Vanlife. We all know what it is; we’ve seen the photos, we know the hashtags, and we’ve all watched the YouTube videos. At this point, everyone we meet knows at least something about the vanlife movement; they’ve either seen a bus converted online, follow a #vanlife Instagram account, or have been to a Tiny House Festival.
Yet, there is no escaping the fact that a quick google search about vanlife will show dozens of articles and videos about how people are quitting vanlife, how vanlife is hard and isolating. Some even go as far as claiming that vanlife as a whole is a scam.
So how is it that vanlife can both be growing in popularity and have so many people quitting and saying it’s not worth it?
The truth is vanlife can be hard at times. Decision fatigue can be a real issue when living full-time vanlife, buslife, or RVing. It can get hard when you find yourself in a new spot every few days and constantly finding places to park, fill up water tanks, and drop off trash.
But despite the challenges that come with living out of a van, there’s another side to vanlife that makes it all worth it: the incredible places it can take you. For us, every time we face difficulties or loneliness on the road, we find a dozen more reasons why we love traveling and could never imagine stopping. From unexpected encounters with friendly locals to breathtaking views that leave us speechless, there’s always something new and exciting around the corner. Sure, vanlife isn’t always easy, but the adventures and memories we create along the way make it all worthwhile.
The Ability To Travel To Places Otherwise Unvisited
Vanlife has taken us to some of the most beautiful and remote places we would never have visited otherwise. We’ve spent weeks on the beaches of North-West Michigan and explored trails in the Rockies of Colorado. Vanlife can allow you to live for a short period in places that most only get to visit for a few days when on vacation. Vanlife allows you to see and experience the world in a way you never thought possible. It allows you to be spontaneous and adventurous. To explore the world at your own pace.
One of our favorite places we visited in 2022 was Letchworth State Park. A place we probably would have never been to if it was not for us traveling through central New York in our campervan. We got to spend four days at Letchworth exploring the park and getting to hike amazing trails down to the waterfalls the park is known for. Getting to spend time in places that are entirely new to us is by far one of our favorite things about traveling.
The Views Vanlife Can Show You
I mean, isn’t the views one of the reasons everyone gets into vanlife and traveling? Getting to explore the world and see the amazing landscapes around us, seeing what’s past the next bend of the road, stumbling into views that will be with you for the rest of your life.
It’s not uncommon to come across social media posts where people share spectacular views from their vanlife travels, only to point out that those views are actually from normal, mundane places like a parking lot. This often creates the impression that these experiences are not as impressive as they appear on social media.
While it’s true that not every day of vanlife will be filled with breathtaking views, it’s important to remember that these small moments of beauty and wonder are everywhere. It’s the simple moments that can make the biggest impact on your travels.
So, don’t let the lack of grandeur or popularity of a place deceive you, there’s beauty to be found everywhere, and vanlife is the perfect way to explore it.
The Friends
One of the greatest joys of traveling is the people we meet along the way. Whether it’s striking up a conversation with a stranger at a rest stop, meeting fellow vanlifers at a campground, or reconnecting with old friends we haven’t seen in years, the road is a place of endless possibilities for friendship. Every encounter is a chance to make a new connection and create a new memory, and we cherish each and every one.
Visiting friends we haven’t seen in years is another highlight of our travels. Even if it’s just for a short time, these moments are priceless and will stay with us for a lifetime. Traveling gives us the opportunity to not only explore new places but also to deepen and strengthen the relationships we already have. And for us, that’s what makes this lifestyle so incredibly fulfilling.
The Vanlife Breakdowns
Breakdowns are one of the top vanlife nightmares that everyone hopes will never happen. The truth is when you travel in a campervan, a breakdown is not a matter of if but a matter of when. It took us a long time and many breakdowns to learn how to embrace one of the worst parts of living and traveling out of a vehicle.
Eventually, we learned that while a breakdown is stressful and often puts a lot of financial strain on our travels. It is also an opportunity to learn more about how our van works and how to properly maintain all of the systems we rely on. We’ve learned that doing all of our own repairs can take a few days longer than going to a shop. It allows us to learn, and it saves us a lot of money.
When we first started traveling, neither of us had ever even changed our own oil before. After a few breakdowns and lots of time watching YouTube, we successfully changed out a bad turbocharger. With each repair, we feel more confident in our abilities and in our van. When we get really stuck and feel like in over our heads. We’ve found that there is typically someone somewhere that is happy to help you out with repairs and teach you along the way.
The Unexpected Moments That’ll Be With You Forever
One of the most magical parts of traveling in a campervan is the unexpected moments that seem to happen out of nowhere. These are the memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime, the ones you never saw coming and can never plan for. During our time in New York state in 2022, we got to camp in a field full of horses and soon found ourselves surrounded by horses. They came right up to our side door while we were cooking dinner, and it was a moment we’ll never forget.
These unexpected experiences are what make vanlife so special and create new memories that you’ll treasure forever. So, embrace the unknown and let the journey unfold before you; you never know what amazing moments await.
TL;DR
Living and traveling in a campervan has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. Not only do we get to see and experience so many different places, but we also get to do it on our own terms. By far, our favorite thing about vanlife is the freedom and flexibility it gives us to go where we want when we want. We have the ability to change our plans on a whim, without the worry or cost of booking a hotel room or needing to find a paid campground. Everything we need is right there in our van.
