Camping in a Minivan: The Secrets  Truths and 10 Essential Tips 

Camping in a minivan is not only practical, but also an opportunity to make amazing memories while enjoying the freedom of the road. Whether you’re an experienced camper or a novice, this article will walk you through the basics of minivan camping from choosing the best gear to picking the right campsite.

Sure, a camping trip in a minivan is super fun. But in reality? It’s dirty. It’s chaotic. It’s cramped.

So before you run out to outfit your minivan for a month long trip, read on. Well, this isn’t going to be the most glamorous side of living in a minivan and camping.

Essential Gear and Supplies: What are the must-have items for camping in a minivan? 

Minivan camping: Having the right gear and supplies can make or break the comfort, convenience and enjoyment of your vacation. Here’s a list of key gear and supplies to think about as you set up your minivan for camping:

What You Need to Camp in a Minivan

Sleeping Setup

Comfortable Mattress or Sleeping Pad — Get one that suits the measurements of your van with the seats down.

Sleeping bags or blankets (make sure it’s suitable for the temperatures in the area)

Pillows: A travel pillow or your regular ones from home.

Storage Solutions

Collapsible Bins: Excellent for organizing kitchen supplies, clothes, and other essentials.

Hanging Organizers: Maximize any tight spots using the back of seats for extra storage without eating up floor space.

Vacuum Seal Bags: Pack clothes and bedding with minimal space required

Kitchen Equipment

Portable Stove — Single or double burner, depending on your cooking requirements

Cookware: Are you planning on carrying pots, pans and cooking utensils for a portable stove?

Collapsible Sink or Basin: For washing dishes or hauling water.

Cooler or Portable Fridge: In case you bring perishables for your trip

Food Storage Containers: To store leftovers and portion meals.

Power Supply

Power Station: Used to charge electronics, small cooking appliances or lights.

Solar Charger or Panels: Keep your devices charged the environmentally friendly way.

Extension Cords and Adapters: Make sure you can connect to any campground electrical hookups.

Comfort and Convenience

Ball Vent: For further air circulation and moisture control inside the van

Window Covers: If you want privacy, insulation or both, these can be custom-made to fit (only) the windows of your minivan.

Portable Toilet or Camping Toilet: The essentials for when nature calls, particularly at night or where you can’t find a loo.

Lighting

LED Lanterns and String Lights: Creates ambient light that’s soft on the eyes.

Headlamp or Flashlight: This one is non-negotiable for any evenings spent wandering outside of the van.

Safety and Emergency Gear

First Aid Kit: You packed your essential supplies to handle minor injuries or ailments.

Fire Extinguisher: A compact, kitchen-rated extinguisher for safety.

Emergency Roadside Kit: Jumper cables, tire pressure gauge, basic tools.

Maps and a Compass: To help you find your way if the GPS doesn’t work or isn’t accessible.

Additional Comfort Items

Furniture: Foldable and space-efficient furniture.

Awning or Tarp: Expands living space and gives you shade or protection from rain

Insect Repellent, Screens: Keep insects out and the breeze flowing.

The Reality of Camping in a Minivan

As below, we didn’t have a fancy minivan conversion. (We are too lazy for that.)

But we were both satisfied with our simple setup.

Our minivan camping setup was looking relatively spacious. And the air mattress felt just as good as our real beds. Overall, it was a significant upgrade from tent camping.

But did our van look like that? Absolutely not! So let’s dig into the nitty gritty of minivan camping.

We just had a mini tornado inside of the van. Not sure how we allowed it to become this messy, but we did.

It’s Messy

Surprise! If you are living in such a small area, and treating it as a storage area, and using it as your vehicle, it is going to get dirty.

Nor my friend nor I are very organized — that probably didn’t help. As a consequence, we allowed things to become rather out of hand…

It’s Cramped

This accompanies the mess (in the best case).

It is possible to live full time in a minivan. But with two people, it’s a little tight.

My friend and I slept on a queen air mattress that we set up in the back after removing the seats. The mattress was just much too big for the van, though. It billowed at the edges, so we rolled into the center.

You can stand in the tent we did have, but there is no standing in a minivan. And no walking space whatsoever!

