For an increasing number of people, outfitting a van or skoolie with a bed and kitchenette is nothing new, but rather a place to call home. While #vanlife has been trending on Instagram (7.3 million posts) and YouTube (thousands of videos) for years , and more recently on TikTok (over 1 billion views), Google Trends shows that the search term “van life” has the highest number of All-time high June 21 Words like “absolute freedom,” “limitless exploration” and “eco-minimalism” are used by van lifers to describe the lifestyle, often appearing next to photos and videos that have received thousands of likes in the title. But people aren’t just doubling down on the voyeuristic fantasy of trading rents for roads—they’re actually doing it. Why now ?
While most habitable vans and buses come with accommodations such as built-in toilets, showers, and stoves, it's difficult to fully rely on these without outside resources such as gas stations, service shops, laundromats, grocery stores, and campgrounds. types of houses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these resources have either closed, are providing reduced services, or pose a high risk of exposure. At the same time, it seems that this alternative lifestyle may provide the perfect loophole to “stay at home” while exploring the world.
"Is now a good time to test out an alternative lifestyle? Yes and no," Alexa and Kyle (@endlessroaming on Instagram) tell Bustle. In October, the pair traded a Baltimore townhouse for a short-distance bus. "One constant fact of life on the road is unpredictability. Even if you plan carefully, things will go wrong and plans will often change. That being said, COVID-19 is just another of these unpredictable events."
Adam and Brittani (@fenimoresadventuremore on Instagram) gave up their Denver apartment, sold all their possessions, and hit the road in February in a red van named Clifford. Pandemic-related closures have complicated their travel, but they don't mind. "We ended up in Florida for nine weeks, where we originally planned to stay for about two weeks. Plans kept changing, but despite the new and unexpected challenges COVID-19 has brought, we still love it."
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Outside the United States, van life is not only complicated, but also restrictive in some areas. Luca (@lucafroehlingsdorf on Instagram) left his childhood home in Stuttgart, Germany, last May and was already traveling around the Canary Islands in a van and being detained due to police restrictions when the pandemic hit. Forced to rent an apartment. "I wasn't allowed to stay in my van," he tells Bustle, adding that it was a "weird" and "expensive" time. "Especially because I feel safer alone in a van than in an apartment," he added.
While safety has always been a concern for van dwellers—sleeping in a parking lot and leaving all your belongings in a semi-secure spot is a constant danger—health risks are a new concern. “We do our best to limit stops and be mindful of how often we go grocery shopping, enter businesses, etc. We know that every time we enter a community, we need to do our part to keep ourselves and that community safe. Safe we can," Adam and Brittany explained. "Being self-sufficient helps because we can go deep into the wilderness alone and enjoy nature while isolating."
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While waking up to a different postcard view every morning is a shared value, van life isn't all Instagram-worthy. “It’s not luxurious at all,” Luca said. He wouldn't trade the freedom of having a beach house today and a mountain house tomorrow, but he does miss using the toilet, taking regular showers and socializing. "I spent a lot of time alone," he said.
For Alexa and Kyle, day-to-day logistics make van life less glamorous than it seems online. “Finding where to park overnight, where to find drinking water and where to dump waste are not bucket list items you look forward to figuring out,” they say. For Adam and Brittani, technical difficulties make van life stressful . “It can be very nerve-wracking when an engine fails or a near miss happens in a parking lot – our van is not just a car, it’s our home,” she said.
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While the timing of these adventures and current interest in lifestyle may come with health risks and complications, Adam and Brittany say the trend makes sense. "With summer vacations (domestic and international) canceled, many people are now considering this lifestyle," they said, adding that vans are the perfect antidote for travelers who avoid air travel. They added: “The combination of many people working remotely and a desire to explore the great outdoors is the perfect recipe for finding van life.”
As businesses and parks reopen in many states, the challenge is getting easier. Feeling empowered and resilient after learning how to cope with the pandemic, these van dwellers are more committed to the lifestyle than ever. "Our vision was to live in our van for at least a year," Adam and Brittani said. "If anything, due to COVID-19, we plan to do it for even longer now." While Alexa and Kyle won't be stepping into the van again On the same journey they had planned, but they were still committed to living on the road for a while. “We have been limiting our time in cities and destinations so that we feel safe and in turn keep others safe. But, having said that, there are so many beautiful places to visit in nature that are just as rewarding, so we never There will be a lack of things to explore.”
