My First Night in the Van: A New Chapter Begins

February 23, 2025

I had just returned from a short getaway in Palm Springs and San Diego—staying in hotels, which felt like I was cheating on my new vanlife dream. But once I got back, I said goodbye to my old “sticks and bricks” life. This was it: my first official night as a full-time vanlifer.

To kick things off, I made my way to Ventura, CA for an Adventure Van Expo meetup. Pulling into the parking lot, I was overwhelmed in the best way—van after van lined up, and for the first time, I was rolling up in my own home on wheels. I felt a rush of excitement, picturing a community of DIY vanlifers and vehicle dwellers just like me.

But as I started exploring, I quickly realized this wasn’t exactly my scene—the event leaned more toward high-end Sprinter builds and luxury rigs. Still, I wandered through, checking out the setups, enjoying the music, and soaking in the energy before heading into downtown Ventura to explore.

(I’ll be posting a full guide to Ventura soon, so stay tuned!)

Vans on display at the Adventure Van Expo.

The First Night

As the evening wore on, I started looking for a parking spot. I pulled up my parking app and found one near a bar with food—perfect for catching the World Series game.

At the time, stealth camping felt like a big deal. I had this whole routine to make it look like I wasn’t sleeping in my van:

Locate the ideal spot and park.
Put up the window shades and pull the curtain.
Casually walk away, acting like I had other plans.
Return at least an hour later and slip inside as quickly as possible.

Now I’ve realized most people don’t care. But back then, it felt like a covert mission.

I got back to the van, parked less than a block from the ocean at Pierpont Beach, and settled in for the night. I put up my window covers, closed the curtain, and turned on the TV—but instead of relaxing, I was glued to my security cameras, checking every little movement outside. Every sound had me on edge.

Then, before I knew it, I woke up.

It was just before 6 AM.

I had done it.

I had driven somewhere, found a parking spot, tucked myself in, and slept through the night in my van.

Waking Up to a New Reality

As I stepped outside, I took in the quiet rhythm of the morning.

I grabbed my small bag of toiletries and walked to the public restroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and get ready for the day. That simple routine felt like a victory—it meant I could do this.

And then, I noticed something:

Vans and cars left running in the parking lot, their owners slowly stirring.
A small community of people—some gearing up for a morning surf, others packing up their homes on wheels.
The subtle but familiar energy of folks waking up to a life on the road.

I wandered over to the beach, taking a moment to soak it all in. The waves. The crisp morning air. The feeling of absolute freedom.

And then, I turned and looked next to me.

A beachfront hotel.

I watched as people stepped onto their balconies, sipping coffee, taking in the exact same view I had. The only difference?

They had paid over $200 for the night.

I wanted to tell them. I wanted to shout to the world about this incredible life hack I had just discovered.

But in that moment, I had no idea what amazing experiences were still in store for me, further on down the road.