Why You Should Consider Overland Car Camping Travel

Whether you are a traditional traveler, brand new to car camping or an overlanding pro, it’s always opportune to review the perks of camper travel. In the beginning our of travel journey we were fairly ‘traditional’, traveling mostly by plane and backpacking through major cities. And although we have thoroughly enjoyed our past travels, we realized that car camping would allow us to see more, travel longer and give us a richer experience.

And so we chose to join the ‘Overlanding’ community. The term ‘overlander’ has a quite broad definition and there are plenty of ways to do this. But our first choice was car camping in our converted Acura SUV. Our first overlanding road trip lasted 5 months and took our camper van all over North America.

We think we made the right decision to switch from traditional travel to car camping travel. And we remain very enthusiastic on the subject. So let us take you through our journey. We will start with what we believe to be the biggest advantages to camper van travel. To do this, we will make a direct comparison between a more traditional way of traveling vs overland travel. And yes, we will be keeping score. 😉

Are you a pro overlander? What are your best car camping tips? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Car Camping vs. Traditional Travel: Pros and Cons

1. Startup Camper Vehicle Cost and Expenses

In this category, overlanding takes a huge hit. If you are travelling on a budget, the cost of purchasing a van, camper or RV may just not be in the books for you.

From our research, the absolute cheapest way you could get yourself into a camper would be to buy a cheap cargo van and convert it yourself. Even this will cost you at the very least $2,500, with the added issue of needing the skill and the time. This alone will knock a massive group of people out of ‘Team Overlander’.

In spite of this, we chose to cough up the startup cost because we are looking at this as a long-term investment.

Needless to say, traditional travel, especially backpacking, can be extremely inexpensive. Your startup costs are really just finding a cheap flight somewhere. You may have to purchase some gear but generally these costs come nowhere near the $2,500 mark.

Backpacking: 1, Overlanding: 0

Are you new to car camping? Want to learn more about how to get started, what to pack and how to get around? Check out our other overlanding posts:

• Essential Car Camping Gear You NEED When Overlanding
• 15 Green Tips on Responsible Overland Travel
• How to Choose Which Camper Vehicle is Best for You
• Your Ultimate Camping Packing List
• 10 of the Best Budget Sleeping Bags

2. Lodging, Food & Transportation Budget and Expenses

Here is where overlanding took a huge lead for us and is perhaps the main reason we chose it. The cost of lodging, food and transportation are dramatically less when you are car camping. Allowing you to travel much further and much longer.

Cost of Lodging

You’ll save the most when it comes to lodging. You can find very inexpensive, and often free, campsites anywhere around the world. My favourite resource is iOverlander.com – this site displays a map view of the world and allows you to filter for ‘wild’, ‘informal’ and ‘established’ campsites (as well as hostels and hotels).

If you are overlanding on a budget, your camping fee could be anywhere from $0 to $25 per night (in North America) or $0 to $8 per night (in Latin America).

The other thing to realize is that this is the nightly fee for your whole group. In a hostel you will have to pay per person (even with just a couple travelling together these costs add up quick). If you are planning to stay in hostels, expect to pay between $10 and $30 per person, per night (in North America) or $7 to $12 per person, per night (in Latin America). Hotels and Airbnbs would obviously be even more than this. I’ll do the math for you: by travelling overland you could save $600/month/person in North America and $300/month/person in Latin America compared to hostel stays.

Cost of Food and Meals

Food cost is also a money saver. Because you will be able to store food and cook for yourself in your camper, you do not have to eat at restaurants as often.

By purchasing your own food and cooking your own meals you will spend about $10/day/person (in North America) or $6/day/person (in Latin America). If you are backpacking and have no way to store food or cook you will be eating street food, fast food or in local restaurants. This could cost anywhere from $20 to $40/day/person (in North America) or $10/day/person (in Latin America). You could save $600/month/person in North America and $120/month/person in Latin America by cooking rather than eating out.

Cost of Transportation

Transportation costs are a bit tricky to calculate since it depends on what cities you want to visit and what activities you are interested in. Gas prices in the US and Latin America come at a moderate cost of $3-4 USD/gallon. But it is safe to say that driving yourself and paying for your own gas will be cheaper than flying, taking a train or taking a bus.

Overall, by choosing to road trip and car camp, you could save $420 to $1200/month/person; add on additional transportation costs to these figures and you are looking at a very significant savings. The best part about saving this kind of money is that you are able to travel further and longer than you would through traditional travel.

Backpacking: 1, Overlanding: 1

3. Packing Gear, Equipment & Supplies

This was another huge one for us. By bringing our own camper vehicle, we are able to pack way more gear, equipment, and supplies. We can bring lots of clothes for cold and hot weather, camping and hiking gear, guitar, electronics (laptops, cameras, lenses, drones), sports gear (bicycles, skis, snowboard, fishing equipment), and room to buy souvenirs.

When we were backpacking through Europe we were so limited with what we could bring. If you are travelling for multiple months, through different terrain and weather, it becomes a lovely convenience (albeit a huge luxury) to have more gear for all the activities you hope to partake in. It also saves you from needing to rent or purchase equipment along the way. We’ve done the minimalist backpacking thing and loved it. But we thought it would be fun to travel in a way that gives us more options.

Backpacking: 1, Overlanding: 2 (I realize how bias this point is as it really just depends on your preference. But for the sake of our personal tally, overlanding gets a point).

