jar chargrilled bel peppers, drained and chopped
  • 1 14 oz can mixed beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cup rice

Method:

Prepare the rice as per instructions. Meanwhile, fry the onion and garlic on medium heat until soft and translucent. Add spices and cook gently. Add tomato puree, water, stock cube, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, lower the heat and cook for 20 minutes. 

Add beans, chopped peppers, oregano and cook for a further 5 minutes to heat the beans through. Add square of chocolate, melt in right before serving. Serve with rice, sour cream and chopped toasted pitta bits.

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Great news, it IS vegan, as long as you substitute the sour cream for a thick plain soy yogurt!

12) Next Day Vanchiladas

We all know some foods just taste better the next day. The flavors develop and intensify overnight and by adding a couple of extra ingredients, your todays leftovers can be the star of the show tomorrow!

Elevate your leftover chili (if there is any!) into a delicious enchilada for late lunch or dinner.

Simmering the sauce for 30 minutes will heat up the van and you can get washed up and into your PJ’s while you wait. Enjoy the rich aroma of spices floating in the air and the tasty toasty smell of tortillas on the pan!

For the Sauce:

  • 1 14oz can tomatoes, chopped and drained
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1-2 drops hot sauce
  • Salt and pepper

For the Wraps:

  • Leftover chili and rice combo
  • 6 tortillas, warmed on a dry pan
  • 1 cup grated cheese

Method:

Measure all sauce ingredients into a pot, heat until it comes to the boil. Turn the heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes. Reheat the leftover chili. When the sauce is cooked through, ladle into a casserole dish and cover the bottom. Fill warmed tortillas with leftover chili and rice, roll up and arrange in the dish.

Corn tortillas work best here in our experience. Pour the rest of the sauce on top of your vanchiladas, sprinkle liberally with cheese (Monterey Jack is perfect for this job) and grill until cheese is melting, browning and bubbling.

MAKE THIS VEGAN!

Swap out the cheese for a non-dairy alternative. Easy

So now you see how easy it is to cook a tasty, nutritious meal in your van. Our 12 van friendly veggie ideas for breakfasts, lunch and dinner are simple to reproduce and easily adapted to your taste and your store cupboard. 

What delicious concoctions are you going to create in your van kitchen today?

Van Life Q&A’s — With @the_backwards_van

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van life Q&A's

Who are you?

Liz (writer) and Bill (baker), aged 41 and 50. 

What kind of vanlifer are you? Full-time? Part-time? Weekend warrior?

Part-time since COVID.

What kind of van do you have?

1997 Fiat Ducato, medium wheel base conversion.

Does your van have a name?

Of course! She’s called Dixie The Backwards Van.

How long have you been on the road?

It’s been just over 3 years since we have moved home from abroad and into the van.

Where are you based?

In County Mayo, on the very west coast of Ireland.

What is the favorite thing about your van?

Everything 🙂 She’s well insulated and smartly designed!

If you could go back in time and redo your build or change anything about your build, what would it be?

A bigger kitchen with more worktop space.

What do you do for work?

We didn’t work while full-timing. Just saved enough to take an extended trip.

Favorite type of place to sleep overnight?

By the coast, lakeside or any water. Nothing beats the sound of the waves!

Worst thing that happened to you while living in a van?

The night the doors froze shut! 

How do you overcome that?

Breathing into the locks and making sure it didn’t happen again!

What's the best thing about vanlife?

Baking bread on the campfire at sunset, listening to the rolling waves.

Biggest lesson learned while living in a van?

Keep an open mind, travel can change your perspective and always be prepared!

Favorite thing about your van?

The gas cooker and the cassette toilet!

Most useful item/essential item in your van?

USB headlamp, coffee flask and pocket solar phone chargers.

Best advice you'd give to an aspiring vanlifer?

Slow down, explore in regions not following routes and take time to speak to everybody you meet.

Do you currently or have you thought about traveling as a couple?

Yes, it was a bumpy start but once you find your rhythm van life is great for a relationship!

With kids?

Nope.

With pets?

Nope.

Favorite (easy to make) vanlife meal?

We call it “The Van Sandwich” – nut butter, banana, flax and chia seeds on brown bread.

Any regrets about vanlife?

Our only regret is not starting out sooner.

Where can we follow your journey?

thebackwardsvan.com and on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook Instagram
the backwards van

Interested in filling out these Q&A’s for vanfocused? Click the button below and send us an email! 

Contact Us!

The Vanfocused Guide to Camp Coffee & Best Camping Coffee Makers

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camping coffee

Making coffee while camping or on the road can be as easy as making coffee at home. Whether you are in an RV, van, trailer, car camping or in a tent, all you need is the right tools to brew the perfect cup of camping coffee, every time. 

For me, no matter where I wake up, morning coffee is a ritual and the best part of the day. The van fills up with steam first as the water slowly comes to a bubbling boil, the shrill whistle of the kettle pierces the silence and that rich coffee aroma hanging in the air is one of the best smells around.

We’ll try and cover every possible way to make coffee while camping, as well as other important coffee information. If you feel like we missed anything, please let us know in the comments.

How to Start

The Coffee Beans

No matter where you are, to make the best cup of coffee you need to start with the best bean. 

Fairtrade is essential. Sustainability is a bonus. Buy local wherever and whenever possible and once you discover your favorite bean or grind, pick up the biggest bag you can find to save on cost and packaging, much of which is unfortunately still unrecyclable.

Best Eco Friendly Coffee

Larry's Coffee (Organic, Fairtrade)

larry's fairtrade sustainable coffee brand

Larry’s Coffee is an organic, small batch coffee company that has a long record of being eco-friendly and shade-grown (which means bird friendly), as well as emphasizing fair trade and sustainability since they were founded in 1992.

Check Price

Support a Van Life Coffee Company

Divine On The Roast Coffee Co.

divine on the road coffee company

This coffee company was started by a van lifer, @divineontheroad. She sells, hot kits (including an aeropress), cold kits, dark roast, espresso roast, mugs, and stickers (I’m a huge sticker nerd). Check out the details here: https://shopdivineontheroad.com/

Check Price
Divine on the road coffee company
@divineontheroad

The Water

Some sushi chef’s believe that it is not the fish that makes a good sushi roll, it is the rice. Similarly, you can’t make a decent cup of camping coffee without clean, clear water.

You might choose bottled water for drinking and cooking and tank water for cleaning and washing, but all that plastic will add up quickly while camping or in a small space like a van and is completely unrealistic while doing a long backpacking trek.

Filtering water is definitely cheaper than buying it. A good water filter will allow you to collect water from streams, springs, lakes, ponds, and outdoor public taps.

Alternatively you can boil the water to sterilize it when you’re out camping or hiking, but this will do nothing for the water’s taste. 

It is so useful to have a large jug around. We use ours every single day. Once we used it to put out a fire under the bonnet! Be sure to stash some extra filters in your toolbox for many months of crisp, clear water, regardless of the source, and never worry about the quality of your drinking water again!

Alright, now let’s talk about how to make coffee without the use of your typical coffee maker.

Camping Coffee Methods

camping coffee methods

If you are anything like me, your day simply won’t start without at least two cups of coffee.

Having the best setup to make your own coffee will save time and money. A little more self-sufficiency, a little less needy, a little more prepared, a little less pricey. 

Camping coffee doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether it’s cowboy coffee, pour-over, French press or even a portable espresso machine (for those of you with camper vans or RV’s), there are many ways to brew your cup of camp coffee. Take charge of your morning to jump start your whole day!

How To Make Coffee Without a Coffee Maker

1) Instant Coffee

By and far the EASIEST way to make a cup of coffee while camping is instant coffee.

Instant coffee is the love of backpackers and thru-hikers alike. It’s portable, lightweight, and easy. In fact, some hikers don’t even bother heating it up. 

Regardless of what you think about the taste, instant coffee is an easy way to get that caffeine fix, especially if your doing any sort of backwoods camping.

Also, did you know? Instant coffee is considered more eco-friendly than other coffee preparation methods. In fact, it is said to have 1/3 the total emissions compared to drip-coffee (source).

If that isn’t enough to get your caffeine fix a-buzzin, check out these awesome instant coffee brands for your next camping trip.

Mount Hagen Instant Coffee (Organic, Fairtrade)

mount hagen instant coffee

Mount Hagen makes instant coffee that is organic and fairtrade made from 100% highland Arabica coffee beans.

Check Price

Republica Instant Coffee (Organic, Fairtrade)

Republica instant coffee

Republica is yet another certified organic and fairtrade coffee company making an instant coffee out of 100% sustainably sourced Arabica coffee beans. The female-owned company also states that “At República, ethics with impact is at the very heart of our philosophy.”

Check Price

2) Pour-Over Method

pour over method for camp coffee

The pour-over is very simple. Boil a kettle of water and pour it over a scoop of coffee through a strainer or coffee filter. Boom. Caffeine.

The pour-over method does require a bit of practice, however. You have to time the pouring of the water to produce a good-tasting cup of coffee.

For how simple it is there is a remarkable amount of tools and gadgets for the pour-over camp coffee method. 

Single Use Pour Over Pouches

They make single use pour over bags that look a bit similar to tea bags however you open the top to reveal the coffee grounds just ready and waiting to get that boiling water poured over them.

The downside? Well, trash really. If you’re hiking or backpacking you will need to haul away the coffee grounds, filter, and plastic. 

Kuju Coffee Single Use Pour Over

pour over coffee

Kuju states that they are ethically sourced and eco-friendly. Even though these pouches are single use, they state that the company runs off 100% wind-power. They also donate 1% of all sales to the National Park system. 

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Twin Peaks Pour Over (Single-origin, Fairtrade)

twin peaks coffee pour over

Twin peaks is a popular pour over coffee blend that boasts of being single-origin, fairtrade, and non-GMO. These guys are perfect for your next camping trip.

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More Traditional Pour-Over Method

If you want a more traditional approach, however, you will be able to cut down on your waste. They make a ton of different products for this, from lightweight pour-over stands for you ultralight backpacking gear-heads, to more involved car camping sets.

The added bonus of this pour-over method is that you will also be reducing cost. Those individual packets tend to have a higher CpC (Cost per Cup, a widely used term that we literally just made up). 

Ultralight Pour-Over Camping Coffee Makers

GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip

GSI outdoor pour over coffee

If you are at all into outdoor gear, than you should be familiar with GSI. They make a range of camping and hiking equipment and this is their pour-over coffee product. Coming in at less than 0.5 ounce (14 grams), this is definitely a lightweight option.

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Snow Peak’s Collapsible Coffee Drip

snow peak ultralight pour over coffee filter

Although this probably wouldn’t fall into the “ultralight” gear category, this thing is still pretty nifty. It comes in at 4.9 ounces (140 grams) but it’s foldability gives it a good place in our camping coffee pour-over list. 

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Primula Brew Buddy Portable Pour Over

Primula Brew Buddy pour over coffee

This is another lightweight (and cheap) option for a pour over camping coffee maker. The Primula brew buddy comes in at 0.96 ounces (27 grams).

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Bigger (Better?) Pour-Over Coffee Makers Perfect For Car Camping

GSI Outdoors JavaDrip Coffee Maker

GSI outdoors Jave coffee Maker

Okay, this thing is pretty cool. It’s an all-in-one pour-over coffee maker perfect for your next camping trip. The pour-over filter sits snuggly in the cup and it all stores away easily. The cup itself has a handle and lid for your convenience. 

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OXO Brew Single Serve Dripper Pour Over Coffee Maker

OXO Brew Single Serve Pour Over Coffee Maker

OXO is a popular brand when it comes to kitchen supplies. Even though this coffee maker isn’t specifically designed for camping, it would still work great for any car camping, RV, or camper van outings. 

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Wacaco Pipamoka Portable Coffee Maker

Wacaco Pipamoka portable coffe maker

This is an all-in-one pour over coffee maker that comes with a separate container for holding beans. Just put the coffee in the filter, pour in hot water directly into the filter that drains into the insulated thermos, and enjoy!

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3) Cowboy Coffee

cowboy coffee

Cowboy coffee is just a cool sounding way to say “throw a bunch of beans into boiling water and drink.”

