campervan travel ideas

23 Incredible RV Vacations: Scenic RV Road Trips You Need to Take

Posted on Published: July 7, 2023  - Last updated: February 26, 2024

If you’re seeking the perfect blend of adventure and comfort, an RV road trip may be the perfect getaway! From awe-inspiring national parks to quaint coastal towns and everything in between, the USA offers an incredible array of destinations to explore from the comfort of your home on wheels. Here are the best RV vacations in the USA!

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Start packing up the RV (and the family) now! You’re going to love these RV trips all across the country. Whether you’re looking for a route that’s in your home state, or you’re traveling and then renting an RV, this list has something for everyone!

This list goes beyond somewhere to sit your RV – each destination in this guide is an RV road trip with beautiful landscapes, fun national parks to explore, vibrant cities or wide open spaces.

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Many of these RV routes are best one in the summer months when the weather is (typically) most predictable and reasonable in the USA. But each of these RV vacations below share the best time of year for that particular adventure.

Whether this is your first RV road trip or you’ve been packing up your motorhome or travel trailer for years, these epic destinations are going to blow you away!

Must-see video: RV vacations

RV road trips map

This list covers the best RV trips in the west, east and a bunch of amazing routes in between.  Each pin on this map marks a stop on one of the very best RV routes in the US .

Because I haven’t’ been everywhere in the US in my RV (yet), I’ve asked some of my fellow travel writers to help compile this list of the best RV travel USA ideas! Enjoy!

Epic RV vacations

Get ready to hit the open road and discover some truly unbelievable RV road trips that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Let’s dive in!

1. Great Smoky Mountains: Asheville to Gatlinburg

• Distance: 85 miles
• Recommended time: 2-3 days
• Best time of year: Spring or Fall

If you’re looking for a fun getaway in your RV, then look no further than the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee! One of the best RV vacations in the US, the drive from Asheville North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee is simply gorgeous.

The Smoky Mountains are stunning year-round, though it’s best to avoid this road trip in winter. The National Park Service often closes the road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

This route can technically be done in an afternoon, but you’ll want to spend a day or two on either side of the road trip, at minimum!

While in Asheville, be sure to visit the botanical gardens and the River Arts District. And of course, one of the best attractions in town is the Biltmore Estate . Visit the estate to see the massive 175,000+ square feet of space on 8,000 acres. It’s spectacular!

The drive west towards Tennessee is beautiful, and the Smoky Mountains make their presence known with the hazy-looking views. Stay on Highway 19 until you get to Cherokee, North Carolina. It’s a great spot to grab lunch, a souvenir and check out the cornmeal and grits mill – Saunooke’s Mill .

Next, get ready for an incredibly scenic drive through US Highway 441 (AKA Newfound Gap Road) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This scenic road is RV-friendly, although it does have some steep grades so be prepared as you drive through the mountains.

You’ll want to stop at Clingmans Dome for 360-degree views of the Smokies. It requires a 0.5 mile (paved) hike with a steep incline, but is well worth it.

Pro tip: don’t miss the turn to Clingman’s Dome! There’s RV-friendly parking at the parking lot, but turning around on 441 will be difficult in an RV if you miss the turn.

Gap Overlook and Ben Morton Overlook are other stops worth the view, if the parking situation isn’t too full when you’re driving through. Of course, there’s various hiking trails along the scenic route as well.

Gatlinburg is the official end of this RV road trip. It’s quite the touristy town, and parking is not RV-friendly at all. Instead, you can stay at Elkmont Campground inside the national park or Greenbrier Campground just outside of Gatlinburg. As with most national park campgrounds, be sure to book it well in advance to reserve your spot.

If you have a day or two to explore the park, you’ll want to check out the fabulous waterfalls, which are most impressive in the springtime. Laurel Falls Trail , Grotto Falls and Abrams Falls Trail are really popular hikes, although if you have a vehicle you’re towing it’s easier to access Grotto Falls and Abrams Falls as they’re located on narrow roads.

This is one of the best RV vacations that’s great for beginner RVers or those based in the Eastern USA and looking for a quicker weekend adventure.

Recommended by me – Nikki of Inspired Routes

2. Alaska RV road trip

• Distance: 1,200 miles
• Recommended time: 10 days
• Best time of year : June, July and August

Alaska is a fantastic state for a scenic and remote RV vacation. An RV road trip through the rugged 49th state allows you to see mountains, glaciers, forests, panoramic coastline, wildflowers, and plentiful wildlife.

Although driving your RV to Alaska is possible, another popular option is to fly into Anchorage and rent an RV. Either way, you should book your campsites as early as possible . Summer is the busy season in Alaska and the good campsites are often booked out months in advance.

The best  10-day Alaska road trip itinerary  will take you to see the diverse beauty of the inland mountains as well as the coastline. But, make sure to plan for at least 10 days to complete this 1,200-mile RV road trip. Alaska is a huge state and you will need to do a lot of driving to see the highlights.

Starting in the city of Anchorage, head north to Denali National Park for a few nights. After Denali, return south to Anchorage for a night and then keep going south to Seward. 

After spending several nights in Seward, drive to the Kenai River Region for a night or two, and then to Homer for your last few nights.  You’ll end your trip by returning north back to Anchorage.

Highlights of the route include Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as some epic scenic overlooks and state parks along the way.

Two of the best campsites in Alaska for RV camping are Denali Grizzly Bear Resort near Denali National Park and Miller’s Landing in Seward. 

An RV road trip through Alaska will be an incredible and memorable experience!

Recommended by Diane of Travels with Eli

3. Milwaukee to Ludington (an underrated RV vacation idea in the USA)

• Distance: 148 miles by car ferry or 341 miles driving
• Recommended time: 3-4 days
• Best time of year: Mid-May to October, and this small beach town offers amazing outdoor activities. Hence, you want to visit during sunny spring and summer weather to truly enjoy this natural landscape.

Traveling from Wisconsin to Michigan is a unique road trip with an RV, as you can take the S.S. Badger Car Ferry (even for RVs) and enjoy the ride! 

While onboard, you can shop, watch a movie in the movie theater or simply lounge inside. They also have an outside deck with live music, where you can stroll along the deck, play a board game, or even test your luck at the famous Badger Bingo. Kids will enjoy the toddler play area or the kid’s port play area.

If you do not want to take the ferry, you can also easily drive to Ludington. The drive time varies based on traffic, but it is about 4 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Detroit, and 5.5 hours from Milwaukee.

There are plenty of  things to do in Ludington , including exploring the natural beauty of the region at Ludington State Park. It’s an outdoor enthusiasts paradise with natural beauty from lakes and rivers, forests, and unique sand dunes.

Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, camping, and even bird-watching in Ludington State Park. Located on Hamlin Lake, RVers will enjoy boating, fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Lastly, don’t forget to climb and explore the unique Hamlin Lake Sand dunes that give you a scenic view of Lake Michigan, Hamlin Lake, and Big Sable Point Lighthouse.

This is one of the best and most unique RV road trips in the US, and one worth adding to your must-do list!

Recommended by Hannah of Getting Stamped

4. Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon and Page Arizona (one of the most scenic RV road trips)

• Distance: 478 miles (one way)
• Recommended time: 5-6 Days

There are so many amazing places to visit within driving distance from Phoenix. On this RV road trip, you will visit 3 of the most iconic destinations in Arizona , Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Page, Arizona.

Start in Phoenix and make your way to Sedona, one of the prettiest places in the world. There are a ton of places in Sedona to see incredible views or go on a  Sedona sunrise hike  to see the gorgeous red rocks illuminated in bright orange and red colors.

One of the best campgrounds to stay at in Sedona is Pine Flat Campground located on the scenic byway 89a. You’ll combine scenic accommodations with tone of the most gorgeous RV vacations in the USA!

After spending 1-2 days exploring Sedona, it’s time to head to the Grand Canyon, which is only 110 miles north. The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic national parks in the United States, and it’s easy to see why.

Rent some electric bikes and bike along the rim to Hermits Rest and enjoy stopping off and seeing all the incredible views of the canyon.

The best place to stay near the Grand Canyon is at Mather Campground located inside the park. Advanced reservations are required to get a spot at this campground as it’s super popular.

After spending a day exploring the Grand Canyon, head 132 miles north to Page, Arizona. Once in Page, make a reservation to visit the incredible Antelope Canyon which is one of the prettiest slot canyons in the world.

You can also do the 1.5 mile round trip hike to Horseshoe Bend.

The best campground to stay at in Page is The Canyons , which is located only 10 minutes to Antelope Canyon and 10 minutes to Horseshoe Bend.

As one of the best RV vacation ideas, consider taking this road trip in either the spring or fall as the summer in Arizona can get really hot and be super crowded. 

Recommended by Jessica of Unearth the Voyage

5. San Francisco to Lake Tahoe

• Distance: 200 miles
• Recommended time: 3+ days
• Best time of year: summer or early fall

Hands down, one of the best RV vacations is a road trip from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. With so much to do at the starting point, stopping point and in between, you could easily spend a week or more exploring this route. You’ll want a minimum of 3 days to see the highlights!

Starting in San Francisco, this is a great road trip for those based in northern California or southern Oregon. While driving an RV in San Francisco isn’t the most fun thing in the world, I can say it’s pretty spectacular driving across the Golden Gate Bridge in a motorhome (or travel trailer) !

You can spend a day (or more) exploring the sights in San Francisco; visit Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Exploratorium and more. If you’re towing a vehicle, I’d recommend to leave your RV at your campsite and get a ride share around San Francisco.

From there, make your way northeast to Sacramento . Make a quick gas or food stop, or spend a day or more in the fun city. Highlights include the Capitol Building, Old Sacramento Waterfront, the Old Sugar Mill or do a wine tour.

Next, Lake Tahoe is big! So deciding whether to see (and camp) on the north or south side is important, as you’ll take 2 different routes out of Sacramento. Both areas are wonderful for RV travel, and each has unique experiences.

In north Lake Tahoe, see the incredible views of the lake at Sand Harbor State Park, go swimming, mountain biking or hiking. Furthermore, this dog-friendly destination is great for summertime swimming for your furry friends, too.

In South Lake Tahoe, a must-do is a sightseeing cruise of Emerald Bay. Of course there’s more hiking, paddleboarding and kayaking opportunities, not to mention Van Sickle Bi-State Park.

For camping in North Tahoe, try the Tahoe State Recreation Area or the Alpine Meadow Campground. In South Tahoe, consider the Campground by the Lake or Fallen Leaf Campground . As with most other RV vacations on this list, be sure to book your campground far in advance to ensure a spot.

While Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination, the winter driving in an RV (not to mention freezing temperatures) can create challenges. Summer is the best time for this road trip!

6. Santa Fe to White Sands National Park (one of the most underrated RV trips on this list)

• Distance: 397 miles
• Recommended time: 1 week
• Best time of year: late spring

Travel through the heart of New Mexico on an unforgettable Santa Fe to White Sands RV road trip. It’s a perfect route for RVs as the roads are largely flat with incredible views . Even in the areas where the roads turn hilly, it’s nothing that the average rig can’t handle!

Start your adventures in historic Santa Fe, the nation’s oldest capital city. Explore the Plaza and the oldest church in America before settling into your RV spot at the welcoming Santa Fe KOA.

Next, head over to Albuquerque, where you can tour the Old Town, hike in nearby Petroglyph National Monument, or experience the awe-inspiring Albuquerque Balloon Festival. 

Head south to the quirky Roswell, New Mexico, to uncover what happened in this town in 1947. Even if you don’t believe in alien encounters, the town’s extraterrestrial theming is out of this world.

Finally, complete the last leg of your New Mexico RV road trip by heading over the Sacramento Mountains into Alamogordo.

Camp at the Alamogordo/White Sands KOA, which offers free coffee in the morning, pedal bike rentals, a pool, a big game room, and a playground. You can also rent saucers for your White Sands National Park sledding from the front desk.

In Alamogordo, you can take a photo with the world’s largest pistachio at McGinn’s Pistachioland –don’t miss out on their homemade pistachio ice cream!

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is also an excellent way to spend several hours in Alamogordo. You can even visit the grave of the Ham, the famed monkey who flew to space and back in 1961.

The real gem in Alamogordo is White Sands National Park, which is about 15 minutes west of Alamogordo. Plan to spend at least  one day in White Sands  in order to get the most of the sledding, Dunes Drive, Junior Ranger program and more.

Recommended by Natalie of Camping Kiddos

7. Las Vegas to Zion plus the Grand Canyon

• Distance: 425 miles
• Recommended time: 5-10 days

Ready to go on one of the most scenic RV road trips in the USA?  Start your adventure by flying (or driving) into Las Vegas and picking up your RV.

After your RV is ready to go, set out from Las Vegas making your way to Springdale, Utah – the gateway to Zion National Park.

Springdale is the closest town to Zion with plenty of restaurants and RV parks. Watchman Campground, with both campsites and RV hookups, is one of the best places to stay in the area.

Along the way to Zion, there are several different stops along I15 for more sightseeing and breaks from the road, including Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon.

Zion is one of the most scenic national parks, home to the red cliffs of Zion Canyon, forested trails, waterfalls, and the Emerald Pools. There are lots of hiking trails, including the famous Angel’s Landing.

Next, hit the road towards Grand Canyon National Park. You can stop at Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, or the town of Page along the way.

After exploring the Grand Canyon, start making your way back to Vegas. Along the way, visit the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, visit the “living ghost town” of Chloride, or make a pitstop at the Hoover Dam before arriving back in Las Vegas.

Once your road trip is over, spend a few days in Las Vegas unwinding at the pool and exploring one of the USA’s most fun cities.

Recommended by Sydney of A World in Reach

Best RV trips in the west

The west coast of the USA is full of dramatic landscapes, curvy roads and scenic views that honestly just seem impossible. Some of my favorite RV trips have been along the west coast.

Let’s keep this list going…

8. Sequoia National Park to Monterey via Big Sur (a personal favorite on this RV vacations list!)

• Distance: 300+ miles
• Recommended time: 3-5 days
• Best time of year: Spring, summer or fall

If you’re looking for the best RV vacations, then this incredibly scenic drive is it! You’ll see the giant Sequoia trees, California’s stunning coastline through Big Sur and the charming town of Monterey.

You’ll want to spend 1-2 days visiting Sequoia National Park , where you can see the General Sherman Tree – the world’s largest tree by volume! Fun hikes like Congress Trail and Moro Rock will help you fall in love with this fun park.

Note: some roads in the park are quite narrow and depending on the size of your RV, you’ll need – or maybe want – to take the park shuttle .

At Sequoia, there’s the Dorst Creek Campground, perfect for RVs inside the park. Alternatively, the Sequoia Resort and RV Park is near the park entrance.

From Sequoia National Park, you’ll actually head southwest, even though Monterey is slightly north.

Drive through Visalia (a great spot to grab gas) and continue southwest to the s mall town of Cambria, California. Stretch your legs on the boardwalk trail along the beach or shop and dine in the charming downtown.

North of Cambria, you’ll take the incredibly scenic California Highway 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway. While there are too many things to do in Big Sur to mention here, a few RV-friendly highlights include the Sand Dollar Beach, McWay Falls and the Bixby Creek Bridge.

If you’re looking to stay in Big Sur and enjoy a few days exploring the area, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great spot for RV camping in the heart of Big Sur.

Ending your trip in Monterey, you’ll want to check out the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row . It’s such a fun city, I’d recommend spending 1-2 days exploring the sights.

9. Glacier to Yellowstone National Park

• Distance: 420 miles
• Recommended time: 7.5-hour drive
• Best time of year: Summer and Fall

There’s just something about the American West that is freeing and magical. It feels like home when you’re out on the open road without a care in the world. 

This is what you get as you road trip between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. But, thankfully, there’s much more to do in this road trip than just gazing out at the vast landscapes. It’s one of the best RV road trips in the west!

You can start your trip in either direction, but for this one, we’ll begin in Glacier and head south to Yellowstone .

At Glacier, you’ll be home to arguably the best views of any National Park in America. With towering peaks cut by glaciers, turquoise waters with glacier silt, and wildlife galore, it’s a mesmerizing experience. 

Do note that you need reservations to enter most of Glacier’s top spots, such as Many Glacier or Going to the Sun Road, or be willing to wake up before 6 am to beat the crowds. 

I suggest spending at least five days in Glacier to see both sides. Your best places to visit are Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg, Hidden and Two Medicine Lakes. 

If you’re curious how long you should allocate for each destination, I’d recommend spending 67% of your time in Glacier – it’s that good!

As for the specific driving portion of it, there’s little to see between the two famous national parks. I suggest cruising through the heartland and getting to Yellowstone quickly. 

Once in Yellowstone, make sure to hit the classics: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Morning Glory, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You can see a lot of the park in just two days, allowing you to keep this  epic road trip  to a reasonable length. 

Recommended by Alec of Explore with Alec

10. Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park (one of the most interesting RV routes in the US)

Distance: 577 miles (if starting and ending in Los Angeles) Recommended time: 5 Days Best time of year: Fall to Spring

A  Joshua Tree and Death Valley road trip  is the ultimate Southern California experience! Los Angeles makes for an easy starting point, but you can also choose to start in Las Vegas . This whole RV road trip is around 600 miles and you will want to plan a minimum of 5 days.

Spend at least one full day in Joshua Tree, visiting all of the best hikes including the Cholla Cactus Garden, Arch Rock, Barker Dam and Hidden Valley. Joshua Tree is also an amazing spot to stargaze if the weather is clear.

Staying in the park will allow you to make the most of your trip, so reserve your campground in advance!

After having your fill of Joshua Tree, drive up to Death Valley National Park to continue on with one of the best RV vacations.

There are a few reservable campsites in Death Valley, but if you do not get one, there is also a large first-come, first-served campground near Furnace Creek .

In Death Valley, you do not want to miss spots like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point, and Gold Canyon.

Make sure to stop at the lowest point in North America- Badwater Basin Salt Flats!

Keep in mind some side roads are restricted to vehicles under 25 feet long like Artist Palette Drive, but the majority of the popular spots are accessible.

Plan this trip when it is not too hot out, as Death Valley has the hottest recorded temperature on Earth! Fall and Spring are the best time to visit.

The desert temperatures can drop at night and it can get very windy, so this makes a perfect RV road trip, as you can shelter from the elements.

Recommended by Val of Voyages with Val

11. Ashland to Crater Lake National Park

• Distance: 92 miles
• Recommended time: 1-2 days
• Best time of year : July – September (These are often the only months the roads are not closed due to snow!)

Oregon is a state full of beautiful scenery, and makes for one of the best RV trips west coast. Perhaps one of the most beautiful spots is Crater Lake.

This natural lake is the deepest in the United States and one of the most pure. From the blue water to the fresh, clean air, an RV vacation from Ashland to Crater Lake National Park will not disappoint.

Visitors can explore the rim of the lake on a variety of hiking trails. Boats even take visitors to Wizard Island to get a unique view of the stunning scenery. 

The RV road trip from Ashland to Crater Lake is beautiful in its own right. Highway 62 often travels along the Rogue River. You’ll pass through little towns with charming names like Shady Cove and Prospect. 

As you get closer to the lake, watch for bald eagles flying overhead or nesting on top of trees. But the highlight of the day will be cresting the final ridge and getting your first glimpse of the lake . It’s truly breathtaking.

There is one campground nearby that allows RVs. Mazuma Campground is seven miles from the Rim Village Visitor Center .

It’s a beautifully maintained campground and very popular. Be sure to make reservations in advance to secure your spot.

The road trip from Ashland to Crater Lake is short enough for a day trip, but one day may not be long enough to get your fill of the astounding beauty.

Recommended by Sherry of  Digital Nomad and a Dog

12. Highway 395, California (another stunning route on the RV vacations list)

• Distance : 201 miles
• Recommended time: 7 days
• Best time of year: Spring or fall

The entire length of Highway 395 is gorgeous, but its southern portion, from Bridgeport, California to Death Valley National Park is next-level epic . It’ll surely be one of your most memorable RV trips on the West Coast (maybe even the whole USA!)

You can even drive along this route as part of a longer trip, such as from Yosemite National Park, whose Tioga Pass entrance is right by Bridgeport (note that this is only accessible from mid-summer through mid-fall).

You’ll drive along the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains the entire time —not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the drive is an RVer’s paradise, with tons of campgrounds and dispersed camping along the way.

Start in the charming town of Bridgeport, where you’ll find the under-the-radar  Buckeye Hot Springs  and Travertine Hot Springs. As an added bonus, there’s lots of dispersed camping spots right by Buckeye in Stanislaus National Forest!

Continue on to Mono Lake , one of the oldest in the United States at over one million years old. The lake is famous for its tufas, unique spires that are a byproduct of calcium carbonate. 

The ski town of Mammoth Lakes is your next stop on one of the best RV road trips in the US. If you visit in the spring, there’s a good chance you’ll still be able to enjoy the fresh powder on Mammoth Mountain , one of the best ski resorts in the country. This area is actually one of the best snowy winter vacations in USA !

During the spring, there’s plenty of natural hot springs to enjoy in Mammoth Lakes as well. 

Next up is Alabama Hills , which looks like something from another planet, with enormous monzogranite boulders scattered across the desert floor and the towering peaks of the Sierras in the background.

Score a spot at the Tuttle Creek Campground to have this scenery as your backyard for a night.

Finally, Death Valley National Park will be the endpoint of your visit. This park is one of the most dynamic in the national park system, offering colorful badlands, sand dunes, salt flats and towering mountains.

If you’re interested in doing more than quickly driving through the park, plan your road trip in either early spring or late fall—it’s famously sweltering in the summer months!

This is easily one of the best RV vacations for those based in or near California.

Recommended by Jessica of Uprooted Traveler

13. Los Angeles to San Diego

• Distance: 120 miles
• Recommended time: 3 days
• Best time of year : Late spring or early fall

A RV road trip from Los Angeles to San Diego is magical. The 110 mile-drive is filled with scenic sights, beaches, and parks.

If driving straight through, expect it to take right around 2 hours, but I highly recommend at least 3 days to ensure you have time to see everything.

The most popular route (and the most scenic of them all) is the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It is also known as Highway 1. It offers the stunning views of the California coastline.

While driving, make sure to take the exit 62 to Las Pulgas Road because it offers an oceanic panoramic view that can take your breath away.

After continuing down Highway 1 on one of the best RV trips west coast, you will pass by Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach . They are some of the most popular beach towns in California. If you have time, they would be a good place to stop for brunch, swimming, or just to soak up the sun.

It’s no secret that California is home to some busy roads! The best time of the day to start this road trip is before morning rush hour to avoid the congestion. If you do not make stops along the way, you could even make it all the way to San Diego without any traffic issues!

Finally, after arriving in San Diego you can check out the exciting theme parks such as Seaworld, Disneyland, or Legoland. There’s so many things to do in San Diego with kids , it makes for a great family RV vacation for the whole family!

No matter how you choose to spend your time in California , it will surely be one of your most beloved RV vacations!

Recommended by Ossama of Awesome Traveler

RV road trips in the east

Traditionally the western part of the USA is known for its outdoor adventure, and a great spot for RVers. However, the eastern part of the US has some pretty spectacular RV vacation ideas too. Check these out!

14. Florida’s A1A

• Distance: 338.7 miles
• Recommended time: 6-8 days
• Best time of year: Winter

Hop in the RV and fire up the AC for a scenic trip along Florida’s A1A. This State Road runs from Fernandina Beach, just south of Georgia on Amelia Island, to the lively Key West , south of the Sunshine State. It’s one of the very best RV vacation ideas in the USA.

While the drive is pretty, there’s plenty of opportunity to get off the route to see Florida’s coastal cities.

Visit some of the “oldest” streets and buildings in the country at  St. Augustine , spend the day at the beach in Flagler, or watch the fast cars of Daytona.

Continue along the road and be sure to climb the stairs at Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse in New Smyrna, go shopping at West Palm Beach and admire the Art Deco in Miami Beach.

Finally, you’ll get to drive over the famous Seven Miles Bridge to the Florida Keys.

