Travel & Destinations

The Pacific Coast Highway offers stunning ocean views and numerous camping options. Utah's national parks (Zion, Bryce, Arches) provide spectacular landscapes with van-friendly campgrounds. The Blue Ridge Parkway features beautiful mountain scenery with convenient pull-offs. For desert adventures, explore Arizona's diverse terrain. The Pacific Northwest combines forests, mountains, and coastal access with abundant public lands.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers stunning Lake Superior coastline with beachfront camping. The Porcupine Mountains feature old-growth forests and lakeside campsites. Tahquamenon Falls State Park provides access to Michigan's largest waterfall with dedicated RV sites. Explore the Keweenaw Peninsula for historic mining towns and remote beaches. Visit during summer and early fall for ideal weather conditions.

Reserve campgrounds 6-12 months in advance through recreation.gov, especially for summer visits. Plan a minimum 3-day itinerary divided by regions: Old Faithful/geyser basin, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and Mammoth/Lamar Valley for wildlife. Consider nearby national forest camping for more availability. Download offline maps as cell service is limited. Visit during shoulder seasons (May/September) for fewer crowds.

Allow 7-10 days minimum for the 600-mile journey from San Diego to San Francisco. Book state park campgrounds in advance, especially at popular spots like Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Crystal Cove. Travel north to south for easier ocean-side pullouts. Plan for slow driving (35-45 mph) on twisty sections. Visit during spring or fall to avoid summer fog and crowds.

The Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire offers 34 miles of stunning foliage and campgrounds. Vermont's Route 100 winds through charming villages with beautiful mountain views. Massachusetts' Mohawk Trail provides historic routes and overlooks, while Maine's coastal Route 1 combines ocean views with colorful forests. Peak colors range from late September to mid-October.

Top camper van stargazing destinations include Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania, and Big Bend National Park in Texas. The desert southwest, with places like Death Valley and Joshua Tree, offers clear skies. Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico combines ancient ruins with pristine night views.

Use apps like GasBuddy or Trucker Path to find stations with adequate clearance and access. Favor truck stops such as Flying J, Pilot, and Love's, which accommodate larger vehicles. Avoid downtown or tight-entrance stations, and confirm clearance for high-roof vans (usually 9'+). Plan stops in advance on routes with limited options.

For toll roads, purchase a universal transponder like E-ZPass (eastern US) or FasTrak (western US). Register your vehicle in the appropriate weight class—most camper vans qualify as Class 1 or 2. For ferries, check vehicle height/length restrictions and reservation requirements in advance. Budget for higher ferry costs based on vehicle length. Consider alternate routes if toll costs are prohibitive.

Use apps like AllTrails and Gaia GPS for nearby trail maps. Visit ranger stations for updates and join regional Facebook groups for local insights. Download Recreation.gov for national park details, and use iOverlander or Campendium to find trailside campsites. Check state park websites for maps and information.

In the Adirondack Park, top camper van destinations include Lake Placid with hiking trail access, High Peaks Wilderness for mountain views, and Saranac Lake's waterfront camping. Lake George offers developed campgrounds in the south and secluded spots in the north, while Blue Mountain Lake gives central access to cultural sites. Visit in spring or fall.

The East Coast boasts diverse camper van destinations like Acadia National Park in Maine with dramatic landscapes, Outer Banks in North Carolina for beach camping, and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with scenic drives. The Florida Keys offer tropical island-hopping, the Great Smoky Mountains feature wildlife and hiking, and New York’s Finger Lakes present wineries and waterfalls.

Look for International Dark Sky Parks and Sanctuaries, which maintain strict light pollution controls. National forests and BLM land away from cities offer excellent viewing. Use apps like Dark Site Finder and Light Pollution Map to identify areas with minimal light pollution. Higher elevations and dry climates typically provide clearer night skies.

GasBuddy shows fuel prices and station amenities. Trucker Path identifies stations with easy RV access and diesel options. iOverlander includes user-reported information about height clearances and maneuverability. Apps like Pilot/Flying J and Love's Travel Stops show truck stops with dedicated RV lanes and dump stations.

Research local parking regulations and avoid areas with overnight parking restrictions. Look for industrial areas or quiet residential streets without parking restrictions. Use apps like Park4Night and iOverlander to find urban spots other van dwellers have used successfully. Arrive late, leave early, and maintain a low profile. Consider paid options like Harvest Hosts or urban campgrounds.