Really though, that’s pretty much what it is. However, for how simple it is there are a few different ways of doing it. The traditional way is to throw the coarsely ground beans into boiling water. You can either then strain the water before drinking with a coffee filter or cheesecloth (or a bandana if you’re a real cowboy).

Conversely, you can put the ground beans into the bandana or cheesecloth, wrap it up and put that into the boiling water (less of a mess). Cowboy coffee might be the easiest way to make coffee without a coffee maker.

4) Coffee Bags

coffee bags camp coffee

Coffee bags are a thing. Much like their counterpart, the tea bag, coffee bags are simple to use. You simply steep the bag in hot water for a few minutes and then discard the bag. Please make sure to dispose of your trash in an appropriate place. If you are hiking or backpacking, carry out all trash, including used coffee bags. 

Steeped Coffee Co.

how to make coffee without a coffee maker? Steeped coffee co. coffee bags

Steeped Coffee Company makes single-use small-batch coffee “tea” bags. These are perfect for camping or hiking and come in light, medium, and dark roast (as well as decaf).

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Different Types of Camping Friendly Coffee Makers

5) Aeropress

aeropress camp coffee maker

The Aeropress is HUGE in the backpacking, hiking, and camping worlds… and for obvious reasons. This thing is awesome.

It works similarly to a French press and creates a perfect cup of joe. Because of how portable it is, it is a common sight among hikers. It comes with it’s own filter holder and compresses the ground beans to a very dense puck which makes clean-up easy. As we’ve stressed many times during this article, you should carry out all of your coffee grounds if you are hiking. Leave no trace!

It is a bit different than a French press, however, because you can use coffee filters which means you can grind your coffee into a finer consistency which allows a full rich flavor without the bitterness often associated with the French Press.

Aeropress Coffee Maker

aeropress coffee maker

Aeropress coffee maker with single-use filters. The coffee only requires about 10 seconds of stirring before you are ready to press and drink!

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6) French Press

French press coffee is an acquired taste. Some people love it, other people hate it. 

French press coffee tends to have a strong taste that some people refer to as “bitter.” This is typically because of the coarse ground coffee required to use the French press. Basically, you add the coarse grounds to the device and pour in hot water. You let the water sit for a few minutes, stirring it up from time to time to mix up the grounds. 

After a couple minutes you can compress the plunger and push all the grounds to the bottom. Most French presses have a pour spout and you simply pour and enjoy. 

If you like the flavor of French press coffee than it is a perfect option for camping or even as a permanent coffee staple in a van, RV, or home.

Some French presses are glass. If you are wary of carrying glass camping or in your van/RV, and you should be (we have smashed our way through three of the glass ones so far– twice through stupid human error and the other time remains a van mystery, we woke to a pile of glass waiting in the sink–a sad morning indeed), a camping coffee pot made of stainless-steel works here too.

Steel is easier to clean and keep clean than glass which gets grey and smudgy quickly. The only downside we know of to a steel coffee plunger is you can’t see through it so either get yourself a coffee measuring scoop or play coffee roulette and be prepared to strap yourself in for the caffeine ride of your life.

Stanley All-in-one Adventure French Press

stanley advanture french press

Stanley makes a couple different types of portable camping French Presses. This one weighs just under a pound and is an all-in-one coffee making system. It is sturdy and easy to clean (dishwasher safe). Serves 2-3 people.

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Coffee Gator French Press

coffee gator french press

This French press is perfect for home, camping, or traveling in a RV or van. It comes with a separate travel canister for the beans. Serves 3-4 people.

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JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

Widesea camping coffee french press

WideSea makes a french press that is perfect for backpacking. It’s 12.8 ounces which is a small price to pay if you love your coffee as much as we do.  Serves 1-2 people.

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7) Other French Press Attachments

Some stand-alone backpacking stoves (like the JetBoil) have a French press attachment which work well if you already carry one of these stoves (or are planning on getting one). The JetBoil system and it’s competitor, MSR, are staples of the hiking world and can boil water very fast. 

JetBoil Flash Java Kit System

jet boil coffee maker

This is the JetBoil Flash PLUS the french press attachment.

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JetBoil French Press

jet boil french press coffee attachment

The stand-alone attachment for the JetBoil systems.

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MSR Reactor 1.7L System

MSR reactor

The JetBoil is powerful, but this thing is insane. Great for large groups.

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MSR Reactor French Press

MSR Reactor French Press

The stand-alone attachment for the MSR Reactor systems.

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8) Moka Pot or "Stove Top Espresso"

A moka pot is a stove-top coffee maker that passes pressurized boiling water through coffee grounds to brew coffee. It was originally invented by an Italian guy buy the name of Alfonso Bialetti back in the 1930’s. 

Mobile coffee prep gets an upgrade with a stove top espresso maker. Add water to the bottom, coffee grinds to the top and heat over gas flame. This device is cool, funky looking and makes a mean cup of coffee.

Moka pots are perfect camp-friendly coffee makers because they don’t require electricity and can be used on any camp-stove. 

You will want a medium to medium-fine grind for a moka pot. More coarse than espresso but finer than drip coffee. Moka pot coffee is also about 2-3 times stronger than drip coffee and about half the strength of espresso, so keep that in mind!

Primula Aluminum Espresso Moka Pot

moka pot for camping coffee

There isn’t anything too fancy about a moka pot. You basically unscrew the top, place coffee into the filter tube, add water and boil for 2-3 minutes. Serve!

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9) Percolator

Percolators are another great stove-top camping solution for coffee. You add the coffee grounds to the top chamber and the water to the bottom chamber and place on the stove. Once the water begins to heat up it travels up the center “tube” and then drips over the coffee grounds.

The brewed coffee goes right back into the lower chamber, where the cycle repeats. Therefor the coffee gets stronger as time goes on. Five-or-so minutes seems to be a perfect amount of time but it will continue brewing indefinitely.

This is an easy choice for camp coffee but it can also be easy to forget, causing it to be over brewed and turn bitter. 

GSI Outdoors 12 Cup Percolator

GSI coffee percolator

Here is GSI again, making another great camping coffee maker. This percolator holds up to 12 cups, making it perfect for multiple people.

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Portable Coffee Makers and Espresso Makers

10) Portable Espresso Maker

For truly fresh camping coffee on the go, check out these cool portable espresso machines. These machines are compact, portable and perfect for car camping or hiking. 

Conquenco Coffee Maker (Espresso)

12v espresso maker

If you’re an espresso nut than this is for you. Portable, easy to use, and rechargable via USB or car cigarette-lighter adaptor. This one takes about 8-15 minutes and is recharchable via USB.

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Wacaco Nanopresso Espresso Maker

nanospresso coffee maker

This little guy is portable and doesn’t even require electricity or batteries. It is completely manual. You can buy an adaptor so it excepts pods but it is not necessary and will work with any espresso ground coffee beans.

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11) Dometic PerfectCoffee MC 01 (12v or 24v)

For a super light and portable single cup coffee machine which plugs into your cigarette lighter, check out the Dometic PerfectCoffee travel device. At 0.6kg in weight and only 11 x 13 cm this unit wont take up much space but will brew you up a perfect cup in 10 minutes.

Simply pour the coffee into the permanent filter, fill the water reservoir and wait. Plenty of time to assemble some breakfast. They make this coffee maker in both 12v and 24v versions.

The downside? You have to find an authorized dealer. Check out their website to learn more.

There are many different kinds of portable coffee makers out on the market, and we won’t go into them all. However, if you want to find out more information check out this great YouTube video by OutdoorZone:

Other Coffee Supplies

Manual Coffee Grinders

When it comes to coffee, whole beans are best for a smoother, fresher taste. Manually grinding your beans with one of these cool retro gadgets is not hard work, it is definitely instagram-worthy and adds a little elbow grease to the whole morning ritual. Choose one that stores any extra grinds in the base, ready for the next cup.

JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

javapresse manual coffee grinder

This guy pairs well with your camping coffee kit. It has adjustable settings, is easy to clean and take apart, and is very durable.

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SoulHand - All in One Coffee Grinder / Coffee Maker

soulhand portable coffee grinder camping coffee tool

If you want an all-in-one system, look no further than this guy. It has a grinder, reusable coffee drip filter, portable thermos, bean storage compartment and it’s own storage case. Besides coffee and water, this is everything you need to make a cup of camp coffee.

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Portable Electric Coffee Grinders

Are you car camping or living in a van or RV and can’t be bothered grinding the beans yourself? Let a USB powered coffee grinder do all the work at the touch of a button. This camper coffee grinder takes your bean to a fine dust in seconds and is not too hard on your battery in short sharp blasts.

MixPresso Electric USB Powered Grinder

usb powered coffee grinder for camp coffee

This coffee grinder comes with a USB cord so it can be plugged into your vehicle or 12v RV system pretty easily. Since you are only running it in very short bursts, it shouldn’t be a drain on your battery system.

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Electric (USB) Milk Frother

Milk frothing whisks come USB powered too, to recreate that mocha-choca-latte or whip up a foamy hot cocoa on a cold evening camping in the woods. Save your wrists the pain and get restaurant results right in your rig. Impressive!

Is fresh milk a problem with no fridge in your campervan? Are you planning long trips off grid or car camping in the wilderness? Bring long life milk instead. UHT milk, soya milk or oat milk will all outlive a carton of cows milk, as will coffee creamer. Or check out your options for super easy super portable refrigeration.

Zulay Super High Powered USB Recharchable Milk Frother

Milk frother usb powered

This milk frother is fully recharchable by USB and pretty easy to use. It is high powered, guaranteeing that you will get full-maximum froth!

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Coffee Considerations for Your Van or RV

instant coffee mess

If possible, keep your coffee pot upright in the sink or wherever it has no room to move around in transit or you’ll end up with a mess like the above picture. Consider a cupboard that closes tight, maybe your most reliable storage space. We always store essential items that can break in the cupboard closest to the floor, giving them less distance to fall. The same advice applies to your water filter jug. Consider the shape of your sink and which model will fit!

When it comes time to empty your grinds, scoop them into your trash bag (dry coffee grinds can help neutralize and disguise any nasty smells already lurking in there).

Never put coffee grinds down the drain of your sink. They stick together like sawdust, cause blockages in the little pipes fast and will hang around in the dark corners your grey water waste tank forever.

Whether you use beans, ground or pods, always carry enough coffee, and extra to serve the weary travelers you may meet along your way. Nothing says ‘welcome to my rig’ than a steaming hot cup of Joe.

Best Van Life Essentials – A Holiday Gift Guide

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van life essentials feature image

When trading a stationary home for one on wheels, some sacrifice is inevitable. Though a van may not have all of the comforts of a house, there are so many van life essentials to help make the transition smoother and more comfortable!

These van life accessories also make perfect Christmas gifts for that one weird relative that lives in a van down by the river… oh wait, is that me?

The concept of living a more minimal lifestyle is a major factor that drew me into vanlife. On the pursuit to own a lot less things, living in a van has aligned perfectly with living more minimalistic. While I do believe that less is more, I have learned that the foundation for living comfortably with a lot less is to have a few really good items. My van is fairly minimal as I wanted to start off pretty barebones, then figure out what I needed/don’t need down the road.

So, after a few months on the road full-time, I am here to share some of the car living essentials I couldn’t survive without, along with must-haves that I plan on adding soon as well. I definitely haven’t found myself ‘dishing out’ on gear/gadgets because I am ballin’ on a budget, so I hope these items help you without breaking the bank.

**Concious Buying Tips**

Whether small things or the big ones, I try to buy items that will help me reduce my footprint. One way is by buying things that make it easier to refrain from buying disposable products or single-use plastic items. Dishing out a few extra bucks for things that I can reuse- like Beeswax Bags listed below- so that I don’t have to buy Ziplock bags is an example.

When I do use single use plastic/disposable goods, I try to repurpose them in any way possible. I’ll take my bag of nuts from Trader Joe’s when it’s empty and use it as my TP waste bag when I’m on the trail!

I also have recently made it a mission to try to shop locally/direct when possible and be less reliant on Amazon. However, that isn’t always possible (especially in our current coronavirus climate) but I want to encourage you to do the same when shopping for your van life gear or to be more conscious of where your money is going.