According to Google Maps , doing the route with no stops would take just over nine hours. However, many locations featured in the trip are notorious for traffic, so factor this time in. 

Obviously, you’ll want to make stops at attractions, how many will be dictated by your set vacation time! 

There are plenty of options for RVs to camp along the route, such as the Beverly Beach Camptown RV Resort, which has Atlantic Ocean views. Bliss. 

The best time to visit the East Coast of Florida depends on hurricane patterns, with the season running from June until November.

Also, the summer months might be too humid for out-of-staters. While winter is too cold for locals, visitors enjoy the warm temperatures, relatively crowd-free beaches, and the chance to see manatees!  

Recommended by Amanda of Hey! East Coast USA

15. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park (a great RV vacation for fall colors!)

• Distance: Skyline Drive is 105 miles from Waynesboro to Front Royal, Virginia. 
• Recommended time: 3 hours to drive this 35-mph road, but you’ll want to stop and stay in one or two of the campgrounds. 
• Best time of year: October is the perfect time to take in the fall colors and enjoy cooler weather. 

If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful RV routes in the United States, then Skyline Drive is a must-do! Spanning 105 miles of gorgeous mountain scenery in Shenandoah National Park, this picturesque roadway is perfect for RV travelers.

It traverses the entire length of the park and offers easy access to all the amenities and activities the park has to offer.

Although you can drive the entire length of Skyline Drive in just a few hours, you won’t want to leave that soon. And with four  campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park , you don’t have to either!

All of the campgrounds have plenty of pull-thru and back-in sites for all sizes of RVs. There aren’t any hookups (water, power, or sewer), but they do have bathrooms, showers, and dump stations. They are seasonal with a range of operation between March and November each year. 

The drive is home to 61 overlooks allowing your ample opportunity to stop and take in the views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Massunutten mountains.

If you want to experience more of the park on foot, be sure to enjoy some of its 500 miles of trails, including some of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll experience on the east coast. 

One caution for RVers is the low clearance Mary’s Rock Tunnel near Thorton Gap at mile 32. The clearance is only 12’8”, but there are four entrances to Skyline Drive so if your RV is higher than that, you can access it via one of the other points. 

This fun drive is by far one of the best RV trips in the US, and one worthy of putting on your bucket list!

Recommended by Julie of Chickery’s Travels 

16. Boston to Portland

• Distance: 110 miles
• Recommended time: 2-5 days
• Best time of year: Summer or Fall

Making a trip from Boston, MA to Portland, ME can be a fun and easy road trip for those who are looking for a short but beautiful RV route.

Normally the drive is just two hours long (110 miles) on I-95, but if you can spare some extra time there are plenty of scenic stops and charming seaside towns to extend your drive. 

Start your journey in Boston, Massachusetts which is a fun city to explore in itself. If you have a day or two, be sure to check out these date ideas in Boston if you’re on this road trip as a duo!

Don’t forget to stop at world-famous Fenway Park (Go Sox!). Check out the Freedom Trail and join a guided walking tour of some of the city’s most iconic historic sites.

Continue your journey in Salem, Massachusetts and explore the history of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. If you’re visiting in October, there are specialized tours like Hocus Pocus and ghost tours that will help you get in spooky mood!

Head north to the charming seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine for a quintessential  New England beach town . This picturesque town is only four miles long and boasts stunning ocean views as well as a quaint town center. Dont forget to grab a lobster roll!

Cape Elizabeth Maine is a perfect stop to see some quintessential New England lighthouses. There are three main lighthouses – Portland Head Light, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, and Bug Light. 

Finally, end your trip in the city of Portland. It is a hub for art and culture, with plenty of food and drink spots to explore. It’s a fun town to explore, and a perfect stopping point for one of the best RV vacations routes in America.

Visit local breweries like Allagash or Moon Dog Craft Brewery, or take a ferry out to Peaks Island to explore the seashore. 

Optional: you could even take the road trip a step farther and go north to Acadia National Park or Bar Harbor. Maine has so many destinations to offer visitors but a Portland RV road trip is a must!

Recommended by Sierra of Your Guide to Wandering

17. Miami to Islamorada (top routes for RV travel USA)

Distance: 90 miles Recommended time: 2 – 3 days Best time of year: Winter and Spring

Traveling to the Florida Keys with your family or friends is an exciting RV road trip. While Key West is the most well-known island to visit, traveling to Islamorada is even better.

Islamorada’s waters are famous for their clarity and rich marine life , earning the title of “Sport Fishing Capital of the World.” Legends like Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway used to frequent the area to catch big game fish.

It’s situated about 80 miles southwest of Miami, and the driving distance between the two destinations typically covers around 90 miles, depending on the route. Depending on traffic and route selection, it usually takes between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to reach Islamorada. However, you’ll want to spend time in Miami and Islamorada to enjoy the destination.

The best time of year to visit Islamorada is during the winter and spring months, specifically from December to April. This period is characterized by warm and pleasant weather, making it ideal for outdoor activities and water sports. 

The average temperatures range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29 degrees Celsius), providing comfortable conditions for exploring the area.

Additionally, visiting during this time allows you to avoid the peak tourist season, which occurs during the summer months when temperatures are hotter and the area can be more crowded.

You’ll definitely want to stay at least 2 days in Islamorada if not 3. This is a great, relaxing drive allows you to get in touch with marine life and nature, and is by far one of the best RV road trips.

While in Islamorada, be sure to visit Olive Morada , which is a local shop that has delicious olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which you can do a free tasting. Plus, it’s a great shop if you are in need of souvenirs that are not cheesy.

A stay at Tavernier Elks Lodge makes this one of the best RV vacations in the USA. Just be sure to reserve your campsite early as space is limited!

Islamorada is a great RV road trip because it is gorgeous, relaxing, and allows you to reconnect with nature and loved ones.

Recommended by Fuse of Fuse Travels

More RV vacations in the US

Rounding out this list are a few of my personal favorites. From the incredible dramatic landscapes of Utah, the underrated Midwest and the beachy coasts, let’s finish out this guide to the best RV routes in the US!

18. Utah’s Mighty 5 (another favorite on this list of RV road trips)

• Distance: 362 miles
• Recommended time: 6-10 days
• Best time of year: spring or fall

This is it! One of the very best RV vacations in the United States, and it’s sooo good! This Utah national parks road trip covers a lot of ground, and some truly spectacular sights.

Starting in Moab, Utah, you’ll discover two nearby national parks. There are many things to do in Moab and you’ll want to spend at least two days there. A great RV campground between Arches and Canyonlands is Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway.

Spend a day exploring Arches National Park. Hike to the famous Delicate Arch and see The Windows area , where there’s several arches within a few minutes walk from the parking lot.

In Canyonlands National Park, be sure to visit the Grand View Point Overlook, Green River Overlook and Mesa Arch. The canyon is beyond impressive! And with fewer visitors than Arches, you may even get a break from the crowds!

Between Moab and Capitol Reef National Park, enjoy the incredible Utah Scenic Byway 24 in your RV . In Capitol Reef, visit the Fruita Historic District and the orchards, and hike the Hickman Bridge Trail . On your way to the next park, stay in Wonderland RV Park .

A personal favorite along this incredible RV road trip is the Scenic Byway 12 between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon. The views are out of this world – and just continue as you see the famous hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Point and Inspriration Point offer amazing views of the park. And if you’re up for a hike, check out the popular Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop to hike down into the canyon through the funky rock formations. So fun!

Your last stop on this RV vacation is Zion National Park. Home to an amazing canyon, this park is often a bucket list check for travelers. The Zion Canyon Campground just outside the park or Watchman Campground inside the park are both great for RVs.

Hike the Canyon Overlook Trail or The Narrows for incredible views of Zion. And regardless of whether you’re traveling to Zion with kids in the RV or not, this will be a highlight of your trip!

Pro tip: When you’re driving through Zion, the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is tricky to navigate. You’ll pay a separate fee to drive an RV through the tunnel, and you’ll want to time it right to arrive during business hours because the NPS will actually block off traffic to allow your RV to drive down the center of the road. It’s quite the experience!

When you’re thinking about RV travel USA, the Mighty 5 in Utah is the perfect adventure!

19. Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail

• Distance: 293 miles
• Recommended time: 2+ days
• Best time of year: summer

This is truly a hidden gem in the US, and one of the best RV vacation ideas if you live in the Midwest . It connects Toledo with Conneaut, hitting major towns like Sandusky and Cleveland. It’s RV-friendly and offers a ton of outdoor recreation along the way.

The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail is located along Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes in the northern US. Although you could technically drive this in one day in an RV, it’s much more exciting to stop at the many adventures along the way.

Starting at the west end of the trail in Toledo, check out the botanical gardens, museums, zoo and restaurants. Just near Toledo is a fun Ohio pumpkin farm , Fleitz Pumpkin Farm. In Port Clinton, be sure to enjoy a meal in the adorable downtown. Afterwards, head to the beach at Waterworks Park and the Port Clinton Lighthouse.

One of my favorite stops along this route is the Marblehead Lighthouse. This free attraction is also the most photographed spot on Lake Erie. It just screams summer on the lake vibes!

There’s also so many things to do in Sandusky Ohio , nearby. Get your thrills at Cedar Point, the 2nd oldest amusement park in America. And bonus: it has RV-friendly parking.

Further along the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail is Cleveland, the home of rock and roll. Enjoy the North Coast Harbor, the Great Lakes Science Center and of course, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The next stop in your RV should be Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor. This gem includes a natural, mile-long beach perfect for relaxing. A perfect addition to one of the best RV trips in the Midwest!

Lastly, Conneaut Township Park is a fun spot to see on the far eastern end of the scenic trail. If you’re a history buff, you won’t want to miss the D-Day reenactment at the park each year.

Other outdoor adventures along the route include hiking, biking and a plethora of water sports. There’s also so much wildlife to be seen, especially in the active summer months. This underrated and scenic RV vacation is one of the best in the Midwest!

20. Denver to Santa Fe (another underrated spot on this list of RV vacation ideas)

• Distance: The easiest and quickest route from Denver, CO to Santa Fe, NM is 392 miles.
• Recommended time: This drive could easily be done in one day or could be drawn out over 3-4 days.
• Best time of year: Fall is one of the best times to take this road trip because of the moderate temperatures and fall foliage that you get to experience along the way.

A road trip from Denver to Santa Fe must be on your bucket list as one of the best RV vacations to embark on throughout the United States. This trip takes about 6 hours in length, making it the perfect road trip to take in one day or to spread out over 3-4 days! 

As you make your way from Denver towards Santa Fe, you will pass through an abundance of beautiful terrain and popular towns. 

About an hour and a half into the drive, you will pass through the marvelous town of Colorado Springs!

For those looking to catch some tremendous views of the surrounding mountains and red rock formations, be sure to stop by the Garden of the Gods . This is the perfect stop for those looking to stretch their legs for a bit and take in the beautiful Colorado landscape. The Siamese Twins Garden of the Gods hike is perfect for a quick adventure!

For those looking to extend their stay in the area, the Garden of the Gods RV Resort is the perfect destination to stop for a night or two along the way. 

After visiting Colorado Springs, we recommend continuing your drive one of the best RV road trips, south through several smaller towns and along I-25 until you arrive at the charming city of Santa Fe so that you can spend as much time exploring this marvelous town as possible. 

We recommend staying for a minimum of 72 hours in Santa Fe so that you can take in the immense history, culture, and cuisine that this delightful city has to offer!

Recommended by Abby of Trekking Price’s

Related read: Denver to Albuquerque Drive: 10 Scenic Stops You Can’t Miss

21. Austin to Corpus Christi

• Distance: 217 miles
• Best time of year: December – May

This fun and unique RV vacation idea for those located in or near Texas! Because of the extreme heat in Texas, this road trip would be best done in the winter or spring. Just make sure your RV is set up for freezing temperatures as that can sometimes in the deep of winter too.

Start this adventure in the lively town of Austin . With a plethora of street art, live music, good food and entertainment, spend a day (or 2) in Austin.

For outdoor adventures, go hiking in McKinney Falls State Park or check out the views from the top of Mount Bonnell. There are plenty of Austin campgrounds for RVs, too.

From Austin, drive southwest to San Antonio. Visit the famous San Antonio River Walk for entertainment and restaurants. For some thrilling entertainment, visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas, which is open year-round.

Check out The Alamo and the Historic Market Square to round out your time in San Antonio. The KOA in San Antonio puts you in a good position for hopping on and off the main roads while putting you close to the action.

After leaving San Antonio, head south to Corpus Christi. This Texas town has some fun things to do including museums, shopping and restaurants. But the star of the area is the beach-camping in your RV!

Just southeast of Corpus Christi are a few RV parks where you can camp on the beach. Wake up to the sound of the ocean from your RV – so fun! The Port Aransas area is lots of fun, and is home to On the Beach RV Park, which offers a great stay. Book in advance to get a good spot!

For an off-the-grid adventure, you can camp, hike and enjoy water activities at Padre Island National Seashore. There’s no RV hook-ups, but there is water and a dump station in the park.

If you’re looking for the best RV travel USA, this road trip is certainly a fun one, and unique because of beach camping.

22. New Orleans to Panama City (another gorgeous route on this list of best RV vacations)

• Distance: New Orleans to Panama City: 327 miles (via I-10 E), 386 miles (via I-10 E and US-98 E)
• Recommended time : 1-2 days  
• Best time of year: May – October 

An RV road trip is one of the best ways to explore a new part of the country. With the freedom to pull off or take a detour on a whim, road trips always make for memorable adventures. The stretch of road between New Orleans to Panama City offers a great RV vacation experience. 

Travelers should begin their road trip in New Orleans, home of jazz, voodoo history, riverboat adventures, and so much more. Make sure to take a  New Orleans food tour or cemetery tour before continuing on toward Panama City. 

Travelers who want to travel efficiently and stick to the shortest route won’t run into any exceptionally fun cities or attractions, except for Mobile, Alabama. But, those who have a bit more time to work with might enjoy slight detours to Biloxi, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida. 

There are some amazing beaches to explore along this route if schedules allow for a detour to the coast. Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach are just some of the picturesque places travelers can visit along their way to Panama City.   

Travelers who avoid the coastal detour will also be able to enjoy the beach upon arrival in Panama City. Panama City Beach is a wonderful place to spend some time in the sun as well as St. Andrews State Park. 

Spring through early Fall is the best time of year to take this road trip. Here’s to wonderful RV adventures! 

Recommended by Candice of Exploring the Gulf

23. Badlands to Theodore Roosevelt National Park (get ready for beautiful landscapes on this RV road trip)

• Distance: 338 miles
• Recommended time: 3 – 4 days
• Best time of year: spring, summer or fall

An all-American road trip, this scenic route has surprisingly dramatic landscapes! This is one of the most underrated RV vacations on this list, but is sure to be a fun one.

Starting in Rapid City or Wall, South Dakota, head to Badlands National Park. You’ll want to spend a full day here to see the highlights. Drive the scenic loop, with 16 overlooks in just 39 miles, it’s RV-friendly. The Notch Trail is a must-do if you love hiking, and Pinnacles Overlook is one of the best with ample parking.

From there, take a slight detour before heading to North Dakota to see Mount Rushmore , one of the most famous South Dakota landmarks .

An American classic, this presidential tribute is a fun attraction for all ages to visit. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore welcomes over 3 million visitors – almost 3x the amount of the nearby national park!

Rapid City is a great spot to set up camp for the night. Or, there’s plenty of campgrounds near Sturgis, South Dakota as well. And if you’re in the off-season, stop in town and pick up a souvenir on your road trip!

Pro tip: summer is a great time for this RV road trip, but I’d suggest avoiding late July and early August. This region in South Dakota is extremely congested with the annual Sturgis event, making it extremely difficult to find a campground and a dramatic increase in traffic to the area.

From Sturgis, it’s about 3.5 hours north to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. To see the highlights of this park, you’ll want 2 full days. There are 3 distinct areas of the park: South Unit, North Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is partially unpaved, and not very RV-friendly so we’ll skip that in this guide.

The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is by far the most visited area . Drive the Wildlife Loop Road, where visitors can often see bison, elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn. Hike the 1-mile Painted Canyon Nature Trail or Buck Hill, which is barely more than a walk to an overlook rather than a hike.

The North Unit feels much more deserted versus the southern area of the park, yet offers expansive views. Take the scenic drive in hopes of seeing mule deer, coyote, pronghorn and even beavers! The Little Mo Trail is a crowd favorite, coming in at less than a mile and paved.

If you want to get campground reservations for your RV, plan your trip in advance as they sell out quickly, especially in the summer months.

So the next time you think about RV travel USA, consider the Dakotas a great spot for a vacation!

RV vacations recap

What an epic list of RV vacations to take in the United States! From fan-favorites, to underrate gems, the options are truly endless! Where will your home on wheels take you next?

Here’s a quick recap of the best RV trips from the above list!

Best RV routes

• Great Smoky Mountains: Asheville to Gatlinburg
• Alaska RV road trip
• Milwaukee to Ludington
• Phoenix to Page, Arizona
• San Francisco to Lake Tahoe
• Santa Fe to White Sands National Park
• Las Vegas to Zion plus the Grand Canyon
• Sequoia National Park to Monterey via Big Sur
• Glacier to Yellowstone National Park
• Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park
• Ashland to Crater Lake National Park
• Highway 395, California
• Los Angeles to San Diego
• Florida’s A1A
• Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park
• Boston to Portland
• Miami to Islamorada
• Utah’s Mighty 5
• Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Scenic Byway Trail
• Denver to Santa Fe
• Austin to Corpus Christi
• New Orleans to Panama City
• Badlands to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Related content to read next: 30 Gorgeous West Coast Road Trip Routes You Gotta See to Believe 29 Amazing Road Trips USA: Scenic (& Underrated) Routes You’ll Love 26 Absolute Best (and Underrated) Fall Drives in the US You’ve Gotta See to Believe

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Sunday 9th of July 2023

Yeeees Nikki!

You choose the best trips as you are so good at including gorgeous natural sights and hikes along the way! The Alaska trip looks like a dream! I am also looking forward to your post after your next Canadian Rockies trip. :)

Monday 10th of July 2023

Thanks so much Josy! Your comment was so nice! Yes, I can't wait for new adventures taking the RV into Canada, too!💙

Anna Schaeffer

Saturday 8th of July 2023

I'm hoping to get a five wheeler in the next year or two! Pinning this for later. Great post!

Oh yay Anna! This would be great inspiration for a new RV!!

I don’t own a RV but this article makes me want to rent one and try these trips! Great roundup.

Oh Terri that's a fabulous idea! You could literally go anywhere on this list too - just fly into the nearest airport, rent an RV and hit the road!

The 8 best destinations for an RV or camper van adventure

Mar 21, 2023 • 8 min read

Camper van travel is a great way to explore the world © Getty Images

Whether you’re cruising in a chrome-plated RV or sputtering along in a vintage VW, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of hitting the road in a camper van, where you’re beholden to no timetable and limited only by your ambitions.

Most travelers set their satnavs for the smooth highways of the old dependables – North America , Australia ,   New Zealand – and with good reason (not least the savings offered on pricey accommodation), but those willing to navigate the potholes of roads less traveled may find richer rewards elsewhere. These are the 8 best destinations for an RV trip. 

1. Scotland's North Coast 500

Best camper van travel in europe.

It was billed as Scotland ’s Route 66, but the North Coast 500 is of course nothing like its US counterpart. Cutting a course through sodden carpets of heather in the bleakly-beautiful Highlands, the 516-mile route joins the dots between crumbling castles, weather-beaten fishing towns and middle-of-nowhere distilleries.

Lined with campsites, the road itself incorporates the meandering mountain pass of Bealach na Bà – the highest highway in Scotland – and swings by John o' Groats, the most northerly point in mainland Britain. Bring your bathers in case the weather behaves: Scotland has some surprisingly beautiful beaches .

Most campers start and end their trip in Inverness – the largest city in the Highlands – whose cosy pubs, a 19th-century cathedral and a lofty castle bookend the journey nicely.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Highland Coastal Campers , Loch Ness Motorhomes and Inverness Campervans Rental costs: Campers from around £110/US$130 per day

2. Route 1 in California, USA 

Best for beaches.

Romanticised by beat writers and Hollywood film directors, the American road trip is practically a sub-genre of its own. From Grapes of Wrath to Vanishing Point , Thelma & Louise to Sideways , the nation’s highways are littered with great plots.

Given the profusion of road movies that have come out of Hollywood, California is an apt place to (wheel) spin your own 4WD narrative. The Golden State offers a handful of iconic itineraries, from Highway 101 to the dirt tracks of Death Valley , but if you only drive one road, make Route 1, well, the one.

Lined with campsites, this feted highway hugs the rugged Californian coast for 143km between San Simeon and the Carmel Highlands. All plunging cliffs and wave-lashed beaches, it is the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline in the US.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Escape Camper Vans , Outdoorsy and Jurnii Rental costs: From around US$55/£45 per day

3. East Coast Australia 

Best for partying.

Like koala bears to eucalyptus trees, road-trippers have long been drawn to Australia’s East Coast , where hedonistic surf towns, colorful coral reefs and paradisiacal beaches provide the pretext for camper van capers.

Buckle up in Sydney , where the booming market in used camper vans should produce a reliable set of wheels for those looking to buy. As the Opera House disappears in the rear-view, the East Coast unfurls to reveal impressive national parks, offbeat islands and hard-partying cities such as Brisbane , Cairns and Surfers Paradise . It’s not all boisterous beach jamborees, though. Quiet camping grounds can be found along the East Coast, including many free sites, which often include public barbecues for the obligatory shrimp tossing.

There are all kinds of East Coast road trip routes to take depending on the amount of time you want to spend and which stunning Australian sites you most want to see. The only hard part will be narrowing it down, or deciding where to begin.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include  Hippie Camper and Travellers Autobarn . Rental costs: From around AU$79/US$52 per day

4. Overlanding in Namibia

Best for wildlife.

You’ll need a 4WD to tackle the otherworldly landscapes of Namibia , where buzzing cities, stark desert scenes and wildlife-rich national parks are among the highlights.

Most self-drive trips begin in Windhoek , whose Bavarian-style boozers are the perfect place to pore over maps and finalize routes. Be sure to set the GPS for Etosha , a Belize -sized national park where self-drive safaris and in-park camping are permitted, offering early morning sightings of rhinos, elephants and lions before other tourists have finished funnelling through the gates.

Top off your tour with spectacular drives through the shape-shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert and a stop-off to eyeball the colossal rusting shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast . A word of caution: Namibia’s roads are mostly loose gravel and there are often large distances between towns, so forward planning is essential, including camp-site bookings. If you enjoy the ride, however, you might find yourself hungry for more opportunities for overlanding in Africa .

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Bobo Campers , Namibia 4x4 Rentals and Caprivi Rental costs: From around NAD1650/US$90 per day

Best for culture

The idea of driving in Japan might seem terrifying, but a road trip here is surprisingly serene: aside from the odd racer, Japanese motorists are generally courteous, whilst modern satnavs mean there’s now no need to worry about translating signs. Having a mobile home here also saves on hotel costs – some of the most expensive in Asia .

Wending their way from snow-capped peaks to palm-fringed beaches – via limpid lakes and primeval forests – Japan’s highways offer a privileged perspective on parts of the country that many visitors don’t get to see. Fill up on culture as well as gas in pulsating cities, middle-of-nowhere temples and traditional villages.

With views of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashinoko, the Hakone Skyline Course is one of Japan’s most scenic drives , and is conveniently lined with handy rest stops. No less stunning is the Mikuni Pass, which tiptoes above primeval forest in Tokachi Subprefecture.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Japan Campers , Camgo Campervan and Rental Camper Rental costs: From around ¥5900/US$45 per day

6. New Zealand 

Best for hikers.

Travelers often proclaim New Zealand to be the best destination for a camper van holiday – and it’s hard to argue otherwise. From glistening glaciers to wave-lashed shores, its landscapes bring a certain grandeur to road trips, while its hiking trails and legion of campsites make the scenery eminently accessible.

