For a few years, I’d been dreaming about van life…. However, I’d never been on an RV or van trip so my boyfriend and I decided to try out the lifestyle together for a week-long trip around Utah’s National Parks.
If camping and budget travel is your thing, keep reading! If you're more interested in a larger RV or glamping, stop here! 'm happy to plan a custom trip. Just reach out!
Our trip was very basic but filled with adventure. Mo and I tend to not spend a lot of money when we’re traveling. But we still like to see and do as much as possible. Sleeping, cooking, and driving in a relatively small vehicle was perfect for this trip.
If you’re living in a converted van, you pretty much have to be okay with camping. Depending on the size many don’t have showers or toilets, so you’re at the mercy of campgrounds or other creative resources.
Below I share our itinerary and cost breakdown for the trip. I hope this gives you some inspiration for trying a converted van!
Renting a converted van
We used Outdoorsy. Outdoorsy is a platform to rent vehicles that often include some sort of camping option. It’s advertised as a RV search, but it includes more than RVs! They have everything from full large RVs to small trucks that have an attached tent.
I’d highly recommend Outdoorsy for nature-lovers or travelers that are looking for something new or “off the beaten path”. It was a great experience, easy, and very similar to booking an Airbnb. These vehicles are usually owned by individuals who love to camp or travel but are not using the vehicle all year. With the rental car shortage in 2021, we actually felt that this was the more secure option.
If you’re looking for a certified RV to explore the American West, let me know and I can help with your booking. Fill out my Trip Inquiry Form to get started.
Our Itinerary:
Friday Night: Arrive in Salt Lake City and stay in Airbnb within walking distance of Outdoorsy Van location.
Saturday: Pick up van in morning. Drive to Moab. Camp in BLM Land.
Sunday: Explore Canyonlands National Park. Camp in BLM Campground.
Monday: Explore Arches National Park. Drive to Southern part of Canyonlands National Park. Camp in BLM Campground.
Tuesday: Explore Canyonlands National Park. Camp in National Park Campground.
Wednesday: Explore Bluff. Drive to Natural Bridges National Monument via Valley of the Gods. Camp in BLM Land.
Thursday: Explore Natural Bridges National Monument. Drive to Capitol Reef. Camp in National Forest.
Friday: Explore Capitol Reef. Backcountry camp in National Park.
Saturday: Drive back to Salt Lake City and stay in Airbnb. Clean out rental van!
Sunday: Return rental van.
Costs for the week
- Rental Van Costs:
$79/day x 9 days=$711 + taxes and fees = $963
- Extra mileage charge: $92
- Gas (2021): $180
- National Parks Pass (annual): $80
- Camping/Parking Costs:
- 2 nights in BLM land: $0
- Night 1 in BLM Campground: $10
- Night 2 in BLM Campground: $15
- 1 night in National Park Campground: $20
- 1 night in National Forest: $0
- 1 night backcountry camping: $0
- Other Variable Costs:
- Groceries and cooking supplies: $196
- Restaurants and miscellaneous costs: $190
- 2 nights in Airbnbs: $190
Total Cost: $1,936
Total Cost Per Person: $968
Details on our trip:
- Our van:
- 2013 Ford transit. It ran on gas (not diesel).
- Included a bed for 2 people, basic camping stove, cooking and cleaning supplies, a small refrigerator, and an outdoor shower.
- 125 miles included per day in this rental. We were charged a $0.75/mile fee for every mile above that average.
- Camping/Parking:
- Since we were traveling around National Parks in Utah, we were able to ask Park Rangers where we could park and do “dispersed camping” for free. We were able to do this in BLM lands and National Forests. I mention specific recommendations in my Camping Guide for Arches National Park.
- If you prefer a toilet for the night or prefer to be in sight of other people, BLM campgrounds are a good, inexpensive option.
- Since our shower didn’t offer much privacy, we were able to use it in some more remote campgrounds or BLM land with eco-safe soap. We also washed off when we could in rivers!
What are you waiting for?
If you have absolutely any interest in #vanlife you might as well try it for the same price as a rental car! Renting a converted van is a great way to experience something new while accounting for the cost of transportation and lodging all in one!
