An Epic Guide To Minivan Camping – How To Rock Your Car Camping Experience

Did you know you may have the perfect RV sitting right in your driveway? In fact, if you own a vehicle then you DO have an RV sitting right in your driveway.

What is Minivan Camping?

In my opinion, minivan camping and also car camping is when you use your vehicle for the purpose of sleeping in, going from place to place, and as a camping tool. Some will say that you can also define minivan camping or car camping as using your vehicle to get to a destination and set up a tent.

Learn how to set up the perfect car camping kitchen.

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Benefits to Minivan Camping.

There are lots of benefits to using your vehicle for an RV. It’s so easy to convert your minivan, SUV, or car into a camper. There are so many options available. From comfortable bedding, great storage ideas, portable camp kitchen ideas, and even options for personal care needs, you can have many of the comforts of a small traditional RV.

• Economical– This might be the number one reason campers choose minivan camping. It’s the reason I choose to use my vehicle to camp in when I went to Gulf Shores earlier this year. I didn’t have to sweat the high hotel costs. I stayed at park or KOA campgrounds versus private campgrounds.  If you really wanted to go cheaper, you can find free places to park overnight. A good app to find free places to camp in Campendium. Filling up your gas tank isn’t as painful as it would be if you are pulling a travel trailer or a class C motorhome.
•  Ease In Parking– With minivan camping, you can pull into any spot and backing up is simple simon. If you are camping at an unfamiliar park and blindly pre-booked a site (highly recommended), you could have any number of obstacles to navigate your vehicle around.
•  Stress free driving– Have you ever driven a travel trailer through the mountains, in big city traffic, or in windy conditions? It’s not fun and your stress level is likely to go through the roof. Having to pry your fingers from the steering wheel every time you stop is not ideal. I love my camper, but will continue to choose my car for cross country trips for this reason alone. Especially since I am usually travelling by myself, which brings me to my next benefit.
•  Safety– Feeling unsafe in an overnight camping spot? All you have to do is crawl in the front seat and leave. Nothing to take down. I keep it simple when I’m car camping so if need be I can make a quick getaway. All my cooking gear is in a tote that I keep on the passenger side front seat. Safety is most important when you are solo camping in unfamiliar places.

Of course, there are some negatives to minivan camping, space being the major one, but if you are wanting to travel on a budget, nothing beats minivan camping or car camping.

So, you’re ready to turn your vehicle into your very own RV. or you know someone who would like to give it a try, here is a list of very basic items that you need to get started with some upgrades thrown in for those that want to up their minivan camping game.

I took this video tour of my set-up for my first car camping experience.

Minivan Camping Essentials

The Minivan Camping Bed

Comfort is the most important factor in finding the right mattress. Getting a decent night’s sleep and not waking up to a sore back is essential for happy campers.

There are so many to choose from. Which kind is the best?

There are two types of mattresses to choose from, foam, or inflating. Which one you choose is simply a matter of preference. I like to use foam and started out with 2 foam toppers I had available at home. This may be a good idea for you too if you want to just dip your toe into minivan camping and don’t want to spend a lot of money on new equipment.

If you’d like to purchase a new foam camping mat, this one is a great option. Not necessarily a budget option, but when your comfort is at stake, it may be worth the extra splurge. There are less expensive options available also.

Let’s look at inflatable options

There are tons of inflatable options available. Ranging in size to single up to queen, an inflatable mattress may be a perfect choice if you need to fit two adults in your minivan or SUV. I absolutely love this option for its versatility. You have the option to inflate the whole mattress, 60% of it, or 40%. It’s perfect if you camp by yourself sometimes, and with another person other times.

This budget-friendly compact inflatable is lightweight and has a built-in pump. A bonus is that you can attach another mattress for added size.

Now that you have your mattress, you’ll want a sleeping bag, or get a sheet set and comforter for a cozy at-home feel. I like to use sheets and a comforter when I car camp. I’ve never been a big fan of the sleeping bag. Include a fluffy pillow, even glamp it up with some decorative pillows, and you’re set.

Let’s talk privacy

Unless you are camping by yourself with no neighbors, you’ll want to cover your windows for privacy and to keep the early morning sunshine out. Ideally, I cover the front and side windows in my Toyota 4Runner, but prefer to leave my back window uncovered so I can look out and see the stars at night. Unfortunately, I can’t always do that. My windows are tinted, but I prefer to still have them covered. You can easily make your own window covers and there are lots of DYI videos on YouTube. This first video I’d like to share is for the glampers or maybe you just want to go all-in and finish off your coverings.