If you like lofty peaks then chart a course through the North Island’s volcanic heartland, stopping off at the hiker’s paradise that is Tongariro National Park. For rugged seashores take the ferry to the South Island and drive the windswept West Coast, past Franz Josef Glacier to Milford Sound .

Buying a camper van is practically a rite of passage for travellers in New Zealand. Trusty steeds can be purchased at Auckland ’s famous car fairs, though there are plenty of places to rent if you don’t want the hassle of haggling. Another plus is the 200 or so campsites run by the Department of Conservation ; spread throughout the country, these spots offer low prices and excellent facilities amid some unbeatable rural settings.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Maui Rentals and Wilderness . Rental costs: From around NZ$48/US$30 per day

7. Chile's Pan-American Highway 

Best for adventure travel.

It’s hard to lose your way on a camper van holiday in Chile , where the foolproof Pan-American Highway runs almost straight down the spine of the country, dispatching road trippers to colorful colonial cities, arid deserts and verdant national parks.

The sheer variety of landscapes is staggering. It seems hard to believe that the Atacama Desert – supposedly the driest place on Earth – is found in the same country as the vineyard-carpeted Elqui Valley and the ice-blue glaciers of Patagonia .

It’s not all about natural wonders. The 3364km-long Pan-American also serves up swaggering seaside cities in the form of Iquique , La Serena and Valdivia, and, of course, the capital, Santiago , behind which loom the lofty peaks of the Andes.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Wicked South America , Condor Campers and Andes Camper Rental costs: From around CLP$40,000/US$50 per day

8. Alberta, Canada 

Best for families.

Icefields Parkway manages to distil almost everything that’s epic about the Canadian wilderness into a brisk 230-km camper van route. From sparkling glaciers to wildflower meadows, snow-capped mountains to cascading waterfalls, this highway packs in some serious scenery.

Calling at Banff and Jasper National Parks , the route hits a sweet spot in May, when spring makes its presence felt in the flowery foothills, but skiing is still possible on higher ground for those who have packed their boots and poles. Come a little earlier – in April – and you can even skate on Lake Louise .

Before you return the RV, take a detour to the sandstone hoodoos of Alberta ’s Badlands, an alien-looking landscape where some of the rarest dinosaur fossils known to humanity have been found. Dinosaur Provincial Park , a Unesco World Heritage site has a brilliant family-friendly campsite alongside an excellent visitor center where children can learn about the area's prehistoric inhabitants.

Where to hire: Local rental companies include Canada RV Rentals , North Campervans and Wicked Campers Calgary Rental costs: From around CA$200/US$145 per day

This article was first published Aug 20, 2019 and updated Mar 21, 2023.

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Everything You Need to Know for Your First Campervan Trip

Thomas Barwick/Taxi/Getty Images

Thanks to the rise of campervans , camping has never been more accessible. These easy-to-drive cars make it easy to see the world on the roads and go almost anywhere in the United States and Canada.

But before you jump in and start your grand road tour , it’s important to remember the basics and understand the rules that come with campervan camping. Here are the quick basics everyone needs to remember when starting out in a campervan for the first time.

What Is a Campervan?

Known in other parts of the world as a “caravan,” " Class B ,” or simply a “camper,” campervans are self-contained recreational vehicles built on the frame of a truck or van. Campervans are traditionally smaller than traditional RV vans, which makes them accessible for nearly anyone to drive.

One of the benefits of a campervan is how easy they are to get around. Because they are built on the body of production-model vehicles, anyone who has driven a large truck or minivan can learn to get around in a campervan easily! Plus, campervans often come with a lower cost compared to a traditional RV, with many of the same features.

On the downside, campervans come with much less space than a traditional RV. While a larger motorhome or recreational vehicle can fit an entire family, campervans are best fitted for much smaller groups—two or three people, at the most.

Is a Campervan Different From a Conversion Van or Traditional RV?

Although they share much of the same terminology, there is a very distinct difference between a campervan and conversion vans or even a traditional RV . The most obvious between them is size: While traditional RVs can be the size of a schoolbus, campervans are usually much smaller in size. The smallest campervans are the size of a production car, while the largest are around the size of a large truck. This distinct size difference means you can jump in and start right away with a campervan, while a traditional RV may take a lot more time to learn and get adjusted to.

Campervans are also much more different than “conversion vans,” although the two terms may be used interchangeably. While campervans usually come with dedicated cooking and sleeping spaces, conversion vans are often full-size vans with more storage space and even nicer seats, but aren’t necessarily intended for camping.

In short: if you’re ready to start camping, but aren’t interested in staying at a hotel every night or the time and money to learn how to drive a full-size RV, then the “vanlife” may be perfect for you.

The Benefits of a Campervan

Arguably, the biggest benefit of a campervan is its mobility. Often at the same size as a full-size van or truck, campervans can go anywhere you can imagine . All you need is a roadmap and a campground to get started!

Campervans come with many of the most common features found in RVs as well. A well-built campervan will feature a small kitchen area to prepare hot meals and power outlets to plug-in medical devices and charge cell phones. In addition, campervans have insulated sleeping area, so you can rest in a bed every night without exposure to the elements.

Campgrounds are often very accommodating to campervans, as they don’t take up much room and don’t need as many hook-ups to get up and running. The best campervans include plugs for “shore power,” or an external power source at the campsite. This allows you to use the kitchenette and power outlets without running down dedicated batteries.

Do I Need a Special Driver’s License for a Campervan?

In most parts of the United States, you will not need a particular driver’s license to operate a campervan. Because campervans are roughly the same size as the cars you already drive today, operating one on the street will be very similar to driving your car to work. However, before you go on your first road trip, you will want to get acquainted with your campervan. Campervans may come with back-up cameras, but not the center rear-view mirror. Be sure to go on a few test drives to understand its visibility and how it handles on the road.

Although you may not need a special driver’s license to take your campervan on the road, what you take with you might require additional paperwork. Because some campervans include propane or butane gas to power the kitchenette, you may be required to display placards to inform first responders and other drivers of what you are carrying. Be sure to check the local regulations where you are going.

What Do I Need to Pack in a Campervan?

Now that you’re sold on joining the “Vanlife” and are ready to head out on the open road, the first step is to put together a packing list. As with all travel, your packing list will change based on where you are going and how long you plan on being gone. For the basics, your campervan packing list should always include:

• Food and beverages for the length of your trip
• Potable water for dishwashing and other cleaning
• Weather-appropriate clothes for the length of your trip
• Clean linens and pillows for the bed
• Kitchenette fuel (propane or butane, if necessary)
• Cleaning products (wipes, soaps, and anything you can use to conveniently
• Cash for tolls and any other unplanned expenses
• Connection cables for campsites

Once you have your packing list together, you will also need to set a budget for your entire trip. This may vary based on how far you are going and campground costs. Your budget should account for:

• Gasoline costs for your campervan
• Campervan campground costs per day
• Extra budget for food or entertainment while camping

While most charges can be paid for using a credit or debit card, it’s also important to carry a small amount of cash with you to ensure everything can get paid. If you don’t make a budget part of your campervan packing list, you might end up paying way more for your trip than you thought .

Where Can I Park My Campervan Overnight?

You’ve got the campervan, you have a destination in mind, and now you want to know where you can park your campervan overnight . Because these are registered vehicles operating on public roads, they are subject to all rules and regulations.

The easiest places to park your campervan overnight is at a campground . Many campgrounds have dedicated spaces for campervans and other recreational vehicles. If space is available, you can book just one night or your entire stay. Just be sure to check ahead if there is a space for you—otherwise, you might be caught on the road without a place to stay.

If your trip includes a visit to a national forest, then you are in luck. Because national forests are federal property, camping is usually free! If you can safely pull your car off the road, you can park your campervan for the night. Just be sure to follow local regulations: For example, some parks don’t allow open flames due to fire risks.

But as mentioned above, there are a lot of places where you may not be allowed to park your campervan overnight. You cannot park on streets where overnight parking is prohibited, or anywhere campervans or other live-in vehicles may be prohibited by local or state ordinances. This can include (but is not limited to) alongside significant highways, alongside coastlines or in dense parking lots.

If you are in a complete pinch for parking overnight , there are some emergency options available to you. Most Wal-Marts allow camping vehicles (including campervans) to park overnight, giving you a safe place to spend one night as you plan for the next leg of your adventure. Some amusement parks also have dedicated small RV and campervan space as well.

Tips and Tricks for Your Campervan Experience

If you’ve never taken a trip in a campervan before, you are in for a one-of-a-kind experience. But before you go, here’s some tips and tricks you can apply to your grand adventure.

• Less is more: Although campervans offer a fair amount of living space, it is also very limited after you pack all your items in. Packing light allows you to enjoy still the creature comforts allowed from the campervan, without worrying about where and how to store everything when it comes time to move to the next campground (or go home).
• Reservations save time and money: While it may be tempting to hit the open road to go wherever the wind takes you, it can also be a costly proposition if campground space is limited. By calling ahead and making reservations at campgrounds, you can ensure space is available – and at a rate in your budget. Some websites even allow you to book campground space online.
• Leave the land better than you found it: No matter your camping style, it’s essential to make sure you are a good steward of the land. This includes picking up all trash, securing trash and other items before you leave or turn in for the night, and avoid feeding wildlife (on purpose or inadvertently). Not only is this good behavior, but it’s also the law. If you litter or start an open fire on federal lands (or where it’s against local rules), you could be fined.

Overall, campervan camping is one of the easiest ways to see the country. With a better understanding of campervan travel , you will have no trouble getting on your way and making memories that last a lifetime.

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Campervan Road Trip Ideas for Your Next Escape

Are you looking for some campervan road trip ideas that are full of cool places to visit? We’ve got a whole list of road trip itineraries and ideas that include some of the prettiest places in North America.

Taking a California road trip? Check out our Los Angeles to Big Sur itinerary that starts at our LA depot and ends near our San Francisco depot . Planning a longer coast-to-coast trip? See our Cross Country Road Trip – Northern Route itinerary that starts at our New York depot and ends at San Francisco. We’ve also got road trip ideas and itineraries for East Coast road trips, smaller day trips, beach road trips and more.

Simply choose the itinerary you want to explore and start planning your next campervan adventure.

A Weekend in Leavenworth, Washington

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25 Van Life Ideas For Your Next Campervan Conversion

Looking for van life ideas to create the perfect camper conversion ? We’ve assembled this list of 25 inspirational van builds to help you out. Whether you’re starting a new build or renovating your old van, be sure to give this article a read, first.

From electronic beds to a log cabin on wheels, we’ve scoured the internet to find the best and craziest van life ideas out there. Throw them up on your Pinterest mood board,  and get inspired to build out your perfect adventure home!

The Best Van Life Ideas You Must See To Believe

Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to peruse some truly plush and unique rides–but the VanLife is constantly on our minds. We spend a good deal of our time on Instagram looking at how other vanlife influencers design and execute their builds.

Here below, we present the culmination of our collective firsthand experiences (plus copious amounts of browsing the Internet): the top 25 best van clan ideas for any adventure!

Van Life Ideas 1-10: Practical Considerations

First and foremost, your van life ideas should be grounded in reality. It’s easy to daydream and go on flights of fancy about what you might do and how you might live on your adventure van. But remember that quality of life is important–as you’re going to be spending a lot of time in that space!

Idea #1 – A Stow-able Bed that Retracts into the Ceiling

This electronic, movable bed is our top van life ideal not only because it’s amazingly practical–it is just so cool! 

Struggling to decide between the convenience and comfort of a fixed bed and the thought of being able to pack it away and have more space? Well with a bed that can retract up into the ceiling, you can have both.

There are four posts that the bed base moves up and down; stowing away in unused ceiling space by day, then lowering down again just in time for bedtime. The advantages of this are that you simply make your bed in the morning, then send it zooming up, out of sight, giving you so much more space to play with through the day time.

This is the best, quickest way to have two completely different day and night setups. On the downside, the systems can be heavy and expensive, but if you can make it work then we think the positives greatly outweigh the negatives!

Idea #2 – Clever Storage Throughout the Van

Storage is essential within any home, but that’s especially true in van life. Because this is an alternative lifestyle , you’ll have to get clever with your storage ideas to meet your needs.

There are many different types of storage out there. Drawers work better than cupboards in a van, as it is easier to access their contents and they can be kept organised more easily. Pockets and pouches on the walls of your van can be a great way to store small items such as books and phones–especially in the bed area.

When thinking about storage, remember that things slide around when driving. Smaller spaces work well, as the items within them have less room to move. Also remember that any shelving will need something to keep the items from falling out; rope can be a good solution for this.

Get clever and us every nook and cranny in your van, you can never have enough storage!

Idea #3 – Solar Panels for True Off-grid Living

If you’re wanting to build a true  off grid home , then solar panels are a must have on your van! This is one of the most practical van life ideas: Endless free power to charge all of your gadgets while you’re on the go. 

Being able to draw as much power as you like, completely independent of campsite plug-ins will greatly enhance the feeling of independence of and self-suficiency. Once you’ve gone solar, you will never want to go back. 

I know what you’re thinking: “what about when it isn’t sunny?” Well first, solar panels don’t need bright sun and clear blue skies to be effective, although they obviously work better in these conditions. Second, it’s quite possible to rig your van with a batter, where you can store the sun’s energy for a rainy day. 

Finally, producing your own power to cook, heat showers, and power gadgets is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. So, what are you waiting for?!

Idea #4 – Nothing Beats Fixed Beds at the End of the Day

Just picture this; you’ve had an amazing day out on the trail, you’ve just finished eating a beautifully cooked meal, and you’re more than ready to climb into your warm, soft bed.

But wait, where is the bed? Oh, of course, it’s packed away and needs putting together and then making with a sheet and the duvet and pillows… nooooo! Avoid the bed building doom and consider a fixed bed in your campervan conversions .

Having a bed constantly out really makes a campervan feel like somewhere you could spend a lot of time. Having to build your bed at the end of each day just isn’t ideal, and anyone that’s been in this position would agree that having a fixed bed is a true luxury.

Some may argue that you lose so much space in the daytime but more often than not, you’ll find that even with a fixed bed you’ll still have enough space to have everything else you may want in a van, even a seating area and table. Plus, you gain so much handy storage underneath the bed, and by not having a space to pack your duvet into every day. This is one of the van life ideas that is seriously worth considering.

Idea #5 – Swivelling Van Seats Up Front

The cab area in campers is often lost to those hours spent driving–and is rarely more than a dumping ground for outdoor coats and shoes that have nowhere else to go. Try making a feature out of the seats, rather than leaving them an afterthought for a little van life Aikido.

Enabling one or both of the front seats to spin round and become chairs in the living area of the van means that you don’t need to take up extra space in the back of your van by building another seating area. The front seats in a campervan are usually more comfortable than the standard bench seating, so it makes sense to utilise the comfort!

To really tie it all together, add some beautiful covers that go with the interior of your van.

Idea #6 – Garage In The Back

One of the biggest incentives to build a fixed bed is for the amount of storage space you can open up in the back of your van: a boot or ‘garage’ area.

This garage is a great area to store any outdoor equipment you may have, whether its climbing or beach gear. Depending on your setup, you can even get enough space to store a couple of bikes!

Overall, it’s great to have a space where you can chuck anything and everything without it taking up space in your living area. If you can accommodate it, try it out.

Idea #7 – Access The Cab With A Cut-Through

Many vanlifers prefer the cab and the back of the van to be completely separate areas. So, next on our list of van life ideas is a cut through from one to the other. This is actually a legal requirement in some countries; but even if it isn’t in yours, it is something well-worth considering.

Being able to get to the cab from your living area means that you can always drive away without having to leave your van if you are in an unsafe situation. It’s also super handy when you leave something in the cab to just be able to nip through and get it.

Finally, it can give you more storage options, as you can use the cab as an extension of your living area. Some people even store their fridges between the two front seats, freeing up mad space in the back!

Idea #8 – Keep Clean with an Outdoor Shower

Many people couldn’t imagine living without a full shower set up but, trust me, having a shower actually inside your van is often more of a hindrance than a help. With a built-in camper shower , you lose so much space within your tiny home. You also need to be able to carry and store LOTS of water, and have a way to heat it too.

Adventuring in the modern age shouldn’t be about the constant search for water! But then again, it is nice to be able to take a shower when you want one. This is where an outdoor shower like the Rinsekit comes in.

Now, there are many ways to attach a shower to the exterior of your van; mounted to the back door is a popular route to go down. Alternatively, you could mount a shower to the roof of your van. Solar showers are starting to appear on the market, meaning the sun heats up the water used for showering which is a great, hassle-free, option.

And even if you don’t want to mount a shower to your van, there are many portable options out there which save on so much space inside. However you go about it, outdoor showering is definitely one of the van life ideas to get on board with.

Idea #9 – Bunk Beds for Kids Living the Van Life

If you’re travelling with kids or in a group, then you are probably going to want more than one bed. The next suggestion on our list of van life ideas is a clever solution to this problem: bunk beds!

Bunk beds are a great space-saving solution in any house, and there’s no reason why they can’t work in a van. Just make sure that they are built strong enough to take the weight of a person, and you’re good to go.

Bunk beds are fun and exciting way to provide children with their very own space, even when space is tight. Why not build on this childlike playfulness and make a feature of the bunk beds; add fairy lights or ‘stars’ to the underside of the bed or accessorise with a ladder and some storage pods for toys and books.

If you’re travelling with a group of friends, bunk beds are a practical way to ensure everyone has enough space to sleep–and to prevent that one person from stealing all of the covers!

For best results, design your bunk beds so they can fold down to give yourself more space in the daytime.

Idea #10 – Table and Chairs for Working and Eating

If you’re planning on spending a long time on the road or to living in a van full time, then a table to sit at is one of the van life ideas worth considering. Most people use a table every day; whether it be to eat at, work at, or play games on, a table will always come in handy.

Many people often think about the seating area, and the table is just an afterthought. But when you need somewhere to get some work done, then a table is essential. This doesn’t mean you can’t build a super comfortable seating area around the table, however! Balance the two considerations against space.

Van Life Ideas #11-18 – Crafting Your Lifestyle 

There’s nothing in the vanlifer’s handbook that states you can’t have fun with your camper conversion build. After all, you’re going to be spending a significant amount of time in your tiny living area. Shouldn’t it look and feel the way that makes you happy and content?

Here are some tips to help you craft your van-lifestyle.

Idea #11 – To Poo Or Not To Poo?

The ever challenging question: “should my van build contain a toilet?” Indeed, it is an important consideration, and one which may in large part define the rest of your build.

It’s true that you can nearly always find a public toilet during the day or, failing that, a suitable bush for your privacy. But during the night, however, this becomes much more difficult, especially if you’re city camping. If you ever intend on wild camping in the city, then a toilet is pretty essential as you can’t just pee on the street, and you probably won’t want to wait until midday to find a toilet.

Even if you’re wild camping, it’s fairly disruptive to your sleep routine to have to get dressed and put some shoes on to find a bush. And if this isn’t an issue for you, just remember 50% of the population aren’t blessed with the ability to wee standing up.

So, if you plan on spending a long time in your van, then a toilet might be a good shout.    

Idea #12 – Warm Your Bones by a Van-friendly Furnace

Thinking of ways to heat your next van? Well, don’t miss out on this opportunity to add a flare of old-world comfort and romance to your van build. This is one of the van life ideas that is sure to impress your friends. After all, a log burner within a van never fails to be a stirring talking point.

If you’re living the van life  in colder climates, then a log burner actually makes good sense. Not only do they produce copious amounts of heat when needed, they also lend your living space an unparalleled sense of cosy warmth. And believe it or not, they’re quite economical.

Just imagine curling up in front of the burner with a good book and a hot chocolate. Ahhh, bliss!

Idea #13 – Expand the Menu with an Oven

Many vanlifers get used to making stove-top meals, but sometimes there is just nothing better than a tray of roasted veg and chicken, or a simple oven pizza and chips. If you find that you often rely on an oven when cooking and plan on travelling long term in your van, then there’s no reason why you can’t squeeze one into your conversion.

An oven is one of those van life ideas that completely depends on your individual needs, but they really can work in a van–so don’t discount it!

Idea #14 – Charming Porthole Windows

Van life and Boat life are close friends by nature, sharing many similarities as well as the sense of freedom that comes from being able to be on the move. So why not add a dash of the nautical to your next van build?

These cute little circular windows are a great way to make your camper conversion stand out from the crowd. They’re a feature piece within, and on the outside of your van.

As well as looking good, portholes are a practical way to let the light shine in. If you can get your hands on some that open, it would make a great way to bring the fresh air in.

Idea #15 – Beautifully Painted Geometric Flooring

This is a new trend that we’re starting to see in the world of van conversion, and we love it!

In particular, we love the way the geometric pattern looks almost 3-D; it really pops out at you and would give any conversion an edge. It’s also sure to be a cheaper alternative to other flooring options while still looking amazing.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be geometric designs! Think of all of the different ways you could decorate your flooring, and make your van unique to you.

Idea #16 – Illuminate Your Van Life With a Skylight

Not content with a few windows to let natural light into your tiny home, then why not make your whole ceiling a window? We’re dead serious–this makes for an amazing feature and an even more amazing view of the starry night sky while laying in bed!

Sure, this is one of the rarer van life ideas out there, probably as many people would be unsure of how to pull it off. But if you can work it out, then the views would surely be worth the effort!

It can be difficult to get enough light into a campervan by default, but by making the whole roof a window, you will never be short of natural light. You will, however, need one pretty big blind…

Idea #17 – The Log Cabin Van

Next on our list of van life ideas is wooden cladding. This is becoming a popular way to build out the interior of your campervan, and it’s easy to see why.

Natural-finished wood really gives the impression of being in a rustic cabin in the forest, rather than in a campervan. It is also a practical way to build the interior walls of your campervan as cladding is lightweight, affordable and easy to work with (especially considering the bends and curves of a van frame).

If you want to build a cosy cabin on wheels that really stands out, then wooden cladding definitely something to add to your list of van life ideas.

Idea #18 – Cool Off Hanging in Your Hammock

There is simply nothing better than spending a sunny afternoon lazing around in a hammock. With that in mind, next on our list of van life ideas is to add a travel hammock into your next camper conversion.

The most difficult part of adding a hammock to your van isn’t hanging it. So long as the hooks are attached directly onto the metal of the van itself, they should be strong enough to hold the weight of an adult.

Instead, the real issue is having enough space to do so. You want room for it to hang freely without banging on any of the furniture, so this needs to be thought about at the planning stage of your build.

But hey, if you’re travelling solo, why not try a hammock as your bed? It gives you ultimate freedom, and you simply unhook in the day time to be able to utilise all of that extra space!

Van Life Ideas #19-25 – Next-Level Upgrades

If you’re looking for a way to make your build something really special, there are a few good ways to put any extra budget or space to good work. None of the following van life ideas are essential, but we can bet you won’t want to live without them once you have them.

Idea #19 – Double Your Space With A Roof Deck

When you travel in a van, the whole world is your back garden, but sometimes it’s nice to have a space that is wholly yours. Next on our van life ideas list is a super cool way to build yourself, if not a garden, then a decking area that comes with you everywhere. That’s right, we’re talking about a super-cool roof deck!

Simply attach a ladder to the side of your van and mount a decking area to the roof of your van (much like a roof rack) and voila! You’ve got yourself a mini yard. It’s hard to picture a better place to relax and catch some sun or gaze a the starry night sky.

Idea #20 – Seating That Converts Into Bedding

As an alternative to a fixed bed, consider a seating area that converts into your bed. There are many ways to make this idea a reality: slats that slide out from a bench seat to for a wider bed; a table that drops down between two bench seats to create the bed base; or benches that hinge open to form the bed.

Whatever works for you, all of these options share one thing in common: more space when the van is in “daytime mode”. By having a bed that stores away in the daytime, you have much more room to play with during the day–most commonly for a large seating area with a table.

This is one of the van life ideas that could be a great option for travelling families!