If you think the overlanding camper vehicle life is for you, there are some essential items you will need to help you get off the grid, and to stay safe, comfortable and prepared. Here is our list of The Top 5 Essential Pieces of Camper Gear to help you get started on your journey: 

• Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station – The ultimate, all-in-one portable power station.
• HQST Solar Panel– Find a solar panel that can sit flat on the roof.
• Mr. Heater Buddy – A safe and efficient way to keep you warm inside your camper vehicle.
• Fan-Tastic Roof Vent – Keeping moisture out of your camper keeps the interior healthy and keeps condensation off your windows (helping to keep you stealth).
• Anker USB Car Charger – To charge your phone & laptop on the go. An essential piece of gear on the road.

 4. Comfort

By driving your own camper, you also have the added benefit of living in a comfortable (yet small) space. You can have the luxury of a quality mattress, privacy, a quiet place to work, the comforts of home (I’m thinking.. your favourite mug, pictures, your own smells). A hostel has its own charms but having a space that is your own offers a much more warmth.

Backpacking: 1, Overlanding: 3

5. Getting off the Beaten Path

Imagine a local gives you a tip on a must-see secret waterfall located outside of some tiny village you’ve never heard of. This is what it’s all about. This is why you travel to every corner of the world.

But how do you get there? Transportation can be very problematic while backpacking. At the very least, the search for transportation is stressful and expensive, and at worst you can’t find a way to get there at all.

If you have your own vehicle the possibilities are endless. You can get to the most remote of locations and all you need is a map. For us, seeing places that haven’t been seen by many is why we travel. Having our own camper vehicle will allow us to do this.

Bonus: This is another money saving tip as you will not have to pay for a bus ride or a tour company to take you there.

Backpacking: 1, Overlanding: 4

6. Ability to Travel to Destinations Around the World

As travel lovers, we don’t want to limit ourselves to where we can go. Obviously, with a camper van we are only able to travel on ground and therefore have essentially no ability to travel overseas (unless we want to spend an exorbitant amount of money to ship the vehicle). Since we live in Canada, our overland travels limits us to North America and Central America (even travelling to South America is tricky due to that pesky Darien Gap).

We’re okay with this because this still gives us an amazing amount of land to discover. And when we are ready, we will fly overseas. Having a camper van really gives you the ultimate flexibility because you can choose which type of travel is appropriate for that time in your life. Nevertheless….

Backpacking: 2, Overlanding: 4

7. Meeting Fellow Travellers

While overlanding and car camping every night, there is a potential to become isolated from other travellers. If you are looking for ‘wild’ (a.k.a. free) campgrounds, it’ll likely just be you and some locals. You’ll find more travellers at established campgrounds but you will spend more money on these types of sites.

On the other hand, hostels are a hot spot for meeting fellow backpackers. There are obviously endless benefits to meeting other travelers: connecting with like-minded individuals, meeting eclectic people, acquiring invaluable tips and advice on where to go, making lifelong friends! Clearly, the more exposure you have to other travelers the better.

Backpacking: 3, Overlanding: 4

Are you looking for other ways to travel the world on a budget? Check out our budget series to find cheap and affordable travel methods:

• ‘How to Find Budget Accommodation and Lodging Anywhere in the World’
• ‘Things to do for Free While Traveling’
• ‘How to Maintain Your Food Budget While Traveling’
• ‘How to Travel the World for Free’

8. Meeting Locals

On the other hand, camper van life takes you out of the hostels and hotels and puts you right in the middle of true local life. This is especially true for budget overlanding which often includes speaking to business owners and families to gain permission to use their property for the night.

I have yet to experience this but from what I have read, this is where you get some real cultural experiences and connect with locals on a deeper level. Even established campsites will be full of locals to meet and converse with.

And of course, since you won’t have a hotel to stay in all day, camper life forces you outdoors where you will be constantly exploring and meeting people everywhere you go.

The ability to connect with locals is a huge asset while travelling. It is the only true way to experience their way of life.  The more opportunity for this, the better.

Backpacking: 3, Overlanding: 5

9. Getting Outdoors and Into Nature

And this brings me to my next point. Although it does not apply to every traveller, of course.

But by staying in a hostel or hotel, you may be more tempted to hang around during the day and spend less time exploring.

With camper life, you have no choice but to explore the land and discover the people. The opportunities for adventure are amplified. And that’s what we are all looking for.

(It seems cheap to give this one to overlanding because it really just depends on what type of traveler you are. How about everyone gets a point!)

Backpacking: 4, Overlanding: 6

10. Travel Safety & Security

And finally, the point that is in the back of everyone’s mind.

I have to admit it, the odds of getting into an unsafe situation increase slightly when road tripping and car camping in certain parts of the world. It may be unlikely that anything would happen, the chance is still there.

Although, if you talk to any experienced overlander they will fight you to the death on this. Because, as long as you are prepared and smart, you will likely be just fine.

For us, we don’t let irrational fear hinder our main objective. We want adventure… so bring it on!

Backpacking: 5, Overlanding: 6

And voila! Overlanding reigns victorious! Well, for us anyway.

The idea behind this post was to open up some minds and explore some different ways of travel. Overlanding is not something we had heard of or considered until more recently. We were very enchanted by the idea, researched it and realized it could work for us.

But we encourage travel of any kind, in any way you can. Open your mind and your heart to the world. It will give you so much more in return.

If you are looking for more inspiration on overlanding, car camping and camper van travel, check out these other great bloggers:

• Two Wandering Soles: Campervan Life
• Van Clan
• Escape Campervans
• Nomadasarus: Overlanding

What are your reasons for overland travel? Is there a main reason you choose car camping over traditional travel? Comment below!

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