Camping in a campervan is the best of both worlds, the versatility of tent camping with some of the luxury of RV camping. Chief among these luxuries is a temperature controlled sleeping environment, plus numerous other added perks that we at Rocky Mountain Campervans provide, like a kitchen setup, cooking utensils, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and various other useful items. We do what we can to make your trip comfortable and safe.
One luxury that is not included is an indoor shower. While campervans are awesome in so many ways, they just aren’t big enough to fit a fully functioning shower, which is why you are going to have to have a plan to stay clean while exploring Vanlife.
Luckily, there are a variety of ways to do so, and we’re going to lay them out here for you, so you won’t have to figure it out the hard (or stinky) way.
Campground Showers
This is the most obvious and the easiest option, and if you’re staying at a KOA or other campground with shower facilities, you basically don’t have to worry about staying clean, because you have access to showers. The downside to this option is that you have to pay, and while it’s generally much more affordable than a hotel, it’s not always cheap.
Of course, it goes without saying that you should always wear flip-flops to the shower, and it’s best to bring your own soaps and shampoos, as they may not be provided.
Portable Hot Showers
We may not have been able to fit an indoor shower into our vans, but we do provide you with an optional portable, gas-heated shower device for an additional fee. These are great for easy, quick, portable hot showers while wild camping (outside of designated campgrounds), and only require a little propane and privacy.
Gyms and Truckstops
This option only works if you’re camping near towns or truck stops, and if you’re willing to descend from the peaceful wilderness back into the world of man mid-trip, for the sake of hygiene.
However, if this makes sense for you, it can be a good option. A membership at Planet Fitness is only $10 a month, and includes as many showers as you can take at any of their locations, which are extremely common even in medium-sized towns. Truck stop showers are usually relatively cheap, too.
Rivers and Lakes
You may be tempted to simply jump right into a nearby lake or river, if the water is relatively clean. However, most parks departments and other wilderness authorities have rules against this, or at best frown upon it. If you do decide to go this route, please use extremely natural soaps and shampoos with only the most basic ingredients, and do it very sparingly.
You can also get the water from the lake or river, and do a sponge-bath/shower over the ground, and this is less polluting to the environment.
Extra Tips
The ideal time for showering while van camping is at the end of the day, and the reason for this is that you wash off the sweat and dirt of the day before getting into bed. If you get into bed with sweat and bodily oils still present, even if you aren’t filthy, they will get in your bedding and will continue to make you feel greasy every time you sleep in that bedding. Also, when you shower at night, make sure to dry yourself sufficiently, especially if it’s cold out.