Idea #21 – Extendable Kitchen For Outdoor Cooking

If you live or travel in climates that are warm and dry all year round, then this van life idea is a great space saver. What’s more, cooking outdoors can also be much more sociable than preparing a meal in your van–a nice perk if you’re travelling with other vans.

Design your build so the kitchen slides out of either your back or side door, allowing more space within your van for other things. Also consider investing in a pull out awning above, just in case it does rain. Awnings also double your shelter space, making your tiny home seem more spacious than it is. 

Idea #22 – Flip Down Table

Fancy a table but don’t think you have enough space in your van for one? Then maybe a flip down table will do just the trick.

“Dual purpose” is a great philosophy to squeeze more essentials into your van build, especially if you have a smaller van. Your flip down table could also double as a cupboard door or a picture frame when secured back into back into place.

A flip-down table doesn’t have to be fancy to look good or function well; some rustic wood and rope would make a usable table that will look cool, too.

Idea #23 – L-track Van Conversion Systems

L-Track is a great way to be able to change the entire interior of your campervan quickly, and is one of those van life ideas that is great if you need different things from your van depending on the time of day, or how many people you have on board.

With smart design, you can change the number of beds, bunk beds or seats available quickly and easily and still ensure that everything is safely secured for driving!

Idea #24 – Sleeping Pods

Travelling as a family but want a little more privacy than a campervan usually provides? Then consider integrating sleeping pods into your design.

This is one of the more unique van life ideas out there but is such a great way to get the whole family on board–especially with older children. These little pods mean that everyone feels like they have their own room, giving children (and parents!) a semblance of space apart from one another.

Pods can be exciting for kids, as they can decorate their owns pod to really feel like a home away from home–making going to bed seem a bit more inviting. It also means that kids can go to bed before the adults without too much disruption, and those wanting to stay up later can even keep the lights on!

Be clever with the design and you can still have enough room for the rest of the van to feel spacious during the daytime.

Idea #25 – Rope Surfboard Storage

Our final van life idea is also one of the most simple; we planned it that way to show you how often simplicity really is the key to getting what you want.

Attaching your surfboard to the interior roof of your van is an innovative way to store your board inside. It’s practical, and becomes a great feature within your van, giving it a beach boho vibe. It also means that your board is kept safely inside your van, instead of on the roof, where it could be easily stolen or damaged.

Obviously, you’d need to be a keen surfer to justify the space taken up by a surfboard in the first place. But with a bit of rope, you can shred waves without having to suffer cramped spaces back home.

Share Your Own Van Life Ideas

We hope you’ve discovered some new van life ideas and that you’re inspired to put some of these whacky tricks into your own build. Let us know what your favourite van life ideas are by joining us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram !

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Looking to live your best #vanlife? Take this advice.

The campervan craze is sweeping the globe. Scan through your social media accounts, and you’re bound to land on someone’s trip through the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, or Iceland in one of these converted vehicles. Their popularity makes sense. In these vans, which often feature miniature kitchens and beds that transform into dinner tables, travelers can enjoy both the comfort of modern luxuries and the freedom of the wild outdoors.

If you haven’t taken a campervan trip for yourself yet, it’s destined to make its way onto your bucket list. Here are 13 tips to keep in mind when planning your own adventure.

Be Sure You Can Drive It

Your camper won’t do you much good if you can’t get it off the lot. A van can be more challenging to drive than a car if you aren’t used to the size and turning radius of a larger vehicle. Make sure you know how to drive the one you rent, and ask about manual versus automatic transmission before hitting checkout. If you haven’t driven a manual car in the past, this is not the time to learn.

Take Advantage of the Flexibility

Don’t forget about the van part of your campervan. Hopefully your new home is so comfortable, you forget you’re spending the night in an automobile. If you can’t quite get that fact out of your mind, remember the benefits of your choice. You’re transient, flexible, and free. If you want to visit someplace new in the morning, you can just pop into the driver’s seat and get a move on. You already have everything you need.

Keep an open mind while you’re driving and hiking. If you see something interesting, stop. If a campsite neighbor tells you about an amazing hike she took the day before, think about extending your stay and trying it out. Allow yourself to enjoy the freedom the van provides.

But Still Do Some Planning

While it may seem like you can just camp anywhere with your van—after all, your bedroom is on wheels—it’s best to consider your campsites beforehand. A bit of go-with-the-flow is necessary on a road trip, but you can eliminate plenty of stress by knowing where you’ll be parking at each leg.

If you can’t manage an exact plan, map out possible stopping points along your route. Once you have that information, you can take all the time you need on the road and choose the spot that’s most convenient at the time.

Bring Someone You Really Like

There’s no way around it, you’ll be in tight quarters. If you’re going on this trip with a partner, family members, or friends, be sure you like them—a lot. If you aren’t comfortable getting cozy together, you better hope you don’t run into a rainy day on the road.

Check the Gear Before You Go

Before you even show up for the van, take stock of what’s included in the rental, make a list of what you’ll need on the trip, and compare the two.

Once you pick up the camper, get a careful look at what’s there. Make sure everything you expected to be inside the van actually is. If something is missing, ask about it. After you get the keys, take out your list and reassess your needs, then head to the store. A little preparation goes a long way here, because realizing you don’t have any towels in the middle of the woods is not how you want to start your camping trip.

A campervan traveler lies in his fully outfitted van at the shore of Chilklot Lake in Alaska. When staying in such a small space, it's important to keep organized and think carefully about how each inch is used.

Don’t Forget the Essentials

Yes, you have a car. But no, you don’t want to spend your vacation time driving around to track down a can opener. In order to make sure you have everything you need, be thoughtful with those packing and shopping lists. Some suggestions: baby wipes, shampoo, a decent knife, a cutting board, sandwich bags or containers for leftovers, a little broom, bug spray, and sunscreen. Make the most of your trip by getting these things at the start, so you can focus on the fun.

Do Some Meal Planning

There's little joy in scrounging through an empty cooler at 8 p.m. after a long day on the trail. To prevent an empty belly or three straight dinners of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, do a little prep before you leave. Figure out how many meals you’ll need and decide what you’ll want to eat. Remember to consider the food storage you’ll have, likely either a minifridge or cooler, and choose dishes that will be easy to make over a fire, like chili, roasted veggie skewers, or loaded baked potatoes.

There’s no need to plan exactly what you’ll eat each day, but having everything waiting for you in the van will ensure you don’t go to bed hungry, and stocking a few staple breakfast ingredients will allow you to wake up focused on the adventures of the day.

Head to the grocery store at the start of your trip with your meal plan and ingredient list in hand. There may be shops along your journey, but if you’re exploring national parks or secluded beaches, you’ll want to be sure you aren’t missing any crucial ingredients before you begin your trip. Tacos just aren’t the same without the tortillas.

A family enjoys the wild outdoors while camping under a coconut tree in India.

Stock Extra Snacks

Being in a campervan allows you to venture to more remote destinations, and that means there likely won’t be many pit stops available. Take advantage when you can, because your body won’t care about the lack of nearby stores after you complete an epic trek through the forest. Before leaving civilization, buy some extra fuel, like sandwich fixings and trail mix, to take with you on your hiking, biking, or paddling excursions. And don’t forget treats for the inevitable late-night campfire sessions.

Don’t Overpack

You have limited space, and some if it is going to be taken up by you. Do you really need three swimsuits and four sweatshirts? No. You don’t. Consider what’s really going to make your trip enjoyable, then ditch everything else. You don’t want to be sifting through things you wish you’d left at home when you’re trying to get dressed in the morning.

Pick the Right Campsite

Though you have more flexibility with a van than you do with a tent, it’s still important to be thoughtful when choosing your campsite. First, only camp where you’re permitted to sleep overnight. This is primarily dependent upon local ordinances and park rules, so study up before you get on the road.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

Once you’re out and looking for your site, keep a few things in mind. You’ll want to find a level spot. It will save you from waking up smashed into one side of the van or having your blankets slide off the bed. Also try to stay away from any campground lights, which may keep you up at night and will certainly hinder your stargazing. If you can, try to pick a location that showcases the best the campground has to offer. If it’s at the beach, get that ocean view. If you’re in the mountains, look for the vista.

Campgrounds tend to have multiple lots of different shapes and sizes, so don’t be afraid to drive around a bit to find one that suits your van. Some national park websites even offer photographs and reviews of each site, so you can make an educated choice when booking in advance.

Stay Organized

Mess leads to stress. Find a place for everything at the start of your trip and put it all away when you’re done. Remember to account for the driving you’ll be doing, so place anything fragile in a secure spot.

Lights shine from a campervan parked next to a glowing boulder in California's Joshua Tree National Park.

Keep a Flashlight Nearby

Being in a van doesn’t change the fact that you’re still camping. Keep a flashlight close by for nighttime bathroom trips or detecting unwelcome wildlife.

Find a Spot for Your Shoes

This is not a metaphorical suggestion. You should actually plan where you’ll put your shoes when you’re in the van. You’ve probably been climbing a rocky cliff or walking through a sand dune, so they’re covered in dirt. You don’t want that in your bed. And do yourself a favor—keep them far away from your head.

You also might need them in the middle of the night or early hours, so stick to the place you’ve chosen. Your van will stay clean, and you’ll be happy you know exactly where they are in the morning.

Related Topics

• CAR CAMPING
• SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
• ADVENTURE TRAVEL

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25 Genius Campervan Hacks for Van Life & Camping Trips

Life on the road is full of bumps, twists, and unforgettable adventures. Outfitting your camper van with  versatile space-saving items  is key to making the ride that much smoother. When you’re in a small space,  making life easier  through organisation and planning is a lifesaver. 

*This post may contain affiliate links, as a result, we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on any bookings/purchases you make through the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read our full disclosure

Don’t leave your home without Travel Insurance! From the US?  We recommend   Allianz Travel Insurance,  a world leader in travel protection and  our trusted Travel Insurance partner  for the last 5 years. Allianz offers  Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance Policies  that include medical coverage, trip cancellation, rental car insurance and more! (Benefits vary by state and by plan, so read your policy carefully!)  Not a US resident?  Consider  Safety Wing ,  a  budget friendly travel insurance provider  with travel insurance plans for Digital Nomads and travelers from all around the world.

We’ve learned a ton about van life from travelling in our  Sprinter Campervan,   Benji , in  Canada  and our campervan,  Tilly the Troopy , in  Australia . From what to use for insulation to where to shower, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that isn’t captured by the shiny #vanlife content on Instagram. 

So here are our  best van life storage hacks and tips for overnight camping in a van. 

Traveling Soon?  Here is a list of our favourite travel providers and accessories to help get you ready for your upcoming trip! Book Your Accommodation HERE Search for Great Tours HERE Get a Car Rental HERE Buy Travel Insurance HERE See our Favourite Camera Bag HERE Grab a Reusable Water Bottle HERE or a Filtration Straw HERE Order an eSim HERE

Our 25 Best Van Life Hacks And Campervan Tips

1. find a spot for everything.

When everything in your van has a home, it  keeps the van organised  which is crucial for keeping your small space neat and tidy. Staying organised while travelling is a challenge, especially when you’re always on the move. Working with limited space can be tough but when you keep on top of organisation, it gets a lot easier. We recommend you to use simple campervan hacks storage like packing cubes to tuck everything away will  prevent clutter and damage to your items.  Choose different colours, and packing cubes to locate items effortlessly. Organising your clothes in cubes keeps them fresh, wrinkle-free, and easily accessible, preventing any campervan chaos.

2. Pack The Essentials

Even the best camper organization hacks won’t save you if you are trying to fit a house’s worth of stuff into a tiny space. As far as storage ideas for campervans go,  minimalism is key. 

Making the most of your small space begins with  cutting down on non-essentials  and prioritising versatility. For instance, if you’re going to use a duvet, do you really need sleeping bags, too? Packing only the essentials is one of the top van life tips to make all other organising campervan hacks possible.

READ NEXT: 52 Best Van Life Essentials That Make Van Living Easier

3. Use Apps To Find Free Places To Camp

The best way to  make van life cheap  is to find free camping spots. Thankfully, there are a lot of them! We’ve used apps to find van camping ideas throughout our travels in North America and Australia at no extra cost. 

• iOverlander : In Canada, we use  iOverlander . It’s a community-driven platform for people and nomads seeking stay options, from camping spots, hotels, eateries, mechanics, water, propane filling, and more.
• Backroads Mapbooks : Offering up-to-date information to help you navigate the outdoors safely. Combining city, rural, and forestry roads, these maps are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, highlighting side roads and backcountry routes not found on other maps.
• Wikicamps  was our go-to in Australia. The app also provides direct information and addresses for essential resources like campgrounds, information centres, dump points, potable water taps, points of interest, rest stops, and more.
• We’re also members of   Harvest Hosts ,  which has allowed us to stay at some pretty cool farms and wineries. In the US, Harvest Hosts are available in every state, along with lots of free camping on public lands. And, you might even meet other van lifers there (who might have other great campervan hacks to share!).

4. Get A Gym Membership To Take Showers

A gym membership will be your best friend when living on the road. Opt for a  nationwide gym that’s open late  so you can shower on your own schedule. We use  Anytime Fitness,  which has hundreds of locations across Canada as well as elsewhere in the world. Planet Fitness is another popular option among van lifers that’s convenient and affordable. Although we have a built-in shower in our van, not having to worry about hot water or dumping water tanks is a treat.

5. Sign Up For A Husky Membership To Get Free Showers (Canada Only)

Let’s face it, baby wipes can only get you so far when it comes to hygiene. When you don’t have access to a gym or outdoor shower,  truck stops  can be a life saver!

In Canada, one of our favourite van life hacks is to sign up for a Husky membership. Every time you get fuel, you’ll  collect points that you can redeem for free showers.  This is one of the best van life shower ideas since you’re already getting fuel anyway! You earn one shower for every 50 L of fuel you fill up, so you’ll be racking up points in no time. 

6. Attach Your Spice Rack Under The Cabinets For Easy Access

Magnetic spice jars are a great solution to save space in your campervan kitchen. We added a magnetic spice rack beneath our cabinets to help  save more space in our pantry.  The magnets keep the containers in place while we’re driving and they’re easy to access for cooking. You can also stick them to your fridge or a metal sheet to save counter space. Plus,   our set  came with pre-made labels, so the spices were easy to organise. Lightweight and secure, these jars make finding and using your spices hassle-free on the road. Easy to pack, they’re a must-have for any camper chef.

We buy all of our dry goods in bulk, so these magnetic containers come in handy for other things too. We can store tea, nuts, and other loose items without any unnecessary packaging.

7. Invest In A Portable Toilet

When it’s cold, and you need the bathroom in the middle of the night, these are the van life tips you’ll thank us for! Investing in a   portable toilet  was one of the best van conversion hacks we incorporated into our build. Our toilet is compact, easy to clean, and really doesn’t take up too much space inside the van. It  makes life on the road a lot more comfortable,  and our van feels a lot more like a home. 

READ NEXT: 10 Beautiful Sprinter Van Conversions to Inspire Your Build  

8. Use Bungee Cords To Keep Items In Place

Bungee cords are essential campervan accessories. We use them to keep our toilet from sliding across the floor of our van. Bungee cords are also useful for  securing other loose items  when we’re driving. They’re great for minivan camping ideas or in van builds that don’t have much extra space to spare. Some of our best campervan storage hacks involve finding a spot for everything—and making sure it stays there. 

READ NEXT: 12 Best Van Conversion Companies That Will Build Your Van for You

9. Maximize your storage space

Anything that creates more storage space is a van life essential in our books. Adding shelves above the bed and baskets or magazine racks in the kitchen area is a great storage solution. 

You can store your van camping equipment in different places based on how easily accessible it needs to be. For example, keep cleaning supplies handy under the sink, but you can store other items that you don’t access very often under the bed. We also installed an elevator bed which allowed us to maximize the storage in our van. We gained a ton fo space by not having a permanent platform bed. 

10. Get Collapsible Everything

One of the best campervan storage hacks is to  use collapsible storage containers . They save space by packing away into flat bundles when you’re not using them and easily expand when they’re needed. We have collapsible bowls,   storage containers , and a bucket that always comes in handy.

11. Get A Wi-Fi extender Or Data Connection Booster

Some key van life and motorhome tips for working on the road rely on having internet. Adding a WiFi range extender is one of the best motorhome hacks to  make the most of weak campground WiFi.  Sometimes, your parking spot doesn’t have the best signal, so adding a booster strengthens your connection so you can work on the road.

12. Don’t Forget To Insulate Drafts And Fans

If you plan on travelling in the winter, we recommend investing in fan covers and draft stoppers. Even when your fan is closed, it can let just enough air in to create a draft. You might also run into this if you have a pop-top roof, so  don’t overlook extra insulation.  We invested in a bunch of these   door draft stoppers  and used them  to get rid of drafts coming from the doors of our van. 

READ NEXT:   The Ultimate Camper Van Insulation Guide

13. Opt For Unbreakable Kitchenware

One of our best van camping tips is to save yourself the headache by opting for unbreakable kitchenware. No need to worry about bumpy roads breaking glass or dishes when you have shatterproof items. We love our wheat straw   plates  and   bowls . They are lightweight, durable and eco-friendly.  Look for lightweight, unbreakable dinnerware for your caravan adventures. Explore stylish alternatives to traditional plastic and melamine plates, opting for fully biodegradable options for plates, cups, and cutlery in smart and playful colours, ensuring it’s not only practical for your caravan interior but also environmentally friendly.

14. Use GasBuddy To Find The Cheapest Gas

Campervan life and travel usually go hand in hand, which means you’ll be doing lots of driving. And with lots of driving comes LOTS of gas. GasBuddy is the go-to app for budget-conscious drivers. Wherever you go, you will stay informed about gas price trends in the area, get money-saving tips at the pump, and receive updates on GasBuddy products. We use   GasBuddy  to help  find the cheapest fuel in gas stations across Canada.  We can even plan our stops ahead of time based on gas prices along the way. This makes budgeting for a campervan trip a lot easier.

15. Invest In Rechargeable Magnetic Lights

Rechargeable magnetic lights  have been a great addition to our van build and one of the most helpful campervan hacks. They’re better than fairy lights since they’re  cordless and can be used in a variety of places  thanks to the magnetic strip. We use them inside cabinets, above the sink when we are doing dishes and even outside. Thanks to their magnetic strip at the back, they stick to the side of our van, creating the perfect outdoor lighting setup!

16. Get A Handheld Vacuum 

A full-size vacuum would take up too much space in our tiny Sprinter van, but a handheld vacuum is the perfect size. One of the best campervan hacks for keeping the van tidy is having a  portable rechargeable vacuum.  We use our   Shark WandVac  daily to keep our floors and surfaces nice and clean. It’s not just for vacuuming, but a handy travel tool too! You can compress your luggage by 50%, creating extra space in your campervan. When it’s time to unpack, unzip the vacuum bag, and your clothes fluff back up with air.

17. Hooks, Hooks, And More Hooks

One of our top tips for making the most of your wall space is to add hooks—and lots of ‘em.  Hang as much as possible  to keep things off the floor and organised. Hooks are a campervan essential. Install a few to keep your jacket, bag, and accessories in order. Also, keep them functional and stylish for your walls. Some of our favourite Ikea campervan hacks include these   folding hooks . They fold down when not in use, keeping the walls of your van nice and tidy. Hooks are necessary when you have wet clothing after a swim or if you are looking to  hang some laundry.  Trust us, you can never have too many!

18. Add A Doormat To Every Entrance

Depending on your van model, you might have multiple doors that can quickly get dirty from boots and shoes.  Keep the dirt of the great outdoors off of your floors  by adding doormats to every entrance. You can leave your muddy shoes on the mat without tracking in any extra mess.

READ NEXT:  Guide to Choosing the Best Campervan Solar Panel

19. Use Foam To Create A Custom Storage Area For Your Electronics

Line your drawers with   plucking foam  to keep laptops, iPads, and cameras safe while you drive. This creates a padded box for  fragile campervan storage  items that need that extra protection during bumpy rides. Cut smaller pieces and use them as dividers to keep your camera batteries from bumping into your tablet.

20. Install A Carbon Monoxide Alarm

This is one of those van living tips that you can’t skip. Being in a confined space with different types of fuels and chemicals can be dangerous. A  carbon monoxide alarm and smoke detector are essential  camper tips for any van build. We use this   2-in-1 alarm  to save space and stay safe. We also highly recommend  adding a   fire extinguisher  to every van conversion.

21. Use A Memory Foam Topper As Your Mattress

If you’re looking for campervan hacks to make sleeping more comfortable, this tip is for you. Whether it’s van life or motorhome life, using a   memory foam topper  as your mattress makes for the  most comfortable sleep ever . We know that many campervans don’t have a standard-size bed. It’s a problem for regular mattresses, but if you are using a latex topper, cutting it into the right size is a breeze! Plus a latex mattress topper is natural and antimicrobial, it helps regulate temperature and supports your body for restful sleep.

22. Install Swivel Seats

Installing swivel seats for your driver and passenger seats allows you to double down on space in your campervan. This way, your driving area won’t waste empty space when you’re parked and hanging out inside. 

We have installed a   Scopema Swivel Seat  from the  Swivel Shop  in our van, and it has made a world of difference! It’s perfect for eating dinner, and working and offers extra seating for guests!

23. Make Window Coverings

Window coverings can help a lot with  temperature regulation  in the summer and winter. In hot places, blocking the sun from baking into your campervan conversion makes being inside a lot more comfortable. Similarly, covering your windows can help keep heat inside and block drafts. 

You can easily make your own window coverings with Reflectix and a down blanket like we did. We use magnets to pop them into the windows so they look clean on the inside and don’t attract attention on the outside. They’re  ideal for stealth camping  and eliminate your need for curtains, so it’s a win-win!

24. Add A Mosquito Net To Your Door

Travelling in a van in the summertime is amazing, except for one thing: bugs! Keeping the doors open makes the van feel bigger and helps with airflow. Adding cheap mosquito nets is a quick and easy solution for  enjoying the breeze bug-free. 

We recommend a   magnetic mosquito net  so it stays shut when you’re moving in and out.

25. Get A 12v Power Inverter

Keeping your phone and devices charged can be a challenging task if you don’t have a full electrical system in your van. Even if you have a solar system, we recommend getting a 12-volt power inverter that plugs into your cigarette lighter. This way, you can  top up your devices while you’re driving  without having to tap into your batteries. We use this   DC to AC inverter  that has a regular 120v plug and two USB ports. 

Do you have any favourite campervan hacks that make living in your camper van conversion even more enjoyable? 

READ NEXT: 20 Best Accessories For Campervans & VanLife

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Road tripping through Europe with a campervan in 2024 (Itinerary)

With another eventful year behind us, where our trips were less wild and our adventures less spontaneous than they used to be. A year where we were constantly inspired by the beautiful pictures and crazy videos that our social media algorithms presented us.

Since we knew the roads would be calmer in November so we decided to follow our ‘Saved Instagram pictures’ and enjoy a wonderful autumn trip through Europe.

Our bucket list took us from the outskirts of Brussels to gorgeous medieval German castles, from the astonishing Dolomites to the picturesque Venice, and finally from fashionable Milan to the peaceful Strasbourg – How is that for an adventure?

In this itinerary, we’ve listed all the info you’ll need for a road trip through Europe with a campervan; what items to pack, how to rent a campervan, itinerary ideas, and finally: some tips for a fantastic adventure on the road.

Page Contents

Our road trip summarized in numbers. 

• 1x stuck in the Italian snow
• Crossed 7 country borders
• 0 Speeding tickets
• … a thousand new adventures and stories to tell about

The roadtrip

After an earlier adventure in which we discovered the Dolomites with a campervan , we immediately knew that we wanted to travel the same way; through Europe with a campervan! 

As we see it, this is the easiest solution to travel through various countries while still complying with all the COVID measurements and having a minimal risk for infection; we’d stay in our own bubble while still having all the comfort we needed: large beds, a small kitchen, and even a shower!

Our goal would be to drive from Brussels to Venice and back while discovering the most fabulous places we could find; after all, we had an immense amount of inspiration and a huge bucket list of places to visit. 

