Who would have guessed that living in a van would one day be considered cool? If only Matt Foley were around to see this. Really, though, is it so surprising that more and more people are leaving their nine-to-fives behind in favor of more freedom? As restrictive and confining as everyday life can be, the appeal of van life isn’t hard to see. 

Of course, for most people who take to the road, van life is about more than ditching responsibility and leaving their worries behind. It’s about shifting one’s mindset and re-thinking the boundaries of what one’s life can and should be. It’s a less-is-more approach to life, distilled down to its purest form.

One of the greatest attractions of van life is that it presents an opportunity for simplification. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. 

The nomad lifestyle presents a wide range of challenges, from beating the weather and staying within the bounds of the law to eating healthy and maintaining good hygiene. These 30 handy tips for van living will help you avoid some of the most common troubles that befall nomadic newbies. 

1. Get the Right Van

Too many people buy a van first, and then decide they want to try out van life. It should be the other way around. Plan ahead and carefully consider your needs before you buy a van. That way, you can choose a van that best meets your criteria. After all, you have a lot of options – minivan, cargo van, campervan, Class B RV – so think about how much space you need, and how best to utilize it. Four-wheel drive is always good to have, and the most important thing of all is reliability.

2. Start Small

We all learn as we go, so it’s best not to take to full-time van life right away. Start by plotting out a weekend road trip. Then take what you’ve learned over the weekend and try out a full week, then a month, and so on. Everybody makes mistakes when they first try it out, and starting small is a good way to keep the stakes relatively low at first.