(Sometimes Amazon is truly the cheapest/fastest option or the only carriers of certain products, but just a tip to be more aware when you can be)

KITCHEN Van Life Essentials

Coleman Stove

coleman stove is an essential van life item
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A good stove is one of the most important essentials for van life. I currently have the Classic Coleman propane stove, but I am actually planning on selling it and purchasing their Triton model. I think the Classic is great for the price and gets the job done, but the pipe for me has always been finicky and I have heard better things about the Triton Series stove. For the price though, I do think the Classic is a great option.

The Triton also has automatic ignition so you don’t have to find your lighter every meal. Another selling point is that it is only around $20 more than the Classic, which I recommend going for.

Bee's Wax Wrap

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I’m always a fan of reducing my plastic consumption and bee’s wax wraps are a fantastic and sustainable option in place of plastic ziplock bags! These bags are made from organic cotton and coated with beeswax. I have used these so much and they have yet to fail me. I pack all of my sandwiches and trail snacks in them, as well as store leftover fruits and veggies which stay just as fresh as they would in plastic baggies.

Mason Jars

mason jars are a must van life essential

Mason jars are my sh*t. Another amazing form of food storage for pretty much anything that can fit in these glass jars, which also double as beverage glasses IMO. I’ll pack my morning oatmeal in one of these before hitting the trail, or leftover dinner that isn’t solid enough to go into Beeswax bags.

You can find loads of mason jars in all sizes at Walmart, Target, and Hobby Lobby.

Hydro Flask / Insulated Bottle

hydro flasks are awesome
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I didn’t understand the hype around Hydroflasks until I was the owner of one. I put off buying one due to the price tag for a while, but I am here to tell you that they are very much worth it! 

I love ice cold water and I often find myself stopping at gas stations to fill up my Hydroflask with ice. I can attest that the ice stays in there for at least 24 hours… sometimes more! They’re also great for keeping your tea and coffee warm.

Cast Iron Skillet

cast iron skillet is a van life essential
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Honestly, a necessity whether you’re in a van or a house. When seasoned properly, a cast iron skillet is easy to clean with little water which is always a huge plus in the van. Though heavy, they are also versatile and can be used over your stove or an open campfire! I also just really love the way these skillets cook food in general.

Nesting Cookware

nesting cookware is essential
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The last thing any of us wants is an entire cabinet overflowing with a mess of pots and pans. The solution? Nesting cookware! This set of pots and pans nests in one another, making them extremely space-savvy.

Pressure Cooker

pressure cooker van life essential
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My cousin said she is buying me a pressure cooker for Christmas and I am so pumped. Gone are the days of waiting 45 minutes for overcooked rice! I have used these in the house before and I am so pumped for this van addition. With these, you can make soups, stews, rice, oats, chili, potatoes, and so much more.

**I am opting for the stove top pressure cooker vs. an Instapot because my electrical system can’t support an Instapot. If yours can, I highly recommend one- an efficient way to cook without breaking out your stove and easy clean-up.

Water Filter

katadyn water filter is an everyday essential
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A water filter is an absolute necessity for anyone spending a lot of time outdoors. From personal experience, I can guarantee running out of water is a problem you never want to face, whether on the trail or in the van. This one is quite small, but can be used for long days on the trail or if you’re ever in a pinch in your vehicle.

Dish Rags

the best dishrags are a van life essential
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I came across these dish rags before I hit the road, and I sure am glad that I did! An eco-friendly option, these rags are amazing at getting grease off of your cast-iron skillet, as well as cleaning all other dishwater spotless. They come with 12 rags which I try to use to keep my paper towel usage as low as possible. I even use these to clean my floor and they work great! I simply toss them in my dirty laundry when done and after a wash, they’re good as new

AeroPress Coffee Maker

aeropress is a hiking essential and a van life essential
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We have a whole article about making coffee, because that is an extremely important thing.

Okay, so I do love my French Press, but… I am I thinking about cheating on her with an Aeropress? Shhh…

A few of my van friends have an Aeropress and swear by it. Between its compactness and the fact it brews a cup in two measly minutes, it is a game changer that all coffee addicts on the move need.

Collapsible Measuring Cups

collapsible measuring cups van life essential
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Typically, I eyeball when cooking, but I have these collapsible measuring cups for those more specific recipes. For those planning to cook a lot on the road, these are perfect space-saving cooking tools!

Dometic Cooler Fidge / Freezer

dometic fridge is the best 12v fridge
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I was going to opt for a cooler as my fridge, but as someone who loves cooking and food I realized having a fridge of some sort would be essential. These are pricey and I struggled finding one that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and leg, but I settled on the Dometic CC40 that I found for not a terrible price.

*I have seen a lot of people using RTIC or Yeti coolers, but with them ranging from $300-400, I chose the Dometic CC40 as it was only a little bit more.

Find out more information about 12v portable refrigerators for vanlife below!

Cleaning/Organization Van Life Essentials

Baby / Wilderness Wipes

sea to summit baby wipes van life essential
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Unless you have a shower in your build, showers may be far and few in between. I have surprised myself by showering once in five weeks. There is no way in hell I would have lasted that long without these wipes!

A more eco-friendly alternative to traditional baby wipes, these are biodegradable and compostable, and will be your saving grace after a sweat-filled day of activities.

*Pro Tip- if you have some cleanness left on the wipe, put that baby back in the pack and break it out for a second wipe shower!

Dr. Bronner's Soap

dr bronners is an essential van life soap
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Another must-have that y’all have most likely heard of due to its’ incredible versatility. This soap has 18 different uses from laundry detergent to dish soap to shampoo. It is also biodegradable which is VERY important if you’re disposing of it in any way outdoors. You can find this soap at pretty much any drug store, grocery store or health food store.

Quick Dry Towel

quick dry towel
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These towels got me through backpacking in Thailand, and I knew I had to have them in the van as well. As the name suggests, these microfiber towels dry super quick and fold into a very compact size. I’m always on the hunt for any body of water I can jump into, and these towels make it much easier than a heavy, soggy beach/bath towel.

Van Life Vacuum

van life vacuum
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Because my van is so small, I probably won’t be splurging on a vacuum and shall continue to utilize 25 cent gas station vacuums. I have mooched off of a few friends though and I will say it would be amazing to own one. Here is the one my friend swears by!

Packing Cubes

packing cubes essential for van life
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I cannot recommend purchasing packing cubes enough. They are amazing for keeping your sh*t organized and my van would be a hell of a lot messier without them. Don’t just stop at clothes! I use a couple small ones to organize other things such as spices, condiments and toiletries.

Other Van Life Essentials

Small Rug or Carpet

small rug is a great van life edition
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Okay, so there is a very valid argument that a carpet in a van is sure to get dirty super fast. While I can agree with that, I also will say a rug is one of the best things I added to my van. I didn’t realize how much the floor contributed to how cold my van would get and a small rug has made all of the difference! It also just looks 10x cuter and cozier in there now. I make sure to wash it pretty frequently or shake it out to get dirt and crumbs out.

Slippers

slippers are a van life essential
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As previously stated, I underestimated just how cold the floor gets. Good slippers are a must for this reason. You will also come to find that as many layers as possible is crucial when winter hits in the van! 

Earplugs

ear plugs are so essential
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A small item, but a necessary one. Sometimes you’re parked next to a noisy highway overnight or next to a loud group of hooligans partying all night. While my fan does a great job of tuning sound out, sometimes you need a little additional assistance in ensuring you get a quiet and peaceful sleep.

Maxxiar Maxxfan

maxxair fan is the van life essential
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I cannot recommend this fan enough. A fan is crucial for many reasons whether it’s keeping your van cool in the blazing heat, circulating air while cooking, or (my personal fav) drowning out noise so well while you sleep. I was between the Fantastic Fan and this one, but after reading many reviews I chose to go with this one and couldn’t be happier!

In Conclusion

There are many van life essentials. However, what seems essential to someone might not seem essential to others. 

We will try to continually update this list with new and relevant accessories. 

The most important point, however, is to try and shop local whenever possible. 

50+ Mobile and Remote Jobs to Earn Money From Virtually Anywhere

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Remote work virtual work

There are so many ways to work remotely from home, or from the comfort of your camper van.  Hell, you can even be a digital nomad while sippin’ mai tais on a beach in Thailand. Whatever your goal, this list will cover it all and provide a ton of resources. Let us help you find some van life jobs.

!!WARNING!! This article is LONG and will be routinely updated. Feel free to use the table of contents below to navigate through the multiple sections.

Let’s start off by defining a few terms that will be used throughout this lengthy article about mobile work and van life jobs. 

Remote (or mobile) jobs

Remote work is typically done away from a centralized office. This may include careers that can be done from home, on the road, or even while traveling abroad.

However, these are not exclusively “virtual work,” although there is a lot of overlap.

A remote job might require you to be in a specific town or place for a period of time. The term remote work gets used broadly and for the sake of this article, we will use the terms remote work and mobile work interchangeably.

Virtual work

Virtual work are typically jobs that can be done through a computer and a good wifi connection. These can be full time careers like a remote IT job or they can be freelance gigs like a digital designer.

There is also a variety of self-employed entrepreneurial virtual work, like running an affiliate marketing website or managing a business from abroad.

It is important to make the distinction that not all virtual jobs can be done remotely, however. Some employers might take a more traditional approach and want their employees to show up to a traditional office for work. For the sake of this article, we will focus on remote virtual work when talking about virtual jobs.

I think it is the dream of many people that live a constantly shifting, vanlife lifestyle to be a successful digital nomad and find a mobile or a virtual job to allow them full freedom.

This is a comprehensive list of all of the different ways you can earn money while on the road, or from home, or even from that beach in Thailand.

There are over 50 options for remote work listed here. Some of these jobs will require a degree, or prior training. Some are seasonal work that will require you to hunker down for a few months. Other’s are virtual jobs that can be done from anywhere to make money on the road. 

Use the table of contents to navigate around this extensive list of ways to make money while living in a van or RV

Phew… now that we got all that out of the way, let’s get down to the fun part.

Table of Contents

MOBILE JOBS THAT ANYONE COULD DO

These are mobile jobs that require no specific degree or certification. They might have some barriers to entry, but they are quite low making them perfect opportunities for a van life job, or to make money on the road.

#1

Driving for a Ride Share

Uber and Lyft are both popular jobs that anyone with a vehicle (and even those without… more on that later) can do. They might not seem like the best choice for a job while traveling in an RV or van, however. Gas mileage (and increased mileage on the engine itself) is a concern. Plus, I don’t think many people would enjoy riding along in the back of your motorhome or camper van.

However, there are still some options. If you are traveling the country in a van or RV, you could tow a small car behind. There are stories of people making their living this way, and supporting their nomadic lifestyle.

Also, a few months ago I caught a ride with an Uber driver that stated she rented her ride share car.

Rent a car????

Yes!

I found out that day that this is completely legal and many drivers actually do this. In fact, there are programs in place through the rideshare companies to get you set-up with renting a car.

The obvious benefit of doing this is that you are not putting a large amount of miles on your personal vehicle, lowering the maintenance costs. So, if you don’t have a practical car to drive but driving for Uber or Lyft appeals to you, renting a car might be a good way to earn money remotely on the road. 

The following links will have more information about driving with the two biggest rideshare companies (Uber and Lyft) as well as information how to go about renting a car.

https://www.uber.com/us/en/about/uber-offerings/#earn

https://www.lyft.com/drive-with-lyft

And if you want to find out if driving for a rideshare company is worth it, check out this great article by Millennial Money Man.

Driving for Uber | Best Side Hustle and Pay for Drivers?

When I first heard about Uber a few years ago I remember thinking that it sounded like an awesome idea – a super millennial-friendly alternative to cabs that also helps people make more money on the side driving their own cars. As you may or may not know, I’m all about making extra money.

#2

Meal Delivery Service

UberEats, Postmates, GrubHub and DoorDash are good ways to earn some money while traveling. You can work on your own terms, when you want to. The gas mileage and wear-and-tear of your vehicle is still a concern, like with the ride-share services. However, if you are living out of your car or towing a car along with you, they are great remote job options.

