Tips for Your First Campervan Trip
Campervan travel is a special kind of adventure, combining the best aspects of car camping, road tripping, and access to sightseeing favorites and wild places off the beaten track. You can enjoy the freedom and simplicity of backwoods adventures while relaxing with the creature comforts of a comfy bed and full kitchen. No matter how many miles we rack up in the van, hitting the open road with an exciting road trip itinerary brings a thrill of excitement that never gets old. And whether it's our first trip or our 50th, part of the fun is learning new ways to make the most of our campervan adventure. We've put together a few of our favorite tips for you to consider when planning your next foray into #vanlife.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
Campervans will happily eat up the interstate miles, but we think they really shine on highways, byways, and backroad drives. They're built for fun, not Formula 1 — so why not make the most of your journey at a pleasant cruising speed with a few stops along the way? Wherever the destination is, we prefer the scenic route. Make note of interesting towns, attractions, or natural features you'll pass by, and pick up a copy of the Roadside Geology Guide to scope out the local geology as you go (it's fascinating stuff, we promise!). Make it a point to pull over at every Historic Site marker. If keeping your drive time below 6 hours a day is an option for your itinerary, it'll allow you to go slower and let the present moment, wherever that may be, feel almost as much fun as your final destination.
Plan for going off-grid — even if you don't expect to
Between mountain passes, remote valleys, and meandering two-lane roads, there's a significant portion of Montana and the surrounding states where cell phone coverage just isn't a thing. Even when the nearest tower is an hour or more from wherever you are, you can stay oriented with a GPS app like OnX or Gaia GPS. Be sure to pre-download the maps of your area onto your device while you're still in service, and then when the coverage drops off, you can be confident in where you are — and where you're heading. It never hurts to take along a good old printed atlas, either.
Pre-book your campsites
Unless you're planning on utilizing dispersed camping — aka camping outside of a designated campsite, like up a forest service road or on a BLM field — pre-booking your campsites is always a great option. Nothing kills the vibe like rolling into the campground you've traveled hundreds of miles for, only to see a "no vacancy" note on the welcome sign. Recreation.gov is an excellent resource for discovering cool campgrounds in the areas you'll be driving through, and makes it easy to book sites and manage upcoming trips through your own free account. (It is also MIGHTY nice to navigate and a cut well above most government websites.)
Many campgrounds tend to fill up on weekends, with better site availability on weekdays (and the crowds tend to be thinner then, too). If you're in a lodging pickle, or you're craving spontaneity, an app like OnX also makes it easy to identify public land for dispersed camping along the way. Note that dispersed camping typically means no toilets, tables, or fire rings. But your Tierra Traveler campervan rental comes with a portable fire pit, tables, chairs, a table, and a tabletop grill — you're a self-contained unit, free to drive and camp wherever the winds of adventure call you. The apps Campendium and iOverlander show campervan-friendly places to park overnight, with notes from recent campers on facilities, accessibility, popularity, noise, views, and other key details.
Suppose you're in a busy parking area or tight space. In that case, it's usually better to back into the spot from the get-go so you can pull out forward when you leave, versus going nose-in and then needing to back out into whatever potential surprises await. Plus, if you're camping, backing in creates more privacy if you want to pop open those campervan doors.
Pack smart, eat well, sleep happy
Our Tierra Traveler campervan rentals come stocked with nearly everything you need to cruise off into the sunset — just add groceries (and a few personal items). With a fridge and a freezer, you've got options. We're big fans of one pot/one pan & simplified meals — stir fries, scrambles, one-pot pasta, chilis… or get creative. Take advantage of outdoor grilling opportunities, too, from basic burgers to quesadillas, foil-wrapped fish, and even veggies. Small towns usually have some grocery options, but if there’s a favorite staple or hard-to-find item you need to complete your personal pantry, it’s typically easier to shop before you go.
Before you roll out, take the time to secure items, so they don't roll around the van. Make sure the van is parked level, or use leveling blocks to adjust your angle — you’ll sleep better on a level surface. If you're sharing a campground with other people, dogs, or generators, it might be nice to use a white noise app while you sleep. When using a screen (phone, tablet, kindle, etc) at night, don't forget that blue light blocker (a filter app or glasses) to help your brain transition to sleep. And hey, if you're offline anyway — consider embracing the opportunity to check out & tune in with a book or your journal (and keeping a journal is a cool memento of your trip). It can be nice sometimes to simply listen to the natural world around you and watch the stars slowly pop out overhead — a truly old school (dare we say ancient) way for humans to welcome in the nighttime.
The most underrated item we can think of?
Camp slippers, house slippers, booties, cabin shoes — they've got many names and many benefits when it comes to maximum vanlife comfort. They're not a need-to-have, but they sure make cool nights much nicer.
We hope you've found an idea or two to work into your upcoming campervan trip — happy trails! And if you're looking for campervans to rent, especially in Montana or the surrounding areas, check out our rental page — our Sprinter conversion vans Gaucho and Mijo are road-ready and perfect for your next adventure.
“We are local to Tierra Traveler and love using their vans for mountain camping getaways. Anna and Kinney are great to work with and have thought of everything for your camping trip, from fully stocked kitchen to hammocks and bear spray - all the creature comforts, so for those traveling from out of the area, the only thing you have to worry about is which spot is best to park! We’ve camped in both the Gaucho and Poncho (2 adults and one small dog), each summited the Beartooth Plateau without issue.”
