Most folks think a campervan trip is all about getting from A to B, squeezing into car parks, and battling midges. Truth is, van life can be freeing—if you know the tricks.
What separates an epic road adventure from a glorified roadside nap? It’s not about who has the fanciest van. It’s about knowing what matters when you hit the road. Here’s what years in the wild have taught me.
1. Choose a Route with Room to Change
I’ve met plenty who plot their route to the last mile, stressing by day three when plans go sideways. Trust me: mapping every detail sounds smart, but campervan magic needs space to breathe.
Pick a few “musts” each day—never more than two. Give yourself time for detours, bad weather, or locals’ tips. My most memorable cup of tea came from a farm shop we spotted by pure luck, miles off plan.
Don’t chain yourself to the satnav. Download offline maps before you set off (WiFi vanishes at the worst times), and let gut instinct rule sometimes.
2. Pick the Right Places to Stop for the Night
There’s a world of difference between a noisy lay-by and waking up by a misty loch with just ducks for company. Convenience is king when you’re shattered, but long-term, pick peace over petrol fumes.
Sites with space to swing open the door, a bit of grass, perhaps some trees—these make your morning coffee a joy, not a chore. If wild camping, check the rules and stay respectful. When in doubt, ask a local.
Avoid supermarket car parks unless you truly have no other option. Once, after a cramped night next to thumping bin lorries, I swore I’d always find a quieter spot—even if it took an extra half-hour.
3. Learn Your Van’s Basic Systems Before You Go
Don’t wait until you’re parked in the rain to realise you don’t know how the heater works—or, worse, how to swap a gas bottle. Get a demo before you leave or run through everything at home.
Check how the water tanks fill and drain. Make sure you can turn the fridge on, operate the electrics, and know what each fuse does. Beds, too—pop-tops and convertible sofas need practice, especially after a pint.
Once, I spent 30 minutes wrestling a folding bed in the pitch black—never again. If you’re renting, ask for a walk-through; if it’s yours, test every switch.
4. Pack by Purpose, Not by Panic
I’ve seen beginners pile in everything from a fondue set to three pairs of wellies. Space is gold in a campervan, so pick smart. Think layers for the weather—not just shorts for the sunny bits, but waterproofs for those sideways Scottish winds.
Stick to versatile clothes, a solid waterproof, and boots that can survive mud. Leave the “just in case” extras at home if you haven’t used them in the last two trips.
Cooking? A one-pot pan and a small stove beat a full kitchen. Bring one sharp knife, a chopping board, and a kettle. I always lug crystals of sea salt—makes tinned soup taste proper.
Don’t forget a small tool kit and a headtorch for late-night loo trips.
5. Keep Meals Easy and Tasty
Simple meals win on the road. I once bought fancy ingredients thinking I’d have endless time to cook. By day three, I was desperate for anything that wasn’t faffy to prep.
Go for things you can whip up in one pot or pan. Stews, pasta, sausages, eggs—these sorts of meals keep the washing up down and bellies happy.
Visit local markets if you stumble on one. You get fresher food, and it’s good for morale. A cold, wet evening instantly improves with fresh bread, local cheese, and a splash from a nearby farm shop.
6. Settle Into a Routine for Camp Setup
Driving all day, you don’t want to faff around for ages at every stop. Have a system: parking, tyres on the level, plug in the electric, kettle on, boots off at the door.
I always keep my slippers handy for cold floors and leave the washing-up gear right by the sink. Know where everything goes—less time hunting torches, more time for stargazing.
Trust me, a routine cuts out bickering, especially if you’re travelling with family or friends. Everyone should have their own job—even if that’s just brewing the first round of tea.
7. Make Tech Work for You, Not Against You
It’s easy to sit scrolling as the hills roll by. Still, you need phones for maps, weather updates, or in case things go wrong. Download crucial maps before you set off—mobile data drops out often in the best wild spots.
Bring a power bank (or three), and keep cables in one bag so you’re not hunting every socket. Offline tunes, podcasts, and an e-reader save the day when rain keeps you in the van.
Switch the screens off once you’re settled though. It’s all too easy to miss a rainbow or a curious fox just because you’re glued to newsfeeds.
8. Prioritise Absolute Must-Sees
Some places you’ll regret missing if you just wing it. Before the trip, make a list of your “can’t-miss” spots and plot your journey around them.
By all means, leave plenty of gaps for surprises. But if you’ve driven to the Highlands and skipped Glen Etive or missed fish and chips in Whitby, you’ll kick yourself later.
I always mark key spots on my phone and stick a paper copy in the glovebox. I’ve learned to expect poor signal at the worst moment.
9. Leave Every Place Nicer Than You Found It
It’s a standing rule in the wild: take all your rubbish, and then some. Don’t burn plastics, respect fire bans, and stay off delicate grass where you can.
Once, in the Brecon Beacons, we filled a sack with stray wrappers left by others—took five minutes, but it felt good. If we want wild places to stay wild, it’s on us.
Don’t feed wildlife; keep noise down, especially at night. Campers have a reputation to mend in some areas—let’s not make it worse.
10. Take Time to Rest and Recharge
It’s tempting to barrel through your trip, ticking boxes and covering miles each day. But exhaustion turns magic into misery fast.
Book in days just to sit and do nothing. Some of my best memories are of lazing with a brew, watching mist roll over the trees, or just reading while the rain taps the roof.
Give yourself permission to slow down. There’s always a reason to move, but you’ll savour more if you don’t.
11. Snap Memories and Keep a Log
Photos are great, but the best stories live in those battered old notebooks. Keep a low-pressure travel journal, jotting down the good, the rough, and the utterly unpredictable.
No need for a novel—half sentences do. I’ve found scribbles about a “windy night at Ullswater, lost shoes” mean more years later than a hundred posed selfies.
Get candid shots. Capture the mud, the mess, the dawn light. It’ll all look a lot more epic when you’re back home.
12. Stay Open to Adventure Along the Way
Some of the best moments are unplanned. Say yes to a local festival, a muddy trail, or just a conversation with a stranger over a pub lunch.
One trip, we chased a tip-off about a waterfall. It took two hours, three wrong turns, and we ended up eating sarnies in the drizzle. Was it epic? Absolutely.
Be ready for the weather to turn. Sometimes you’ll swap your planned hike for a boardgame in the van. That’s camper life—the adventure is as much in the surprises as the scenery.
Final Thoughts
Campervan trips aren’t about giant gear lists or inch-perfect planning. They’re about being prepared (enough), open for what crops up, and knowing when to go with the flow.
The best campervan tips? Learn your kit. Stay light, leave things better, and don’t take yourself too seriously. You’ll get midges, mud, and perhaps a snapped pole. You’ll also wake under dawn skies with your home beside you—something not many can say.
If you’re after more camping tips and tricks or want to get longer on the road, have a read of our best campervan gear for UK trips and beginner camping mistakes to avoid.
Now—get out there and make those miles count. And don’t forget the tea bags this time.