The mattress, however, took up most of the space inside the van, so all of our gear didn’t fit without a fight. Initially we attempted to try to jam everything into the tiny strip of trunk space that was still available. Eventually, we would just throw our bags onto the mattress before heading to our next destination. Yes, we were lazy. And yes, that was a part of the chaotic mess.

It’s Stuffy

Camping in a minivan isn’t like camping in a tent. In a tent, you have many screen openings and breathable fabric. It gets smelly quickly when you sleep in a minivan.

The additional insulation of a car can be an asset in the winter, but not so much in the summer. It was routinely 80°F at midnight on our south-east stops. Inside the minivan, it was stifling with heat and humidity.

We kept our windows rolled down every night, needless to say.

If it rains, of course—you’re out of luck. One night a friend and I drove through a thunderstorm in Texas, so we rolled the windows up. Not only did it get exceedingly stuffy, we woke up very damp and icky.

It’s Not All Sunshine…

Minivan camping has its downsides, but you learn to live with the limited square footage and the hot interior. We sure did!

What we didn’t expect were some of the unexpected challenges. I wanted to share a few so you have some great examples of minivan life. If nothing else, I hope these stories do give you a good laugh!»

The Air Mattress Problem

As I said, my friend and I slept on an air mattress in the back of the minivan.

Which was fine and dandy…until it sprung a leak about a week into the trip. Instead of purchasing a new one, we decided we could make it through the trip.

So every night, just before bed, we blew up the air mattress. It would hold up all night long (even though it was certainly squishy by morning.) In a matter of hours the mattress would sink deeper. It wasn’t such a big deal, except that we usually tossed our bags and grocery totes on the bed. By the end of the day everything was crumpled into the middle of the mattress.

Naturally, this often sent the grocery totes toppling over, spilling their contents across the bed. Once the bed had deflated so much that our bucket of kindling (normally wedged against the foot of the mattress) tipped over. (Or it may have been my wild driving that toppled it.)

Well, we were blowing sticks and dirt all over the air mattress! Needless to say, we flailed that sheet around like a strip of fire to shake out whatever attention it was getting before bedtime.

The Swarm of Flies

We often had uninvited guests when we were camping out in our minivan. Like flies.

Essentially, we camped in a minivan one night by a lake in Arkansas. There was a little park right on the lake that never closed, bathrooms and picnic tables. And we thought it would be nice to wake up to a lake.

Well, our morning didn’t go as smoothly as we planned. When we woke up, to our dismay, an entire regatta of flies had flown in through the open windows, and were feeling quite at home! Our first fifteen minutes of the morning were desperate attempts to shoo hundreds of flies out of the van.

I suppose that’s what comes with being next to a lake.

On the plus side, we did have a gaggle of Canadian geese drop by 🙂

Why did we decide to do a minivan camping trip?

Well, there you go, I’ve just flipped your notion of minivan camping on its head. Why camping in a minivan?

There are some distinctive advantages of camping in a minivan.

With the air mattress, a minivan camping interior setup

Freedom & Flexibility

My friend and I really embraced the freedom and flexibility associated with minivan camping. We drove when we felt like driving. When we wanted to end something, we ended it. If we had nowhere to sleep that night, we could pull into a rest area, a Walmart… anywhere really!

Convenience

Minivan camping is also super convenient. No pitching a tent or checking into a motel. You just open those minivan doors and roll right into bed.

Plus, you don’t have to spend time setting up camp or breaking it down. Me and my mate could get up and be on the road in five minutes.

If you’re a minimalist and efficiency-minded, there’s nothing better than camping in a minivan.

Cheap Cost

Cargo van camping, however, is cheap as it gets. While my friend and I spent some evenings in campgrounds, we also stayed several nights at rest areas, gas stations and Walmart. Guess what? And it’s free to sleep at a Walmart. And morning grocery shopping is a two-minute walk — no driving required. It’s a win-win situation.

Choosing the Right Minivan for Camping

Choosing the best minivan for camping can help maximize your experience, as they have spacious interiors and versatility. Here are some of the best minivans for camping, each with unique attributes that could very well suit your camping style:

Toyota Sienna

Pro: All-wheel-drive (AWD) offering helps in less than ideal road conditions Most recent models also carry hybrid engines that allow for better fuel economy — a key consideration for long road trips. There’s a sizeable interior with a cabin where the seats can be reconfigured to maximize cargo or sleeping space.