Essentials for a road trip in a campervan

Are you planning to go on a campervan road trip, but want to make sure you have the essentials with you? We briefly listed the essentials that made sure our trip was a success.

Ecoflow River Pro Powerstation

As content creators, we’re always haunted by our fear of not having enough power, from the fear of being stranded in the middle of nowhere without a GPS to the fear of having a dying camera battery just when you’re about to shoot your favorite location. 

Either way: We’ve all been there, so we all know these are valid worries! No wonder why one of Google’s top road trip-related searches is about finding or generating power. While there are various solutions, we found one that put our minds at ease before starting our road trip; The Ecoflow River Pro Powerstation !

In essence, the Ecoflow River Pro is a massive power bank with 2 AC power outlets and a few USB connections, generating enough power to charge our Macbook M1 Pro laptop 13 times, our smartphone 58 times, and our Sony A7III camera over 30 times. Due to its dimensions, the River Pro can usually last 8 hours, being a massive help for every road trip.

When you’re planning to cross various borders or wander around mountain passes, you’ll have to switch radio stations regularly, or you’ll end up with noise. Our trick? Make sure everyone has made their own Spotify playlist in advance! That way, you won’t be bothered by the noise and leave room for spontaneous singalong moments to occur.

Data Roaming

If you are located in Europe and are traveling through various countries, you’ll need to ensure that your data roaming is enabled on your phone to keep having an internet connection. 

You shouldn’t worry about the amount of roaming you use, thanks to the European Union’s roaming regulations which say data providers can’t charge for roaming in the European Union. However, keep in mind: Switzerland is not included in this regulation! So don’t forget to turn off your Data Roaming when entering Switzerland.

What have we learned about road tripping through Europe with a campervan?

Our campervan trip through Europe confirmed something we already knew: that it’s very easy to travel between European countries. A 100 kilometers drive can bring you to a different cultural and diverse community.

Next to this, we had a few other learnings as well. 

The ease of a camping site with decent facilities

While traveling in a sustainable campervan, you’ve got different options in terms of camping:

• You could visit an official campsite which has loads of facilities.
• You could park overnight at Highway stops.
• You could wild camp and stay at a new place every night.

Most European countries have different rules and regulations about camping, but generally, they (Switzerland, Italy,…) aren’t allowing wild camping … which makes it technically illegal. However, in most cases, overnight parking where you don’t set up camp or leave in less than 24 hours is allowed. 

Our tip? Make sure you can drive off at any moment so that nobody can complain about it.

The thing is: If you’re on the road for over a week, you’ll need to clean your campervan and want a more luxury shower. Don’t hesitate to stop wild camping and pause at a camping site with decent facilities. 

The ease of planning

Being prepared for your campervan trip ensures that you can switch gears faster and need to spend less time worrying. The things that helped us a lot were:

• Backup locations. Since we used our itinerary as a guideline, we had the flexibility to skip specific locations because of bad weather. Having backup locations made it less of a hassle to find hidden gems.
• Ecoflow River Pro . We knew we would probably wild-camp a lot, which meant not having the power to charge our electronic devices (laptop, camera,…). Luckily our friends at Dutchtravelshop.nl hooked us up with this mobile power station, which we didn’t have to recharge one single time during our 8-day trip.

The costs Tolls and Vignettes

Something we have underestimated is the fact that most European countries have toll roads, which can make your trip very expensive very fast. Luckily, there are exceptions, such as Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.

Some countries such as Austria and Switzerland are working with a vignette, which is a prepaid motorway toll in the form of a sticker you typically purchase from petrol stations before you cross the border and which you stick on your windscreen.

Alternatively, you can always avoid tolls by picking alternative routes on Google Maps or Waze, but these will guide you through the smaller roads, resulting in a slower and longer route. 

Our tip? If you have the time, save your money and go for the slower, more scenic route. If you’re in a hurry or have a tight schedule: go via the tollways.

Our road trip Itinerary

Since the lockdown started, we’ve been saving Instagram pictures of destinations that inspired us and deserved a place on our bucket list. We’ve added them all to a Google Maps collection and started planning the regions we wanted to visit.

From there on, we casually decided that we wanted to visit the Dolomites, Venice, and Milan. Because the beauty of a road trip in a campervan is that you can make up your itinerary along the way: when you’re experiencing bad weather, you can just start a few 100 km’s and adjust your itinerary as you go.

Additionally, once your start to post Instagram stories or timeline pictures of your trip, people will automatically start to recommend locations that weren’t on your bucket list to start with!

Remember that our style is to have a flexible road trip itinerary and adjust our planning accordingly. As a result, we’ll need an internet connection during our trip, which can’t always be found when traveling to rural destinations like the dolomites.

DAY 1 – Getting started

Our first day was mainly focused on picking up our campervan, unpacking the bags, and learning how to drive the campervan properly. Ultimately we already wanted to drive to our first location so that we could start our hike early!

Pickup Campervan in Brussels

We started our trip by picking up the campervan in Brussels in the afternoon, where we finally met the owners of the campervan face-to-face, received an extensive explanation of how the campervan functions, and finally managed the paperwork (for example; noting down the milage of the car, check for damages, etc).

After unpacking our bags and filling the drawers, we started driving towards our adventure! We left Brussels around 3 pm and drove straight to our first stop in Rheinland-Pfalz. Just when we crossed the steep hills of Malmedy, darkness fell over the highway, and fog started to appear. 

Since the darkness prevented us from sightseeing opportunities, we quickly arrived at our first stopover and sleeping place – the “Wanderparkplatz” in Nothweiler on the German-French border . This parking is located in the middle of the woods, which explains why we came across some wild boars on our way to the parking spot.

Wegelnburg – Wanderparkplatz Nothweiler

After (wild) parking at Wanderparkplatz Nothweiler, we looked up at the sky and noticed how beautiful the stars were in the sky. We decided to unpack our Nanlite Pavotube II’s light tubes and used them to illuminate the (unlit) hiking trail, looking for the perfect spot to stargaze.

We decided to follow the winding hiking trail that crosses the German-French border until we found an open spot, which we used to capture the stars.

Day 2 – Chasing castles

We knew in advance that during our road trip to Venice, we had to pass through the German provinces of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. Both regions are known for their medieval castles, of which most have a panoramic view.

Our goal was to visit the most impressive castles on our route to Venice.

Wegelnburg, Germany

Wegelnburg , a ruined castle located in a forest on the French-German border, is best known for its panoramic view and incredible sunrise.

We wanted to witness that specific 7 am sunrise, so to observe this, we had to start our hike at 6 am, where we followed the zigzagging hiking trail to the Wegelnburg. This took us 5 kilometers, regularly crosses the German-France border, and passes by several other ruins on its way. The hike was covered in darkness since the sun was still about to set, making it an authentic experience. However: seeing the sunbeams roll over the mountains with such a fantastic panoramic view was just … unreal.

Be aware tho: the entrance of Wegelnburg is surrounded by fencing, so at first, we thought it was closed to visitors, but nothing could be further from the truth!

We found a shorter hiking trail on our way back, which brought us directly to the village, only 200 meters walk to the Wanderparkplatz Nothweiler. 

Schloss Lichtenstein, Germany

To make our route to Venice even more interesting, we aimed to visit interesting stopovers every 2 to 3 hours (+- 200 to 300 km). In this instance, we drove towards Schloss Lichtenstein : a 12th-century fortress built on top of an 800-meter high cliff.

We noticed that the castle was managed from a commercial point of view, where everything involved a cost: parking, entering the courtyard, etc. 

Nevertheless, the panoramic view over the valley and the fantastic color palette of the surrounding trees, hills, and valley made it worthwhile. It also struck us how beautifully everything had been restored and how detailed they had for their sculptures.

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

Located less than 40 kilometers from Schloss Lichtenstein, you can find Germany’s most visited castle: Hohenzollern Castle! The castle has been known as “The Crown of all Castles” ever since 1267. Reason enough for us to visit it and admire it with our own eyes!

Our tight itinerary wouldn’t allow us to stop by the Hohenzollern Castle for an extended visit, so we decided to admire the castle from Zeller Horn’s legendary viewpoint ; It’s the mountain range located about 1.5 kilometers away, at the same height as the fortress. As a result, you have the best view of the castle and the surrounding area.

We have to be honest tho: it took us a while to find the exact location of the Zeller Horn viewpoint, but once we found it … we loved it! You can judge for yourself … 

Plansee, Austria 

While we had already discovered some of the most amazing places, we decided to push our luck: our goal was to visit Plansee lake, located just beyond the Austrian border, and search for its very instagrammable viewpoint that looks down over the lake.

Unfortunately, a combination of traffic jams and mandatory stops (buying our Highway Vignette to enter Austria) caused us to arrive just after sunset. We learned during our road trip through the mountains that as soon as the sun has set, it’ll be pitch dark in a matter of minutes. The same goes for our visit to the Plansee lake: as soon as we crossed the bridge, we couldn’t move without using our Nanlite lights.

After our short stop at the lake, we decided to continue our journey to a place to sleep for the night: the legendary Innsbruck city.

Innsbruck city

We’ve visited Innsbruck city numerous times, and we may even say that it’s our favorite city in Austria. This is because of its beautiful mountain background, architectural gems, alternative culture, and Innsbruck’s importance on the winter sports community.

Once we arrived, we decided to head downtown to reminisce memories from the past and see how the historic buildings (such as the Liberation Monument on Landhausplatz and the building with the golden roof) are lit up at night.

We decided to end our evening at the Hard Rock cafe to explore the same downtown area the next day after dawn before the shops opened.

Day 3 – Arriving in the Dolomites

During our previous road trip, we visited the Dolomites and missed out on a few of our bucket-list locations. Since the Dolomites were only a slight detour from our route to Venice, we decided to give some of these places a second chance … but not before we wandered around Innsbruck first! 

Innsbruck, Austria

Imagine the feeling of waking up, opening the doors of your campervan, and looking out across the streets of Innsbruck with their impressive mountains as a backdrop. Well, that’s precisely how we woke up!

After a quick shower in our campervan, we decided to wander around the city again and rediscover the same historic buildings, but this time using daylight. 

Another reason why we stayed in Innsbruck is that we’ve been following Holzkern Watches on Instagram for ages and noticed we could visit their shop in Innsbruck. We made an appointment, and were welcomed by their store manager Stefan who explained to us more about Holzkern’s philosophy and lifestyle, showed us how an automatic watch works and how to replace the chains of a wristband.

During our visit to the store, we fell for the charms of the La Concorde watch and the Intergalactic watch , which we took home as a reminder of our road trip.

MMM Corones

Since we visited the Dolomites last year, the MMM Corones (being designed by Zaha Hadid) have been on the top of our bucket list. When we entered the region around the Dolomites, we noticed that the lakes weren’t frozen and the roads were not covered with snow … so our first reaction was to visit MMM Corones.

Unfortunately: the ski lifts were closed because the season hadn’t started yet, and the roads were now permanently closed and accompanied by prohibition signs. So one thing is sure: MMM Corones can only be visited in a dignified manner when the ski lifts are open.

With pain in our hearts, we had to make a cross over our visit from MMM Corones, but luckily there are plenty of other places to visit in the region … so we decided to drive to the legendary Lago di Braies .

Lago di Braies

Lago Di Braies – also known as Pragser Wildsee – is the biggest lake in the Dolomites and is known as the most beautiful lake of the Alps because it’s surrounded by beautiful pine forests, towering limestone peaks, and included a unique boathouse. As a result, most people know it as (“Lago di Instagram”). 

The last time when we visited the lake, it was totally frozen and covered in snow. This setting certainly had its charm, but we also wanted to visit Lago di Braies before the snow fell. Unfortunately, there was so much fog that we still couldn’t admire the lake in its best condition. Next time!

St. Johann church in Villnostal

Noticing that the sunset was approaching fast, we decided to revisit one of the most legendary sites in the Dolomites: St. Johann in Ranui Church in Val di Funes, Villnostal.

While driving over the winding roads, we noticed that the weather conditions would be utterly different from our previous visit: there wouldn’t be any snow, but the church and its surroundings were covered in fog. 

Unfortunately, we didn’t notice too much of the sunset since the fog blocked all the sunbeams. By the time we left the church, it was already pitch dark.

Alpe di Siusi & Earth Pyramids Renon

We decided to drive up to Compatsch to experience the sunrise at Alpe di Siusi to save some time. Last time, we missed this view since it’s located in a nature resort and has a curfew for cars: no-one can drive by between 9 am and 5 pm.

This time, we could access the road to Compatsch, but while we were driving up the mountain, it started to snow, almost to the level of a snowstorm. When we arrived in Compatsch, our van got stuck, and a local farmer had to pull us out of the snow. 

According to the local weather forecast, it would snow for the entire night, and we would miss the sunrise anyway since it would be covered in fog. In fear of getting stuck, we decided to go back down the mountain and skip our visits to both Alpe di Siusi and the Earth Pyramids of Renon. 

We ended up spending the night at a truck stop next to the road.

Day 4 – The road to Venice

We knew it wouldn’t be the shortest route to Venice, but we decided to drive via Santuario Madonna Della Corona and Lake Garda since it captured our imagination.

Santuario Madonna Della Corona 

What’s more astonishing than an ancient place of worship, located 800 meters into the side of a cliff? We wanted to experience it, so we drove towards Santuario Madonna Della Corona, only a 15 minutes drive from Lake Garda (the Italian part)!

We parked at Localita Santuario 1 in Spiazzi, on a parking lot that usually wouldn’t allow campervans and mobile homes, but we decided to risk it since it was empty. The reason for this might be the thick fog that stood over the mountain, on the fact that it’s not the most touristic period to visit Santuario Madonna Della Corona.

Although we could not fully admire the Santuario Madonna Della Corona due to the thick fog, the location continued to impress us. We also had the opportunity to check our fitness by climbing the steep stairs to access the sanctuary.

After arriving, we learned that this sanctuary is a place of pilgrimage that already existed before the year 1000! We’ve listed our findings in this specific destination article about Santuario Madonna Della Corona .

Lagi di Garda

In less than 24 hours, we went from a small snowstorm in the Dolomites to a 20-degree summer breeze at Lake Garda. 

The small town was quite dead, considering the tourist season was already over here, so we just briefly wandered through the city. Our goal was to catch the sunset in Venice before 5 pm anyway, so we quickly left the lake.

Venice City

Where we spent the past few days in quiet or remote regions, with endless possibilities to park and wild camping … Venice would be a bit more crowded and strict. That’s why we decided to spend the night at the campsite of Venezia village, which had some fantastic facilities: decent showers, an elegant restaurant, and a clean swimming pool. 

An additional advantage was that there is a bus stop in front of the campsite, with busses that go directly to Venice. The ride to the city takes no longer than fifteen minutes and drops you off at Piazzale Roma.  

By 4 pm we arrived at the tourist center, where we were overwhelmed by history and architecture! Strolling with our camera in hand, we followed the small corridors of the city, arriving at a (relatively empty) San Marco square just after sunset.

Unfortunately, The darkness brought in some shady types, from aggressive salespeople who punched us on the shoulder to get our attention to pickpockets popping up from sketchy streets and following us until we noticed them. As a result, we decided to skip the rest of the city and return the following day.

Pro-tip; Gelateria il Doge’s ice creams are known as the best in the old town.

Day 5 – From Venice to Milan

By now, our road trip was already halfway through, so after enjoying Venice’s charms in the morning, we had to start on our way back. This time we chose to spend the night in the city of Milan since we wanted to discover some of their ancient buildings as well.

Be aware: Something we didn’t realize before going on this trip is how many toll stops you can find in Italy, especially between Venice and Milan.

Venice, the city of canals

Since we ended our wanderings around Venice early the night before, we decided to sleep in first… and then head back into the city!

This time we parked our campervan in Venezia Tronchetto Parking because we were only planning to stay in the city for a few hours. Ultimately, we stayed for 4 hours and realized that we had paid more for this parking spot (without any facilities except) than staying an extra night in the camping Venezia Village. Yikes!

Unlike the previous evening, where we walked to San Marco square via Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, we now had the time to take a different route: via Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

Milan and its impressive Duomo di Milano

Since we took our time to wander around Venice, we arrived in Milan during rush hour and had to endure several traffic jams before arriving in “Camping Village city of Milan.”

The campsite’s reception was already closed, but luckily google maps had a function that allowed us to know perfectly see what public transport connections would lead us to the Duomo di Milano. Our trip was a bit more delicate since we needed to transfer from the bus to the metro, in a place we had never visited before. Luckily we had google maps to fall back on.

Since this route to the center of Milan took almost an hour commute, we only found the time to discover the illuminated cathedral and the neighboring streets. To make it easy for us, we also made a quick McDonalds stop here.

Day 6 – From Milan to Strasbourg

We had less than two days to cover 1000 kilometers and go from Milan to Brussels. This gave us enough time to visit the center of Milan and then leave for Strasbourg in the afternoon.

Milan, Italy

Since Milan is such a beautiful city accompanied by ancient architecture, a sense of fashion, and art … we made a small “bucket list” of locations that we had to see during our visit to the city center. 

Castello Sforzesco

Castello Sforzesco – also known as Sforza Castle – is a fortress that was built during the 14th century. 

Over the centuries, the fortification was destroyed in various wars, by the troops of Napoleon and during World War II. It was extensively rebuilt in 2005 and currently houses several of the city’s museums and art collections. That’s why it’s currently one of the most famous landmarks in Milan.

Arco della Pace

Arco della Pace is a huge triumphal arc located where the ancient Romans built their city gate. The gate is called “The Porta Sempione” and refers to the district it was located in.

While the origin of the arc can be found in 1807 when Napoleon was in command of the city, the construction of the “Arch of Peace” was paused when the city of Milan fell under the control of the Austrian Empire. The construction of the Arch was resumed in 1826 and was finally completed in 1838.

Bosco Verticale

The Bosco Verticale – or Vertical Forest – are two residential towers built in 2014 and are already known as the most iconic and most recognizable buildings of the last decade in Milan.

Pictures of the building often surface on Instagram and Pinterest, as it is iconic for its pioneering incorporation of a vertical forest.

Duomo di Milano

The Milan Cathedral, known as Duomo di Milano, is without any doubt the most known building in Milan.

It is logical too since they started the constructions in 1386 and only finished working on it more than six centuries later: in 1965! What’s even more impressive is the fact that the cathedral contains over 3400 different statues.

Strasbourg, France

As mentioned: Milan is still a 1000km drive from Brussels, so we had to keep going if we wanted to back on time! We decided to pass via Switzerland, which meant buying a new vignette when crossing the border and disabling our roaming data.

Once we arrived at Strasbourg, we parked at Parkplatz Friedhof since it was close to the city center, and parking on a Sunday would be free of any charge.

Day 7 – Back to Belgium

Every fairy tale comes to an end, and unfortunately, ours too. It was the last day where we were actually on the road; we wanted to enjoy it until the end. That is why we chose to discover Strasbourg in the morning and pass quickly via Veves Castle in the afternoon.

Being a university city on the border of France and Germany, Strassbourg is a very characteristic and cultural city, with enormous history. Proof of this is the street art that can be found all around the city or the ancient buildings scattered around the city (such as their cathedral).

We had some help from some locals; we were advised to discover the part of the city known as “Le Petit Paris.”

Vives Castle

What’s a better way to end our trip than to visit a 12th-century castle? We arrived rather last-minute: 10 minutes before the castle closed, so we didn’t have the chance get to explore it from the inside … but the sunset made up for it!

If you don’t know about Veves Castle yet, make sure to read the extensive guide we wrote, it contains the history of the castle, the legends around the castle and how to reach it. 

A fascinating part about the castle is that the same family has owned it for the last 800 years, and that is classified as an exceptional heritage by the region of Wallonia. As a result, the castle is referred to as Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

Day 8 – returning the campervan

Our last day was mainly focused on bringing back the campervan, where we had to pack our bags, clean the campervan in a self carwash, and ultimately fill in the paperwork again ( check for damages, note the number of kilometers we’ve driven,…).

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Hey there! I'm Elliot Clennam, a passionate photographer based in Brussels, Belgium. My love for capturing the essence of my surroundings has led me on countless adventures, from exciting road trips to bustling city escapes.

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RV Tips and Tricks: 20 Hacks Every Camper Should Know

• Lynne Fedorick
• April 7, 2021
• 59 Comments

Table of Contents

Learn to RV from the Experts

Getting started with your new RV can be daunting.  Like anything else in life, it gets easier with experience.

To give you a head start, we’ve compiled this list of 20 RV tips and tricks that are bound to get you out and safely enjoying RV life, without having to go through the experience part. 

20 RV Tips And Tricks Every Camper Should Know

These are hacks that every camper should know, regardless of their experience level.

1.  Use an RV departure checklist 

There is nothing like getting on the road and finding out that you forgot to unplug your shore power cord.  There are a lot of things to remember before you pull out. 

A visual checklist, either printed or on your smartphone, will help to ensure you don’t forget anything.  Print out this free RV Departure Checklist and keep it somewhere easy to access.

2.  Know the height of your rig

Find out how high your rig is.  Write the height on a label or piece of masking tape, and put it on your dashboard.  Watch for low-hanging branches and take note of the height of overpasses before you proceed. Use an RV-safe GPS to make sure you have a safe route.

3.  Level your RV before filling your freshwater tank 

Leveling your RV before filling your tank will ensure that you are really getting a full tank.

4.  Mount towel bars (and other things) on your walls with exterior grade Gorilla mounting tape

Exterior grade Gorilla mounting tape adheres to RV walls much better than Command strips or anything else we’ve found.

5. Use Command broom holders to hold flashlights or wrenches

3M Command broom holders are great for keeping flashlights and wrenches handy in your basement storage areas or inside the RV.

6. Replace your RV showerhead 

This trick will help to conserve water, while still having decent water pressure.  The Oxygenics showerhead makes it possible to enjoy longer, better showers in the RV. Read more about replacing your RV showerhead from Do It Yourself RV .

7. Use an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

The Instant Pot pressure cooker will allow you to make almost effortless, delicious meals in a lot less time than traditional cooking methods.   

You simply put the ingredients in, set it, and the Instant Pot takes it from there.  Bonus: You can vent the Instant Pot outdoors, so cooking won’t add to the humidity levels in your RV.

Get recipe inspiration from Do It Yourself RV

8. Bring a basic tool kit

Be prepared to make minor repairs if you need to by having a basic tool kit with just the essentials. This includes a screwdriver or cordless drill, a few different bits, some screws, an electrical tester, and wrenches like a torque wrench.

9.  Pack a hairdryer

A hairdryer can be used for more than just giving you good hair.  You can use a hairdryer to thaw frozen pipes or to blow warm air onto cold kindling when lighting a campfire.

10. Pack some pine cones

What? Pine cones? 

Yes! Pine cones aren’t just for Christmas decor.  Pine cones are also nature’s perfect firestarter and readily burst into enough flames to start kindling when you put a flame to them.

11.  Plan an RV-safe route

Use the RV LIFE App and RV LIFE Trip Wizard to plan your route and find amazing camping spots that are perfect for your camping style. Get RV-friendly directions, read reviews, and find important campground information, all in one convenient tool.

12.  Turn the propane valve off before you travel

Traveling with your RV’s propane valve open is crazy.  Our rolling rigs are subjected to shaking equivalent to an earthquake as we travel.  This shaking causes many things to loosen or even come apart, and propane connections and lines can come apart as we travel.  This definitely presents a fire hazard in your RV .

13.  Pack a first aid kit 

Be prepared for emergencies (including the four-legged family members) by packing a first aid kit for both humans and pets. 

14. Bring a collapsable storage tote or two

Collapsible storage totes can be used to tote campfire supplies like s’mores ingredients, napkins, glasses, and beverages, and make decent impromptu tables to put campfire essentials on.  

15. Bring board games and other activities for family fun

Board games will help your family enjoy time indoors if the weather gets too ugly to play outside. Here are a few great board and card games that you can easily play in the RV.

16.  Pack a pizza stone 

A pizza stone will help to even out the heat in your RV’s propane oven so you can bake amazing meals.  And of course, you can always use it to make pizza!  Pizza stones do break, so be sure to protect them by wrapping them for travel.  

