How to Shower When Living on The Road Full-Time

It’s so easy to let our minds wander to the luxuries of living on the road full-time–the slow mornings making coffee in the Utah desert, sleeping under the stars in the Sierra Nevada. When you start traveling, all those moments are just as magical as they sound, but there are also some not-so-magical moments centered around day-to-day logistics. 

Living in a house or apartment, it’s so easy to take the simple task of a warm shower for granted. Many of those who live on the road in vans, truck campers, or RVs, a simple task of a shower suddenly takes some creative thinking. 

If you’re gearing up for full-time travel or heading out for a few weeks in your pop up truck camper, finding shower solutions is a must. Because let’s face it, showering in lakes and rivers only gets you so far! 

How to Shower When Living on The Road Full-Time 

1. Get a Rig With an Installed Shower 

The easiest and most efficient way to shower on the road is to get a truck camper or rig where you can shower wherever you camp. For example, our slide-in and flatbed camper models have options for both interior and exterior showers. If you’re someone where showering often is important, a shower inside your Four Wheel Camper, van, or RV, is going to be worth every penny.

And contrary to popular belief, our truck camper showers are a luxury with instant hot water systems! Whether building your 4×4 camper with us or doing it on your own, checking specifics such as hot water aspects, water usage, and water pressure, are incredibly important. 

When it comes to shower setups for truck campers, vans, and RVs, there are two options: 

1. Outdoor Shower: One of our most popular shower solutions for specific models is our exterior shower. The exterior system is perfect for saving interior space, while still having instant access to a hot shower at any time. Simply add a shower curtain and standing platform, and you’ve got a shower on the go – just make sure you use biodegradable soap and hair products! 
2. Indoor Shower: An indoor shower is a multi-functional space that doubles as the toilet/washroom. Our larger truck camper models can include a small room with an interior shower within the camper. It’s convenient for those who have the space and prefer the privacy & comfort of showering indoors, no matter what the weather is outside. 

Explore our slide-in campers & flatbed campers with shower options here. 

2. Get a Gym Membership 

If you don’t have the option to install a shower into your truck camper or van, fear not! We have other options to help you shower on the road, and one of the most common ways is by getting a monthly gym membership at a nationwide gym. Before you leave on your trip, research gym locations along your route and determine which will be best. If you plan to shower often, a monthly gym membership will be the most cost-effective way to shower on the road. 

Make sure when choosing a membership that it is one that can be used at different locations, as the cheapest gym membership often limits to one home location. In addition, this shower solution requires frequent travel into cities or metropolitan areas where the gym is located, which can be off-putting for those looking to stay out in nature. 

3. Gas Station Showers

You might not think this sounds appealing – but gas station showers are typically very nice. They are safe and offer a private place to shower and refresh. Depending on where you are, these showers can cost anywhere from $5 – $15. Not every gas station has showers, but look for ones that are truck stops off freeways or highway routes. 

The private shower areas are typically full bathrooms, with shower facilities, a toilet, a mirror, and a sink. The water is hot and time is not limited, making it a stress-free no-rush place to get ready, blow dry your hair, and wash up. 

4. Campgrounds

Many campgrounds offer shower facilities at a standard rate for non-campers and average between $5-$10. Sometimes it can be worth it to stay the night at a campground 1-2 times per week because paying for a spot automatically gives access to the shower facilities. 

Campground showers are often shared facilities and can be hit or miss on the warmth of the water, but they are a convenient & easy place to get clean on the road, and can also offer an easy place to sleep and do laundry for a night! 

5. Recreation Centers 

Many mid-size towns have recreation centers with swimming pools, basketball courts, gyms, hockey rinks, and more. A day pass will get you access to all of the facilities, including the showers & locker rooms. It is one of the most underrated places to get a shower when traveling in your truck camper! 

These facilities are often the perfect place to spend the day when the weather outside might be rainy or unfavorable. Day passes to these centers typically range from $8-$25, making the shower and day of entertainment entirely worth it. 

6. Portable Shower Solutions 

If you’re someone who wants to equip your pop up camper with your own shower solutions – there are many ways to shower right at camp without needing a bathroom in your truck camper, van, or RV. 

There are options like the Geyser Shower, which has a built-in heater and allows someone to shower using less than a gallon of water. It’s not quite as satisfying as showering under a nonstop stream of water, but it gets the job done! 

There are also many different types of hanging solar showers, which can be hung up at camp and used for a nice, warm shower on those hot & sunny days. 

How to Shower When Living on The Road Full-Time 

Showering on the road is not as easy as in a traditional home, but there are many solutions to ensure you stay fresh & clean. As freeing and lovely as being on the road is with minimal rules, trust us, your travel buddies, pets, or camping pals will appreciate it! And there is rarely a better feeling than a nice, hot shower after days of playing in the dirt. 
Looking for a full-time road trip rig? Here are all the reasons vanlifers are moving to trucks for their full-time living!