In fact, you can even do these deliveries on a bicycle (if you’re in a busy enough city) or motorcycle. 

I’ve delivered for Postmates and UberEats out of my camper van, although I am very weary about the distance required for the delivery. 

I much prefer the next section in regards to a van life job.

#3

Grocery Delivery Service

I did grocery shopping and delivery for InstaCart for several months while living full-time in my camper van conversion. It was a nice little side hustle. Definitely a better bang-for-your-buck in regards to mileage and time compared to some of the meal delivery services. 

Basically, you log into the app and wait for an order, or a “batch” as they call it. You can see how much you are going to make and how big the batch is ahead of time. You can even see the tip (although they can change that at a later time).

You can make some pretty decent money on InstaCart if you do it full time. Although, there are frustrations. 

  • Some batches have low pay.
  • Some people don’t tip.
  • Some people you shop for can be very picky.
  • During the pandemic, the grocery shelves were out of nearly everything and trying to pick through and find adequate replacements was very frustrating.

My go-to technique is to turn on my InstaCart app when I have nothing better to do. Maybe I’m walking in the park or sitting in my van watching a movie. Regardless, I turn it on and wait for a good order. One that isn’t a million items and pays well with a decent tip… and isn’t a huge drive. Sounds like a white elephant but they definitely exist.

Since I have a full time job (more on that later), I only do this intermittently and I view this as a nice little supplemental income on my travels. This makes it a perfect little side hustle for vanlife.

#4

In-Store Shopper (for InstaCart)

If using your precious camper van or RV to deliver groceries doesn’t appeal to you, look into becoming an InstaCart in-store shopper.

In some areas InstaCart has a program where they divide the service into a delivery person and an in-store shopper. 

Basically, you do the shopping part, bag up the groceries and set them aside for the delivery person to pick up.

Again, you can work on your own terms, design your own hours and schedule, and you wouldn’t even have to put any added miles on your van.

Some grocery stores even have their own in-store shopper service, so that is something else to look at if you are planning on being in the same area for a while.

#5

Ask Your Current Job if You Can Work Remotely

This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people are just afraid to ask. This is a very viable option, especially with the COVID-19 shutdown. Many businesses moved their employees to work from home. I think this might open the door for many remote work opportunities. 

If you currently work at a job that you think could be done as a virtual job or done remotely, consider asking your employer. If your field isn’t practical to be done on the road while traveling, why not ask if there is anything else available that would be?

If you are preparing to hit the road to see the world, you’re probably already planning on leaving your job. So, why not just ask?

REMOTE VIRTUAL WORK THAT ANYONE COULD DO

The following are virtual jobs that have a low barrier-to-entry. They might require a basic understanding of the English language, basic writing skills, or possibly a little creative spark.

The beautiful thing about these virtual gigs is that these all can be done from anywhere, allowing you to travel the world… as long as there is a wifi connection.

#6

Freelance Content Writing

This is a very common way to get virtual work. Content writing is a vast field. What I’m doing right now is content writing. Most of what you read on blogs, websites, and articles would fall into this category. You are writing content for emails, websites, magazines, newsletters, whatever.

Entry level writers generally get paid per word, around 0.02 – 0.10 cents per word. As you can see, that already varies dramatically. Now, to add to that, some of the top content writers can be paid as much as one or more dollars per word.

To break that down, that means that a very competent, and perhaps a little lucky, content writer can net a cool grand for one 1,000 word article. Again, this is the upper level of the pay scale so you will be much more likely to get something like $30 or $40 for that same length of an article, especially at first.

With the ability to do it from anywhere and pretty much no barrier to entry, besides a basic grasp of the English language, it makes for great virtual work for us van lifers. 

There are many different websites that you can join to get a freelance writing gig. 

Upworks.com

Contena.com

ContentWriters.com tells you exactly how to become a content writer.

How to Become A Content Writer

Becoming a freelance content writer is an excellent work-at-home opportunity for professional, deadline-driven solopreneurs who want to make a living helping companies create effective digital marketing content. This often comes in the form of blog posts, website pages, email newsletters, product descriptions, and white papers.

Ditching Conventional has a great article on finding more freelance writing websites.

9 Freelancing Websites You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner – Ditching Conventional

61% of freelancers say they freelance by choice and 51% of freelancers say they will not go back to a traditional job, no matter how much they would get paid ( stats from Fundera). We are two of those freelancers in those statistics. It’s easy to find great freelancing jobs with all of the freelancing websites available.

#7

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants (VA’s) are used by many entrepreneurs. Basically, they are assistants that work virtually. It can be done anywhere in the world. Many VA’s live in low-cost-of-living countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and India.

Typical tasks that these virtual assistants do are research, reports, excel data entry, reading and replying to emails, and so many others. Pretty much any semi-repetitive tasks that takes up time but doesn’t need a ton of specialized education to do. 

Unspecialized VA’s and entry level VA’s don’t make a lot, typically less than minimum wage in most American states. However, having experience or skills like graphic design, website development, SEO, or other such specializations, can definitely increase that amount by a significant amount.

Personally, I’m willing to take a pay cut to be able to work wherever and whenever I want. However, keep in mind, clients will likely have schedules and deadlines for the work they want done.

#8

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an entrepreneurial business model that allows people to start an online business, buy and sell products, without ever having to stock or come in contact with the products themselves making it a pretty perfect van life job.

To find out more about what dropshipping is, check out this beginner’s guide by Dropified:

How Dropshipping Works? – A Guide by Dropified

As more people look to start their own businesses, eCommerce has become really appealing because the cost to get started is extremely low compared to traditional brick and mortar retail businesses.

#9

Become a Brand Ambassador

If you have any sort of social media account, you probably see brand ambassadors on a daily basis, even if you don’t realize it.

To put it simply, a brand ambassador embodies and embraces a particular brand. They spread that brand’s message and goals. They are basically marketing machines… in human form.

Sometimes brand ambassadors are also called brand champions. You can either be a brand ambassador in real life, or in the internet world. And yes, you can get paid.

Becoming a brand ambassador is a little obscure and requires that you market yourself to your potential brand, but if you’re interested here are some very general tips.

(note, this is mainly for virtual brand ambassadors)

  1. Discover brands that are compatible and build engagement.
  2. Build an online personality.
  3. Build an online audience.
  4. Engage and get your audience involved.
  5. Contact relevant brands and apply to be a brand ambassador.

There are different ways of being a “brand ambassador.” For example, some beer companies are even offering to pay you money to hike the Appalachian Trail and drink their beer!

Get Paid $20,000 to Hike the Appalachian Trail As a ‘Chief Hiking Officer’ (Video)

A Virginia-based beer company wants to pay one lucky brew lover $20,000 to hike the Appalachian Trail as part of the ultimate socially-distanced ‘workcation.’ Devils Backbone Brewing Company is looking to hire a CHO or “Chief Hiking Officer” to hike through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine, in the spring of 2021.

#10

Grade Tests Online

Yes! You can actually get paid to be an online test grader. Not to mention you can totally do it from your van while living remotely on the road.

This virtual gig typically pays around $10-12/hr and requires no training or prior education past possibly a high school diploma or GED.

There’s several different websites that cater to this field and you can find out more information by checking out The Work at Home Wife’s post:

Get Paid to be an Online Test Grader: 8 Legit Online Grading Jobs

One work-from-home job loved by many in my community is contracting as an online test grader. In this position, you are working online grading tests, essays and other papers. In many cases, these essays are submitted as part of a standardized test like the ACT or SAT.

#11

Transcriptionist

If you’ve ever worked in a hospital you might be familiar with the term “dictation.” Doctors have to do a lot of charting and often do it over audio via a phone or a headset. If you’ve ever used Siri, you know how inaccurate this audio capture can be. Someone on the backend listens to the recorded dictation and transcribes it into word.  

What about the subtitles and closed captioning on TV shows and movies? Those have to be transcribed by a person as well. 

There’s plenty of other examples of situations where a recorded audio dictation has to be transcribed into type. There is a pretty low barrier to entry as well but you definitely have to have a decent grasp of the English language.

If you think this might appeal to you, check out www.rev.com, a popular website where people make money transcribing, created captions, and even translating foreign audio into text (bonus, that pays more!)

 

#12

Data Entry Freelancer

Data entry jobs are great work at home (or from van) gigs. They don’t require any sort of formal education past high school or a GED and it’s fairly easy to get started. 

You have to be a decent typist, have a computer/laptop, and a good WIFI connection.

You can find freelance writing gigs on www.UpWorks.com

For a more detailed dive into getting a remote job doing data entry, check out this article by The Work at Home Wife.

12 Legit Data Entry Jobs From Home

INSIDE: Data entry jobs from home are easy to get – but the industry is full of scammers. Here are 12 real opportunites and what you’ll need to get started. Data entry requires very little specific knowledge, so it’s fairly easy to get started with one of these jobs from home.

#13

Remote Online Tutor

A lot of tutoring can be done online over zoom or facetime. Especially now with COVID protocols in place tutoring is a great remote job. 

There are a literal TON of online tutoring websites but here is a list to get you started:

  • Revolution Prep
  • Skooli
  • Smarthinking
  • SpecialEdTutoring.com
  • TutorEye
  • TutorMe
  • Varsity Tutors
  • Wyzant

#14

Remote Call Center / Customer Service

Ring ring ring ring…

That’s my telephone impression, pretty good huh?

Seriously though, working in an actual call center sounds like a nightmare to me. I get startled when I receive a text on my cell phone let alone a whole room of ringing phones and talking voices, that’s just the picture I have in my head.

That’s why I think being a remote customer service technician would be appealing. I know a couple people that do this for their full-time job and are able to do it from the comfort of their home… so why not do it from a camper van or RV instead?

Here are some good books for your travels if you are interested in finding more about working remotely or virtually. 

VIRTUAL JOBS THAT TAKE SOME SELF-TEACHING AND/OR FREE TRAINING

A formal education is not a requirement of these following tech-savvy jobs. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to put in effort to learn a new skill and become proficient at it. However, if you are able to do that, these jobs are perfect for remote work and van life job.

#15

Coding / Programming

I don’t know much about coding.

I do know, however, that people can learn to do it on their own with no formal education. There are tons of YouTube videos and websites dedicated to learning to code. Like this one:

There are definitely different types of coding language: C++, Javascript, Python, HTML, CSS, Ruby.

This article titled “A Guide to the Different Types of Coding Languages” will be a good place to learn more.

You might have to put in some effort into learning the trade, but coding is a very well paying job and is one of the most sought after “digital nomad” careers which makes it perfect for van life and nomadic living.

#16

Website Development and Design

I had to learn a bit of website development on my own for this very site you’re on now. It was remarkably frustrating and full of trial and error.

However, like coding, there are so many YouTube videos dedicated to website creation, design, and development. Not to mention that the stand-alone blog creation sites, like WordPress.com, make things intuitive and easy to get into.

Even if you only know the basics, that is still a lot more than the majority of people know. There are tons of Mom and Pop businesses that don’t have websites and would benefit from one, so there is definitely a market for basic level website development. 

If you continue to learn and grow your own business in website design and development, you can get bigger clients and make a VERY good living from anywhere in the world while living remotely and working on your own schedule.

#17

Become a Copywriter

What is copywriting? 

Basically, it is using words to get people to buy something (or take some form of action).

Copywriting is like being a salesman, but in print. Think about those newspaper ads that are a whole column long that tell this elaborate story to sell you a vacuum cleaner… that is copywriting. Those (semi-annoying) pop-ups and landing pages that you come across on the web from time to time–copywriting.

This can be a very lucrative career if you know what you are doing. Also, as far as I know, there is no formal education for copywriting. You just kind of… do it. You learn the trade by doing, and market yourself.

You might end up doing things like writing emails for mailing lists, ads (the long kind and the short kind), landing pages, etc. I will warn you, however, you have to be very self motivated to be a successful copywriter. You will have to hustle. 