Find more tips for cooking in your RV oven

17.  Repurpose your dishwater

When you are boondocking, your time off-grid and unhooked will be much better if you don’t run out of water.  Washing and rinsing dishes uses more water than anything besides your RV toilet, so it makes sense to repurpose your dishwater.  Use a basin to wash your dishes, and then use gray water to flush your toilet.

18.  Make sure your campfire is really out before leaving it

Abandoned campfires are one of the leading causes of forest fires. Not all of these fires were intentionally left smoldering.

Campfires heat the ground underneath them hot enough to reignite anything combustible in your firepit hours later.  No one wants to be “that guy/girl” so use lots of water or dirt to thoroughly smother your campfire when you are done with it. 

As a rule of thumb, you should be able to put your hand comfortably on the ground in your fireplace before you leave.

19.  Make a headlamp into a lantern

Strap a headlamp (light side in) to a 1-gallon jug of water to make a lantern that lights up your campsite.  Opaque, white jugs work best for this camping hack.  

20.  Wash your clothes as you travel

This camping trick from Travels With Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck is so simple and effortless we’ll be using it all the time. 

Put dirty clothes, water, and laundry soap into a five-gallon bucket with a tight lid.  Make sure the lid is on snug because if it isn’t it makes a huge mess.  Find a place in your rig where you can make sure the bucket will stay firmly in place.  If you have a place to secure it, even better.

Every bump you hit and turn you take will agitate the clothes in the bucket as you drive, just like a washing machine does.  After an hour or two of driving, your clothes will be perfectly clean, ready to be rinsed and hung to dry in the fresh air.  

Find more RV mods, hacks, tips and tricks

You can find more RV tips and tricks from the community on iRV2 Forums . There are also lots of RV Youtubers and bloggers that share useful tips on the nomadic lifestyle. Check out this video from CrazyLadyCrankyDog on tips for food storage:

You May Also Like:

5 Full-Time RV Living Expenses You Need To Budget For

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What Is Noise Pollution & How You Can Reduce It While Camping

Campers can leave a big impact on their surroundings, but one consequence of camping that’s often overlooked is noise pollution.

Our Top 10 Full Time RV Regrets

Want to make the most of your time on the road? Here are our top full time RV living regrets. Don’t make the same mistakes we did!

Lynne Fedorick is a freelance writer with 35 years of RVing experience. She specializes in topics such as fulltime RV life, great destinations for RVers, RV organization, RV News, RV tech, and dog behavior/training.

59 thoughts on “ RV Tips and Tricks: 20 Hacks Every Camper Should Know ”

#10 – DEFINITELY NO! Transporting pine cones &/firewood can cause a horrific amount of damage as they can carry beetles that destroy trees. Most campgrounds will prohibit this to protect their trees.

You could buy them after Christmas for a very inexpensive amount of money and not have to worry about the bug issue.

Departure checklist should include closing all overhead exhaust vents tight.

Very very good idea.

If you turn your propane off that means your refrigerator turns off. Then how do you keep your fridge cold?

We found out that the battery for the refrigerator /freezer, despite everything else, will still run off the battery for our front hydraulic lift that we need the juice for hooking up the camper to our truck. Highest setting in fridge before we left, unhooked electricity, then Shut off refrigerator at departure, didn’t want to drain battery, didn’t open again until our next destination. Acted like a cooler!

Leave the door cold and it will stay cold for several hours!

If you’re planning on travelling on BC Ferries between Vancouver and Vancouver Island or to any of the Gulf Islands or up the coast to other ferry stops, you’ll be asked at the ticket booth when you check in how many propane tanks do you have, including a smaller bbq tank. They will tell you by Marine Law and the Dangerous Goods Act that you must close tightly all valves on propane tanks and place the red warning stickers they give you onto the closed valve per instructions given. Maximum two 30# tanks and one bbq tank per vehicle. If you’re carrying more you must contact Dangerous Goods.

We shut propane gas off while traveling and run 12v as the alternator replenishes the RV batteries. When we stop, back to gas.

Some good ideas, but like others have said, i disagree with #12. We leave our gas/fridge on while we travel down the road.

Also, Id be laughing at someone who spent the time to run an extension cord out to a fire ring to blow air on kindling to start a fire.

Thank you Chris. We do too and have done so for many years.

Your fridge will stay cold until you get to your destination IF you keep it closed up! As long as you travel within a 5-6 hours journey & ‘its not too hot out! Put a thermometer in and check it out! You could also use frozen blue blocks to keep things cold in the fridge! Never had an issue – AS long as you turn it on once you get there!!! 😀

Add to your pre-departure check list: 1.Prescriptions and OTC items like aspirin, hearing aid batteries and wax protectors, allergy pills, sunscreen, eye drops ,etc. 2.Adhesives, duct tape, jeweler’s screwdrivers, camera batteries, SD cards, tablet, cell phone and charger. 3. Fire starters, charcoal, propane, portable BBQ grill. 4.Books, magazines, music CD’s, binoculars.

You can get 5 gallon or larger buckets and a threaded lid adaptor, MUCH easier and less messy than trying to replace and remove a press on and pull off lid. Useful for more than just laundry also!

Regarding Gorilla Tape: be sure to read the label.

Unlike Command Strips, GT is permanent, and the instructions warn that removal may cause surface damage.

Secondly, the GT label says not to use for anything deeper than 0.75″ or the bond will be stressed with an increased chance of failure. Most towel bars are more than double that depth, and have a “levered” weight (wet towels) hanging off of them.

Also, it says to use 2″ per 1 lb. of weight. That is considerably less strong per square inch than Command Strips. A 5 lb CS hook only uses a piece of tape that is about 2″ long. We use CS 5 lb. hooks to hang our towels…

Turning off the propane is a bad idea. The reason that I have an RV refrigerator is so that I can keep things cold while traveling. Turning off the propane turns off the fridge.

Your fridge will stay cold until you get to your destination IF you keep it closed up! As long as you travel within a 5-6 hours journey & ‘its not too hot out! Put a thermometer in and check it out! You could also use frozen blue blocks to keep things cold in the fridge! Never had an issue – AS long as you turn it on once you get there!!! 😀

These are the best tips I have read! Thank you for sharing.

The Oxy shower head is a big improvement however the pause valve that comes with it doesn’t stop the flow, just slows it they say so you don’t get burnt. But in an RV’s small shower you can’t move away from it. I found another pause valve on Amazon that actually stops the flow. Also on Amazon are valves that replace the sink aerator to pause the flow while you are brushing teeth or shaving 🙂

Who in the hell needs a torque wrench in a RV?

You would use it to check the torque on your lug nuts and also trailer hitch (if applicable).

I needed one on the first trip in my new tow-behind trailer. Camping World installed the hitch incorrectly and the “stress torque bars” (?) popped off 3 times if I turned more than the incorrect setting allowed. Fortunately the camper in the next site had the exact same hitch with the installation instructions. Using his torque wrench we reinstalled my hitch with the correct settings and I have had no more problems. I bought my own and have used it many times.

To check your wheel lug nuts on the trailer or truck or Rv not to mention anything that need a specific torque to function properly.

Are use a torque wrench for my Anderson hitch. It requires 60 foot pounds of torque that I checked regularly

Most tire shops and RV shops that work on your wheels or brakes will advise re-torquing the lug nuts after travelling a certain distance (e.g. 50 or 100 miles). Having a torque wrench that can prevent over or under torque on the lug nuts is pretty cheap insurance, and provides peace of mind after the apprentice tire dude has torqued the lug nuts while thinking about Friday night’s festivities. I speak from experience !

Lug nuts should be torqued to specs. Bolts on some fifth wheel hitches require torquing.

I guess you don’t check your lug nuts

Great ideas. Thank you.

So I turn off my propane when driving….what happens to frig and freezer food? I may run 6 to 8 hours at times, propane off will not work! (Class C electric or propane frig) JUST SAYIN’

Lin, you must have a million-dollar motorhome. Most RVs don’t have dishwashers. And how are you going to rinse those clothes after you’ve parked. And I guess you’re talking about the hairdryer when you hooked up to electricity. Because anything that heats draws a huge amount of electricity.

Hi Lynne, I found your video on RV tips and tricks. It did not have the brands or where you got them of the refrigerator storage hacks! I would LOVE to save some time and solve some storage problems in my frig with these items! Did you have a list somewhere? Thanks, Sandra

Hello! I loved your article! Would it be okay to Pin it to Pinterest and share with other RV enthusiasts?

All your tips are handy and some humorous. Thank you

Ummm how are you supposed to level your rig before filling your fresh tank. If you fill your fresh water that means your site must not have city water so your options are filling before you set up or no water. Unless you have one loooonnnngg hose.

# 20. Great idea. What do you always run out of 1st? Underware.

…good job on your list of hacks

…been RVing since 1958, nothing wrong with a little reminders

Loved this article including the fridge packing video.

How do you keep your refrigerator cold if you turn off the propane while traveling? This makes no sense whatsoever.

some really good advice and tricks of the trade here that we all know already but also at least one or two that were basic and clever simple solutions to rather tricky problems, especially the one regarding having our laundry washed ‘semi-automatically’ in a bucket while driving the car! 🙂

I’ve been reposting this:Leaving on the propane is a death wish. Your fridge works on electricity, right? You are hooked up to your truck’s electricity to run the tail lights of your trailer. So, turn on the fridge’s electricity. If your fridge doesn’t work on electricity, use up all you can before leaving (remember the issue and be cautious about how much you use each day) and then get a bag or two of ice and a cooler. Propane on while driving is just asking to get dead.

Love it! Keep on! Tx Danny

False. Check with your manufacturer.

Great tips except for turning off propane. Propane refrigerators have been used for years with very few reports of problems. Please back your fear up with facts and I will turn mine off.

Doesn’t there have to plumbing changes to use grey water to flush the toilet? How did you do it?

Any advice is good advice! Looking forward to this new style of life and meeting everyone, be safe!

John, I use a plastic wash basin, then pour that into a gallon plastic jug and leave it by the toilet for flush use. It has really added to my ability to camp longer.

You can safely run propane refrigerator while driving, your points are invalid.

Your Departure checklist leaves out critical info and some of your items are not in logical order… here are a few notes:

-Awnings in _before_ you close doors and unplug. Many new awnings are electric and are controlled from inside. Also, some awnings require a locking mechanism to be applied

-close/latch oven vent

– close windows/ vents

-tables/chairs secured

-bring slides in? Done right after checking for clearance

-they’re called weight distribution bars, not stabilizer bars, and they don’t apply to 5th wheel trailers

-attach sway control if needed and separate from WD bars (assumes this is a TT)

-connect securely to vehicle… including pin locks

-trailer jack up… this is already done when connecting to vehicle

-turn propane off… well, if your fridge is off then ok but most folks leave it on so the fridge runs, yes, even with the safety concerns

-disconnect and store water hoses?

-tv antenna down/rotated and/or cable tv line disconnected and stored?

-Add a final walk-around, and check signals/brake lights

Tip #3… really, unless your rig is at a >10% grade, this isnt worth the effort, IMO.

#12, leaving propane on is a risk, but no, propane lines are not normally going to come apart as we travel. Water heater and fridge kicking on when in a gas station is a real safety concern. Having propane bottles open during an accident increases possible issues.

One can leave propane on for fridge. Just make sure connectors are tight and test for leaks with soapy water. The tanks are secure and have a flexible hose. Also make sure awnings are latched and secure.

I have been RVing for 50 years and never had an issue with leaving the propane on for the refrigerator. Nor have I ever met another traveler that had a problem doing it. Just be sure all your connections are good. I’ve also driven an LP powered vehicle. You wouldn’t get very far if you didn’t have the propane on.

#1 is a must even for experienced rv owners. One time I drove about 25 yards with my awning still out. Just the other day I was in a hurry to depart, skipped using the list and ripped the 30 Amp power cord right out of it’s junction box. I have been driving our motor home for four years. “Slow down”.

Please provide factual data supporting turning RV propane off.

I’ve been traveling in RVs of all types for over 50 years and have never seen, or even heard, of any problems with leaving propane on to run refrigerator.

RV safety is one of those areas where personal choice can have very quick and permanent results. Many RV owners’ forums have endless debates about leaving the flame lit or turning it off while travelling with a propane-powered fridge. My preference is to simply eliminate the risk item and learn how to keep the fridge contents safe while travelling with a fire burning in a special area (boiler and flame guard) in my RV.

Love the container video!!!

oops – should have said WITHOUT travelling down the highway with a flame in the fridge boiler.

Instead of a breakable pizza stone, buy a pizza steel that fits your oven. Be sure to measure before you buy!

Cooks better pizza, and can be removed and used outdoors over coals or a camp stove as a flat griddle too!

Also, DO NOT carry firewood and pine cones as you travel. You are just giving bad bugs a ride to infest new places. In fact, it’s illegal in most states places to do so.

And if you use the Gorilla tape, best be sure you never want to move that item, and it needs to be light.

Command strips work great IF you properly clean the surface you are attaching it to with alcohol. Otherwise it will not make a good bond.

Tips from a guy who lived 5 years on the road and now spends 1/4th of his time there in my 2021 Grand Design 17MKE with 2k of solar panels and 824 Ah of lithium batteries with a 3K inverter.

Hi Larry, For the 2k of solar panels and 824 Ah of lithium batteries with a 3K inverter. Were these included in your RV when you bought it or an after purchase and if so where did you get them from? thank you

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24 Modern Interior Ideas For RVs & Campers (With Pictures)

We have remodeled to campers over the last 3-4 years. It’s amazing how you can transform a camper into a modern living space with few hacks and tricks.

These are the best inspirational ideas we found during the modern interior make-over of our two campers!

It’s a mix of ideas from our own two RVs, RVs we have filmed during the years, and other great ideas.

Table of Contents

Campervans and smaller RVs have become increasingly popular over the last decade.

More and more people are becoming geographically independent and life on the road part-time or full-time. We have heard about this change and the newspapers and local RV resellers. This means that more and more young people are choosing to live in campervans or tents .

Let’s take a look at some of those modern camper vans that have been rebuilt till look amazing.

Bright Colors For A Modern Feel

Let take a look at some good examples of brilliant use of colors in campers.

Here’s a good example of this with modern gray, white, and green colors around the seating area. The top shelves and the wood around the top of the curtains are just perfect in this camper.

Everything is so neat, and the green colors are a fresh touch when blended into the white interior .

As soon as you get rid of the dark and yellow surfaces you can start working toward a more modern and bright color palette.

This is always a good idea for small spaces as they will feel more spacious and bigger when you chose bright colors.

In the example below, they basically painted everything white and built up some new stories and shelving areas.

This is also a great example of how easy you can open up space by painting everything white. Just keep a couple of wooden colors here and there to create some contrast.

Let’s take a look at what we came up with for our own camper remodeling projects.

We started out with a tiny vintage camper from the ’70s and the idea was to turn it into a clean and minimalistic living space. It started out as a yellow and worn down camper and after a year and a lot of sweat and tears this is what it looked like:

We eventually sold the old tiny camper when we had Max who is 2 years old now. At that point, we really needed to be able to close the door between his nursery and our living space.

When we removed the old yellow and dark shelves we had the opportunity to do something else with the walls. We chose to have white walls with light blue colors on the wallpaper.

The back of the table is covered with the same wallpaper as the wall and you can see it to the right on the image above. It totally blends in with the wallpaper when it’s folded up.

Here you can see the table when folded down. We chose light blue colors because they are “cold” colors and we prefer to camp in warm areas during the summer. So it’s nice to have space feel a little colder.

You can see more pictures from inside this camper at the bottom of the post.

So we got a bigger caravan camper now which is 15 feet long (4,5 meter). It’s a pretty standard German caravan that you will see all over Europe.

You can see a full tour of the camper we currently use below.

It’s a Hobby caravan from 2004 which we have modified to include:

• Nursery (cot bed)
• Office space
• Change station for a baby

Interior Ideas For Sleeping Areas In Campers (And RVs)

The first example below is a rather small campervan where they have built a raised bed with storage underneath the bed.

This is a clever way of getting extra storage as you don’t need full ceiling height at the sleeping area.

This bed with built-in storage is really beautifully done. The light wood matches the floor and leaves the room with a spacious feeling. The use of wooden colors in this camper is also great. (We will come back to that!)

Everything is made with white and light wooden colors which adds to the spacious feeling in this campervan.

It’s also a really great idea to add some additional lighting around the lines of the ceiling. This adds a lot of coziness to the atmosphere and it can also be used as ambient light at night.

The picture below is taken from the back of a Volkswagen Transporter van.

This is a pretty popular model to turn into a moving living space. Especially if you are looking for a cheap solution.

The Volkswagen Transporter vans have a really good reputation because they tend to work well even when they have been driven a lot of miles.

This is yet another great DIY solution for a campervan with a sleeping area and two sofas in the back. This space can be converted in no time and you will have a nice queen size bed when you need to go to sleep. During the day you will have seating for up to four or five people inside the van if the weather does not invite you outdoors.

This solution is basically just a good idea for the sleeping area if you are rebuilding a van into a motorhome.

In the daytime, the area can be used for sitting, playing, dining and so forth, and in the night time you just fold down the backrest, and voila! You now have a queen size bed !

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I have rebuilt to campers with my wife. The bed below is from the camper we currently use.

When we bought the camper it had as U-shaped seating area in this end

We have pulled out the seating area in our camper and installed a modern sofa bed instead. It works just great and now we use this space as a seating area during the day and we can fold the sofa into a bed at night.

Here’s what it looks like during the day and the night:

The bed cost us around $800 so it wasn’t that cheap but it has a VERY nice and comfortable mattress that we really enjoy when we are on the road. You can see sofa beds like this one here .

We had the classic U-shaped sofa seating arrangement in this area before and we really felt like it had to go. It was too cramped and we didn’t like sitting there. When you have a 2-year-old toddler in the camper you will have to be on your feet all the time so you don’t want to squeeze in and out behind the table and the sofa.

It says sofa bed which we assembled inside the caravan camper because we couldn’t fit it through the door. It fits the camper perfectly and during nighttime and we can fold down the backrest in order to create a nice (almost) full-size sleeping area.

The Kitchen Space

The kitchen space is often also the main living area, so it’s important to keep it clean and clutter-free – both on a daily basis but also design-wise.

Here are some of the best interior ideas we have come by for remodeling RVs. Let’s start off with a great space for all of us who enjoy a white and minimalistic feel to our RV.

Everything is made to utilize the vertical space and the wallpaper goes well with the white finish on the cabins and the ceiling.

These wooden panels and storage solutions are also very well worked out:

This kitchen area is for the family that really enjoys cooking. There’s plenty of counter space, and everything is neatly organized.

It’s pretty cool to have the fronts of the cabinets and drawers painted white with wooden frames. It looks trendy and up-to-date.

Notice how the counter space is curved in order to fit inside the motorhome floor plan:

The next idea is a fine way to add some storage to the camper.

The sliding cabinet dorrs are stylish and look like the latest styles from the modern caravan and RV manufacturers.

We love these sliding doors as they don’t require space around to open them up. A very cool and innovative way of designing the drawers.

It’s important to be able to close off all the closets during transportation. By adding the little wooden molding on the front off the top shelf you can avoid things from falling out.

This is another fine example of how great it works with light wood colors in campers.

You don’t have to paint everything white. Just keep the natural colors of the wood or choose another light color like the green and blue nuances below.

The dark red/brown colors on the kitchen counters below work wonders for this camper. The kitchen solution utilizes the full width of the caravan and offers a double-sided counter space.

The dark wood really looks great in contrast to the white ceiling and wallpaper:

This is another good example of the effective use of natural wood colors and a white ceiling.

White Peel-off Tiles (Adhesive)

Another neat trick we have used is to cover the kitchen walls with white adhesive tiles.

These are pretty cheap and you can mount them directly on the wooden surface.

Here’s a picture of how it looks in our current camper. We found these adhesive tiles on Amazon. They are sold in sheets you can cut with a scissor.

Here’s a link to the ones we used (Amazon) .

They totally transformed the ugly yellow walls into shiny white tiles which looks a lot like the tiles you would find in a modern bathroom.

Ideas For The Toilet And Shower

The bathroom might not strike you as the most important room in the RV/Motorhome, but nevertheless, it’s most certainly a space you can improve.

Check out this great knitted wallpaper and interior:

If you need to cram in a toilet in a very tight space, you might consider this type of toilet.

It’s a solution we also often find in under-the-stairs bathrooms .

It’s a toilet where you use the spilled water from the sink for flushing the toilet. Many campers have a composting toilet but if you are going for a more regular toilet this could be a really cool solution.

The toilet seat is mounted sideways so you can mount the whole toilet sideways. This way you can access the sink as well. It’s a beautiful and modern design that we found while researching tiny toilet ideas.

Check out these amazing RVs with comfy recliners .

Interior Ideas For The Living Space

As we mentioned above the storage is always critical when it comes to RVs.

Many people forget to built-in enough storage space and then you have to keep boxes and bags in the RV. It’s much better to hide this inside bed furniture and inside seating areas.

This is a nice solution with the partial wall between the seating area and the front of the RV. The table and the seating furniture can be pulled out from under the bed which is a really nice twist!

Check out how cozy this 4-person dining area has turned out:

The storage sofa below is custom-made for a modern bus conversion we filmed in Florida a couple of years ago.

Instead of a backrest, they placed some big pillows for the back. This is a great way to create a comfortable seating area that you can easily turn into a sleeping area when you need to.

Underneath the sofa, there’s a ton of storage as you can see below.

You just grab the seat and lift it up.

Here they have placed batteries and other tools for the camper. You need to remember storage for tools and other things you need for maintenance on your RV or camper.

They have done a really good job of making sure every square inch is used in one way or another.

Normally the best option is to use the bed area for sitting during the day and then fold down/out the cushions when you need to sleep.

This vertical storage space is meant for laptops and magazines.

Everything is painted white and the mattress breaks up the white colors. It doesn’t feel small and claustrophobic as it sometimes is the case with a small space.

Just beside this sofa area, you find a built-in dog crate for a very cute (and rather big) dog. You can see it in the video below. As we mentioned, We found these ideas inside a nice modern bus conversion in Florida.

You can see the video tour of the space below where Maria guides you through the many ideas.

Don’t let the skin fool you with this one. It’s REALLY sweet and modern on the inside!

Ideas For Very Small Trailer Campers

We will start with a beautiful kitchen area from a sweet little teardrop trailer.

We have a nice walk-through of a bunch of teardrop trailers in this article . Check it out if you are into tiny camper spaces. There are some really great ideas as well!

Use Natural Wood Colors

This kitchen space is compact and stylish.

The natural colors of the wood look amazing and it adds a lot of atmosphere to a camper.

It’s a great idea to mix the use of natural wood with a couple of strong colors or darker wood. This will add some contrast to the wood.

If you paint everything white it often ends up feeling too sterile and impersonal.

Notice how they have hidden storage underneath the seating area as well as in the back of the van. Extra storage like this is really important if you choose to take down the upper shelves around the ceiling.

The little leather straps look great.

We use the same type of leather straps on our storage cabinets and they are both stylish and modern. We stole this idea from a Scandinavian design Maga zine.

Below you see a picture of our own tiny camper which we sold a couple of years ago.

We gutted the camper completely and built everything up anew. This bed is built around a very comfortable mattress and under the bed, we had a ton of storage.

We would keep all our clothes and personal items in here as well as some camping gear.

In tiny campers like this one, you have to sacrifice some space due to the wheels. So we built a bookshelf and a small cabinet for our laptops and electronic devices like cameras, phones, and chargers.

We also built-in power sockets in these shelves so we could leave the computers in there while they could charge.

This way we could get them out of sight and we could keep them hidden when we were out exploring so thieves couldn’t see them.

As we always work on the road when we travel we need to bring our laptops and electronic gear with us. So we had to think about storage for this and a place to charge the gear.

You cannot have too many power sockets and USB sockets in a tiny space.

