Vanlife vs. Car Camping: Which is Right for You?
Before you run out and spend money becoming a Vanlifer, let’s discuss the pros and cons of longer term travel with your car first. I spent 18 months living in a camper van full time and drove across country twice in a Toyota Matrix. (Read more about my vanlife time here.) I’m going to give you in depth info about both experiences.
First, for full disclosure, I am a petit 5'3" lady…so take that into consideration when I mention sleeping comfortably.
Long story short, I would recommend that you try out car camping with what you have first like I did so that you can see if you love being on the road and want more or if it’s just too much to deal with. Let’s get into the pros and cons.
Car Camping Pros
If you have a car already then it will cost you much less. I have seen people build shelves and storage spaces inside all kinds of vehicles, but the most popular for traveling are those with a hatchback and seats that fold down at least most of the way. When I was car camping I preferred to not have to reorganize all of my belongings every night when I went to sleep so I used an ENO hammock that I closed into the passenger door and the hatchback then connected the ends over the roof outside with a ratchet strap. (There are also tents that strap onto the back of hatchback vehicles. I used one when my best friend and dog traveled with me so that we had plenty of room.)
Gas is going to cost a lot less in a car than it will in a larger vehicle like a van. As will insurance. It’s a bitch to get my camper van insured because it lives in that in-between space of not being a van but not being an RV. General maintenance is probably going to be a bit cheaper as well. Especially if you’re planning on putting some miles on those tires!
Stealth camping is a lot more possible with a car since no one is immediately going to think someone will be sleeping in it. There were many times when I pulled up in a Walmart parking lot to spend the night and no one was the wiser. (Most locations are cool with it.) Or I’ve even passed out for a couple hours at well lit gas stations when it was unsafe for me to keep driving. No matter where you are you’ll attract less attention than you would in a van. This can also mean that if there’s danger, you can make a quicker, safer getaway than you might be able to in a van.
Car Camping Cons
There’s not a lot of room. This seems obvious but you might not realize how obvious it is until you’re hundreds of miles from nowhere, your back hurts, and you wish you had brought that one thing that you left because you didn’t really have room for it. Or if you’re parked and it’s storming and you’re stuck hanging out in the car. And as far as weather goes, it is less insulated from the elements. On cold nights you’ll probably wake up a few times to start the car for a bit. No room means no bathroom…at least not one that doesn’t require a ton of flexibility. No matter how organized you try to stay, everything gets disheveled pretty quickly. Storing food is difficult. You can get a cooler that keeps colder for longer but you’ll still be forced to find sources of ice almost daily. In what you save in other costs, you might find yourself tempted to spend in hotel rooms and campground stays. You’re going to need somewhere to shower eventually. You risk burnout, but at the point of burnout it will suddenly become apparent whether or not vanlife will be for you.
Vanlife Pros
If upon car camping you get to the point of burnout and think “this is great, I just need more room” then maybe vanlife could be for you! Depending on your budget and amenity desires, you might be able to do wonderful things like stand up all the way and cook meals. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have some sort of power source. You’ll be able to bring more of your stuff and keep it organized and out of your way. There will be some type of bathroom situation and a lot more privacy in general. You’ll have a table where you can work or enjoy eating without the steering wheel or your knees in your chest. You will be more sheltered from the elements. You might even find yourself inviting a friend or two over.
Vanlife Cons
The cons pretty much boil down to cost and attention. Things like gas, maintenance, and insurance will cost more. When you’re in a strange place and you break down you’ll have to turn your whole home over to a mechanic. If you’re building out a super nice Instagram worthy van, it is going to cost you a pretty penny. And at the end of the day, everyone knows what you’re doing in there. When a thief sees a camper van, they know not only is the van itself worth something, but it’s more likely than a regular car to contain valuables. It’s really vulnerable to have your whole life in a vehicle. You also draw attention when you’re trying to find somewhere free to park. You could encounter thieves or the cops. Vans are also not usually good for driving around town. It’s not likely that you’ll be towing another vehicle so you’ll have to pack up your house every time you need to drive somewhere.
The Conclusion
At the end of the day, I don’t believe one or the other is necessarily better. It’s really about what works for you. As I mentioned, I would consider trying out car camping for a bit before committing to getting a van. Whichever way you choose, spending time on the road can be rewarding in ways you could never imagine. If you’re longing to do it, you should try and find a way to work it out no matter how low your budget is!
