The 16 Coolest Tricked-Out Camper Vans to Inspire Your Next Summer Road Trip
Breaking my lease, BRB.
If the idea of living out of your car doesn’t sound particularly appealing to you, then you’re probs not familiar with #vanlife. Vanlife is a minimalist, nomadic lifestyle that’s taken over social media, with people all over the world documenting their ’gram-worthy adventures from their live-in vans. The ~aesthetic~ is basically cottagecore meets The Wild Thornberries, and while the idea of traveling the world and not paying rent is enticing enough on its own, these vanlifers are also seriously skilled at pimping their rides. (@Xzibit, you better be taking notes.)
There’s a good chance vanlife isn’t for you if you’re someone who can’t function without your daily Starbucks run. But after spending so much of the past year indoors, I’m betting you’ll be hard-pressed not to catch a case of wanderlust when you see these tricked-out vans. And don’t worry, you don’t have to break your lease and sell all your worldly belongings to get a taste of the #vanlife: Just rent a camper van and start plotting out your dream road trip.
Scroll on to see a bunch of beautifully converted, self-sustaining vans parked all over the world. But wait, if this list convinces you to kiss your 9-to-5 grind permanently goodbye, please don’t tell your parents we ever had this convo. Here’s to the freedom of the open road!
@TheHuntersVanlife
Tennessee couple Ethan and Katelynn of The Hunters Vanlife converted their 2018 Ram ProMaster into a boho-chic home on wheels, which they use to drive all over the U.S. According to their Insta, they literally roast coffee out of their van (how cool!) and you can even order yourself a bag of the caffeinated goodness to enjoy at home.
@OnTheFreeSide
Despite having zero van-converting experience (truly what/so brave), Swedish couple Indie and Joel of On the Free Side managed to transform a Mercedes Sprinter into a totally rad pad. It literally looks like the chicest rustic farmhouse you could ever find on Airbnb.
@AndTheyTravel
For Alexandra and David of @AndTheyTravel, their converted Ram ProMaster is the perfect vessel for exploring national parks all over the U.S. The nature photos they share on Instagram are truly breathtaking, but the pics of the inside of their 60-square-foot van—which they’ve outfitted with a forest wallpaper mural—are honestly pretty sweet too. Did I mention they also built a 10-gallon solar shower on the roof?! “Outdoor naked showers are seriously our favorite thing,” the couple wrote on IG. Amen.
@BlixAndBess
Blix and Bess’s tiny home inside their Ram ProMaster is truly what dreams are made of (especially since their pups, Dechen and Baby, are along for the ride). The van is equipped with a mini outdoor table so they can always dine al fresco when the weather’s nice—which is enough to make me and the one teeny window in my apartment jealous. You can follow all their travels on YouTube.
@City2_Vanlife
London natives Charlie and Lara of City 2 Vanlife decided to quit the “rat race” of city living and buy a 2013 Mercedes Sprinter van during the coronavirus pandemic. Now they travel all over the UK, so you could say their leap of faith paid off.
@The_Vantastic_Two
Can someone please explain to me why this converted Renault Master (built by Dutch couple Naomi and Thibaut of The Vantastic Two) is nicer than my apartment?! They literally gut-renovated the vehicle (which you can see in this cool transformation video) and added tons of bohemian elements that reflect their personal style.
@Tobi.Kral
Built by German duo Tobi and Debo, this converted Mercedes Sprinter has more kitchen counter space than most NYC apartments and is outfitted with tons of hygge-inspired details, like lots of blonde wood, string lights, and shag throws.
@TheLadiesVan
The Ladies Van duo—Sēkr CEO Breanne and her wife, Lacey—are literal pros when it comes to the tiny-home life. While on the road, they do tons of cooking using tools that are optimized specifically for travel, like their fave portable wok. If you wanna salivate over delish food, go ahead and take a peek at this IG post.
@TheTravelBobbers
Michael, Suzie, and their daughter, Poppy (yes, #vanlife with a kid!), just might convince you to find your own Volkswagen camper van to convert. These three aren’t on the road all year round, but whenever they get the chance, they’re exploring beautiful outdoor sites throughout the UK. Please appreciate “Poppy’s den,” a little nook they’ve outfitted just for the bb in what they’ve dubbed their “adventure bus.”
@Bjoerns_Advantures
German couple Johanna and Marius of @Bjoerns_Advantures have made their way throughout Europe in this (extremely chic, I might add) converted Fiat Ducato camper van. Their van apparently looks a lot like their apartment in Hamburg—“a little Scandi, a little boho, and a combination of white and wood,” as they put it on Insta. Oh! I almost forgot to mention the most important part—their fluffy doggo, Jules, is along for the ride too.
@LetsPlayRideAndSeek
Vanlife Pride founders Nai and Abi (along with their pups, Bear and Peluche) have racked up some serious mileage over the years in their Mercedes Sprinter. They designed everything inside their van to custom-fit their life: a dog den under the bed, an upgraded A/C unit to stay comfy in the summer, and their “dream” kitchen full of top-notch appliances so that Abi can bake vegan goods. My only question is…can I come over for dinner?!
@Our_Venturing_Van
Irish duo Conor and Mattie (along with their loyal pooch, Fabio) might just have the coziest Volkswagen Transporter I’ve ever seen. They’ve meandered all over Europe, spending loads of time in Italy (jealous) in what they affectionately call their “traveling outdoor living room.” 10/10 would picnic here.
@VanlifeStraya
Claire, Luke, and baby Beau of Dubai sold everything to see as much of Australia as possible in their stylish Mercedes Sprinter. One unusual feature of their van is the enclosed partition wall that separates the driver and passenger seats in the front from the rest of the cab. They opted to design the van this way to squeeze out some more kitchen and counter space and to make it feel more like a “proper tiny home.” Aw, snuggly.
@Volver_A_Lo_Simple_
Yurena and Philipp of @Volver_A_Lo_Simple_ are currently living the good life in Tenerife, an island in Spain, out of a converted Volkswagen camper van. They’ve decorated the interior of their space with tons of bold and colorful prints, which honestly look freaking rad next to the sandy beaches and burnt-orange sunsets they always find themselves near to.
@WhereWeTravelTo
This dreamy Vauxhall Movano has taken Slovakian couple Nat and Roland all over Europe. Don’t miss their gorgeous kitchen sink, which they picked up on a trip to Morocco—they say it’s not practical for a ton of dishes, but luckily that doesn’t apply to them because (duh) #vanlife.
@ClimbingVan
Would literally give one whole paycheck to take a nap in Charlie and Dale’s cozy Mercedes Sprinter. The two climbers (hence the handle @ClimbingVan) made a cozy home inside this former delivery vehicle, and Dale’s background as a design engineer definitely didn’t hurt. They even wrote a book about the ~van conversion~ process.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
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