This next video is detailed and easy to follow and is a great low-cost way of making window coverings.

You can search Amazon for premade versions, or a roll of cling on vinyl (While this did the trick, I will be making my own for my next car camping trip) that you cut to size yourself.

When it came to a privacy curtain to hang for separation between your front seats and the cab area where you sleep, I used a bungee cord that I hooked onto the grab bars and threw a black sheet over it. I will modify that and use curtains instead. I still had some light come through the top by the roof, but it was minor.

Essential tools for your minivan camping kitchen

The name of the game is compact in everything for car camping. If you plan on doing all your cooking over the campfire, you still will need some basics. Preferably everything you need for you kitchen will fit in one tote. I didn’t need to purchase any extras because I could use everything I already have for my little Beatrice the Little Camper.

First, you are going to need a portable stove. You may do all your cooking over the fire as I said, but you will need a simple stove for when that’s not possible. I have this one and absolutely love it. It works with propane and butane which is an added bonus. I always use a small propane cylinder. It comes in a handy carrying case too.

I also have a Blackstone I use for camping with my camper, but you can also consider having one for car camping if you have more room. I absolutely love mine and you can cook everything on one.

Then I carry a medium-size kettle and a frying pan. I don’t carry cast iron because of weight, but if you plan on cooking over a fire, you may need it. Don’t forget cooking and eating utensils, a can opener, and other necessities. I bring a dishrag, dish soap, a towel, and paper towels. I keep my camping tote ready and stocked and add or take things out if needed. The key is pack light and all your kitchen items should fit in one tote. Plan your meals ahead of time, take only what you need. By the end of the first trip, you will become an expert organizer and packer!

What about minivan camping storage?

I tend to pack light when I go camping. If I’m on a longer than a 4-day trip, I make sure I can get to a laundromat or I bring a little container of laundry soap along and use a trusty collapsible bucket to wash things out. I keep a little clothesline in my box of camping essentials. For clothes, I take along my wheeled carry-on-sized suitcase where I use packing cubes to organize my stuff. I keep my toiletries, makeup, and a towel in a collapsible basket like these. This set is nice cause one can hold your food, another your shower, toiletries, and towels, and the third for dirty laundry. An added bonus is they are stackable.

When I’m tucked in for the night and if it’s raining, I keep all my storage things on the front passenger seat. My suitcase serves as a makeshift nightstand in the back with me.

Other Minivan camping items

These items are optional depending on the space you have. I pack a nice comfy folding camping chair which is really essential. I have several that I take camping with me and everyone’s preference is different. If you have the room and want to avoid late-night trips to the restrooms, a cassette toilet is a nice convenience. I have this one and I absolutely love it! It is compact and easy to maintain. Just fill the tank with water, put some RV toilet solution in the bowl along with water, and use. It easily had a portable tank that you detach and can dispose of in any toilet. If you don’t want to use it in your vehicle, you can purchase an easy-up shower tent and keep it in there when you are minivan camping.

I also have an easy-up screen tent that I carry when I go camping. I was incredibly fortunate to get to Aldi in time when they featured their version of the six-sided easy-up CLAM. I can set it up myself, it covered any size campsite picnic table and becomes a central meeting place when I camp with my lady camping group. Although this size fits in my Toyota 4Runner, It’s heavy. If I’m not using it, I keep it inside the carrying bag and slide it underneath my car at the campsite. Having an easy up-screen shelter is an added bonus when you are using your vehicle for camping. It is a much-needed extra space and shelter.

Lastly, let’s say you tried minivan camping or camping in your vehicle of choice, and you decide this is the way you want to go. You love it. You love the freedom, the ability to pick up and leave easily, the added bonus of not having to hook up, backup, or drive a full-sized RV. The only thing is that you’d like just a bit of extra room while you’re camping. You may want to consider an attachable tent to fulfill that wish. I purchased this one late last summer. I am about to go on a car camping adventure and will be using it for the first time.

Don’t you think this little tent is perfect? it can even be free-standing, which makes leaving it behind at your campsite and exploring in your vehicle so nice!

Using your vehicle is such a great way to try camping. It’s an economical way to see the country. You have all the natural wonders of the outdoors at your fingertips. With a little bit of organization and a few trips close to home to figure out what you need and what to leave home, you will find that Minivan camping and car camping are another way to live a joy-filled life through travel.

Get out and explore!