Van Life Canada: 9 Essential Tips

Van life in Canada has been booming in recent years.

Traveling in an RV or van is a big part of the culture in Canada. 

It is arguably one of the most affordable and exciting ways to travel long distances and explore large portions of a country. 

On top of that, the increasing home prices and the possibility to work online have made many Canadians ditch their houses and start a van life movement.

Living in a home on wheels has become an appealing lifestyle choice among those who value freedom, adventure and want to save more. 

We experienced Canadian van life and this lifestyle shift by buying a 1991 Chevrolet G20 Van, otherwise known as our ‘spaceship’.

Unlike anything you will find in Europe, Africa or Asia, this van is classically North American.  Old school in character, it’s large, high from the ground and hums along the road with enough power to take you off the beaten track. 

We absolutely loved it and spent our Summer traveling, working and living in it. 

In 3 months, we were able to explore Alberta, British Columbia and 9 states in the United States. 

Imagine waking up and spending your day driving along the Californian coast, finding secluded beaches to swim or a place to enjoy a cup of tea for sunset in the picturesque Okanagan Valley. 

Van Life Canada Tips

One of the biggest challenges of van life is not having the comforts of your home.

But with a level of planning and preparation, transitioning into van life in Canada can be a more straightforward process than you think. 

Some immediate questions that may come to your mind:

Where do you shower when you live in the van? 

Where do you find an overnight parking spot? 

What about the internet and water? 

What happens if your van breaks down? 

How to live in a van in Canada? etc., etc. 

Below are our top 9 van life tips to help clarify these questions:

1. Overnight Parking

A lot of places restrict overnight camping or parking.  With this being said, there’s always an option available.

By utilizing the app iOverlander or WikiCamps you can discover various options for free camping vetted by other van life and RV goers in Canada or the US. 

So whether you’re living in a van in BC, Toronto, or simply venturing all over Canada, you’ll find epic overnight parking spots.

It makes it much easier to plan your trip and find a place to sleep after a long day of driving by relying on the discoveries of others.

The beauty of these apps is that they include many options that are free and often have beautiful views and surroundings. 

If you’re passing through a city, another backup option is to stay overnight on residential city streets or in the Walmart parking lot. Not all Walmarts allow overnight parking, but many of them do. Just keep an eye open for any signs in the lot. 

2. Harvest Hosts – an Alternative to Campsites

Harvest Hosts is a network of breweries, wineries, cideries, and farms that provide space on their land for you to stay free overnight with a membership. 

A basic yearly membership costs $99, equivalent to staying 2-3 nights at a regular campsite.

It’s worth the money because it allows you access to incredible spaces and people. 

We enjoyed wine tasting in Oregon on our road trip to California. 

3. Showers on the Go  

If your van or RV is not equipped with a shower, one of the biggest challenges is where to find one on the road. Here are some valuable suggestions that we have used to keep fresh!

• iOverlander – Our absolute favorite app for van life in Canada or the US. Besides overnight parking stops, there are also places marked on the app for shower facilities, usually indicated with a small blue star icon, dump stations and more. 

• Truck stops – Some truck stops have showers. The option we utilized was Husky travel centers. They offer a shower in exchange for points. You only need 50 points for a shower or 100 for a shower and towel. If you register for the myHusky Reward program as a new user, you automatically gain 200 points, if you subscribe to their mailing list, you can get another extra 200 points. That means 8 free showers!

• Coin showers in campgrounds 

• Some cities offer free access to outdoor pools in the Summer 

• Recreational centers – Almost every town in Canada has one. The entrance fees are reasonable and it can be a fun activity for a day to hang in the pool, hot tub, and sauna. 

• Gym  – Make use of free trials in gyms or YMCAs.  Alternatively, buy a year’s gym membership that has numerous branches across the country.  The best gyms for van life in Canada that offer showers and have multiple branches across Canada are: Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Gold’s gym. In Canada, the largest health club company is GoodLife Fitness. 

• Find hot springs, lakes or rivers along your route – something a little bit different but a fun way to relax and freshen up!

4. Internet

Unless you plan on urban van life dwelling, the chances are that you’ll be roaming around some pretty remote locations. An Internet connection is essential, especially if you have an online job.

Bells and Rogers have pretty good coverage for van life internet in Canada. You might even get data plans with two different cell providers as a backup. 

The exciting news for digital nomads and van lifers is that satellite internet service is becoming more accessible and efficient.

For more info, you can look into Starlink RV plan.

The satellite internet connection can only be established when your van is still. Monthly plans are available for $170.

If you are in the USA, Verizon or T-mobile are your best bet. Rvmobileinternet goes into detail to help choose the suitable carrier.  When you’re in cities, visit libraries or pop into a Starbucks.

5. Water

Get a big water tank and fill it up whenever you get a chance. 

In addition to this, get a 1L water bottle per person – this will be easier to fill up on the road to keep you hydrated. 

To reduce water consumption when washing dishes, utilize wet wipes, kitchen towels, and spray bottles.

For washing plates and cutlery, use a diluted spray bottle with water and castile soap.  For rinsing and sanitizing, use another spray bottle diluted with water and a small amount of bleach.  

6. Laundry

There’s a variety of coin-operated laundromats across North America.

7. Roadside Assistance

With some of the things that may go wrong on the road, we opted to take out a roadside assistance program with CAA to give us peace of mind. 

