Winter Van Camping - Where To Park During Winter

Winter camping in a van adds a unique thrill to the adventurous spirit. When snow blankets the landscape and the temperatures dip below freezing, you may wonder where you can continue van life during the winters. The answer lies in thorough preparation, good site selection, and knowing the ins and outs of the places you can stay.

I've spent a fair amount of time winter camping, both with and without a van. I've learned that it can be an enjoyable experience with the right planning, gear, and locations. I've also had to adapt to unforeseen hardships and surprise winter storms during summers. I hope you can learn from my experiences.

How Do You Winter Camp In A Van?

Winter van life holds a few additional challenges over camping during the remainder of the year. The primary differences are maintaining heat, being topped up on power, access amenities, and your ability to be mobile. Once you've learned how to plan and deal with the unforeseen in these areas, you'll be able to head out on adventures almost anywhere you choose!

Here's a breakdown:

• Heating. Heat is critical not only for camping comfort but also for survival and preventing hypothermia. Not only will it make your experience enjoyable when you have a warm van to retire to, but if you become stuck, you may need a heat source for survival.
  Propane heaters, woodstoves, diesel heaters, and electric heaters are some common ways to stave off the cold during winter camping in vans. Having a backup Mr. Heater gives you a contingency plan in case your main source of heat stops working. Additionally, more classic camping techniques like hot water bottles, hand warmers, and layers of bedding can help you get through cold nights.
• Power. Being able to power the items necessary to provide comfort and safety is a top priority. You may find you use more power during the winter. If you're spending more time in your van running the lights, heaters, phone chargers, induction cooktops, heated blankets, etc., you may run out of power sooner than expected.
  Conserve power, make the most of any sun you get, have backup power generation solutions, and build contingencies if you become left in the dark and without heat.
  I've travelled through high-altitude winter locations without power. Luckily it was during a driving segment of a trip, so I was frequently around places to resupply and charge my electronics. I wouldn't have been able to continue my trip if I were not around infrastructure to charge and restock.
• Amenities. During the winter, there are fewer amenities for campers and boondockers. Gas station water spigots shut off, campgrounds close for the season, parking lots enforce no parking for snow removal, access to BLM camping is more challenging, etc.
  Plan to have little to no support and stay flexible in the location you choose to spend your time. Book ahead, stock up when you can, refuel frequently, and stay close to help.
• Mobility. Winter driving provides an additional layer of complexity to winter camping in your van. Road closures, treacherous highways, and deep snowpack can all leave you stranded or stuck. Stay flexible in your site selection and add extra time to your travel in case of adverse conditions.
  Proper knowledge of winter driving in your van can make or break a trip. Carry traction boards, tire chains, and a means to contact someone if you get stuck.

Check out Living The Van Life while they take on a big winter camping adventure with lots of challenges:

Once you've been able to plan for and build some self-reliance relating to winter camping, you give yourself the ability to enjoy van life all year round.

What Makes A Good Winter Campsite?

Access to a site, weather, and amenities. These are a few key factors in choosing a good campsite that exists no matter what time of year it is. They all lend to a better camping experience so knowing before you go can make or break a trip.

Let's dig into it:

• Access. Your ability to enter and leave a site should be one of your first decisions in site selection. Not only is it possible to get stuck trying to access a site, but it's also possible to get stuck when leaving a site.
• Weather. The weather may dictate if the site you choose is good or not. Some places receive high amounts of snow, while others sometimes flood due to increased precipitation during the winter. You want to make sure you can leave a site if heavy snow comes in. Be aware of the havoc that winter storms can bring like collapsed trees, snowdrifts on the road, and delayed arrival of snow removal or recovery.
• Amenities. Being able to access help is an important factor during winter camping. Similarly, refuelling and restocking are important too. Sometimes, being as far away from civilization as possible is sought out by van lifers. The worst of winter storms might not be the best time to do this. Many people have tried and failed to brave the harshest winter.

Now that you know what to look for in a good campsite, you can make better decisions for more successful van camping trips. Good research about site access, the weather, and what amenities you need allows you to venture out during the winter months.

Where To Camp In Your Van During Winter?

Where you choose to camp can depend a lot on your van life goals. Whether you're in a van to save money, on a tight budget or are chasing powder, there are plenty of options, but they come with some caveats.

Winter and summer van life locations have a lot of similarities. For how to find a site during the warmer months, check out the iOverlander review, the article about stealth camping, and how to find a good campsite.

Winter conditions mean that snow removal happens. For all of the following locations, be cognisant of snow removal operations. It could mean closures, parking bans, danger, and loud noises from the snow removal equipment.

Here's where you can stay:

• Parking Lots. Home Depot, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, etc. Parking lots can provide a trustworthy place to park for the night, even during the winter.
• Stealth Camping/ Urban locations. Urban areas and business parks offer good parking options during the winter. Since they are high-traffic areas during the day, they might keep up with snow removal, so you don't have to worry about driving in deep snow or ice.
• Rest Stops. Highway rest stops are another good option for winter van camping. Some remain open year-round, while some close during the height of winter. Additionally, some amenities like washrooms or water refills may close during the winter.
• Sno Parks. These recreational area parking lots provide a good opportunity to camp for the night. They usually have maintained access and parking that you can depend on. Some parking lots have restrictions on overnight camping. They may require a fee, whether daily or seasonally.
• BLM. Free off-grid camping is the go-to for many during the summer. However, BLM access roads often aren't maintained during the winter. This is a choose-your-own-adventure category during the winter. Be sure to heavily research your destination in case of temporary or seasonal closures. Additionally, recent trip reports can provide a lot of value to give you a hint of what you're getting yourself into.
• Ski resorts. Many van lifers choose to live nomadically for the thrill of skiing all winter season. This may even apply to weekenders. Ski resorts parking lots can give you a good place to park so that you can hit the slopes first thing in the morning. You can likely get away with parking at some locations even if you don't plan to use the hills.
• Campgrounds. Some areas have year-round campground operations. This is a blessing since it's likely the safest way to continue your van life adventures in the winter. While some campgrounds may remain open, they may have limited amenities due to the weather.
• Moochdoking. Another great winter van life option is to park and stay with friends or family. Doing so gives you the safety net of power, water, and a warm home in case of emergencies. Be sure to show gratitude and don't overstay your welcome.

Sometimes the only way to know if a camping spot will work is to get out there and try it out. That's part of the thrill of van life: exploring your options and being able to leave if something isn't working out. Be careful as this type of fun can lead to burnout and decision fatigue.

There are plenty of options for winter camping in your campervan. Some locations are open year-round, and other locations present new opportunities for exploring the outdoors during the colder months. From classic parking lots to adventure-filled sno parks, you'll surely find a place to call home for the night.

Conclusion

Embracing the challenges, preparing diligently, and finding joy in the unique experiences winter offers allows you to enjoy winter camping in your van.

I'd love to hear from you!

Any other tips? Comments? Want to share what has worked for you? Let me know in the comments below!