In order to get cords and wires out of the way you should place power sockets in every corner and everywhere else, you can. Inside drawers, besides the bed, in the kitchen etc.

We had a power outlet in the corner of the bed so we could charge our baby unit and our phones during the night.

Change Station And Nursery In A Camper

We also built a nursery into our camper.

Max was around one year old when we started camping in Italy for a month. We needed a change station and a crib for him so we decided to put in a crib just like the one he has in our apartment at home.

This way he felt more at home when we were on the go because he recognized the space around his bed.

We placed a change station on top of the crib. It was made from wood from the camper. We throw out a lot of furniture and wood from the camper during the rebuilding process and we kept most of it in order to use it for projects like this.

That’s a great idea because you will need super light-weight materials if you are going to build new furniture and walls in your camper space.

And as you can tell, Max loved his little space inside our caravan.

We put up some heavy 3-layered curtains to keep the cold out during the night.

He has a habit of kicking off any sort of comforter we cover him with during the night we so had to keep the temperature high during the night.

The curtains we mounted in the ceiling and went all the way to the floor in order to keep him warm.

I hope you got inspired by these interior ideas. If you have a modern RV space you’d like to have featured on our blog just let us know. We are always open to that.

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11 All-Time Best Campervan Routes in the UK

There are some great campervan routes in the UK. Hiring a camper is a wonderful way to see as much of the countryside and coastline of our fair kingdom as possible.

Forget the hotels and the big cities, see the UK from the comfort of your own wheels, and home, through the windows of your van. 

If you’re looking for campervan trips, the UK has some great routes to follow. 

Companies such as Campanda , can arrange for you to collect your campervan from hundreds of rental outlets across the UK. You can simply choose the one nearest you, and book your trip in. 

But before you start looking at all the campervans available for your nomadic holiday experience, where are you going to go ?

11 Best Campervan Routes UK Style 

Here are 11 great campervan routes in the UK, to give you a taste of what you could experience on a UK campervan holiday.

1. Campervan in Devon & Cornwall

– Cornwall has some of the most popular campervan routes in the UK

Depending where you begin your journey, pick up the main trunk road (A38) or motorway (M5), and head for the beautiful south-west of England. You can stay on the A38 from Exeter through to Plymouth, but to make the most of this stunning area of natural beauty, head for the coast roads.

Take in Teignmouth, Torquay, Paignton, the quaint fishing port of Brixham, and historic Dartmouth on the River Dart. I used to spend all my childhood holidays on the River Dart and can definitely recommend it for an adventure.

If you want a full itinerary for an awesome road trip in Devon, click this post .

– Padstow makes for a wonderful stop of a UK motorhome holiday 

If you want to visit Cornwall via north Devon, pick up the A39 at Bath. The road will take you through Wells, Glastonbury, and Bridgewater in Somerset, before taking you into north Devon along the Exmoor National Park and ending at Falmouth, Cornwall.

And if water sports are your thing hit Bude, Padstow and Newquay, for some serious surfing on the north Atlantic coast. I also have a stop by stop guide to an awesome Cornwall road trip too !

2. Campervan in t he Highlands of Scotland

If your interests lay in photography, wild rugged wilderness, magnificent wildlife, ancient castles, impressive lakes (lochs), breathtaking scenery, friendly towns and quaint old villages, the Highlands and Islands are beckoning.

For those with a love of Scottish history, pick the Highland route from Aberdeen to Inverness. A route that provides four castles, a large number of museums, and which wends its way through the Cairngorms National Park with its phenomenal views and abundant wildlife.

– Imagine scenes like this from your campervan in the UK! 

If the coast and marine life is your thing, consider the North Coast 500, a road trip that begins and ends at Inverness. You need a week plus for this one, and make sure your fuel tank is full. You’ll be moving away from civilisation as we know it. The 500-mile route wends its way up the east coast of Scotland to its highest mainland point, and back down the west coast.

Take in its castles, practise a little trout fishing with the experts, and enjoy a wee dram at the Glen Ord Distillery.

After you’ve parked-up for the day of course.

The Highlands are one of the best spots in the UK for an adventurous weekend . Enjoy!

• READ MORE : How to Do a Scotland Road Trip from Edinburgh to Dumfries and Galloway / How to Save Money Exploring the UK

3. Campervan in Lake District & North York Moors

If you want to cut your campervan teeth on a short break, the Lake District and North York Moors are the ideal areas to do it. Although you’ll be enjoying some of the most amazing traditional English countryside in these National Parks, you’re never far from civilisation.

Travel up the M6, and take the A591 through Kendal if you want to tour the lakes around Windermere. Head south at Windermere for lakes around Bowness, Grizedale, Hawkshead, and Coniston Water, or north to get to Ambleside, Derwentwater, Keswick and Bassenthwaite.

If you prefer moors to the fells and valleys, get a little fresh air and exercise with a walk on the remarkable North York Moors. The colours of the heathers are phenomenal during the autumn, the birdlife a twitcher’s paradise, and the landscape amazing. But, you can only spend so long on the moors right?

This part of Yorkshire also has some fabulous traditional coastal towns to enjoy the sites, gourmet restaurants and traditional English pubs. Coastal towns like Whitby and Scarborough, market towns like Helmsley and Malton, and the city of York with its beautiful cathedral of York Minster.

If you want a walk around Yorkshire then this post on 50 of the best waterfalls in Yorkshire, will give you some inspiration. 

If you prefer to plan your route and stopovers rather than winging it, contact pitchup.com . They can pre-book you and your campervan into hundreds of campsites and campervan sites up and down the UK. All you have to do is tell them your destination preference, where you would like to stop, and for how long, and they will do the rest.

4. Campervan in t he Cotswolds 

– The Cotswolds provide one of the most popular campervan routes in the UK

I recently did a road trip in the Cotswolds in a Citroen C3 Aircross SUV. In my head I thought that the roads would be really thin, but we actually did ok. I can remember a few instances of it being a bit of a tight fit, but many of the roads are A roads and you’ll be fine. 

The Cotswolds are stunning – and a great place to enjoy a road trip from village to village. If you have a campervan in the Cotswolds you can explore the best of the great outdoors, and get some good food while you’re there too. 

My top recommendations would be Cirencester and Broadway – both beautiful villages with a buzz and a good few shops, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Some of the big tourist attractions in The Cotswolds include Broadway Tower, the Cotswold Wildlife Park (had a wonderful time there) and Blenheim Palace.

The absolute number one though, is to visit Bibury. A really cute town with a row of thatched houses that the Instagrammers, just lurrrrrrve. Get there early to get a pic! 

If you want a three day Cotswolds road trip mapped out for you, check out my itinerary. Both hotels I mention have huge car parks, so if you did want to trade in the beauty of the campervan for the luxury of a hotel, you could do. Otherwise, just enjoy for some route tips!

Check out my post on the best campervan gadgets for your adventure – so many easy ways to make your road trip a little easier!

5. Campervan in the Mendip Hills 

My boyfriend and I once rented a campervan and took it to the Mendip Hills in Somerset. Unfortunately it was one of the rainiest weekends England had seen that August and so it kinda limited our options. We still had a great time, but, y’know, when your campervan is full of wet jeans, it’s not the best. 

– If you’re looking for campervan routes, the UK has loads to choose from

The highlight of our Mendips Hill road trip was Cheddar Gorge. It’s a quaint little village set in the gorge of Cheddar. If pottering round the village isn’t enough, you can actually go in the caves and learn more about the geology and history. If it’s not absolutely chucking it down, like it was for us, then you can also take some nice walks along the gorge and enjoy the beautiful views over the Mendips. 

Blagdon Lake was a highlight, as was the fact we were near Bristol. When the rain got too much for our countryside plans, we decided to pop into the city and see what fun we could have there. 

The campsites were easy to find in the Mendips and we just booked on the day. If you want the best deals, and the cheapest pitches, I’d definitely recommend booking in advance.

If you’re hiring a campervan I’d definitely recommend taking a look at my best campervan accessories list to find out some cool gadgets you could buy to make your campervan weekend even better.

6. Campervan in Belfast to Londonderry 

Now, I haven’t actually done this one but it’s high on my list. And I wanted to include friends in Northern Ireland on this campervan routes in the UK list, of course. 

The road trip from Belfast to Londonderry is described by many as one of the world’s greatest roads. I know, amazing hey? And so close to us. Travel this Northern Irish route and you’ll meander through the ‘nine Green Glens of Antrim’ from the capital, Belfast, to the second largest city, in the North-West corner, Londonderry.

For most of the route you’ll be hugging the seawall – make sure to look out for wildlife along the way. 

– This road trip is one of the best UK campervan trips, enjoy

The most exciting tourist attractions along the route include The Giant’s Causeway – a World Heritage Site and recognised as one of the many wonders of the modern world. It’s a geographical wonder and well worth a stop to admire the intricate formations, formed over thousands of years. You can get amazing views from here too. 

Carry on with your campervan road trip and you’ll come to the Gobbins Cliff Path, another highlight of the road trip. This is the best way to see the rich wealth of wildlife that lives on the peninsula, and to get out on the Islandmagee Peninsula. 

– Derry girls mural, Derry city walls, Londonderry

Once you reach Derry-Londonderry you’ll come to a city with so much culture, it was awarded the City of Culture in 2013. Walk the City Walls, and get a selfie by the gable wall before you explore the food, drink and shops of the city. 

7. Campervan in Norfolk 

The east of the UK is very popular with the older folk among us, mainly thanks to the beautiful area we call Norfolk. The main city here is Norwich, with its 11th century cathedral, but there’s also the Norfolk Broads which Brits love a wander along.

If you fancy a break from your campervan trip then taking a boat on the scenic waterways is a great idea.

Enjoy that wildlife! 

Other campervan-friendly stop offs in Norfolk include the coastal roads towards the traditional seaside resort of Cromer, and the windswept Norfolk beaches of the likes of Brancaster even further north. The red and white Happisburgh Lighthouse is a favourite among the Instagrammers, and there are over 100 round tower churches in Norfolk, some dating back to the 11th century. Nice for a pic! 

Check out my road trip itinerary for the North Norfolk coast , and this North Norfolk coast walking itinerary too.

Norfolk would be a great place to hire a VW Campervan thanks to the flat topography, click that link to read my tips!

8. Campervan the North Coast 500 in Scotland 

Ooo, second entry on the list from Scotland. The North Coast 500 is fast becoming one of the most iconic road trips in the UK, and I want to do it. Stretching across 805km of back roads, this circular route runs from Inverness and the Black Isle, past the seaboard crags of Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross.

Take your campervan on the North Coast 500 and you’ll get to see gothic ruins, rugged fairways, historic castles, shingle-sand beaches, tiny fishing hamlets and peaty whisky distilleries. Enjoy the villages, and the peaks of Loch Maree before reaching the Bealach na Bà, which loops up and over the Applecross Peninsula. 

Look out for the Highland cows along the way, and avoid doing this route in peak season. Unfortunately everybody knows about it!

9. Campervan the Black Mountain Pass, Wales

We needed a bit of Wales in this UK campervan trips post, right?

The Black Mountain Pass in Wales is the shortest of these campervan routes in the UK, but there’s plenty to do either side to make it a memorable journey. 

A campervan trip on the Black Mountain Pass will reveal spectacular Brecon Beacons views, and amazing vistas of the Tywi Valley. You need to be confident with your campervan before embarking on this trip, as the hairpin bends can be a bit crazy. 

You’ll pass Llandovery in the north, and cross the dragon’s humps of Pont Aber and Herbert’s Pass – be prepared for the incredible views here. Next up is the low village of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen. Look out for sheep as you travel. 

You can probably do the trip in a day, but what’s the rush? Plan to stay 48 hours in the Brecon Beacons area, to make more from the road trip. 

If you want to stay in Wales even longer, then carry on and drive through Snowdonia National Park and out across the Menai Strait to Anglesey. This was you can enjoy the famous Betws-y-Coed and head west past Swallow Falls into the heart of Snowdonia. Follow the A4086 either to Snowdon, or past. I’d strongly recommend climbing the mountain though – it’s one of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve ever had climbing that beast! 

At the right time of year you can pick up the Snowdon Mountain Railway to get to the top if you’re not up to the climb. 

Program the scenic route to the Isle of Anglesey in your phone by going via historic Caernarfon first. The town has a stylish waterfront and a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site castle too. 

10. Motorhome in the Peak District

How about driving a motorhome in the Peak District for your next adventure? All the details in that link!

So, how about a little campervan touring for you next trip?

Check out the best motorhome routes in France for a bit of inspiration , and these great gifts for campervan lovers too.

11. The Outer Hebrides in Scotland

Check out my blog post about our road trip through the Western Isles , aka the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. You could see these incredible Outer Hebrides beaches , and enjoy a spot of wild camping in the Western Isles too.

Explore more of England 

NEW SITE: I recently launched a brand new website dedicated entirely to days out in England.

It’s called… DAY OUT IN ENGLAND . Ha!

It’s packed full of local knowledge, awesome things to do, and more.

Few of my favourite posts for you: how about the best adventurous days out in England , or the most popular English beaches ? I’ve also put together a guide on saving money on days out , and even an English food quiz too. Go and check it out – you’re guaranteed to learn more about England!

Related Posts:

• RV Tips for Beginners: How to Get Started
• 13 Clever Campervan Hacks You Need for Your Next Trip
• Questions About VW Campervan Hire? 16 Essentials You…
• 5 Best Routes for Exploring France with a Motorhome…
• 7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Road Trip Budget
• 18 Best Campervan Accessories to Make Your Life Easier

Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

can’t wait to export i’m flying form la california to see england ive ten days in england the first five will be london! thinking of getting a can to tour where can i go?

Can’t wait to get started!

Any info for road trips in Kent ? Dorset ?

Some great UK route suggestions here, thank you!

Hi Vicki. We are travelling to the UK in June/July this year and like the idea of a motorhome but have been told it’s difficult to travel though smaller towns and impossible to park in larger towns. Would you agree?

If they’re really tiny villages, like in Wales and Cornwall, then yes, you may have difficulty. I’d say in 95% of places you’ll be fine though. Just don’t get one that’s too big, and have a good practice in the larger places first. Also, get a good insurance.

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20 Simple Campervan Hacks to Make the Most of Your Van Life (2024)

• Last Updated: December 4, 2023

If you’re just getting started in van life and are looking for some campervan hacks and top tips to speed up your learning curve we’ve got you covered with this post!

No matter how long you’ve been living in a van it seems there are always tips, tricks and hacks to pick up along the way. Life on the road is full of beautiful moments. But there are many things to do to keep the wheels rolling and never enough storage space.

Taking care of business is a part of daily life. But it becomes especially important when your bed doubles as a dining area. The best van dwellers are always looking for van life hacks that save space, gas, or money.

Full-time living in a van is all fun and games until your grey water tank is full, the gas tank is empty and the storage cupboards are a bit messy and overflowing with things that don’t seem to fit anywhere else.

We’ve made pretty much every mistake in the book. Each time we feel the agony of defeat on the road we remember that van life is all about learning to do a better job next time. And today, we’re going to walk through some tips and tricks we learned the hard way that now make life on the road easier.

A little bit of preparation makes a massive difference in van living. Every single one of these hacks may not work for your specific campervan life. But as long as you’re willing to put in the work and constantly tinker, you’ll make the most of your time in a van.

Table of Contents

Have the right gear.

Download campervan apps, invest in the right power setup, use 12v chargers or inverters while driving, invest in an affordable mosquito net for your doorway, buy storage bins for pretty much anywhere they will fit, invest in packing cubes for clothing organization, utilize a magnetic spice rack, eat right as often as possible., yes you should buy an outdoor shower, spend 15 minutes a day straightening up, enjoy the ride, quick van life hacks honorable mentions, top campervan hacks for better #vanlife.

While there are tons of great ideas out there for how to make van life better, the reality is that every hack comes with a tradeoff. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to live in a van. In fact, there is no “better” or “worse.”

How you choose to live is simply up to you. And once you accept that you have and are learning to live your own way then you truly become a part of the vanlife lifestyle.

Here are a few hacks to get you started in the right direction.

Some of the best van life hacks are the ones staring at you from the top shelf. Storage space is a premium inside any campervan, so filling it up with junk is extra costly. This tip involves every aspect of life on the road.

The right van life essentials will work wonders in the long term – whether you’re shopping for camping, cooking, or day-to-day life in your rig.

Everything you put inside your car will be subject to blowing down the highway at the same speed as hurricane-force winds. Cheap products will eventually fall and they will break.

A plastic folding camping table isn’t a big deal on a backyard picnic. But when you have to set up and take down your table at every stop, you don’t want to be wrestling with the legs.

And you certainly don’t want to have to move ten things around every time you’re trying to do something in your van. Expect to get loads of use out of your gear and commit to spending the extra money where it matters.

Related: Check out our post on all of the essential van life gear .

Make a budget… and then double it.

Van life is all about experiencing more with less. But having some financial wiggle room makes a huge difference on every trip. Once you hit the road, three categories will make up most of your spending – gas, camping and food.

Write down your gas estimate and be prepared to double it. Time and time again, we underestimate how many miles it takes to get from point A to point Z.

Stops, old country roads and random side quests are all part of the fun of taking your home on the road. But the mileage adds up. So does the fickle and unpredictable price of fuel .

Camping costs will be tied directly to your van build and the weather. Campsites with electricity will quietly become a large part of your overall spending. We avoid them as often as possible.

Spartan adventurers can find free places to sleep every night if they really want. But we’ve never met a van dweller who doesn’t like to treat themselves here and there.

It’s much easier to enjoy a night under an immobile roof if it’s already part of the budget. So don’t start your trip expecting never to spend a dime on sleeping costs.

Food is probably where we spend the most money. And we don’t even go out to eat very often. If you plan to, then be sure to account for that in your budget. Same for alcohol, as those drinks can add up quickly too.

We eat mostly healthy, so we can’t stock up on ramen and peanut butter and jelly. Instead, we’re constantly buying fresh produce and vegetables, free-range poultry and beef products and organic everything whenever we can.

We justify the increased cost of our meals with the healthy trade-off we experience in exchange. If you can survive on ramen noodles and whole wheat bread, your food budget will take you far. It’s all up to you.

The right campervan apps will save you time, money and tons of frustration along the way.

Whether you are searching for camping spots, a place to shower or accessible WiFi, there are great mobile apps for that.

Certain apps are the keys to unlocking a kingdom of great spots to camp that will provide views worth the extra drive.

Apps like iOverlander or Campendium compile thousands of trips into the great outdoors into detailed descriptions of what’s available on the road ahead.

Since 2012, overlanders and full-time RVers have marked off locations on these applications, leaving useful tips about all sorts of overnight stealth camping, parking, or businesses. Dump stations, propane fill-ups, laundry, Walmarts, and wifi are all marked down.

You can even find out about road conditions before driving down any unmaintained dirt roads. You don’t want to head out into the woods unprepared, especially if you’re towing a trailer.

Camper van apps are the quickest way to get connected to the van life.

Your power setup should be the most expensive part of your campervan conversion budget. You need plenty of power while living in a van, and the best places to sleep are often miles from the nearest plug-in.

Understanding your campervan electrical system is imperative both for making good decisions about how to use your power and for knowing how to troubleshoot in the event something goes wrong… and it likely will!

There are no van life hacks to make power pop out of thin air. But a decent solar setup is the next best thing.

Don’t shy away from spending a few thousand dollars as you build out your power system to include a large battery bank , proportionate power inverter and efficient and powerful solar panels .

If you are constantly having to seek out power hookups at pricey campgrounds because you can’t seem to keep your battery bank at healthy and sustainable levels you’ll find yourself regretting that you didn’t invest more in your power grid upfront.

Speaking of the right power, don’t forget the most powerful part of your RV, its engine.

Find a relatively affordable 12-volt power inverter like this one that will turn all those hours headed down the highway into free energy for your devices. 

You can pump endless hours of entertainment into the back to keep things quiet or let your copilot transform into your coworker in the front seat. 

You’ll quickly find there is always something you can be charging. Even if you’re just heading from the campsite to the grocery. As we drive we are often charging two laptops, two phones and a Bluetooth speaker through two cigarette lighters and our inverter.

It feels like free energy until I have to fill up at gas stations.

Smaller RVs such as a campervan can heat up fast. Cracking open the door provides instant relief.

But it’s only a matter of time before the local critters catch a whiff of what you’ve got cooking. Mosquitos can smell blood from over 100 feet away. And if you are within range, you can count on visitors.

The only things standing in the way of leaving our windows and doors open are theft and bug bites. No matter how far you drive you won’t outrun mosquitoes, which are capable of taking any small openings and turning them into a night of haunting buzzes.

To keep up the airflow in bug country, find a magnetic mosquito net like this one . Hang them from whatever doors you use the most and let these simple mosquito net shields help you enjoy the summer outside.

Organize, organize, organize. Did we say organize?

You can never have too many pockets. And cupboards can never be full of too many shelves, bins and organizers.

It’s good for the mind to live in an uncluttered space. And a relaxing way to feel in control of your environment is to put everything away.

The only trouble is that you may only have three cupboards to store your entire life, and everything shifts the moment you put the van into drive.  

Storage hacks are about creating more space wherever possible. These are a few ways we try to keep our things from flying around the campervan.

Storage bins are a true necessity when traveling with more than one person in the same van. You can instantly double any cupboard or space behind the back seat by adding stackable storage bins into the area.

Slide storage bins beneath the sofa, bed or table and build out shelves to house whatever bins will fit.

Not only do they store things properly, but also they keep them from sliding around, falling and breaking as you drive.

Inside those storage bins, we want more storage! More bags! More Organization! Packing cubes aren’t the lifesavers some travelers make them out to be.

But they’ll keep you from digging through every drawer to find a clean pair of underwear.

Placing the cubes inside your larger storage bins will prevent everything from blending on the drive-over. Use them for clothing, but also for anything else you want to separate and stow away.

Eating a delicious homecooked meal in a campervan conversion is an incredible experience. The things you’ll be able to do with a limited kitchen will surprise you, especially if you bring the right spices.

A cupboard full of cumin may smell nice, but you’ll never get it cleaned. Tiny spice bottles bounce and roll until the top falls off. Then they just spill. And let’s not get into the danger of not properly stowing away your kitchen knife set!

You have to keep your spices upright and locked into place in your van and a magnetic spice rack is an easy installation that makes that happen without taking up valuable cabinet space.

A few hacks help you store shoes with less space. But there is only one guaranteed way to keep your shoes uncluttered – leave a few pairs at home. It’s painful, but you need less than you think. 

Shoes are all about quality over quantity. One waterproof hiking boot, something comfortable to wear around camp and a pair for hitting the town are about all you need if your shoes are versatile. 

We’ve wasted far too much space on our road trips bringing along extra pairs of shoes we haven’t even used. Three pairs of shoes are usually enough. And if it doesn’t work out, it’s a great excuse to take a shopping day.

One of the simple van life hacks will save you money and calories. Make that spice rack get to work, and don’t forget to continue your regular diet routines, even if it’s a bit of a challenge on the road.

We’ll all have travel days where we don’t do much more than stop at McDonald’s or In-N-Out Burger (our personal favorite!). But cutting down on cheap fast food and taking the time to cook for yourself will save money and keep you healthy as you travel.

Our favorite way to eat right while traveling is to cook a bunch of food before hitting the highway. Having a tasty meal on standby when our stomachs start grumbling saves several costly stops for fast food and helps us get to our destination with a bit of energy left in the tank.

Everyone has a different diet. But don’t forget to keep track of what you’re eating and eat the right foods to give yourself energy, even if you’re doing nothing but driving all day.

Van lifers are notorious for cutting corners when it comes to personal hygiene. After a week on the road or in the woods, a hot shower will bring you back to life, not to mention make you more sociable.

If your camper doesn’t already have a shower installed, several DIY shower options will have you feeling fresh in no time.

If you’re just traveling in the summer months, you can hang a simple solar shower bag from the roof or install a black-painted PVC pipe on the roof to get the job done. Colder weather will require professional reinforcements and a propane hot water heater .