Copywriting is kind of mysterious, in a way. If you want to find out more about copywriting, check out: 

How to Become a Copywriter (2020 Beginner’s Guide)

Trying to figure out how to become a copywriter in 2020? Well, you’ve just stepped into the right corner of the internet. In this article, I’m going to introduce you to all things copy. I’ll tell you what copywriting is, why it’s the best career ever, and even give you the tools and resources you need to get started writing high-performing business copy today.

#18

Affiliate Marketing

The big thing online right now is affiliate marketing. It seems like every blog or website these days has some sort of affiliate links connected to it. I mean, why not?

If someone like Amazon is willing to give you a small percentage of a sale for directing traffic and sales to their website, you take it.

However, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. You have to have something that people want to read first. A website or a blog is typically viewed as the easiest barrier to entry into affiliate marketing, but affiliate marketing can stretch across multiple platforms–like Facebook or YouTube.

Some of the big affiliate sites can make tens of thousands of dollars per month. Most, however, probably fall into the market of barely breaking even.

The nice thing about affiliate marketing is that once you have a website or blog set up, it is mostly passive income. Some websites are a decade old and are still producing income with little or no upkeep. 

This is perfect for a little extra money while living your vandwelling dreams. You can manage an affiliate marketing website/campaign from anywhere in the world, making it a great remote job.

#19

Social Media Assistant / Account Manager

Social media assistants basically run social media accounts for clients… duh.

Sounds simple enough but once a social media account gets super popular, it can start becomming unwieldy, which is why people seek out social media managers.

You have to know the intricacies of the social media platform you are using and be able to run successful social media campaigns and even advertisements. So, it might sound like anyone could do it, but we have it listed in this category for a reason. It does take some training. 

Also, many potential clients will want to see a successful social media account as “proof” of their assistant’s past work. If you think you can run a social media account and have proof, social media assistants can make pretty good money. Better yet, it is a remote virtual gig that you can do it from anywhere in the world making it one of the ideal van life jobs.

#20

Online and Remote Sales Work

Sales is a career that has a wide range of jobs and not all of them require you to be tied to a brick and mortar business. Not to mention they don’t require any sort of advanced degree.

Sales work can be done over the phone, through email, creating sales campaigns for businesses, or through zoom and skype. 

You can either be a fully virtual salesperson or have it as a semi mobile job.

For example, some of the medical sales reps that come to the hospital travel all over the country to different hospital systems, or they might have a big regional area as their territory. This might be a nice gig for a vanlifer, if you can get it.

Sales is a hard field to get into, and you definitely have to be either

a) VERY knowledgeable about the product / service you are selling

b) be a VERY good salesperson

VAN LIFE JOBS FOR YOUR CREATIVE SIDE

If you are one of the lucky ones that have a creative bone in your body, this following section is for you. Some of these are my favorite possible van life jobs, as I always wanted to be an artist. These creative jobs allow you the freedom to build your own schedule and possibly work from anywhere in the world.

#21

Freelance Artist

Freelance artists don’t need any sort of formal education. Sure, there are formal art school degrees you can get and they will surely help if you want to be a professional artist — but it is not a requirement.

If you have a bit of a creative side and find doing art enjoyable (I know I do), then look into being a freelance artist while working in the comfort of your own… van. You can create a cheap, or free, website to showcase your work and commission art or just sell prints (or originals) of your own work.

#22

Graphic Design

Contrary to what you might believe, you don’t need any sort of formal education to make money as a graphic designer. It might help if you have some degree behind your name, but just like freelance artists, it is not required.

All you need to do is learn the ropes online, get a program on your computer, and start a profile on Fiverr.com

https://www.fiverr.com

On fiverr, you create a profile. People who are looking for a graphic design freelancer will search through the profiles and portfolios and if they like your stuff they will choose you for their project.

You can set your own prices. Some people will create a logo for five dollars, others will cost as much as $500. You might have to do some free logos to get a little profile to showcase, but other than that… anybody can sign up.

I don’t know about you, but being a freelance digital designer while working remotely on a beach in Thailand sounds pretty amazing to me… I don’t know why I’m so obsessed with Thailand.

#23

Be a Creative Writer

Basically, this is any other writing not already mentioned on this long post. You can write poems, stories, biographies, comic books, what-the-fuck-ever. Much like being a freelance artist, you will have to hustle your own stuff… but if you’re a good writer, there is money to be made.

You can self publish pretty easily on amazon as an e-book or go the more traditional route and find a publisher.

Amazon Self-Publishing: [9 Step Guide] How to Publish on Amazon

Amazon self-publishing sounds tricky, but it’s actually one of the easiest ways to publish a book. Learning how to publish on Amazon is simple if you have a step-by-step guide, but since Amazon’s publishing platform may not be the most friendly user experience to some, it can get a little confusing if you’re trying to figure it all out yourself.

#24

Sell Something Out of Your Van / Etsy

If you like crafts and there is something you can create and sell on Etsy, then this might be a perfect opportunity for you to make some money remotely. Sure, typically you will need a little room, or a craft station, to make and sell your products… but who says that can’t be done in your van?

Knitting, croache, prints, stickers, leather work, minor wood work, stones, and even tie-dye… these things sell like hotcakes on Etsy. 

#25

Photographer

Photography is a career that can mesh very well with lving the #vanlife. It can be done mobily and remotely. All you really need is a good camera and possibly some post editing software.

I know a handful of photographers that drool at the thought of living in a van and traveling the country (or world) to take pictures of beautiful shit.

You can be a freelance photographer and do things like wedding photography, family shots, nature photography, etc. Or you can create your own store and sell prints of more “artistic” pieces of stuff you have already made.

#26

Videography

Photography’s strange and more outgoing cousin, videography. I’m separating this one from the YouTube section because I want to talk more about the artistic side of videography.

YouTube is a platform to showcase this work, but you don’t necessarily have to be a youtuber to make money in video production.

I had a friend once (I know, suprising) that bought a drone and a fairly cheap camera and started his own video company. He filmed mostly weddings, but became very succesful. It just takes a little bit of drive.

If you are into extreme sports, like snowboarding or mountainbiking, you can take that film talent to a whole-nother level.

Personally, I always had dreams of being a nature/animal videographer. I love animals and I would like nothing more than to film them all day, every day.

#27

Become a YouTuber (Like it's That Easy)

Now again, I seperated this from the above section because I don’t feel like becoming a YouTuber relies on being a good videographer. Sure, it can help, but it is not a requirement.

Many YouTube videos are poorly filmed how-to/instructional videos. Hell, I changed my first alternator by watching a YouTube video.

If you are passionate about something, you can pretty much start a YouTube channel… regardless of your videography skills.

All that being said, you need at least 1,000 subscribers before you can monitize a YouTube channel with ads. Even at that point you will be making only pennies. Therefor, I don’t think you can approach life with an attitude that you are going to be a YouTube sensation…

However, there is something to the saying “where there is a will, there is a way.”

Just for fun, here is the top 5 most successful YouTuber’s, their subscirbers, and their net worth.

  1. Ryan’s World : Toy reviews : 23.3 million subscribers : $26 million
  2. Dude Perfect : Sports and who knows : 51 million subscribers : $20 million
  3. Logan Paul : Douche bag : 21 million subscribers : $19 million
  4. Jake Paul: Another douche bag : Who cares : You’re f*cking rich.
  5. You know what… it doesn’t matter 🙂

#28

Musician / Busker

I know what you’re thinking, this one might appear to be more of a stretch. Sure, if you’re in a band I wouldn’t consider that a mobile job. You will most likely have to have band practice and play local shows to build up a presence. We’re not talking about that.

If you are a good musician, there’s nobody telling you that you can’t put that to work for you. In today’s age of technology there are a ton of ways to make this happen. You could do live shows on YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, or Twitch and link them up to a Patreon account. 

Or, if you like the more traditional approach and are talented enough, you could become a street performer, play open-mic-nights or do virtual collaborations with other artists. 

If you’re a solo musician you can sell your songs/albums online. 

Get creative to find a way to make money while doing something you love.

#29

Video Editing

Maybe you don’t want to be in front of the camera, or even behind the camera, but videography is stills something that interests you.

Video editing is something that can be done from anywhere in the world making it a pretty good remote virtual job.

Now video editing CAN be done on a good high-powered laptop, but a lot of the professionals use a lot more gear.

If you have the ability to hook up to shore power, or just have a really strong battery bank and solar set-up, then you definitely can get the higher powered gear in your van or RV set-up.

However, a video editor can still do work freelance work from their laptop on some beach in Vietnam (hah, switched it up on you).

Check out this video for more information!

TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL WORK IS A GREAT OPTION FOR VAN LIFE JOBS

If you live mobily in a camper van or RV, then that means you are probably keeping your expenses and overhead pretty low. I know people that are able to hunker down for a few months and get one of these temporary/seasonal jobs to earn some cash and then travel around for the rest of the year.

You just have to get creative!

#30

Work at a National Park

There are tons of national park jobs available, and many are seasonal work. Some of these jobs actually pair really well with living in a van.

The variety of jobs is outstanding; trail building and maintenance, bartending and restaurant work, nursing and wilderness first aid, admin and accounting, and many more. You can get a job in retail at the gift shops or be a park greeter.

Hell, I’ve even heard of people caretaking areas deep in the mountains for a handful of months. Some national parks are like their own towns and they have to staff a lot of people. A lot of these parks are also very seasonal. If you want to hunker down for a few months and make a little money, working at a National Park might be a good choice for you.

Check out these sites for more info:

#31

Work at REI

I was recently in the mountains of Colorado debating on what I was going to do for work for the winter. I wanted to hunker down and ski for the winter but I didn’t want to go back to work in my career field (more on that later).

I came across a REI and I got the idea to see if they had any seasonal work for the upcoming winter. Sure as Hell, they did. A lot of it.

It would have been a pretty good marriage of my hobbies (discounts on REI gear) and work.

I ended up going with a short term job related to my actual career, but there are definitely a lot of seasonal REI work.

Check out their job’s board and see if there is any seasonal work near you:

#32

Work at a Ski Resort

Similar to my experience ALMOST getting a job with REI, I thought about getting a seasonal job at a ski resort.

I worked at a ski resort when I was fresh out of high school and had the most memorable winters of my life… even if I flunked all my online college classes.

Maybe I just wanted to just relive that winter of my youth but I can’t imagine a more perfect seasonal gig for a vanlifer than working at a ski resort.

You could park your campervan in the overnight lot and walk to work. You could spend your time after work skiing the slopes and drinking heavily at the bar. 

Being a ski bum and a van life vagabond sounds really perfect to me. 

There are a bunch of jobs at a ski resorts. If you know how to snowboard or ski, you can be a ski instructor. Trust me, you don’t even have to be good since a lot of times you are teaching little kids the absolute basics. You could also be a lift operator, bartender, server, cook, work in the ticket booth, or be a park guy, or in rentals… the list goes on.

If you do get a gig working at a ski resort make sure you have a well insulated van and invest in a good heater to keep you warm!

#33

Temporarily Become a Farm Hand

Farmers are always looking for extra help. If you’re a hard worker, try reaching out to local farmers to see if they need any physical labor in exchange for some money and maybe even a place to park the van or RV.

If you need more help finding a place to sleep check out this great article by one of our writers.

#34

Seasonal Bartending and Restaurant Work

I spent 7 years working nearly every jobs there is in the restaurant field. I went from being a dishwasher to being a prep cook, line cook, busser, expo, server and eventually bartender.

This isn’t about me, however, this is about you… and there are plenty of seasonal restaurant work for you.

We’ve already mentioned the restaurant work at ski resorts and national parks, but there’s more. Outside of the ski resorts there is typically a ski town. Generally dead during the summer and slammed busy during the winter, these ski towns will often hire seasonal bartender and restaurant workers. 

Winter not your favorite season? Want something warmer? Beach resorts and beach towns are seasonal as well. I thought about cruising down to Florida and trying to get a bartending gig for spring break… before covid happened of course. They probably make a killing down there.

You don’t even have to go to that extreme though. A restaurant I used to work for in the Pacific Northwest had a location on the water. It was super busy during the summer but dead during the winter so they would double their staff every summer. Many restaurants have a busy and a dead season, so look for seasonal work there.

#35

Other Retail Work

Many retail stores are also seasonal. Take Christmas, for example; many department stores hire retail associates during the busy holiday seasons (cashier, store clerk, gift wrapper).

