Seeing more camper vans on the road these days? It might be because the RV industry is growing, with van life responsible for about 15 percent of that growth. Searches for “vanlife” have increased by 216 percent since 2018, and the #vanlife hashtag has logged more than 5 billion views on TikTok. Known in the industry as Class B motorhomes, vans drive like a car, fit in standard parking spaces, and can be surprisingly well-equipped, providing both a home for full-time dwellers and an appealing way to see America. Here’s a quick guide for the curious.
Buy or rent: Not ready to spend six figures? Rentals are widely available through companies like Roadsurfer, Escape Campervans, and Travellers Autobarn, or try peer-to-peer options like Outdoorsy and RVshare. Average cost: $100-$250 per night.
Self-sufficiency: Modern vans come with a bed, stove, refrigerator, and sink. Solar panels, batteries, or a generator provide power. Heat, AC, a toilet, and shower could be optional. Such amenities leverage a van’s compact design and versatility, allowing anyone to get off the grid without special skills.
Overnight parking: Walmart and other big-box stores often still allow overnight parking, but some are clamping down. RVs can also stay at most Cracker Barrel restaurants free of charge. Membership-based Harvest Hosts offers thousands of unique overnight locations, including wineries, ranches, and museums. Kampgrounds of America, Good Sam campgrounds, as well as state and national parks are priced from $20 to more than $400 and may require reservations. On BLM land, dispersed camping is often free up to 14 days at a time.
Get out of the heat: On his blog, climate scientist Brian Brettschneider created two widely cited cross-country routes with an average year-round high temperature of 70 degrees. But consider driving U.S. 89, the National Park Highway, a scenic route that stretches from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the Canadian border, linking seven major national parks, 14 national monuments, historical sites, and recreation areas, plus access to 22 wilderness areas.
Ditch the phone: Using a paper map and practicing basic orienteering instead of relying on GPS and turn-by-turn directions will stimulate your “spatial awareness.” Besides, a traditional road map reveals sightseeing stops, recreational areas, scenic routes, and physical features at a single glance. You can even plot your traveled route for post-trip show-and-tell.
Set itinerary or open end: Take a cue from road writers such as Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck, and William Least Heat-Moon: Leave room for spontaneity and curiosity, and let tips from locals and serendipity guide you. After all, the best destinations are the ones we never plan.