Their memberships will cover you for towing, flat batteries or flat tires.  We chose the premier option, which costs approx 15$ per month and offers you the most comprehensive cover.  

8. GasBuddy 

Many people don’t realize the level of expense you can spare when planning out where to refuel. Gas prices vary from station to station depending on location and Province. 

With GasBuddy app, you can search for gas stations with the best prices in your area and make wiser choices on where to fuel up.  For more info on saving on fuel, visit our Fuel Saving Strategies post.

9. Outdoorsy

Outdoorsy is a great platform to test the waters of van life in Canada! It offers a wide range of vans for rent in North America – basically, it’s the Airbnb for van rentals. 

With this link you get $50 off your first booking!

Another van life Canada rental option is RVezy. 

Van Life Canada FB Groups

To learn more about the reality of van life, different conversion hacks and van life tips, you can join FB groups or Youtube channels. Many people share their experience and know-how to speed up your learning curve.

• Vanlife Canada
• Canada VanLife
• VAN LIFE SINGLES – CANADA
• Vanlife Community Canada
• VanLife | Vancouver Island – Sunshine Coast
• Van Life Ontario
• Vancouver Vanlife
• Vanlife in Alberta
• Van Life Quebec

Van Life Canada – Vans For Sale FB Groups

• Van / Camper Van Buy and Sell BC
• Vanlife Canada – buy and sell campervans, RVs and motorhomes
• Canada Vanlife Campervans Buy and Sell

Worldwide Van Life FB Groups

• VAN LIFE CONVERSION
• Vanlife
• Van Life
• Van Life For Beginners – #vanlife

Best Vans for Camper Conversion 

The most common vehicles to convert are cargo vans with high roofs and spacious interiors.  A new cargo van usually costs around $25,000 to $60,000, depending on the make and model. Used vans are much cheaper, between the $15,000 to $20,000 range or less. You can also find older vintage models or minivans with higher mileage for under $10,000. 

On average, most professional van conversions cost roughly $30,000 to $60,000.

If you have a limited budget, you can start by converting Dodge Grand Caravan. The interior is long, and the rear seats fold down completely, so you can install a convertible bed without taking the seats out.

You can also purchase van conversion kits to DIY your custom camper.

Here is the list of best vans to convert:

• Ford Transit
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
• Dodge RAM ProMaster
• Nissan NV
• Ford Econoline
• Chevrolet Express
• GMC Savana
• Fiat Ducato
• Volkswagen Eurovan

Things To Consider Before You Purchase Van

• Height – comfort
• Length and Width – spaciousness
• Model and Make – ease of repairs, reliability
• Fuel Economy – expenses of living in a van
• Fuel Type – Gas or Diesel – check which is more economical
• Drivetrain  – rear-wheel drive is better than front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive (4×4) is better for off-road terrain and winter roads
• Weight Limit – keep your build under the weight limit to prevent damages
• Used vs. New – consider the resale value

Van Life Canada FAQ

Is it possible to live in a van in Canada?

You can live in a van in Canada, as there is no law prohibiting it, but you’ll need to make some level of preparation. Where will you find unrestricted overnight parking for the van at night, and for how long? Where can you shower? etc.

Can you live in a van in Canada in winter?

Living in a van in Canada is possible in all four seasons as long as you insulate your van, get a proper heater and a carbon monoxide detector. However, van life in Canada and the nomadic lifestyle come with unique challenges, especially in the winter. That’s why you must be well prepared for extreme cold if you plan on living in your van full time.

Using the van for ski road trips and winter camping can be great fun.

There are a few things that you can get to spend nights in a van at -25°C and stay comfortable.

• insulated window blinders
• warm sleeping bag + puffy duvet 
• merino clothing for extra layers
• portable heater

You might also like:

How to Find a Job to Work a Ski Season in Canada

How much does it cost to convert to van life?

Professional van conversion outfitted for all four seasons can cost roughly $30,000 to upwards of $80,000. If you can do camper van conversion yourself, it will cost you a lot less, around $5000 to $20 000. Plus you’ll learn some new skills.

However, you’ll need to invest or borrow the right tools, have a workshop space and spend some time learning all the know-how, but it’ll be much more rewarding. It’s also more time-consuming. 

Can you save money doing van life?

Full-time van dwelling can be a great way to save money and travel on a budget. If you can do your job online and handle some of the challenges of real van life, you can save money on rent and explore simultaneously.

How do van lifers make money?

Many van lifers are seasonal workers, living outside or in the summer camps in the warmer months and traveling to work in ski resorts in winter.

Some van lifers also do seasonal harvesting on a farm or online jobs.

You can work online as long as you have a solar panel to charge your laptop or work in different cafes along your way.

To get more ideas on how to make extra money, check:

Online Jobs in Canada

Fruit Picking Jobs in Canada

How do I start van life?

• Rent a van to test the van lifestyle with Outdoorsy.
• Buy a van in great mechanical shape.
• Learn how to convert your van or hire a professional van conversion company.
• Prepare all the van life essentials – off-grid solar panels, water tanks, propane etc.
• Think of ways to earn income on the go.
• Take advantage of free campsites with iOverlander.
• Have a van life routine and keep your van clean.
• Plan your road trips.
• Enjoy! There is no better feeling than hitting the open road.

That wraps up our 9 essential tips for van life Canada!