A smaller mom and pop shop in a beach town might hire an extra employee or two during the summer time with the expectation that it is just a temporary seasonal job. 

#36

Summer Camp Counselor

It probably won’t surprise you that being a camp counselors is a seasonal job. For a month or two during the summer, you can be a camp counselor with little-to-no training. This is a great opportunity to earn a bit of money while still having the freedom to travel the rest of the year. 

#37

Be a Tax Preparer

Being a tax preparer might be a but more involved than the other jobs in this section, but it is definitely a valid option.

People will pay you to do their taxes! Besides being good at math, there are a few things that you have to do in order to qualify to become a Tax Preparer

  1. Take a 60-hour qualifying education course (CTEC approved).
  2. Purchase a tax preparer bond from an insurance agent.
  3. Get a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) from the IRS.
  4. Register ($33)

If you want to find out more about becoming a tax preparer, check out this blog post by The Work At Home Woman.

How to Become a Tax Preparer at Home

Tax season is a stressful time. Even if you’re ahead of the game or adept at filing, you’re likely surrounded by other adults who aren’t as speedy or savvy. For them, it’s a good thing that those who are well-organized, mathematically inclined, and meticulous become tax preparers.

OTHER SIDE HUSTLES TO MAKE MONEY ON THE ROAD

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, sometimes you have to be a little creative to make money on the road. This section covers some of the more obscure ways to make a little cash. However, obscure definitely has a place on our list of van life jobs.

#38

OnlyFans

Okay okay okay… I know I’ll probably get some flack for this one. It’s a VALID OPTION though. And regardless of your stance on it, you can make money from the comfort of your van with an OnlyFans account… therefor it’s on the list.

OnlyFans is a subscription based site that lets content creators monetize their content. They can lock their content behind a paywall. People either pay a reoccurring monthly fee or a one-time tip to see the content. 

And no! Not all the content is pornographic… even if most of it is.

I’m not gonna dive into the details. If you’re interested, do your own research.

#39

Teach Online Courses via Udemy.com

Udemy.com is a platform designed to crowdsource information and teaching. On Udemy an instructor can create courses on a topic that they are proficient in and charge a fee for people to enroll and take their class, usually in video form.

The nice thing is once the course content is created, it is up there for people to find. So if you have something to teach that you think might be a benefit to someone, think about spending time to design a course.

How Much Do Udemy Instructors Make? – Blog | TeachinGuide

In a popular blog a few months back, we profiled five high earning Udemy Instructors who gave their advice about how to be a successful Udemy instructor. Those featured Udemy instructors earn A LOT of money teaching the best online courses and this has been promoted as an argument for becoming a Udemy instructor in all manner of media and blogs.

#40

TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a GENIUS platform designed to match freelance labor with local demand. Don’t know what I mean?

Imagine you need help painting your house, you can go on TaskRabbit and hire some help for the day. 

If you don’t mind doing everyday tasks like laundry, cleaning, yardwork, painting, moving, delivery, and other basic handyman work then TaskRabbit.com is a great way to earn some money on your free time.

#41

Become a Webcam Model

Yeah, again… I’m not going to go into details. Just google it yourself, but be prepared for the results of that search.

#42

GoFundMe (AKA e-begging)

GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that is actually a pretty cool idea… when used properly. If you have a cool idea for a business, invention, or project that will benefit people then you can start a GoFundMe campaign to earn some money to get it up and running…

However, some people have started to take advantage of the platform by what I termed as “e-begging.”

This is far from my favorite idea and I almost didn’t include it, but a lot of people do it. I know some famous vanlife YouTubers who recently did this to get their van fixed. They got a lot of flack for it, and for good reason.

However, if you have no problem asking random strangers for money via the internet, feel free to start a GoFundMe.

#43

Become a Streamer on Twitch

I don’t know much about video games or Twitch, but I know it is damn popular. 

I did a quick google search and found that expert streamers can make around $3,000-5,000 per month playing video games 40 hours a week, and that is not counting ad revenue. 

This is the envy of every 14 year old boy, but Twitch streaming can be a serious cash cow. Now imagine if you did videogame streaming from cool places across the world. I might be on to something.

#44

Rent Out Your Van or RV on OutDoorsy

You might be opposed to renting out your camper to some stranger, but I know a couple people that bought an RV strictly for this reason… and they make a killing. 

I mean, just now I went over to www.outdoorsy.com and on my very first search I found

A MERCEDES SPRINTER VAN GOING FOR $200 / NIGHT

What if you don’t have a sprinter van? Well I also found

A CONVERTED FORD ECONOLINE FOR $140 / NIGHT

So, if you arn’t planning on using your van for a while, consider renting it out. 

I might even consider doing another build strictly for renting it out on Outdoorsy.

#45

Day Trading and Investing

It is always important to maximize your investments but if you don’t know much about the stock market I would stay away from day trading. You might have dreams of being the new “Wolf of Wall street” but you could very much end up broke living out of your van down by the river… oh wait.

Day trading is a form of speculative stock trading in which the investor opens and closes their positions on certain stocks in a short amount of time, usually before day’s end. The investor usually basis their in and out points based on a variety of technical data.

There are tons of YouTube videos on the subject, if you want to find out more information.

 

#46

Help People Build Out Their Van Conversions

What better van life job than building vans??

I’m surprised by how often I see Facebook posts where people are asking, even begging, to pay other people to come help with their van build. If you’re already traveling around the country in your own DIY van camper, why not make a little extra money helping someone else build theirs?

Keep an eye on those van conversion groups. People might cover your gas, pay you money for your time, and provide you with a spot to park and sleep.

In fact, if you are really good at building out vans you can really start getting a Van Conversion company going. Some people are willing to pay big money for a luxury van build.

I worked with a doctor once that was ready to sink over $50k into hiring a van conversion company to build out his Mercedes Sprinter.

VIRTUAL JOBS AND MOBILE CAREERS THAT REQUIRE SOME FORMAL EDUCATION

Just because a job requires formal education doesn’t mean it isn’t a valid way to make money on the road. Some of the best virtual jobs for digital nomads require some sort of degree or certification.

If you are serious about setting up and building a mobile life, you might want to look into these career paths.

#47

Be an Editor

Whether you are editing blog posts for an established website, an article for a newspaper/magazine, or somebody’s vampire porn fan fiction… editing can be done anywhere in the world making it a perfect addition to our list of van life jobs.

Typically, an editor can make anywhere from $30k-$100k+ a year, depending on experience. That being said, editing is far from a cakewalk job. You could potentially have to spend your days filled with reading, communicating with clients, re-reading, thoughtful feedback, and re-re-reading.

If you are interested in being an editor, here are some steps to get your started,

How to Become an Editor: A Comprehensive Guide for Writers

Despite some similarities, writing and editing are not the same job. Yet editing is often a natural progression for writers within an organization, and it’s a way for freelancers to broaden their work prospects. Based on my experience transitioning from writer to editor as a freelancer and staffer, here’s how to become an editor.

#48

Remote Virtual IT Job

Informational Technologists make good money but also requires some schooling. Traditionally, IT guys work in or near their employer so that they can come in to troubleshoot problems. 

However, more and more IT jobs are moving into the remote work category. A lot of the troubleshooting can be done virtually. 

You can get a certification/degree in IT from a trade school for very cheap compared to some of the more “advanced” degrees.

#49

Remote Accounting

Accountants handle financial records, data entry and analysis, managing accounts receivable and accounts payable for a businesses. Most of this work can be done remotely as they have digitalized this field.

Long gone are the days of having to sit in a cubicle to be an accounted. Sure, those jobs might still exist but it’s pretty unnecessary. 

Personally, I don’t know if I could be an accountant… I’m not much of a number’s guy. But if you are trying to figure out what career might give you the most freedom so you can live your dreams in a van down by the river, dare I say it might be accounting.

#50

Virtual Engineer Job

Engineers can work from home, or virtually, although it depends on what kind of engineering they do, what company they work for, and how good of a fit they are for working from home.

There are five general types of engineers,

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering

I won’t go into much detail about this because to become an engineer requires a ton of schooling and if you are considering it you probably already know more about me on the subject.

#51

Digital Marketing

I put this under the “needs some formal education” category because it definitely would be EASIER to succeed in this field if you had a marketing degree.

However, it is far from a hard requirement. If you are good at marketing you could totally market yourself into a sweet remote job doing digital marketing for a variety of companies.

And finally, what I do for a living…

#52

Travel Nursing

I went into nursing with the narrow minded focus of becoming a travel nurse. Far before I ever found #vanlife, I wanted to travel around and live a more nomadic lifestyle.

I got my 2 year Associates Degree in Nursing, started working on a general Med/Surg floor and hated it. I thought about quitting several times before eventually switching to emergency and then to the cardiac cath lab, which is where I still am.

As soon as I got enough experience, I pursued my dream of travel nursing. At the time of this article, I’m working in the foothills of Colorado, living in my van named Vanessa, and awaiting the ski season.

Travel nursing isn’t virtual or remote, but it is mobile. I work a 3 month assignment and then I can take the rest of the year off if I wanted to!

There’s other jobs in the nursing field that allow for a more nomadic lifestyle, like working for a nurse hotline (not the sexy kind–get your mind out of the gutter).

If you’ve actually read this entire list of van life jobs, I’m very surprised. If you got ANY sort of value out of it, please consider sharing it with your friends or on social media and give us a like and a follow.

If there is a job that you think we missed, please let us know in the comments below!

Overnight Parking and Stealth Camping While Vandwelling

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van overnight parking

If you are a #vanlifer, or are on the pursuit to be one, there’s a 99% chance you have been asked the infamous question:

So where do you sleep?

This question is one that I researched heavily before finally pulling the trigger to purchase my van. I am a solo female about to commence on my journey of living full-time in my van, a Ford E250. The factor of where I would sleep was an extremely important one.

When most people (myself in the past, admittedly) think of van lifers, images of waking up alongside the Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the beach tend to come to mind. 

Yes, some mornings will look like that here and there (the dream, right??). The reality, however, is that a good chunk of your mornings will consist of a view of the Walmart parking lot that you stumbled upon late last night.

Instagram and Youtube make van life look extremely glamorous – waking up on the beach, cooking breakfast outside surrounded by pristine mountains, doing yoga next to a lake you have all to yourself. It is important to consider what day-to-day life living in your awesome rig will realistically consist of, and this includes the constant hunt of “where will I be sleeping tonight?”

Don’t worry! We will cover places to park overnight and sleep, what stealth camping is, and how to be safe while doing it.

This is simply just a reminder, do not let this dishearten you in any way. It’s all part of the wild adventure

stealth camping and parking overnight

Stealth Camping

When it comes to sleeping in your vehicle, being able to be ‘stealthy’ is a huge advantage. Stealth camping is known as sleeping in your camper van or car without attention being drawn to yourself. It comes in handy when camping in more urban areas.

When stealth camping, you have to worry a little less about finding a place to sleep because you can blend in… meaning you can easily find overnight parking near you.

Stealth camping is best done in cargo vans, mini vans, and basically any vehicle that could pass as a work van/car that doesn’t look like someone could be sleeping in it. For example, cargo vans are considered to be extremely stealthy, while a decked out VW Westfalia is typically not.

When choosing a vehicle, stealth is way more crucial on some people’s criteria list than others. As previously stated, I am a solo female. I chose my van mainly because of the stealth factor it has. I definitely didn’t choose it because I liked the fact that it looks like a plumber’s van.

I knew if I was going to be sleeping alone many nights, I wanted to draw as little attention as possible to the fact I will be sleeping in my van. There are pros and cons to many different types of vans, but I believe that stealth factor is definitely a major pro.

Safety While Sleeping in Your Van

The safety aspect of parking in public areas tends to be people’s biggest concern, and with good reason. The most important piece of advice to follow when crashing somewhere is to trust your gut. If you feel unsafe at any point or are getting bad vibes from a place, get in your car and keep driving until you find a spot you feel more comfortable in.

Check out our post “10 Tips for Living in Your Car“

Personally, I’d rather drive through the night than stay somewhere I didn’t feel comfortable because my anxious-ass most likely wouldn’t end up getting much sleep anyways.

