In the ever-changing landscape of adventure travel, where the open road calls and exploration becomes a way of life, you have two options while living on the road: van life or RV life. Growing up as a kid, I spent every holiday in an RV somewhere around the United States or Mexico, but when I graduated college, reality slapped me in the face that living solo in an RV was, well, extra. I didn’t need all that space, so, I built out my own van and lived full-time on the road for seven years. Now, however, I have a committed girlfriend and dog, so van life isn’t ideal anymore.
As life changes I am constantly asking myself, should I be in a van or an RV? If you are in this same predicament, here’s a break down of my thought process between RV life vs van life for anyone who wants to live a nomadic lifestyle.
Exploring the open roads of British Columbia. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Comparing van life vs RV life:
Before diving into the nitty-griddy of van life vs rv life, I want to lay down some basics so there is no confusion of what I am comparing. Those basics will include my definitions of van life and RV life, lifestyle assumptions, desired activities, and desired community. My overall goal is to compare the lifestyle of both with a few assumptions:
You can work remotely and make roughly $60k a year
You love the outdoors and want to play outside as much as possible
You don’t have to rely on others if something basic breaks on your rig
You will move your rig around based on the seasons
What is Van Life?
Van life is a chosen nomadic lifestyle where your home is a van. This can mean you road trip around the United States, or around the world. The main characteristic of van life is that your home on wheels is a van. It doesn’t matter if you have a fancy Sprinter van converted by Airstream or a janky and, somewhat creepy, rust bucket for a van. While I haven’t lived in a pre-converted van, I will say, I’ve lived at both spectrums of these van life experience and one is just more comfortable than the other.
In terms of wanderlust, van life emerges as the epitome of agility, granting wanderers and road trippers unparalleled freedom to experience journeys both grand and intimate, near and far, within bustling urban jungles and secluded off-the-beaten-path landscapes. For those who crave the thrill of spontaneity and the ability to uncover hidden gems, van life stands as the ultimate solo and small family vehicle.
What is RV Life?
RV life at it’s roots means you live in an RV, by choice, exploring the wherever the roads allow you to go. You have all the basics and a little comfort, like a shower and a kitchen table. Some RVs have full bathrooms and pop-outs that allow you to do yoga in your “living room” while others are still compact, tiny homes on wheels.
RVs redefine adventure back in the 90’s with a focus on comfort and convenience, much like van life has reinvigorated travelers today. RV enthusiasts enjoy long term travel with the luxury of a traditional home. The coziness and comfort often includes spacious kitchens, couches, bedroom, and full bathrooms making life on the road sustainable for families. The biggest downsize, the size of your rig.
What’s the difference between RV Life and Van lIfe?
In a single, defining word; comfort. Comfort defines the difference between RV life and van life when comparing the two at a 10,000 foot level. Both offer the same level of freedom on the road, yet RV life has a couch, shower, full kitchen, a flushing toilet, room to stretch, and so much more. Meanwhile, van life offers more access to remote camping spots, mobility in cities, stealth camping, and a better starting price point.
Now, that we have the basics down, let’s jump into the details that define these two liftestyles.
Driving a van in Monument Valley. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Cost Comparison
Van Life:
Van life tends to be the frugal choice when living on the road because the barrier to entry is lower than RV life. Vans are generally more cost-effective to purchase ($15k - $110k), maintain (roughly $2k-$5k a year), and fuel (roughly $110 per tank). Also, your registration and insurance on a van is often lower than RVs because a van is typically not considered a luxury item. The best part of living in a van is the cost to park it, which should be free! The smaller size and often more capable vehicles allow vans to enjoy BLM land to camp on for 14 days at a time without moving or paying to sleep. This adds up over time!
For a deep dive in to van life costs, here are three helpful articles:
RV Life:
RV life, with its larger size and amenities, can be a more substantial financial investment upfront and to operate. The RV industry is well established at this point, so the consistency is more predictable, but that doesn’t mean the costs are cheaper. Actually, the costs of anything RV related is often more expensive. While the initial costs to buy ($30K - $1.5M) and maintenance expenses ($5K-10K a year) may be higher than van life prices, RV lifers find value in the comfort and convenience that larger rigs offer. The investment in an RV often translates into a mobile haven that enhances the overall travel and leisure experience. The downside of comfort is you pay for parking, typically $30 to $50 a night (aka $900 to $1,500 a month) and the extra fuel costs ranging from $150 to $300 a tank.
