Van life gives you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want — but that can come with a catch: it’s easy to feel a little disconnected and lonely, especially if you’re solo or spending long stretches off-grid.
The good news? There’s a vibrant, supportive van life community out there — both online and in the real world.
And if you ever want to chat, PLEASE just reach out to us in the comments OR on our Instagram, we are real people and love getting to know our community members better! -Alastair & Helen
In this part of the guide, we’ll show you how to tap into that, build real connections, and avoid the isolation that can sneak up when your home has wheels — we know how it is, we've been there.
💌 This is part of our Ultimate Guide to Van Life – a members-only series for subscribers of Campers & Camping.
In this in-depth series, we share everything you need to know about van life: from choosing your first camper van, to budgeting, working remotely, and handling the realities of life on the road.
✨ Not subscribed yet? Join our community for free to unlock this series →
📚 Ultimate Guide to Van Life – Table of Contents:
- Is this lifestyle really for you?
- Choosing or building your camper van
- How much does van life cost — and can it save you money?
- Full-time vs. part-time van living
- The unglamorous stuff: parking, showers, toilets & more
- Finding community and staying connected ← You are here
Does van life get lonely?
Sometimes, yes — especially if you're full-time, moving around a lot, or traveling solo.
That said, this will be less likely if you are doing it as a couple but most van lifers eventually find a rhythm that works for them, and many build strong social circles because of the lifestyle.
The trick is being intentional about creating and maintaining connection to others.
How to find van life community on the road
🏕️ Attend van life gatherings
Events like VanFest, Descend on Bend (one of our favorite towns, where we lived for 7 months), Tiny Fest, and Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) bring hundreds of van dwellers together in one spot.