Here’s a few more safety tips while parking overnight and sleeping in your van (or car)

  • Always park in well lit areas 
  • Switch up spots often in public areas and neighborhoods – every couple of days if not every day
  • Don’t make it obvious you’re sleeping in your van (aka don’t bring it up to a random guy in the Walmart bathroom)
  • As always, keep your keys in an easy to reach spot
  • Arrive late, leave early

Whether you’re traveling via Sprinter van or simply in the back of your Toyota Highlander, a lot of times you simply just need a convenient, and legal, place to crash.

The following list compiles some legal spots to park your home on wheels. As always, make sure to check local laws of the area you will be in beforehand in order to avoid the dreaded 2 a.m. knock on the window by a cop (an inevitable occurrence).

A List of Place to Camp and Park Overnight

overnight parking and sleeping in a van

1) National Parks

National Parks are federally regulated land and will often cost you in order to camp overnight there. These places are an absolute must to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend them for frequent places to crash unless you stumble upon one of those 14 day dispersed camping mecca’s.

It goes without saying that most people living out of their vans are doing so in order to not have to pay for somewhere to sleep every night. This is why National Parks won’t be your best option… for the most part. 

What is highly recommended is getting an annual pass for $80 which grants you free access to hundreds of National Parks as well as discounted camping at some of the parks for pass holder

2) BLM Camping

BLM is the Bureau of Land Management and serves as a great source for parking overnight if you’re down to be more off-grid! This land is known to be the public land that isn’t designated as a National Park/Forest or privately owned land.

BLM areas are typically only regulated by length of stay and are a great resource for a free place to park overnight and catch some Z’s. You can stay parked on BLM territory for up to 14 days without a permit before having to move spots, which is allowed as long as it is at least 25 miles away from your previous spot.

These areas tend to be located more in desert regions and in the Western United States. The Public Lands App is super helpful in showing you what land is what, as well as assistance in figuring out where you can/can’t park without a permit and much more.

3) Dispersed Camping - Boondocking

Dispersed Camping is defined as camping on public land outside of designated campsites. Boondocking is defined as camping without being connected to water, electricity, etc. It can be done anywhere (like parking lots), but in order to disperse camp, you will be boondocking because with disperse camping you won’t have access to water, electricity, etc. Does that make sense? Now I’m just confusing myself…

This type of camping is widely done on aforementioned BLM lands. Something to consider is that these types of land won’t have the facilities that you’d normally find at a designated campsite. No running water, bathrooms, or places to plug in for electricity. This means you should plan to make all of your necessary stops beforehand as you may be a ways away from any stores/gas stations/restrooms. 

You should also make sure you have everything you need, because these places can often be pretty hard to reach.

4) Moochdocking

Being able to see your friends and family. Not having to worry about parking somewhere for a short amount of time. What could be better than that?!

Moochdocking at a friends house is a great way to have a place to sleep and park overnight.

I plan to take FULL advantage of this when I head out West next month (if any of my West Coast friends are reading this- will offer big hugs for a spot in your driveway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).

When you know you’ll be in a specific location which also happens to be the hometown of some of your buddies, hit them up and ask if you could stay in their driveway/apartment complex parking lot. You may even get a hot shower and home-cooked meal out of it, which we all know is a luxury after weeks on the road.

Stealth camping in parking lot

5) Retail Stores: Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Cabela’s, etc.

Thankfully, some of the US’s most convenient chain stores and restaurants allow you to utilize their parking lot as a place to sleep! These spots are great for last minute places to stay and park overnight, but do keep in mind that all locations for all chains tend to have different rules and policies regarding overnight parking. 

It is always recommended to check ahead of your planned arrival, whether it be a day or an hour. Wherever you decide to park, be extremely respectful during your stay and even pop in to thank someone if you’re feeling grateful!

Walmart

Good ole’ Wally World. What doesn’t this beloved American chain have?? A lot of Walmarts allow overnight parking, which is super comforting because we all know how many Walmarts there are here in the U.S.

Walmart is great because some are open 24/7, have literally any and all essential items you may need to restock on, and also tend to have well-lit parking lots.

As previously mentioned, the majority of Walmarts allow staying overnight in their parking lots. That being said, check beforehand to make sure your designated Walmart allows overnight parking to be on the safe side. It is ultimately up to the store manager as well as local laws and city ordinances. Walmarts that do allow overnight parking often have designated areas they wish you to park, so it is imporant to ask.

Cracker Barrel

Though Cracker Barrel doesn’t directly advertise that they allow overnight parking, they are extremely welcoming to overnight guests. They even have designated RV parking where you can park overnight with bigger vehicles.

Just like Walmart, different CB’s have different rules, so call the manager the day you plan on arriving and check that it’s okay for you stay there overnight as well as check for availability.

A nice thing to do in the morning is stop in and grab breakfast as a thank you.

Cabela’s

Cabela’s is a chain of outdoor outfitters and equipment stores and are known to be very welcoming towards overnight parking.

They typically have signs for designated RV/overnight parking, but it’s a good idea to check ahead of time. They also are not open 24/7, so make sure to use the restroom elsewhere before settling in for the night

Other

There are many other stores that occasionally allow, or overlook, overnight guests; such as Home Depot and Lowes. Now these places might not be AS welcoming as the local Walmart so it’s always important to follow the stealth camping best practices. 

If we left out any other big chain stores, let us know in a comment below!

6) Religious Buildings/Hospitals

Some churches/religious buildings are known to allow overnight guests, as long as you are not in the way.

However, these places are private property. If they don’t want you there you could be considered trespassing and wake up to a 2am knock on your door by the police.

Truck stop rest area van life campervan

7) Truck Stops/Gas Stations

Truck stops are a great option for finding overnight parking. However, they do vary from area to area. TA’s and Petros are said to be of better quality and cleanliness. Love’s, Pilot and Flying J’s vary in that sense based on location.

Sometime’s you will come across a huge Flying J’s with plenty of parking, or a much smaller one with a much smaller lot. Some of these do offer showers for $7-10 (towel included) with no time limit which is definitely useful if it’s been a few days and you’re wanting to treat yourself! Definitely sport some shower shoes.

Bonus: Some of these places even have free WiFi as well as restaurants, bathrooms, laundry services and stores.

8) Rest Areas

Some people don’t consider rest areas as the best option, but they will definitely get the job done if you need to find a place to park and sleep overnight. It is important to be on guard while staying at one as they are more prone to crime than other options.

Practice safety and follow a few of these tips when sleeping overnight at a rest area:

  • Look for rest areas that are busier. The more truckers and people sleeping in their car, the better. 
  • Don’t make it known that you are traveling alone (especially if you are female).
  • Try not to use the facilities at night or before sleeping. Save those trips for the morning when you are about to leave.

Also, look for signs around the rest area as they typically will let you know whether overnight parking is allowed/how long you can stay.

camper van stealth camping on street

9) Neighborhood/Residential Parking

You need to take special precautions when choosing to sleep overnight in a residential area.

People pay for their place of residence, and some of them aren’t cool with someone parked outfront of it. This will also result in an extremely heightened risk of getting the cops called on you, which is never pleasant. Not gonna lie- the outside of my van def gives off kidnapper vibes and I’d probably call the cops on myself if I saw it sitting outside of my house.

If you do have to resort to parking somewhere like this, leave as early as possible and follow these stealth camping tips:

  1. Arrive late and leave early
  2. Don’t draw attention to yourself.
  3. Use the spot only for sleeping. If you are going to cook dinner, play video games, or watch TV then do that somewhere else before arriving at your designated place to sleep overnight.
  4. Do not stay at the same spot for multiple nights. This isn’t a place for living, it is for sleeping and parking overnight. 
  5. If you get spotted, it is best to leave.
  6. Be respectful, if you are asked to leave… leave!

10) Other Places to Sleep in Your Car or Van and Park Overnight

These types of places really will vary. Bars, casinos, local stores, 24 hour gyms, and places similar which are open 24 hours sometimes allow overnight guests. 

Resources to find overnight parking and places to sleep in your vehicle.

In Conclusion...

Having to figure out where you will be parking your home every night may seem like a lot, but there really are so many options out there. You are guaranteed to figure out some of your own preferred spots and get in the groove of finding places and what works best for you. Follow these tips along with your common sense and you’ll be a pro when it comes to parking overnight in your home on wheels.

15 Public Shower Options Near You

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public shower

Whether you are taking a road trip, living out of your car, or exploring the country in your camper van, you will eventually need a shower. There are a ton (well 15 to be exact) public shower options near you… some might just take a little creativity. Others, a little money. However, there are a few free shower options on the list.

1) Shower at large, nation-wide gym chains

chain gyms are a good place to shower cheap

Gym’s may be the most reliable and common ways to find a public shower on the road.

I have a membership to Planet Fitness. For 20$ / month I have access to unlimited showers, massage beds, tanning booths (although I’ll pass on that)… and even those weight things. Not only that! You can bring one guest every day… for FREE. Now I just need to find a friend.

Many of these gyms can be found all over the country, which makes them perfect for van life or showering while on road trips. Some of them even offer free passes. The most popular big nationwide gyms are:

Although they are far from free, the money spent on a gym might be worth it to get a reliable way to shower on the road.

Also, if you have a YMCA near you, they offer financial aid on memberships. So that is yet another gym option.

2) Campground showers

Many established campgrounds have showers available. Although, they might not be free to the public. This means that you might have to spend money on a campsite overnight or talk to the campground host to see if they will let you take a free shower…

You never know unless you ask.

Then again, I’m sure there are people that don’t ask and just do. Although I don’t avocate that.

3) Smaller local gyms

Local and regional gyms are another way to find a free shower. Many of these smaller chain gyms offer trial passes just like the larger ones.

Obviously, you wouldn’t want to head straight to the showers. Take the opportunity to get a work-out in. And if you are going to be in the area for a while, consider actually signing up and supporting the smaller guys.

cute cat showers for free

4) Truck stops

Truck stops are a great way to find a public shower. Although they won’t be free, these showers are often some of the cleanest you will find. 

Seriously, I was blown away at how well taken care of these showers are. And they arn’t just for truckers. 

If you haven’t checked out a truck stop yet, go do it… bring a date! Make a night out of it!

Seriously though, truck stops really try to take care of their customers. Not only will you find spotless showers, many of these places have restaurants, stores, laundry services, WIFI, massage chairs, and TV theatre rooms. They will even let you stay the night for free! Just call to make sure it’s okay.

Hint: Many truckers have free shower passes for these places. I’ve been told they are often more than happy to give you one if you ask. 

Some of the most popular names in the truck stop world are:

  • Loves
  • Pilot Travel Center
  • Little America

5) Get a portable shower

There are a TON of different portable showers available. Many of these are solar shower bags. They are cheap, effective, and easy to use, making them great options for showering on the road.

Check out our list of 8 of the Best Portable Solar Showers

When I’m not showering at Planet Fitness, I’m usually using my solar shower bag. I hang it on the side of my campervan if it’s sunny, letting the sun heat up the water.

If it’s not sunny, I simply boil a bit of water with my jet boil or on my stove-top and add it to my shower bag.

If a gravity-fed solar shower doesn’t appeal to you, they also have pump showers. These tanks can be filled like mentioned above and you can pressurize the tank with a hand/foot pump.

The beauty of your own portable shower is that you can bathe any time, any place… well, maybe not ANY place.

Here are some of our top choices for a portable solar shower bag:

6) Free showers at the beach!

If you are near a public beach, chances are you will be near a free shower. These are usually used for washing off sand and salt water, and they don’t cost a cent!

Next time your #vanlife adventures take you to the beach, keep these showers in mind! 

Just make sure you are respectful to those around you, it is public after-all.

7) Public swimming pool showers

Do a quick google search and see if there is a community pool near you. Where there is a public pool, there’s also a public shower. 

Community swimming pools are an easy and inexpensive way to get a shower if you aren’t trying to shower every day (because day passes do begin to add up).

8) Boat marinas' public showers

Boat marinas are a great option to find a cheap public shower if you are traveling along the coast. I’ve showered in my fair share of boat marinas on my campervan travels. The cleanliness can be hit or miss, depending on the area. Overall, however, they tend to be pretty clean.

