What should I pack in my campervan?

Adventure Gear

What kinds of adventures do you want to have? Some items you may want to consider bringing are:

  • A small kayak can fit inside the large vans. Recommend to keep them under 7ft. Or you can strap to a hitch basket.

  • Rock climbing gear 

  • Bicycles can be easily accommodated with the addition of a rented bike rack from Wandervans or all vans have a 2” receiver if you want to bring your own rack. (mountain bikes or all-road bikes, the kind with the larger tires, will work better on trails than the touring bikes used for racing).

  • Hiking gear. The type will depend on the kind of hike you want to do.

  • A Camelbak backpack, which holds a bladder of water inside a backpack, is an essential thing to have if you’re going to be doing anything outdoors. It allows you to carry a large amount of water and frees up your hands. Hydration is of the utmost importance with the high summer temperatures of the Utah desert so bring plenty of water

  • The vans are equipped with snow chains so you can rest easy if you’ll be traveling in snowy areas during winter


Vehicle Gear

Now it’s time to pack your vehicle. Make sure you have at least the basics, which include:

  • First aid kit 

  • Toilet paper and paper towels— we pass along leftovers from previous campers but these are not guaranteed so we suggest stocking the van with your own

  • A foldable shovel - shovels may come in handy in a variety of situations, but you may consider using for digging holes for the classic outdoor restroom experience or if you’d rather, Wandervans is able to provide the option to rent a port-a-potty

  • Duct tape—you never know when it’ll come in handy

  • A Leatherman multipurpose tool. These are great because they’re a knife, a screwdriver, pliers, and more all in one handy instrument—the MacGyver of pocket tools. 

  • Drinking water by the gallon or in bottles

  • A waterproof flashlight or headlamp if you prefer to remain handsfree. Inside the van, you will also find LED lights that can be placed outside for lighting of your campsite


Comfort Gear

First pack your daily essentials, like your underwear, clothing, medications, and bathroom items. Now think about what extras you'll need to feel comfortable on a trip. Write a list so you don't forget anything.

  • Jackets. You'll at least need a light one, even in summer.

  • Sensible shoes—no flipflops on hiking trails. You’ll need them for common showers, though. And if you’re going to be in a river, you might want to bring water shoes.

  • Binoculars are useful if you're in the outdoors for animal or bird watching.

  • As far as power, power inverters are standard in the vans (for charging things such as camera batteries). Phone chargers can be plugged into the numerous USB ports found inside our vans, You may consider a mobile charger to bring along when you are out exploring

  • Neck pillow

  • Snacks. Junk food’s always a good idea.  Calories don’t count on a road trip!  Or you can pack more healthfully. Store your perishables in the van’s refrigerator; you can refill at grocery stores or local markets.

  • Soap to use at the van sink and hand sanitizer for emergencies

  • Our vans are equipped with magnetic bug nets to keep out bugs and are ideal for air flow. Bug repellent for outdoors and hydrocortisone cream (in case the bug spray didn’t work) are essential.

  • Sunglasses

  • Acetaminophen

  • Tissues

  • Blankets for your comfort. The vans come standard with a fitted sheet on each mattress. You may also add on the Deluxe Sheets option or our 0-degree sleeping bags for colder nights

  • Camera. You can always use your phone, but you might want to break out your nicer digital camera for a trip like this. A selfie stick, tripod, and a wireless remote could also be helpful. Make sure you have enough memory for your camera, too.


Kid Gear

If you’re bringing along kids, you’ll need all of the above, plus their regular day-to-day gear (such as diapers, car seats, pacifiers, medications, etc). Second and third-row seats in the van are equipped with child seat anchors and 3 point seat belts.

You may also want to bring along tablets or iPads with pre-downloaded movies on them (remember the charging cable). These can be easily set up on our tablet holders found behind the driver’s seat for hands-free movie-watching.

Sometimes winding mountain roads and altitude change can wreak havoc on small tummies. Bring motion sickness bags. Also, if you’re going to an altitude above 8000 feet, then know the signs of altitude sickness in babies and children.

To stave off boredom, you can also have a special snack bag for the kids so they get a special treat every couple hours. Let children choose a limited number of comfort toys, such as stuffed animals, to bring. Also, check out magnetic car games and coloring books (just be prepared for crayons to get dropped).