Barebones Camping Trial Run
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026A few weeks ago, I hit the road for a 5-day “camping” trip through Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The whole point wasn’t to take a vacation or go sightseeing — it was to test what I’d built so far in the van and figure out what still needed work before I commit to full-time travel. Just a dry run, stripped down to the basics.
Before we dive into the day-by-day, here’s what the van had installed at the time:
12V fridge
Power system (solar hookups + DC-DC alternator charging)
Exterior lighting
Flooring
Insulation
Webasto heater
Portable propane 2-burner cooktop
Starlink internet
That’s about as barebones as it gets. But that’s what made it fun.
Day 1 – A Soft Start
The trip kicked off with a four-hour drive to a friend’s place near Louisville, KY. He’s building out a van too (a Ford Econoline) and is right around the same stage as me, so we planned to tackle this trial run together.
Instead of hitting the road right away, we decided to camp outside his house that first night, just in case something went terribly wrong. I’d already been driving for a few hours, so saving the long drive for Day 2 made sense.
For sleeping, I used my inflatable air mattress with a comforter and light blanket. I also had the Webasto heater running for part of the night... which, by the way, is excellent at heating the space, but I quickly learned two important lessons: heat rises, and the floor gets cold. With the mattress directly on the floor, I froze. Add to that the fact that the mattress slowly deflated overnight… not ideal. By the next day, I’d already decided to stop inflating it entirely. More on that in a bit.
Day 2 – Getting Moving
We had a warm breakfast inside, said our goodbyes, and then hit the road toward Cumberland Gap National Park. We booked a spot at Wilderness Road Campground for our first real night of camping — partly to ease into things and partly to have access to showers and emergency power if needed. We stopped at Walmart along the way to grab groceries and supplies for a few days of cooking. This is exactly why I wanted the fridge installed before this trip — to avoid relying on takeout. When we arrived, we found our assigned campsites and started getting set up. I didn’t bother plugging into the power hookups until morning since my battery system was still mostly full. Dinner didn’t exactly go as planned (missing a few key supplies), but we made do. Then we made hot chocolate, climbed into my van, and watched YouTube for a while to wind down.
That night, I made some changes to my bed setup. I folded up extra insulation I had brought (originally intended to separate the cab from the living space) and placed it under the deflated air mattress to create a barrier between me and the cold floor. On top of the mattress, I added a foam topper I picked up at Walmart. Then came the sheets. It worked — the floor wasn’t nearly as harsh, and the comfort level improved drastically.
Pictured: Great Smokey Mountains Overlook
Day 3 – A Taste of VanLife
The next morning we used the campground showers, packed up, and hit the road again. We stopped at a Waffle House for breakfast — good food, good people, and overall good vibes.
Our next destination was Asheville, North Carolina. I have a couple of friends who moved there earlier this year, so this was a chance to visit. It was a 3–4 hour drive, with some really scenic stops along the way — overlooks near Cumberland Gap and the Smoky Mountains, both with incredible views.
We made it to Asheville in the early afternoon and hung out at a Walmart for a bit to kill time before dinner. That didn’t last long — security came by within 45 minutes asking us to move. We weren’t planning on staying the night, but it still cut our break short. Dinner with my friend was worth the drive. He suggested a Planet Fitness where lots of VanLifers tend to stay overnight — a spot where nobody gets hassled. So, that’s where we headed. Once parked, we each did our own thing for the evening to avoid attracting attention or bothering anyone. It was a cold night, and while I tried to avoid using the Webasto heater (it’s loud — like obnoxiously loud), I ended up needing it eventually.
Day 4 – Gatlinburg and a Cracker Barrel Camp
Waking up in that Planet Fitness parking lot, I overheard my friend talking with a guy who had just pulled up. He was working on his own van build and planning to hit the road soon. It was a cool reminder of just how many people are out there doing the same thing — or at least dreaming about it.
After breakfast (eggs and bacon cooked in the van), we hit the road again with no real destination. We figured we’d check out Gatlinburg, TN, which took us through some winding back roads and steep hills the van wasn’t exactly thrilled about. Gatlinburg itself was fun. We wandered through shops, went on some sky lift thing, and even ended up on someone’s TikTok LIVE stream.
We decided to spend the night at a Cracker Barrel in Rocky Top, TN — a popular option among RVers. We asked for permission, got the okay, and parked out back. Since we got there just before closing, we didn’t get dinner, but we did cook steak in the van and planned to eat breakfast there in the morning. Cracker Barrel is well-known for welcoming overnight stays, just make sure to call ahead, since policies can change based on city ordinances. It's also common practice to eat there as a thank you.
Day 5 – Spontaneity and Splitting Up
After a hearty breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we originally planned to head west toward Nashville. But as with all good VanLife stories, plans changed. We decided instead to go north toward Lexington, KY.
I messaged another friend and set up a quick visit while Ethan planned to see one of his own. We arrived around noon and hung out at various shops around town. Ethan and I decided to part ways a this point. The friend I met up in Lexington with joined me while I headed north and spent the night at a Love’s truck stop in Memphis, Indiana.
Day 6 – Homeward Bound
By the time I woke up, my friend had already hit the road for work. I left the truck stop and started the final stretch home.
What I Learned (and What’s Next)
This trip was never about sightseeing. It was about learning — what works, what doesn’t, and what I still need.
Here’s what stood out:
Sleeping off the ground is a must. Cold air radiates through the floor. Once I have the bed platform installed with a real mattress, things will improve drastically.
Not knowing where you’re sleeping each night is stressful, especially in unfamiliar areas. I was lucky to be in the Midwest where options are a bit more forgiving.
Gas adds up fast. I expected it, but seeing how quickly the cost grows — especially when moving around every day — was eye-opening.
The loneliness part is real. Even though I was only gone for a few days and had a friend with me, I can already tell this will be one of the harder parts of full-time travel.
So what’s next?
The bed platform is top priority before the next trip (planned for February).
A desk setup is another must-have. I didn’t mention it earlier, but using a lawn chair with a laptop was less than ideal. I need a real workspace in the van.
Overall, I’m excited. This trial run confirmed a lot, both about the van and about myself. VanLife is challenging, but it’s also freeing, spontaneous, and incredibly rewarding. If anything, this trip made me even more excited for the road ahead.
The next post will cover the February/March/April route plans