For my last two blog posts, I have gone over what van living is, some pros and cons of van living, and the dos and don’ts of van living. As I was brainstorming for this blog post, I was thinking “if I was in a van, how would I plan my trips, and what would my itineraries look like?” In this blog post, I go over the way I would plan my van trips if I was living in a van. I hope you find this helpful and who knows, maybe you could even use the following method to plan some of your own trips.
STEP ONE: DO YOUR RESEARCH
I say this because I find this to be the most important step in planning a trip. Some people like the idea of just “going with the flow,” but for me, being prepared and having knowledge of the area you are wanting to explore is the best idea.
If you’re planning on parking your van and exploring the area, it would be nice to know if the area is safe and if parking is even allowed. This is also useful in case you want to spend the night there in your van. You also want to know if there are any amenities around the area that would be beneficial to you.
It would be nice to know where the nearest gas station is, or where the nearest dumping station is (if you have a toilet on the van, you can dump and clear out the system). It also would be nice to know of any trails or attractions nearby.
STEP TWO: CREATE A SCHEDULE
Creating a schedule is beneficial for having an organized trip and general layout of your trip. If you create a schedule, this helps with time management and can help you get the most out of the trip. You could plan out how long you want to spend in each area which may allow you to cover everything you want to without running out of daylight. You do not want to ever leave your area feeling disappointed because you did not get to go everywhere you wanted.
Of course, if you’re staying in an area for multiple days, then create a schedule that works best for you. You do not have to do all activities in one day if you do not want to. Also, remember, your van is your home, so you can stay anywhere as long as you want.
STEP THREE: MAKE THE MOST OF WHERE YOU VISIT
Where ever place you go to visit and explore, do not forget to just make the most of it and enjoy it. Living in a van may have its cons somedays, but at the end of the day, the world is in your backyard when van living. I would assume that if you are living in your van then you probably make your own schedule for where you go. I would keep track of all the places you go, whether it is by taking photos, videos, or even journaling. You only have one life, so make the best memories you can.
CHECK OUT THIS OTHER BLOG ABOUT PLANNING BY AL CHRISTENSE
https://cheaprvliving.com/the-best-laid-plans/
Like I said earlier, I hope you can find these steps helpful. That is all for now, don’t forget to have fun and be safe.
Best, 🙂
Abigail Chabala
A Golden Studio 
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