Van Life Glamping: How We Travel in Style
By Elyse Goldfarb | June 20
Glamping is the sweet spot between roughing it and luxury. It’s nature—with a real bed, good food, and a hot shower. And when you’re traveling in a van loaded with all the modern comforts, you can camp just about anywhere in style:
Off-grid boondocking in the wild
Full-service RV parks with WiFi, hot tubs, and laundry
Cabins, yurts, lodges, or even hotels when you want a break from the van
We’ve done them all.
Why Glamping Works for Us
Traveling in our van means no hauling heavy gear, no complicated camp setups, and no giving up on comfort. We get to be outdoors without giving up good sleep, coffee, or hot meals.
That said—when possible, we love staying inside National Parks. Lodges, cabins, and park-run campgrounds put you closer to the action. You skip the long entrance lines and get the full immersive experience. But be warned: those reservations go fast. When we couldn’t snag them, we found great alternatives—like first-come, first-served camp sites or nearby KOAs.
Our 2024 Wild West Road Trip: The Highlights
🏁 Start: Boca Raton, FL → Nashville, TN
We kicked off our two-month road trip with a two-day drive to Nashville. First stop: my sister’s guest house—formerly her son’s band room. Super cool vibes.
Our 19.8 ft van fits in regular parking spaces, so we had no problem pulling into her driveway or exploring downtown. We visited the Gibson Garage, grabbed some BBQ, and then rolled out toward St. Louis.
📍 St. Louis → The Badlands
Quick stop at the Gateway Arch to grab our first National Parks Passport stamp. We stayed at a Drury Inn near Kansas City—free drinks and taco bar included. Nice touch.
From there, it was KOA campgrounds and scenic drives all the way to South Dakota. The Badlands were stunning—but it was 103°F, way too hot to hike. So we took the scenic loop and kept moving.
We made classic roadside stops like Wall Drug (t-shirts + ice cream), then pushed on to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Monument. We were already running on empty but couldn’t skip them.
KOA campsites in the area were clean and had thoughtful touches—shaded tables, good showers, and sunset views.
🐴 Keystone → Cody, WY
We passed through Sturgis, Deadwood, and Spearfish, all full of cowboy charm. In Cody, the KOA was blooming with wild lilacs. We grilled burgers, showered off the dust, and slept like babies. Bonus: free pancake breakfast and laundry on site.
After researching routes, we rerouted for excitement:
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway → Beartooth Highway → NE Yellowstone Entrance
It was a sunrise rollercoaster ride through the mountains. Spectacular!
Yellowstone: Geysers, Wildlife & Rustic Charm
🏞 Day 1: NE Entrance → Roosevelt Lodge
We rolled in around 8:30 AM, spotting bison and free-range cattle along the way. At check-in, we were told to explore and come back at 4 PM.
So we drove the park loop: Mammoth Hot Springs → West Yellowstone → Norris → Canyon Village. We saw geysers, hot springs, waterfalls—including the stunning Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Back at Roosevelt Lodge, we checked into our rustic cabin and headed to dinner. The vibe? Cozy log cabin lounge. Drink of choice: an Old Faithful Smash.
Dinner hit the spot: chili, bison burger, corn riblets, ribs. Reasonable prices, great atmosphere. We snuggled into bed under our faux fur throw. Good call bringing that.
🌋 Day 2: Old Faithful + Grand Prismatic
Next up: The Snow Lodge at Old Faithful. Another cabin stay. After a long day, we hit the Obsidian Lounge, ordered drinks and charcuterie, but opted for takeout dinner after a long wait. Prime rib and risotto back in the cabin—with Kodi ready to help with leftovers.
The next morning, we caught the 10:45 AM eruption of Old Faithful (missed the 9:00), then hit all the major geothermal attractions around the area. Packed, hot, and amazing.
Grand Tetons: Our Favorite Stop
We headed out the South Entrance to Grand Teton National Park for a 3-day stay. We had a campsite booked in Wilson, WY but fell in love with the on-site cabins and extended our stay.
Between Jackson Hole and the town of Jackson, it was the perfect base. Rustic, scenic, and peaceful—our favorite stop of the whole trip.
From There, We Kept Rolling…
We continued west and south, hitting:
Oregon
California (boondocking at Joshua Tree and Mt. Whitney!)
Arizona, Utah, Colorado
Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM
Texas
And finally, back to Florida
We saw 17 National Parks, got every passport stamp we could, and made a dozen spontaneous detours when something called to us. We visited friends, stayed with family, and soaked in the full van life experience—with style.
What We Learned
Glamping in a van isn’t just doable—it’s awesome.
With the right gear, a little planning, and some flexibility, you can be comfortable anywhere.
Whether you’re sleeping under the stars or in a cabin with chandeliers, you don’t have to rough it to love the outdoors.
We were traveling light(ish), living smart, and collecting moments, not just miles.
We were glamping. And we were travelin’ in style.