It's Not as Complicated as the Internet Makes It
If you've been watching van life content online, you might think you need a 47-item checklist and a CDL to pull this off. You don't. Van camping is basically car camping with a bed in the back. Here's what actually matters.
Sleeping Setup
Our Explorer Van has a full bed built in, so you don't need to bring an air mattress or sleeping pad. Bring your own bedding — sheets, a blanket or sleeping bag, and pillows. That's it. The bed is comfortable. People overthink this.
Food Situation
You have a few options:
- Keep it simple: Cooler with sandwich stuff, snacks, drinks. No cooking required. This is honestly what most of our renters do for 1-2 night trips.
- Camp cooking: Bring a camp stove (or rent one from us) and cook at your site. One-pot meals are your friend. Chili, pasta, stir fry — anything that works in a single pot or pan.
- Eat out: A lot of the state parks near us are close to small towns with decent restaurants. No shame in camping all day and grabbing dinner in town.
Power and Charging
The van has USB ports and a 12V outlet. That'll keep your phones charged. If you need to run anything bigger (laptop, CPAP), let us know ahead of time and we can set you up with a portable power station.
Weather Prep
Indiana weather is unpredictable. Even if the forecast looks perfect, bring:
- A rain jacket (not just an umbrella — you'll be hiking)
- Layers. Mornings at a campsite in spring or fall can be 30 degrees colder than the afternoon
- An extra blanket. The van keeps out wind and rain, but it's not heated
The Bathroom Question
Every campground we send people to has bathrooms and showers. You don't need to figure out a toilet situation for the van. Just wear flip-flops to the bathhouse like everyone else.
What to Actually Pack
Here's the short list that covers 90% of trips:
- Bedding (sheets + blanket/sleeping bag + pillows)
- Cooler with food and drinks
- Camp chairs (we have some you can borrow)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- First aid kit (honestly just Band-Aids and ibuprofen)
- Trash bags
- A good book or a deck of cards
One Last Thing
Don't stress about doing it "right." There's no wrong way to camp. Some people hike 10 miles, some people sit in a camp chair and read all day. Both are valid. The point is to get outside and disconnect for a bit.
