Van Life with Soul – A Runaway Ann Guide
A road that begins where the pavement ends. Mornings with coffee just outside your campervan door. Nights in places you won’t find in guidebooks.
This is my personal guide to van life – about building a campervan from scratch, life on the road, and routes that are truly worth taking.
No romanticizing. Just real experience from Europe and North America.
Start Here – Van Life, My Way
How to Build a Campervan
12 steps to turn a regular van into a functional home on wheels.
Campervan Build Cost
Real DIY campervan build costs – how much we spent and where the money actually goes.
Where to Sleep in a Campervan
Campgrounds, wild spots, parking and apps to help you find the perfect place to stay overnight.
Campervan Build
Campervan Layout
10 smart ideas for a functional DIY campervan layout.
Campervan Build
20 essential questions and answers about building a campervan from scratch.
Campervan Conversion
12 things you should know before converting a van into a campervan.
Van to Campervan Conversion
12 practical tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes when building a van.
Is It Worth Building a Campervan?
10 reasons why building your own campervan can be one of the best travel decisions you’ll ever make.
Van Life
Van Life Tips & Tricks
20 smart solutions that make life in a campervan easier.
The Truth About Van Life
10 things no one tells you about van life on Instagram.
Traveling with a Cat in a Campervan
How to travel with a cat in a campervan – practical tips from our experience.
Campervan Travel
Europe by Campervan
10 best places in Europe to explore by campervan.
USA by Campervan
10 things to know before traveling the USA by campervan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Van Life and Building a Campervan
Is building a campervan worth it?
It depends on what you compare it to.
If you look at the cost of building a campervan versus buying a new one, a DIY build is often much cheaper.
That said, the financial side is only part of the equation. Building a campervan takes time, patience, and a lot of decisions along the way.
For us, it wasn’t just a way to travel, but an experience that taught us more than any course or guide ever could.
How much does it cost to build a campervan?
In our case, a full DIY campervan build cost around $40,000-$45,000, including both the van and the entire conversion.
Today, with current prices of vehicles and materials in the U.S., a similar project would likely cost closer to $50,000-$70,000, depending on the setup.
The final cost can vary a lot. It depends on the type of van you choose, the level of finish, and how much of the work you do yourself.
Can you build a campervan with no experience?
Yes. We started with no prior experience in building or DIY projects.
What mattered most was planning, patience, and a willingness to learn along the way.
There are plenty of tutorials online, but in reality, most things you only truly understand while working on your own build.
Does van life really give you freedom?
Van life offers a strong sense of independence – the ability to stop wherever you want, change plans at the last minute, and travel at your own pace.
At the same time, it requires good organization and an acceptance of certain limitations, like space and access to infrastructure.
For some, it becomes a lifestyle they fall in love with. For others, it’s simply a beautiful chapter for a while.
Want more campervan travel inspiration?
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