Van Life Manual – Part 6: Finding community and staying connected
Avoid isolation and find your people — how to connect with the van life community, stay social, and make the road feel a little less lonely
Scrolling through Instagram, it’s easy to believe van life is all ocean sunsets, coffee mugs held in scenic doorways, and endless freedom on the open road.
And while those moments do happen, anyone who’s spent real time in a van knows there’s more to the story. Life on wheels can be cramped, messy, occasionally damp, and yet also one of the most rewarding and freeing experiences you’ll ever have.
The catch? Buying or building a camper van is a serious investment.
Whether you’re drawn to having your own minimalist DIY conversion or a high-spec professional build, you’re committing significant time, money, and energy. Before you take that leap, it’s worth asking: Do I actually enjoy this lifestyle?
The good news is, you don’t have to live in a van for months to find out. A weekend, or even a single night, can teach you plenty. Here are three low-commitment, budget-friendly ways to get a genuine taste of van life before you put your savings into four wheels and a bed.
Why try before you buy?
A short test run gives you honest answers to questions you might not think to ask until you’re already committed:
- Which features actually matter to you (do you really need a built-in shower or toilet?)
- What layouts feel comfortable, and which ones don’t
- How you handle the day-to-day logistics: power, water, storage, privacy
- Whether the feeling of living in a small, moving space energizes you… or not
It’s far cheaper to discover your must-haves (and deal-breakers) before they’re built into a van you own.
Option 1. Borrow a friend or family member’s camper van
If you know someone who owns a camper van or RV, now’s the time to reach out.
Even if their setup isn’t exactly what you envision, borrowing a van, or getting mates rates renting it, for a weekend will give you a real-world taste of the lifestyle; cooking in a small space, keeping warm at night, finding a place to park, and managing water and power.
While you’re at it, take notes. Ask them:
- What do they wish they’d done differently in their build?
- Which pieces of gear do they rely on most?
- What’s the most frustrating part of their setup?
You’ll pick up valuable insights just by living in someone else’s van for a day or two.
Option 2. Rent a camper van for a weekend or trip
Services like Outdoorsy make it easy to book vans of all shapes, sizes, and layouts, from basic builds to luxury rigs, much like renting an Airbnb. You can filter by features, van type, and pickup location to match your needs.
Renting is one of the best ways to test different layouts and systems before committing to your own. It lets you:
- Sleep, cook, and travel in a functional van
- Try out different bed sizes, storage solutions, and kitchen setups
- See how much space you actually need
- Learn which quirks you can live with, and which ones will drive you mad
Many rentals come with essentials like cookware and bedding, so you can pack light and focus on the experience.
Option 3. Go car camping
If renting or borrowing isn’t possible, car camping is a surprisingly good alternative. While it’s not quite van life, it shares many similarities and costs almost nothing to try.
All you need:
- A car with enough room to sleep in (SUVs and hatchbacks work best)
- A basic sleep setup: air mattress, sleeping bag, or blankets
- A few van life essentials like a portable light, cooler, or camp stove
You’ll quickly learn how to pack light, where to find safe overnight spots, and what it’s like to wake up outdoors. It’s a low-risk way to figure out if upgrading to a camper van is worth it for you.
The takeaway
There’s no single “right” way to do van life. Some people travel year-round, others take seasonal trips, and many use their vans just for long weekends.
But whether your dream is months on the road or short escapes between workweeks, testing the waters first is one of the smartest moves you can make.
Start small. Stay curious. And if you find yourself grinning at the sunrise through an open van door, you’ll know you’re on the right track.