Honda Odyssey

Pros: Renowned for its smooth ride and reliable performance, the Honda Odyssey also provides a spacious cabin and comfortable seating that is great for long journeys. In addition to the standard seats, newer versions come with Magic Slide second-row seats for customizable interior layouts to suit your particular camping configuration.

Chrysler Pacifica

Pros: Available as both a standard and hybrid, the Pacifica offers good fuel economy, and the latter variant more eco-friendly driving. It also boasts Stow ’n Go seating, with the second and third row of seats folding flat into the floor, creating space to sleep or a storage area for camping gear.

Kia Sedona

Pros: The Kia Sedona provides good value for money, has a robust engine and a comfortable cabin. The seats aren’t Stow ‘n Go ones like the Pacifica gets, but they can be removed or folded to open up room. That makes it a great option if you need a reliable and robust vehicle but don’t want to spend a ton of money.

Ford Transit Connect

Advantages: Technically a compact cargo van, the Ford Transit Connect is another great option for campers who want to put in their own build. Its reduced dimensions allow for easier driving and parking, ideal for anyone who wants to create permanent fixtures and conversions.

Mercedes-Benz Metris

Pros: Another smaller, more compact van, the Metris offers durability and premium build quality along with significantly more cargo space than most minivans. It also comes in multiple configurations, including campervan units straight from some of the outfitters.

When you decide which minivan to choose for camping, think about what matters to you more: ​fuel economy, space, drivability and the ability to build out the interior. It helps to consider the type of camping you’ll be doing — if you plan to stay in developed campsites or venture off-road into muckier, more rugged territory. This will help determine whether you require options such as AWD or additional ground clearance.

Tips for planning a minivan camping itinerary

Traveling is always an adventure, and it’s even more fun when well planned with a minivan camping itinerary. Here are some suggestions to help you plan your trip:

1.Identify what you want, your requirements and your goals:

Begin with this question: What do you seek from your trip: Relaxation, adventure, nature, or a combination of all three? Knowing your goals will inform your destinations and activities.

2.Research Destinations:

Research different campsites and points of interest on your potential routes. Look for state parks, national parks and campgrounds with good amenities. And consider attractions or activities in the area that you’d like to check out, such as hiking trails, lakes or historic sites.

3.Take Climate and Season Into Account:

Look at the average weather at the time of year you plan to travel for your selected destinations.” This can affect what you pack, the viability of any number of activities, and your comfort while camping.

4.Map Your Route:

If you want to look at sites, plan your route by them. Estimate travel times and distances using mapping tools. Be realistic about your daily driving goals — and don’t forget to account for meals, stretching and sightseeing.

5.Book Campsites in Advance:

It’s smart to reserve campsites in advance, especially during busy travel seasons. This secures your place and saves you from searching for accommodation last minute.

6.Plan for Flexibility:

Though it’s nice to have a plan, part of the adventure is the unknown. Build in some flexibility in your schedule for spontaneous activities or changes based on weather, mood or interesting detours.

7.Prepare Your Minivan:

Get your minivan trip-worthy — you might want to have the mechanics check it first. Invest in a multipurpose storage solution and, if your van allows for it, also maybe look for a foldable bed inside the van for sleep.

8.Pack Smart:

Make a list, starting with your essentials — camping equipment, cooking equipment, and clothes for all weather, safety materials such as a first aid kit and tools. So, as space is limited, make sure that the items you pack are multipurpose and compact.

9.Departure Writing – Local Regulations and Etiquette:

Get to know local regulations and proper camping etiquette—they apply to campfire use, waste management, and wildlife precautions.

10.Plan Meals Ahead:

Make a meal plan ahead of time to make grocery shopping as easy as possible and reduce storage space requirements. This will help avoid food waste and make sure you have all you need for healthy road meals.

So, by taking your minivan camping itinerary into account, you can have a more enjoyable, relaxed, and memorable trip while making the most of what the open road has to offer!

Last thoughts on Minivan Camping

Camping in a minivan is about enjoying the process and not simply the destination. Your minivan can become a home away from home with creativity and planning, it is the perfect vehicle for exploring the open road. Pack your bags, plan your route and get ready to make some incredible memories. The freedom that you gain traveling in a minivan is awesome, so start your adventure now!