Download Google Translate with offline language packs, and learn essential phrases for emergencies, directions, and mechanical issues. Use visual communication cards for common needs, prepare translated documents for medical conditions or dietary restrictions, and consider devices like Pocketalk. Join traveler communities at your destination for language support and download language-specific keyboard layouts.

Lake Placid offers excellent amenities and access to High Peaks hiking. Saranac Lake region provides waterfront camping with canoe access. The Wild Center in Tupper Lake combines nature education with nearby camping. For waterfalls, explore Ausable Chasm and High Falls Gorge. Fall foliage season (late September-mid October) delivers spectacular colors throughout the park, especially along the Olympic Byway.

New Zealand's freedom camping and diverse landscapes, Portugal's affordable options with mild climate, Canada's vast wilderness, Scotland's Right to Roam, Australia's adventurous routes with networks, and Norway's allemannsretten offer excellent camper van travel experiences. Each country presents unique regulations for overnight parking and wild camping, appealing to different travel preferences.

Research local food markets and staples before crossing borders, adapting recipes to use available ingredients. Carry essential spices from home and research each country's food import restrictions. Use pressure cookers for fuel-efficient cooking with unfamiliar foods. Download offline translation apps with food vocabulary for easier shopping in different regions.

Use apps like iOverlander, Campendium, and FreeRoam to locate established free camping areas. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest lands offer dispersed camping options. Some Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Cabela's locations permit overnight stays (always call ahead to confirm). For urban areas, look for industrial zones without parking restrictions or use Harvest Hosts memberships.

iOverlander provides user-verified free and paid camping spots worldwide. Campendium offers detailed reviews and cell signal strength information. The Dyrt shows campground photos and amenities with a useful Pro version for offline use. FreeRoam specializes in public land camping. AllStays combines campgrounds, truck stops, and overnight parking options. Harvest Hosts connects you with unique stays at farms and wineries.

Big Bend National Park in Texas, Joshua Tree in California, and Arizona's desert regions are ideal for mild winter temperatures. The Florida Keys offer tropical camping with hookups at state parks, while Death Valley presents dramatic landscapes with comfortable temperatures. Ski resort parking lots in Colorado and Utah accommodate snow enthusiasts with proper preparation.

"Nomadland" by Jessica Bruder explores modern nomadism. "Van Life: Your Home on the Road" by Foster Huntington features photography and stories. "The Vanlife Companion" by Lonely Planet offers practical tips. "How to Live in a Van and Travel" by Mike Hudson gives firsthand advice, and "Walden on Wheels" by Ken Ilgunas discusses minimalism.

Research vehicle import regulations and obtain temporary import permits and insurance. Acquire international driving permits and ensure your vehicle's documentation is complete, including a carnet de passage if necessary. Consider shipping your van using container or roll-on/roll-off services. Check camping regulations, electrical systems, fuel types, and emissions standards for each destination.

Use multi-currency cards like Wise or Revolut for favorable exchange rates and notify your banks of travel plans. Carry diverse payment methods, including credit cards without foreign transaction fees, and use ATMs affiliated with major banks. Download banking apps with international features. Keep emergency cash and consider cryptocurrency where accepted.

Use iOverlander for global camping locations and border crossing information. Maps.me provides detailed offline maps for navigation without data. Park4Night helps find camping spots throughout Europe. Wikicamps is excellent for Australia and New Zealand. TripAdvisor offers attraction reviews worldwide. Google Maps allows downloading regions for offline use. Consider Furkot for detailed trip planning with multiple stops and border considerations.

Use apps like iOverlander, Campendium, and FreeRoam for reviewed free camping spots. Explore Bureau of Land Management and National Forest lands for 14-day dispersed camping. Consider Wildlife Management Areas and businesses like Walmart or Cracker Barrel for overnight parking. Join Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome for private property stays. Arrive in daylight for safety.

The Pacific Coast Highway provides dramatic ocean views, while the Blue Ridge Parkway showcases Appalachian beauty. Utah's Mighty 5 connects breathtaking desert landscapes. The Alaska Highway offers wilderness views and wildlife. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi, and the Icefields Parkway traverses the Canadian Rockies. Natchez Trace Parkway presents historical sites.