Soaking in the gray skies next to the water while vanlifing in Alaska. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Parking Your Rig and Access to the outdoors
Van Life:
For adventure seekers drawn to remote and wild landscapes, van life is the stands out. Some vans come in 4WD and offer high clearance, so you would have plenty of places you could explore if you know how to maneuver your van well. Additionally, vans are equipped with solar panels, portable toilets, and compact heating systems making them self-sufficient and the perfect exploration vehicle. Van dwellers often embrace the challenge of reaching off-the-grid destinations, down wash-board roads that rattle everything, just to post up for a few days in nature, alone.
I can tell you this has always been my favorite outings! If I can pop my backdoors open to the world and enjoy the beauty of nature, maybe even have a climbing destination as my backyard! That would be my ideal camp spot.
RV Life:
RVs may face challenges reaching remote areas because they are so big. When you pick RV life you better be good at backing up because if you go down a road and can’t turn around, you’ll be scooting backwards for a very long time. On the plus side, RV life offers more comforts for longer stays in remote locations. After a long day out, you can kick back on a couch while your partner cooks dinner and your dog lays on the ground. Moreover, you several people can stay in an RV at one time, so RV life is more suitable for families. The additional indoor space allows you to work remotely more comfortable, which means if you can get your rig deep into the woods, you wont need to return to civilization for up to two, sometimes three weeks.
Even better, if you bring e-bikes with you in your RV, you can run your errands using those!
Personalizing Your Rig
Van Life:
Van conversions are a testament to the creativity of the van life community. Yes, vans are starting to come pre-converted, but those builds are not as popular, nor as cost effiecent, as a self converted van. When converting your own space make sure to utilize the space. When using inventive design solutions, transforming vans into livable spaces that reflect the spirit of their owners. Some van life builds go vertical while others focus on layouts that can be altered, like a bed to table. Every modification becomes a statement, a unique expression of the adventurer's personality and lifestyle. You’ll need to pick and choose what you want as a van lifer.
To make sure you build a van you like, take the time to look at other people’s vans when you see them.
RV Life:
RVs may not offer the same level of customization as vans, but they provide a canvas for personalization that most are unwilling to unlock. Interior decor, layout adjustments, and full redesigns are possible if you are willing to do the work. RVs are larger canvas that should be of interest to all those who need more space. Sure, a remodel isn’t the most ideal when dumping a bunch of cash upfront on an RV, but it is possible. The good news, since the RV industry has been around for a longer time period, people have come up with redesigns online that you can follow for almost any RV.
Enjoying a campfire in remote Baja during a van life meet up. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Community and Lifestyle Differences
Van Life:
The van life community exemplifies camaraderie when you are around each other. The challenge, finding other van life friends. Most of the communities around van life have to due with the activities you enjoy doing. For example, mountain bike van lifers will all be hanging out around the popular mountain biking locations. From my seven years of van life this concept holds true for rock climbing communities, photography communities, and surf communities. Sure, you can try connecting through social media, rely on chance encounters on the road, or head to van life gatherings, but your best bet at building a community of van lifers is to go out and do the activity.
Top Activities for Van life:
Photography
RV Life:
RVers, too, build connections on the road and online, however most of the meetings occur while in a campground. Campgrounds and RV parks become hubs of social interaction, where travelers swap tales of adventures and tips for the next great destination. Sometimes this is around a campfire or at the picnic tables. RV parks often have showers and community centers that are perfect for connecting and building a community. One noticeably different way of connecting is the use of Facebook groups for specific RV builds. Several RV builds have cult followings with a Facebook group of other owners to connect. All of these together help foster lasting friendships, turning the nomadic lifestyle into a collective journey.
Top Activities for RV Life:
Snorkeling
SUPing
Mountain Biking or Road Cycling
Photography
Alaska, the land of long roads and braided rivers. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Which is right for you; van life or RV life?
The choice between van life and RV life becomes a pivotal decision, shaping not only the mode of exploration but the very essence of the journey. Van life offers the nimbleness to weave through urban landscapes and conquer off-road challenges, while RV life provides the comfort and versatility to transform the journey into one of comfort. While the open road might be calling your name, ask yourself these quesitons below to know if a van or an RV is right for you:
How many people are you going to travel with?
Do you want to be off the grid more than on the grid?
Do you plan to sleep BLM or in parks?
What is your budget?
Can you work remote?
What activities do you like?
How much “stuff” do you need/want while living nomadically?
Do you want to move your rig often, or stay posted up in a single location for several weeks?
Do you need a full kitchen?
Do you want a flushable toilet?
When you take the time to answer these questions about how you want to travel and live on the road you will know if RV life or van life is better for your situation. I know my stance has been changing. Since pivoting from a solo traveling moving from surf spot to climbing spot to a guy with a dog and in a committed relationship, RV life looks much better than van life. However, five years ago, van life was perfect for me.
