5 Lies You've Been Told About Van Life: Confessions From A Full-Time Traveler

Don’t believe everything you see online - there’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to realistic depictions of van life. After 4 years of traveling full-time in my campervan I’ve heard some wild misconceptions about this lifestyle and I’m here to set the record straight!

Lie #1 - Van Life Is Cheap

Can van life be inexpensive? Yes. But for the most part it’s not as cheap as many people say.

The cost of a built-out camper van can set you back $10,000 to $150,000 before you even hit the road. Realistically, most people spend closer to $20,000 to $40,000 on a gently used campervan.

I chose the DIY route because it was a fun project, and much cheaper than buying something already built.

Unfortunately, I started my build in 2020 when there was a huge shortage of used vans. Luckily, I was able to snag a new one for under $45,000 before those prices skyrocketed, too.

My complete build cost another $20,000, so in total I spent $65,000 before I even hit the road. Realistically, most DIY builds can be done for under $10,000.

If you’re thinking “$20,000 to build a van?!” I hear you. It was an investment, but knowing I would be living in it full time I wanted to be comfortable. In hindsight, there are a few ways I would save money on my next campervan build.

For example, I coughed up almost $1,500 for a composting toilet. Ouch. But that was 2020, and options for the best composting toilet were limited.

Luckily, there are some outstanding alternatives for a fraction of that cost now! In my next build I would use the Cuddy Lite Composting Toilet. I like that the Cuddy Lite model doesn’t have an agitator (so you can easily bag and toss), but it still comes with all the features and quality innovation as the original Cuddy model.

Next comes the monthly expenses. Gas, insurance, groceries, showers, laundry, and maintenance add up quickly.

On average, my monthly expenses don’t exceed $1,500. However, my most expensive month was over $4,000 because I had some large repair costs hit at the same time as my insurance and registration renewal, along with a trip across the country which cost a significant amount in gas.

My monthly expenses in the van usually look like this:

• Gas: $400

• Insurance: $100

• Groceries: $500

• Gym/Showers: $30

• Laundry: $30

• Internet & Phone: $200

• Restaurants & Entertainment: $200

• Maintenance & Repairs: usually $0 due to having a newer van

Lie #2 - If You Live In A Van You’re Broke

This is the most common misconception I hear about my choice to live in a van full-time. Given how expensive it is to simply start van life (see lie #1), it’s strange to me that this is the typical assumption from the general public.

In my experience, the reality is the exact opposite - most of the people I’ve met who live in their vans full-time are financially stable with a steady income.

The desire to live in a van is often fueled by a desire to travel, and is not always made from a place of financial hardship.

While it’s rare, I do receive comments assuming that I don’t pay taxes (imagine being able to hide from Uncle Sam!) and I must not own a home.

The reality is that I pay federal income tax, state income tax, sales tax in every state I visit with each purchase I make… and I own my home (which means I also pay property taxes).

Every single person I’ve ever met who lives in a van has a job. Many have full-time remote jobs, and several work seasonal jobs throughout the year - like being a camp host, or working as a server. Occasionally, I meet people who are on a temporary sabbatical from a long-term employer.

My income comes from consulting and freelance marketing work, ad and affiliate revenue from my blog, and rent from investment properties (more property taxes I pay every year!)

Lie #3 - You Can Park And Sleep Anywhere

This is becoming less and less true. Unfortunately, as van life becomes more popular, there are a small number of people who overstay their welcome, leave behind trash or cause damage to places that used to openly welcome the van life community. In my experience, they are the minority, but their impact is felt widely.

As a result, policies and laws that limit overnight parking are becoming more prevalent. There are several spots I used to frequent that no longer allow you to stay overnight.

There are some places in the US, like the road trip between Las Vegas and Zion National Park, where BLM land (free public land) is easy to find. In fact, Nevada and Utah are some of the easiest places to boondock. There are also places, like the entire East coast, where it’s nearly impossible to find free, safe, and legal places to camp overnight.

Some of the easiest places to find an abundance of free camping are throughout Utah, Colorado and Arizona. In general, I’ve found it more difficult to find campsites in California, Florida or western Washington.

Recently, there have been many new laws that make it more difficult to sleep in your vehicle. This is especially true for states like Florida, or anywhere experiencing a large population of unhoused members in their communities. The best way I’m able to find safe, legal campsites is with the iOverlander app or by asking friends in the nomad community for recommendations.