Whichever shower option you choose, you won’t regret taking the time to incorporate it into your camper van. Don’t forget to make an outdoor shower curtain you can hang from your doors or roof for added privacy at the campsite.

There is not a lot of room for error inside most campervans. A few dirty dishes and dirty clothes can quickly snowball into a messy space. Get ahead of the mess by scheduling a bit of time in your day to tidy up.

Knock out any dishes, sweep the floor, or refold your clothes – whatever has been bugging you the most lately. A spotless camper van and a little exercise will lead to a spotless, positive mindset and will allow you to spend the day relaxing.

Van life hacks and tricks aren’t just limited to what is inside your van. They also extend to your heart and mind.

You’re going to have quality time on the road. And sometimes it will likely take you longer to get around than you expected. Try to avoid ever having to hurry from one place to another.

Most camper vans aren’t built for speed, and it is not fun to be in a rush anyway. (After all, didn’t you begin your van life trying to escape all of the hustle and bustle of the rat race?!)

A four-hour drive quickly turns into a six-hour drive with a few stops to stretch the legs and a wrong turn or two. All of a sudden the sun is setting, you haven’t eaten dinner, and you’re still looking for a place to park for the night.

All the van life hacks in the world won’t stop you from experiencing frustration now and then. But if you can laugh off the bad moments inside your camper van, you’ll get to the good stuff much faster.

These are a few hacks you can do to make more of van life, whether you are full-time or just out for a road trip from time to time.

• Use sleeping bags as blankets. Unzip the sleeping bag and save space in your van by not having an extra blanket on the bed. Likewise, use your sleeping bag as a blanket when you want to enjoy the great outdoors on cool nights.
• Take showers as often as you come across them. If you find yourself at a formal campground don’t feel guilty if taking a shower is the last thing you do before you check out. In van life, you never know where you’ll find your next showers so take advantage of the ones you know you have.
• Use baby wipes to take care of your more intimate parts in lieu of a proper shower. This can extend the time you feel comfortable between showers.
• Consider a conversion bed that allows you to use the space both for sleeping and for a table, couch, desk or otherwise.
• Hang shoe organizers on the van backseat to supplement your cupboards by adding more storage and organization space to your living area.
• Mount D-Rings, cup hooks and eyelits safely and securely around the van. Attach and hang items as necessary.

We hope these van life hacks have given you an idea of where to start, or where to go with the next chapter in your van living. We’re sure we missed some, so let us know your favorite van life hacks and we’ll be sure to share them!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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16 Best Campervan Journeys In Europe

• Campervan journeys in Europe offer a low-cost way to explore scenic destinations and beautiful landscapes, away from the city streets.
• Routes like Slovenia & Croatia, Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania, and the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland are worth adding to your European itinerary.
• From the French Riviera to the North Coast 500 in Scotland, there are plenty of options for campervan road trips that provide flexibility, affordability, and unforgettable experiences.

While the “Vanlife” craze is taking off in North America, campervan journeys around Europe have been a popular way to see the continent at a low cost for years. Spend 1-2 weeks or a couple of months roaming Europe in a cozy campervan while taking in the beautiful landscapes travelers often miss when sticking to the city streets.

UPDATE: 2023/08/22 12:29 EST BY NICHOLAS MAYAMBA

Best Routes For A European Campervan Journey

Europe is home to numerous scenic destinations worth checking out, and campervan journeys present an exciting option to explore them without breaking the bank. In this updated list, find out more road trips worth adding to an adventurer's to-do list during a European itinerary.

Related: Road Trip Enthusiasts: Here Are The 10 Countries With The Best Road Trips In The World

Slovenia & Croatia

Slovenia is overlooked by many travelers in Europe in favor of nearby Croatia or Austria. However, Slovenia and Croatia together are the perfect route for a European road trip with beautiful historic cities and beaches on the Adriatic Sea. For a 10-14 campervan journey, pick up a vehicle in Dubrovnik and spend three days on the coast , appreciating the scenery and exploring filming locations for Game of Thrones . Then, drive north to Split and Zadar before continuing to the scenic Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Cross the border into Slovenia and explore the Julian Alps and scenic Lake Bled. Rent a canoe in the early morning and paddle out to the center of the lake for the best views. Finally, explore the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.

Transfăgărășan Highway, Romania

Romania doesn’t get much attention from international travelers, but it should. This vast Eastern European country has a beautiful capital city but also expansive, lush green landscapes and highways that are easy to travel to. Rent a campervan for pickup at the Bucharest airport before embarking on the epic Transfăgărășan highway drive. This road takes travelers through the Carpathian Mountains. The road is nearly 100 km long and is one of the most iconic in Europe, twisting and turning through the rolling terrain of Romania. Plan to make stops at Balea Lake, Capra Tunnel, Vidraru Dam, and Poenari Citadel along the way.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s most famous driving route and can easily be driven in 5 days to 1 week, starting from Dublin. However, for travelers who want to take their time and spend more than one night at a destination along the way, turning this into a 2-week adventure is a more relaxing choice. The route is 2500 km from County Donegal to County Cork and takes travelers along the best sights of Ireland’s West Coast, including the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, and Slea Head.

Related: 10 Places You Should See In Ireland During A 7-Day Trip

The Fairy Tale Road, Germany

Germany is one of the largest countries by area in Western Europe, so exploring it in a campervan is a great way to see the natural beauty usually missed when sticking to cities like Berlin or Munich. Rent a campervan and drive the Fairy Tale Road in Germany, which starts in Frankfurt. The quiet road runs through the countryside and charming German towns like Steinau, Marburg, Kassel, Gottingen, Hamelin, and Bremen. From Bremen, travelers can easily continue onto Hamburg and venture north to Denmark.

The Ring Road, Iceland

Iceland’s Ring Road is the best drive in the country, taking travelers around the island’s perimeter in just 7-10 days. While it’s possible to do this trip in a rental car and book Airbnbs or hotels, choosing to do the journey in a campervan offers the flexibility to stop at any campsite and stay immersed in the otherworldly landscapes of the Land of Fire and Ice. Top sights to see along the way include Skogafoss, Jökulsárlón Lagoon , and Diamond Beach.

Related: The 10 Most Beautiful Stops Along Iceland's Ring Road

The French Riviera, France

Get away from the busyness of Paris and embark on a romantic campervan journey through the South of France on the French Riviera. In just one week, travelers can easily stop at beautiful cities like Nice, Eze, Cannes, Cote d'Azur, Monaco, and Antibes while spending the night in their campervans to save money on accommodation. This is a fantastic way to see the South of France on a budget and with the freedom to wake up in a new spot every morning.

The North Coast 500, Scotland

The North Coast 500 is named for the 516-mile route around the Northern coast of Scotland. It’s possible to drive this route in just five days but lengthening the trip permits travelers to make more stops and appreciate the scenery in various parts of the country. Some top spots to pause along the way are Falls of Shin, Coldbackie Sands, Smoo Cave, and Handa Island. The route is so popular it has attracted more than 29,000 visitors since its inception, but there’s still plenty of room for everyone on the road.

Algarve Coast, Portugal

Travelers looking for a budget-friendly campervan trip in Western Europe can skip Italy’s coast and head to the South of Portugal instead. Most international travelers will arrive in Lisbon, where it’s easy to pick up a rental van from the airport. Then, drive south on the E1 to Lagos, which takes between 2.5 and 3 hours . From Lagos, travelers can choose to spend time camping and swimming along the Algarve Coast for a few days before continuing the drive to Faro. If time permits, cross into Spain and spend a few days in Seville before returning to the campervan and heading home.

La Route Des Grande Alpes, Switzerland

This route takes travelers through the French Alps between the French Riviera and Lake Geneva. Visitors will drive their campervan through the Alps from North to South or South to North, depending on which side they start the route from. The road has 16 passes, some of the highest in the Alps and spans 684 km from Thonon-Les-Bains to Menton. The journey takes at least 2-3 days by car, but travelers can spend much longer exploring the historical monuments and Alpine villages along the way.

Whitehaven To Silloth, The Lake District, United Kingdom

There are plenty of scenic road trip routes through The Lake District in the UK, but travelers who want to drive their campervan along the coast will love the journey from Whitehaven to Silloth. The drive is 26.7 miles long and follows the A595 and A596 along the Solway Coast from Whitehaven. Travelers will pass through the quaint town of Maryport and can stop off at the picturesque Allonby's Beach before arriving in Silloth.

Finland Up To Nordkapp

One of Europe's most scenic caravan journeys is arguably traveling up through Finland to Norway. This route takes one through the boreal forests of Northern Europe and even through Santa's North Pole Village in Lapland . Along the way, visitors see sprawling forests where the roadsides are populated by reindeer as one penetrates north into Lapland. Mountains don't appear until one approaches the northern border with Norway, and from there, one can keep on going to Nordkapp - the northernmost point of Europe .

Travel Down The Coast Of Norway

Norway is arguably the most stunning road trip possible in Europe. Travel down Norway's pristine and stunning coastline and explore many of the world's most picturesque and dramatic fjords. Keep in mind that Norway is expensive, but it is also legal to camp almost wherever one likes (if one would like to save on camping fees). Be sure to detour to see Troll's Tongue while traveling in Norway .

Andorra & The Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are one of the great mountain ranges of Europe, and they form the border between Spain and France. One of the fun things to discover while exploring the Pyrenees is the tiny alpine country of Andorra (it is basically a country that is a collection of ski resorts). The Pyrenees are not as dramatic as the Alps of Switzerland, France, Italy, and Austria, but they are stunning and should be on anyone's bucket list.

Turkey is sometimes counted in Europe, and it is a top destination to go for a campervan journey. The country is just bursting with attractions to see and explore (think about endless Roman ruins, ancient Greek ruins, Pamukkale, crusader castles, some of the Mediterranean's best beaches, and some of the oldest manmade settlements known. Turkey has a great highway network and is a very rewarding place to explore.

Switzerland & Northern Italy

Starting in the mountains and ending at sea, this lovely European campervan journey takes travelers through exciting destinations. From Switzerland's biggest city, Zurich, drive through the country to the towns of Lucerne and later Bern before crossing to the Italian city of Turin. Admire the impressive architecture in the city and sample its eclectic cuisine, then continue with the journey to the fashion capital of Milan . Find something cute to buy and drive off to Bologna's historic town before wrapping up the trip in Venice, where so many attractions await .

Related: 10 London To Rome Road Trip Stops That Reveal Ancient History And Breathtaking Scenery

Italy Roundtrip

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The 16 Best Camper Vans for Road-Tripping in Style

Now you can experience #vanlife in comfort and style..

Senior Staff Writer

Bryan Hood's Most Recent Stories

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The first years of this decade have already provided ample evidence that it’s important to get away from our daily lives from time to time.  And you don’t have to suffer the airport hordes or step foot on a plane to do so. We currently find ourselves in something of a golden age for luxury trailers, which has made it easier than ever to take your life on the road without sacrificing many, and in some cases any, of the comforts of home. And now, there are plenty of manufacturers and dedicated conversion shops giving the same treatment to vans and other similar vehicles. They may not be able to sleep as many people as their hulking cousins—with one key exception—but these all-in-one wonders come loaded with perks such as high-end kitchens, Wi-Fi-enabled multimedia systems, and plush beds. Plus, their relatively smaller size means they are more agile, off-road friendly, and easier to park. Below are 16 campers that will let you experience #vanlife in comfort and style.

Our Best Camper Van Picks

Best overall: airstream atlas, best for off-roading: jayco terrain, best for weekend getaways: volkswagen california, best for off-the-grid trips: winnebago solis, best for cyclists: outside van tails, best for camping (anywhere): storyteller overland beast mode 4×4, best to live in: loki expeditions discovery series, best all-electric option: tonke eqv.

• Best for G-Wagen Lovers: Terracamper Tecrawl

Best With a Bathroom and Shower: Thor Motor Coach Sanctuary

Best for $50,000: caravan outfitter free bird, best comeback: westfalia wave, best for families: winnebago boldt, best for winter road trips: sportsmobile sprinter 4×4, best conversion: boho old faithful, best for diy couples: ford transit trail.

Sometimes bigger really is better. Just ask Airstream, whose range of camper vans, or touring coaches as the brand calls them, is topped by the Atlas. Yes, it’s a van, but it has all the space and features you’d expect to find in a much larger RV thanks to its unique power slide-out section that isn’t available on the also-excellent Interstate 24X. There’s only one floorplan to choose from—the Murphy Suite—but it has everything you could need including a pull-down Murphy bed, couch, kitchenette, closet, and large residential-style bathroom with a standalone toilet and shower. The Mercedes-based vehicle may sleep fewer people than some of the other entries on this list—it’s designed for two, although there’s room to entertain more—but the trade-off is an unusual amount of comfort for the class. This will come in handy for short trips, of course, but especially if you and yours are planning to spend some serious time on the road.

Special Features: —The power slide-out section means there is plenty of room for both rest and relaxation. —Pull-down Murphy bed and large bathroom allow you to really bring home on the road.

Jayco is best known for its hulking travel trailers, but like Airstream, it can do compact, too (well, compact enough to fit in a parking space, that is). The US company’s new  Terrain  model, which starts at $192,000, is an adventure van designed for those who like to veer from the beaten path. As the name suggests, it’s designed for off-roading, with a turbo-diesel V-6, Koni shocks, a rear stabilizer and a rear hitch strong enough to tow an additional trailer if you need more room. Inside, it’s a little spartan compared to some other options on this list, but its kitchenette can be converted into a sleeping area with room for a full-size bed, as well as plenty of storage space beneath. There’s even a built-in awning when you need some shade in the summer months.

Special Features: —Equipped with Koni shocks, a rear stabilizer and a heavy-duty tow hitch. —Kitchenette can be converted into a spacious sleeping area with room for a full-size bed.

Volkswagen has shown over the years that it knows a thing or two about building a solid camping van. The latest iteration of the California may not be a classic Microbus, but it’s the next best thing currently out there. The stylish van may not look all that big, but VW has turned it into a versatile mini-RV thanks, in no small part, to its roof-mounted pop-up tent. Just as important, though, is the ultra-flexible passenger cabin which is surprisingly well-stocked considering its size. Five different interior layouts are available—Beach, Beach Tour, Beach Camper, Coast, and Ocean— making this van an option for basically every kind of camper out there.

Special Features: —Five layout options make the vehicle well-suited to almost every kind of camper. —Pop-up roof tent means that going to bed requires minimal fuss.

The Winnebago Solis is for adventurers who don’t want to be confined to the campground. The van is available with an optional power kit that has everything a group of up to four adults needs to spend a few days off-the-grid. The setup, which includes an inverter, a shore battery converter, a battery energy converter, a solar energy converter and an alternator energy optimizer, can produce enough power to keep the van and all its features running for up to 72 hours. On top of that, the van features a kitchenette, a convertible entertainment area with room for a double bed, and a full-width wet bath.

Special Features: —A unique power kit that can provide enough power to spend up to 72 hours off the grid. —Still has all the features you’d expect from a luxe camper van, including a full-width wet bath.

If you like to mix biking and camping, Outside Van has the vehicle for you. The Portland brand’s  Tails  model is a camper van designed with cyclists in mind. The van, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, has everything you need for a few days away from home, including a kitchenette, a roll-over sofa and a convertible mattress. But what really sets it apart is the rear of the vehicle that’s basically an on-the-go bicycle repair shop, with a fold-down work table, an air compressor and Molle panels to hang all your tools. If that wasn’t enough, it somehow has room for six bikes, even when the bed is laid out for the night.

Special Features: —The back of the van is basically a bicycle-repair shop with a fold-down table, an air compressor and plenty of storage space for tools. —Has room for six bikes, even when its convertible sleeping area is out.

This latest offering from Storyteller Overland, based in Birmingham, Ala., is a true adventure van. The  Beast Mode 4×4  is the outfit’s most feature-packed model yet and was designed specifically for overlanding (as you may have guessed from the company’s name). It’s a true 4×4 powered by a 188 hp turbodiesel V-6 that’s strong enough to tow an additional 5,000 pounds. Its slick retro-style livery is offset with loads of useful off-roading gear, too, such as an LED light package, a roof rack and a side ladder and custom wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich K02 tires. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to relax after a day of exploring, including a cushy lounge that can be converted to a full-size sleeping area. There’s even a climate-control system to ensure you’re comfortable no matter the weather outside. It’s priced at a flat $198,746, for everything listed above.

Special Features: —Turbodiesel V-6 sends 188 hp of power to all four wheels and is strong enough to tow 5,000 extra pounds. —Surprisingly cushy lounge for an off-roading beast.

Let’s get this out of the way: the Loki Expeditions Discovery Series isn’t technically a camper van. It’s a giant expedition vehicle, but because its cabin is installed directly onto a heavy-duty truck chassis you also don’t need anything to tow it. The vehicle’s cabin is what separates it from anything else on this list. Loki Expeditions has turned a shipping container—yes, you read that right—into a full-featured living space that has all the amenities you’d expect to find in a luxury apartment, including a full kitchen with a large fridge, an entertainment area with a U-shaped banquet, and a wet bath with a cassette toilet. It’s also big enough to sleep six adults, with room for two in the dedicated bedroom and four in the entertainment area. And because the heavy-duty vehicle, which starts at $550,000, has all-wheel drive, you can take it practically anywhere.

Special Features: —Cabin has all the features you’d expect to find in a well-appointed apartment and can sleep six adults. —Built on a burly heavy-duty truck chassis that gives you the freedom to venture off the beaten path.

Looking for an EV you can take to the campground. The upcoming EQV just might fit the bill. Despite its relatively compact size—it’s smaller than the ever-popular Sprinter—Dutch camping outfit Tonke has managed to outfit it with everything you need to spend some time communing with nature. It has an entertainment area that doubles as a workspace along with a kitchenette, both of which can be converted into a two-person sleeping area with a simple flip of a bench (a roof-mounted, pop-up tent means it can sleep two more, too). Best of all, there are two variants available—the Touring, which is designed for long road trips, and the Adventure, which is aimed at casual campers.

Special Features: —Fully electronic power train means you won’t have to worry about filling up the tank (though the battery is another story). —Can sleep up to four even despite its relatively compact size.

Best for G-Wagen Lovers: Terracamper Tecrawl 

The Tecrawl isn’t a camper van per se, but it’s hard to leave something this cool off a list like this. Terracamper’s latest offering is based on one of Mercedes-Benz’s most legendary vehicles, the G-Wagen . The German shop has dreamed up a modular accessory kit for the luxury 4×4, that starts at $11,900 and includes a roof-mounted tent, a convertible sofa, and a pull-out kitchenette with a fridge box. Thanks to the ingenious setup, the boxy SUV can sleep up to three and act as your home base next time you want to rough it for the weekend. And because it’s a G-Wagen you can take it as far off-road as you want.

Special Features: —A G-Wagen but has room for up to three people to sleep. —Packs a brawny powertrain that’s well-suited for off-road adventures.

Thor Motor Coach makes camper vans for those uninterested in making sacrifices. With the  Sanctuary , the company has taken Mercedes-Benz’s already excellent Sprinter 2500 4×4 and turned it into something you could easily live on—on or off the grid. The off-road-ready vehicle comes in two configurations—the 19P ($148,680), which features a back bench that converts into a bed, or the 19L ($151,060), which has a fixed double bed. Even with the bed there’s still plenty of room for other creature comforts, including a bathroom, an entertainment area with a TV and a kitchen with a sink, a dual-burner cooktop, a convection microwave oven and a fridge. An Onan 2500 LP generator keeps everything up and running, too, including an A/C system you can leave on for eight hours at a time. There’s also retractable power awning when you want to spend some time outdoors.

Special Features: —Full-featured bathroom has a sink, a shower and a toilet. —Available with your choice of either a convertible or a fixed bed.

Caravan Outfitter’s third-generation Free Bird isn’t the most feature-laden camper van out there, but it has everything you and the family need to spend a weekend (or more) at the campground. The van, which starts at $50,810, is built on the relatively compact Ford Transit Connect platform but still has room for a full-size bed, a multi-purpose table that can be used as a dinette or workstation, and a pull-out kitchenette with a sink. Because it’s smaller than other options on this list, it only has room to sleep two, but there are several enticing add-ons, including roof- and rear-mounted capsule tents, in case you’re traveling group includes more people.

Special Features: —It’s the rare camper van that’s small enough to be comfortably parked inside your garage. —Caravan Outfitters offers several intriguing add-ons so you customize it to your liking.

After a two-decade absence, famed German (and French-owned) camper maker Westfalia has returned to the U.S. The company’s first new stateside model is the Wave, a Ram Promaster 3500-based van stocked with luxury amenities and plenty of room for your travel party. The Wave stretches 20.7 feet bumper-to-bumper and Westfalia has done everything it can to maximize the space. The cabin has everything you could need, including a kitchen with an island extension and a full wet bath with a stand-up shower. Its most impressive feature may be its many sleeping areas, though. The rear seating can be converted into a queen-size bed and the dinette into a double mattress. There is also a roof-mounted pop-up tent with room for two. It may not be based on a Volkswagen, but the Wave is still almost as “Westy” as they come.

Special Features: —The spacious interior includes a kitchen with an island extension that makes meal prep that much easier. —The van’s 20.7-foot length means there’s enough room to sleep up to six adults.

Airstream isn’t the only famous RV maker that’s gotten into the camper van game. Winnebago actually sells several, and our favorite is the luxe  Boldt . Despite being nowhere near as long as one of its campers—it caps out at 22 feet in length—the $230,276 van has everything you’d expect from the larger vehicle, including dedicated living and sleeping areas, a fully functional kitchen and a bathroom equipped with a shower. You also have several interior decor options to choose from, each of which delivers an updated take on classic Winnebago style. The Boldt is designed for paved roads and campgrounds, but if you want a more rugged ride, the brand also offers the off-road-ready  Revel.

Special Features: —Stretches 22 feet bumper to bumper, meaning there’s plenty of room for you and yours. —Enough space for dedicated entertaining and sleeping areas.

Take one look at  Sportsmobile’s Sprinter 4×4  and it’s clear what its designers had in mind: off-roading. Whether you go with the 12- or 14-foot configuration, the Texas outfit’s stripped-down take on Mercedes’s ultra-popular van comes equipped with a 3.0-liter BlueTec V-6 connected to a five-speed automatic transmission and pumps out 188 hp and 325 ft lbs of torque. That should be more than enough to tackle even the toughest terrain. Inside, you’ll find a spacious living area with a full-featured kitchen. If you want even more room, you can also opt for a pop-up sleeping area that’ll make it that much easier to lounge in comfort.

Special Features: —Well insulated throughout, but also has space for a propane furnace or heater. — 3.0-liter BlueTec V-6 and four-wheel drive mean it can take on any terrain.

Struggling to find a camper van that’s just right? Boho might be able to help. The Arizona-based company specializes in conversions and will work with you to create the vehicle of your dreams. The company offers several 20- to 24-foot layouts—of which the most popular is the appropriately named Old Faithful—that can be further tailored to meet your needs, whether your priority is multi-season versatility, lots of cooking space, or spending serious amounts of time on the road. The company also offers plenty of cool add-ons too, like wood paneling and flooring.

Special Features: —Versatile layouts that can be further customized so that you’re getting the exact van you want. —The wooden interior option looks better than it has any right to.

Ford’s ready to knock the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter off its perch. The Detroit giant unveiled its own camper van, the Transit Trail, last fall. The adventure-ready vehicle is based on its uber-popular commercial van but is taller, wider and outfitted with protective body cladding. It’s also powered by a potent V-6 that sends 310 horses and 400 ft lbs to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Right now, Ford seems content to let the $65,975 vehicle be the base for the camper van of your dreams, but it comes loaded with a slew of features that will come in handy at the campground, including a drillable wall you can use to install shelves, a kitchenette or furniture, along with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen and a back-up camera. It also available in three body configurations—medium-roof, standard length; high-roof, standard length; and high-roof, extended length—one of which should fit your needs.

Special Features: —It’s basically a blank slate for you and your partner to create your own dream camper. —Still comes with premium features such as a 12-inch infotainment screen and a back-up camera.

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