They are coin operated and cost anywhere from 50 cents to a couple of bucks, so keep some coins handy.

9) Hostels

hostels are a good place to sleep overnight

I’ve stayed at many hostels around the world and some of them actually offer their shower services for a small fee. You can even get towels and soap!

If you are sick of sleeping in your van or car, you can always get a bed there as well.

Hostels can be ridiculously cheap depending on where you are. In Japan, I was staying at $15/night hostels and they were remarkably clean.

However, in the States you might be spending a bit more.

10) Get a room in an AirBnB

If you are on the road or living out of your van, perhaps springing for a one night Airbnb stay won’t be a terrible idea. If not for the comfort, then for the private shower.

The beauty of living the van life is that it affords you the freedom to splurge every now and then. 

Airbnb doesn’t even have to be that expensive! Depending on where you are, you could potentially find a cheap room to rent for the night.

Not only would you get a nice hot shower, you would get a nice warm bed.

11) Spring for a motel room

Just like above, but maybe you want a bit more privacy. Motel’s can range in price greatly but if you want a private room and a private shower after a long road trip then perhaps spending a bit of money won’t be such a bad thing.

12) Bathe in a river or lake

free public bath lake or river

What did we do before we had nice warm showers? We jumped in the river of course!

I mean, if you’re already going to be living in a van down by the river, might as well bathe in one too! 

Disclaimer: Be super careful about introducing chemical products to the water source. Even a small amount of environmentally friendly soap can cause damage to the natural organisms.

13) Bike wash shower

Yes! I said it. If it’s good enough for my mountain bike, Stumpy, then it’s good enough for me!

Some mountain bike parks and trails have a little bike wash station to rinse off your muddy bike. Why not turn it into a make-shift public shower. 

Be warned, it will be cold!

And don’t hog it for those who need it!

14) Baby wipe baths

Music festival goers around the globe know that baby wipes arn’t just for babies. In fact, most of them arn’t even marketed as body wipes or shower wipes.

I spent a large portion of my 20’s going to music festivals. I’ve gotten very accustomed to baby wipe showers. 

Yes, I still call them showers.

I always keep a pack of baby wipes around on road trips… and I have many packs in my van. I use them almost daily.

15) Sink baths (like a bird bath!)

bird bath shower public shower

I saved the best for last. If you can’t find a shower, just take a sink bath somewhere. Better than being stinky, right?

Conclusion

The moral of the story is this: 

Don’t let the worry of finding a public shower and staying hygenic on your road trip hold you back. If you are hesitant about committing to the “van life” because you don’t know where you will shower, rest assured there are many-many options. 

If you thought of any public shower options that we didn’t list, please let us know in the comment section below!

Now that you have some places to take a shower, check out your different camper van toilet options below:

10 Tips For Living In Your Car In 2022

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car living

There are many scenarios where you might find yourself living out of your car. 

Maybe you’ve lost income and you’re living situation is collapsing. 

Perhaps you’re looking for ways to combat the ever increasing rent in your city.

Or, did you decided that you want to invest your remaining savings into a memorable summer road trip while you reconfigure your life?

Is this #vanlife?

Not necessarily... more like #priuslife! Or rather, a guide on how to live in your car (or camper van) and some tips you need to know to safely get started.

Whatever the reason you think you might have to start living out of your car, the sad reality is that the current economic climate and social structure is forcing more and more Americans to begin to live in their vehicles.

If you’re finding yourself in a situation where your car must become your apartment, here is a list of 10 tips on how to live in your car and make the situation safer and easier.

10 Tips on How to Live in Your Car Safely and Comfortably

1. Downsize And Keep Only What You Need

This one is obvious, you aren’t going to be able to take all of your belongings with
you inside your car/van/or truck.

All you really need are the things that allow you to do the same basic stuff you did before you started living in your car—sleeping, eating, and going to the bathroom are the essentials.

There are many ways to go about setting yourself up for this. One of the most important things to consider is to have sufficient bedding.

If you live in a cold climate you might need a sleeping bag. If its hot where you live you may want a 12volt fan that goes into the cigarette lighter adapter in your car.

No matter where you live, you’ll need a sleeping space. Cars with back seats that fold down flat are the best for making a bed, but you’ll likely have to make do with what you have.

backseat inflatable mattress is a must for living in your car

They even have blow up air mattresses, like this one, specifically designed for the inside of a car.

https://amzn.to/3kTLrwk

Investing in a small and well insulated cooler can help you store food for several days. Using water bottles filled with ice helps keep your food cold and dry.

You can even wrap your cooler with a sleeping bag during the day time and park in the shade to help keep your food colder for longer.

A lot of people invest in a gas camp stove in order to make hot water for cooking. Others use water boilers that plug into the 12volt socket in their car.

(Note that when using gas stoves make sure there is proper ventilation in your space)

As far as the bathroom goes, most people go outside their car but its important to have backups for emergencies. Remember, shitting and pissing in public can be illegal. Sometimes it may be safer to go in a water bottle and usea a WagBag to dispose of your waste later.

Women can even use a She-Wee or a female urinal to get the job done.

For your belongings outside of the essentials, take what you use and touch on a daily basis and then decided from there what you really need. Keep it simple and, if you can, put the rest of your things in storage.

2. Trust Your Gut

Living out of your car means sleeping in your car… obviously.

For most of us, this happens at night and night happens to be the time that cars are most often burglarized.

Finding a safe place to sleep is a task you’ll be doing every single night. By making yourself invisible in your car, either with a dark tint, curtains, window coverings, or even hanging some jackets in the windows, you can sleep in peace.

Check out our guide to “Overnight Parking and Stealth Camping“

It helps to park in well-lit areas away from housing, public transit stops, and walking paths.

Don’t spend more than a couple of nights in a row in the same place. Have a rotation of sleeping places that you can rely on and move your car to if need be.

Remember, if something feels or looks wrong, move your car and find somewhere else.

Getting used to sleeping in a car takes time and is both scary and intimidating at first. Trusting your gut will help you sleep well and have a better experience.

3. Don't Let The Doubt Creep In

If you’re living out of your car or camper van, not by choice, but rather by circumstance, then it is important to recognize your self-worth.

Yes, people are going to look at your weird when you brush your teeth in that parking lot.

Yes you will “feel” people staring when you take down a window shade.

However, these types of experiences don’t make you less of a person.

Remember that you’re a human being just like everyone else and circumstance doesn’t define your life.

There is a way to live out of your vehicle and not only be a productive member of society, but also add value to your own life.

Try focusing on activities that not only keep you occupied but are also enjoyable. This can help mitigate the negative feelings associated with being forced into an alternative living space.

And that’s exactly what you’re doing—living alternatively—and there’s nothing wrong with that.

4. Know Your Rights

It is important to find and know the local legal code regarding sleeping in your vehicle overnight.

This varies, not only state to state, but city to city as well. Many major cities have passed ordinances designed to criminalize sleeping in your car as well as sleeping on the street. Whereas, in others cities local governments consider sleeping in your car okay.

If you live somewhere where it is against the law to spend the night in your car, make sure that you’re doing it very stealthy. Do what you can to block your windows and make your car look like any other car on the street or lot.

5. Stay Clean

Living out of your car means having to plan a bit around taking a shower.

However, there are several options for a cheap or free public shower. 

Many people living van life or traveling full time opt to pay for a cheap nationwide gym membership at a 24-hour gym.

This gives you access to showers, as well as a place outside your vehicle to use the internet.

When you don’t have this option, using baby wipes to bath yourself is a great way to clean up from the comfort of your own car. Wiping yourself down with wipes will help you feel refreshed, clean, and normal.

You can also invest in a cheap solar shower bag. These are more practical for when your camping, boondocking, or stationary. However, they are a great thing to have!

Check out our post: “The 8 Best Solar Showers…”

6. Control The Climate

Living in your car is akin to, well, living outside. You’re always at the whim of the elements.

You can do your best to control your life. If it’s hot, investing in a small car A/C cooler can help. You can’t (and shouldn’t) run your engine all night with the A/C blasting, but a small powered unit can help.

On the cheap, a spray water bottle and hand fan is a quick and simple solution to staying cool. And although you most likely wont be cutting a giant hole in the top of your Prius to fit a Maxxair Maxxfan, you could invest in a 12V cigarette-lighter car fan. 

If you’re in a cold climate and need to stay warm, invest in a good sleeping bag rated to
a low temperature. You can even find some of these for a lower price at an Army Surplus store.

There are some pretty awesome Chinese diesel heaters or even a propane powered Mr. Buddy heater too, that might work in your car.

Insulating yourself, as well as your car’s windows can make a huge difference on cold nights.
Do what you can to stay comfortable.

7. Stay Organized

This goes hand in hand with downsizing. Let’s face it, you’re living in a tiny space.

Everything you need is with you, and everything you don’t should be either stored, sold, or thrown away.

There’s nothing worse than losing your keys under piles of clothing behind the seat under a tote covered in a pile of trash… 

  • Have a place in your car for everything you own, and when you’re done using something put it away.
  • Empty trash on a daily basis to keep things from piling up and have a designated place for any waste to go before you throw it away.
  • Consider eating food that comes in little or no packaging to cut down on waste inside your car.
  • Having everything in a container or bag makes it easy to stop at a carwash and clean things out every week or two.

If you’re organized and keep your car clean, living out of your car can be a more positive experience.

8. Find Ways To Make Money

The numbers get worse every week…

at the time of publishing this article 1 in 4 Americans are out of work.

That doesn’t mean that living in your car makes it impossible to find a job, or to keep doing one you already have. Plenty of employed people live out of their cars.

It’s even possible to make money with your car. 

Uber and Lyft might not be lucrative right now. Plus, letting others into your vehicle only works if you can fit everything in your trunk while working.

However, driving for a service like GrubHub, UberEats, InstaCart, or Postmates is a solid way to make at least a little bit of cash during the Covid-19 pandemic and still allows you to explore parts of your city you might not otherwise visit.

9. Find Community

Finding yourself alone in your car, day after day, can get lonesome very quickly.

Maintaining friendships, or finding community in online forums of folks living out of their cars, trucks, or vans, can help stave off some of the feelings of loneliness.

You aren’t alone in living in your car. Make sure you have a few hours a day to use some wifi or talk to a friend on the phone. It can keep your outlook positive and yourself happy.

Consider joining our facebook group or discord channel:

Van Focused: Camper Van Building Community

Van Life Community on Discord

10. Ask Questions And Seek Advice

This final tip goes hand in hand with the previous one—you can always find more advice from people on the internet or those who you run into in the real world.

By looking at what others have done, you can find out what works best for you and discover ideas you never would have thought of.

Check out these forums for additional tips or any questions you may have regarding living out of your vehicle.

5 Things to Make Living In Your Car Easier

Now that you got some tips on how to live out of your car, here’s some essentials to make things more comfortable.

1) The She-Wee or Female Urinal

she-wee female urinal living in your car

These products, and others like it, allow women to pee standing up and some of the more rigid ones even allow you to pee with your pants on!

Check Price

2) Car Window Sun Shades

sun shade living in car

Not only will these things keep the hot sun from beating in your car and turning it into an oven, they are also a must have for privacy reasons.

Check Price

3) 12v Cigarette Lighter Fan

12v fan for living in your car

This little guy plugs into your cigarette light and allows you to get some air-flow through your car without having to turn on the engine.

Check Price

4) Small Camping Stove

small camping stove for living in your car

This thing is small and portable and just twists right onto a small propane canister. These are what hikers and backpackers use, but they definitey work for living out of your car.

Check Price

5) A Blow-Up Car Sized Air Mattress

inflatable airmattress is perfect for living in your car

This thing is perfect for sleeping in and living out of your car. They make them in a range of sizes so make sure to search around to find one that fits your car the best.

Check Price

In Conclusion

Even if you are forced into it, living out of your car doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable or embarrassing situation. Hopefully these tips and suggestions helped you figure out how to live in your car safely and comfortably.

If you think of any awesome car-living tips that would go great on this list, let us know in the comments below!