Lie #4 - Every Day Is Glamorous

Don’t believe everything you see online - there’s a lot of creative storytelling when it comes to realistic depictions of daily van life.

The most shocking reality I had when starting van life was how time consuming normal everyday tasks can become. On a daily basis I devoted hours figuring out where to shower, which grocery store to go to, and finding a safe place to sleep at night. And dishes… my least favorite chore and the one that never takes a day off.

In a house, I’m able to throw in a load of laundry while showering, and get ready for the day in under an hour.

In a van, I have to pack up my things, put away dishes and anything that might break while driving, drive 20-minutes to a shower, then head to a laundromat. It’s much harder to multitask. 

Basic chores require more work to plan and time to drive. In the van, morning chores can easily take me more than 2 hours.

I will also admit that around 50% of my nights were spent sleeping in a Walmart parking lot or a truck stop. This is as far from glamorous as it sounds.

These places are convenient if you’re driving long distances and need a quick stop-over. Sometimes they’re the only legal places in a city to park overnight. They also tend to be loud all night long, can have some shady characters, and are usually full of trash.

While they’re convenient backup options, the reality is that you’re locked inside your vehicle and you aren’t outside enjoying the sunset around a fire with friends.

Of course, there are plenty of glamorous days, too. For me, the moments I could wake up to sunrise in the mountains or catch views of the Milky Way from some of the darkest skies in the country made all the nights in a Walmart parking lot worth it.

Lie #5 - It's Extremely Dangerous To Be A Solo Traveler

Last year, I spent a few months in Baja, Mexico for the winter. It was one of my favorite places to travel because of how easy it is to exist in a van (seriously, you can park right on the beach for free and there’s no limit for how long you can stay!)

However, there are some big opinions on safety in Mexico and I received a ton of comments on social media warning me of how much danger I was in.

So let me tell you the exact number of times I’ve ever felt like I was in danger while living on the road…

Zero. Not a single time.

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. But it goes to show that not every solo traveler is in imminent danger.

As a solo traveler, I’ve learned to be more diligent and proactive about taking safety into my own hands.

I research the places I plan to visit so I know what to expect and what areas to avoid. I put a lot of effort into minimizing the risk of stumbling into a dangerous situation.

I’m not immune to danger simply because I try to avoid it, but these are the things I’ve done in order to create the safest scenarios that still allow me to travel alone without living in fear:

• My phone location is shared with multiple family and friends at all times

• I have multiple GPS trackers on me and in my van, also shared with family

• When the sun goes down, I’m in my van with the doors locked. Having a toilet in my van means I never have to break this rule.

• I have multiple ways to defend myself and I don’t disclose what they are or where they’re located with anyone

• My keys are always stored in the same place so I can find them quickly, even in the dark, and my drivers seat is always cleared so I can drive away in an instant

Lastly, and most importantly, I make sure I’m paying attention to my surroundings.

This means when I walk through a parking lot I’m not on my phone or appearing to be distracted. A retired police officer gave me this tip, and it’s served me well: If you don’t look like an easy target, you probably won’t become a victim.

What he meant was that people with bad intentions will target people who are easy to approach, so they can get within arms reach without that person knowing they’re being targeted. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Simply being aware of your surroundings can decrease the chance of a bad encounter. Best to minimize the risk before it ever starts!

The Real Truth About Van Life

The reality of van life is that it looks different for everyone, and it can be whatever you make of it!

It can be extremely inexpensive to buy a used van and travel, or you can choose to buy a luxury van and stay in paid campgrounds with hot showers, a laundry facility and a hot tub.

There are many people who live in vans as a way to save on rent or housing expenses, and there are just as many people who travel in their campervans while maintaining a home base.

Depending on where you’re traveling, there can be an abundance of epic, free land to camp on. In other areas, it can be extremely difficult to find BLM land or other areas where you can legally camp for free.

No matter which path you take, you’ll still have chore days, travel days, sick days, and plenty of time spent in Walmart parking lots. You might be able to escape the rat race, but you can’t outrun the realities of life.

The biggest benefit to van life is that you can sculpt it into whatever you want it to be! And if you change your mind, you can just roll onto the next destination.