About Vanyage

Who We Are

Vanyage is a free van life planning toolkit created by a small team of van life enthusiasts, data analysts, and software engineers. We're travelers who have spent years on the road — and builders who use the tools we make. Our mission is simple: help everyone make smart, informed financial decisions before and during their van life journey.

We built Vanyage because we experienced firsthand the frustration of scattered, unreliable cost information. Forum posts from 2019, generic "it depends" answers, and guesswork aren't good enough when you're making life-changing decisions about where to live and how to travel.

Today, Vanyage helps thousands of van lifers each month plan budgets, compare states, and create routes — all completely free.

Our Core Tools

1. Van Life Cost Calculator

Our flagship free van life cost calculator estimates your monthly living expenses based on your chosen state, vehicle, camping style, and lifestyle. It covers all 50 US states with state-specific data for gas prices, campground fees, insurance rates, food costs, and more. Unlike generic budget estimates, our calculator uses real 2026 data to give you a personalized monthly budget breakdown.

2. State-by-State Cost Comparison

Our 50-state van life cost guide lets you compare average monthly expenses, van-friendly scores, camping options, and seasonal considerations for every state. Whether you're eyeing the budget-friendly Southwest or the scenic Pacific Northwest, our data helps you choose the best destination for your budget and lifestyle.

3. AI Route Planner

Our AI-powered route planner generates day-by-day itineraries based on your starting point, trip length, budget, and interests. Routes include real campground recommendations, estimated daily costs, and a visual map — all generated in seconds.

Our Data Sources & Methodology

We believe E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) isn't just a Google concept — it's the right way to build a useful tool. Every number on Vanyage traces back to a credible, publicly available source. Here's where our data comes from:

Gas Prices

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) — the federal government's official energy data agency.

We pull state-level regular gasoline price data updated on a weekly basis. These are retail prices including taxes, which is what you actually pay at the pump. For the calculator, we combine this with your estimated monthly mileage and vehicle MPG to calculate personalized fuel costs.

Update frequency: Weekly

Cost of Living & Food Costs

Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator — one of the most widely cited independent sources for cost-of-living data in the United States.

We use MIT's food cost estimates (based on USDA cost-of-living data) for our grocery budget assumptions. The MIT Living Wage Calculator is updated annually and covers all 50 states with county-level granularity where available.

Update frequency: Annually

Campground & Dispersed Camping Costs

Source: Recreation.gov / Recreation Information Database (RIDB) — the official U.S. government source for federal recreation area information.

We use real-time campground fee data from Recreation.gov to establish baseline paid camping costs. For dispersed camping (free camping on BLM and National Forest lands), we use federal land agency data combined with user-submitted reports to estimate the availability and typical duration of free camping opportunities in each state.

Update frequency: Current season data, refreshed quarterly

Vehicle Insurance

Source: Industry averages from Progressive, Good Sam, and National General van life insurance products — all publicly available through their websites and public rate information.

Van life insurance is a specialized product that differs significantly from standard auto insurance. We use publicly available average cost ranges for full-time van life coverage (which combines auto liability, personal property, and sometimes medical coverage). Actual rates vary by age, driving record, vehicle type, and coverage level.

Update frequency: Reviewed semi-annually

Vehicle Maintenance

Source: AAA Annual Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Cost Study — the most comprehensive annual analysis of vehicle ownership costs in the United States.

We use AAA's average annual maintenance and repair cost data, prorated to a monthly amount, and adjusted for the age and type of vehicle. We also factor in higher wear from full-time van living (more miles, varied road conditions).

Update frequency: Annually

Our Calculation Model

Vanyage's cost estimates use a fixed + variable cost model:

• Fixed costs (monthly regardless of location): Insurance, phone/internet, maintenance reserve, van payment if applicable
• Variable costs (state-dependent): Fuel (based on state gas prices), camping (based on state campground data), groceries (based on state cost-of-living)

This model means that the same van lifer could spend $1,200/month in Wyoming or $2,500+/month in California — purely based on location factors that are out of their control. We believe being transparent about this difference helps you make a better decision about where to live.

The Team Behind Vanyage

Vanyage is built by a small, independent team — not a venture-backed startup chasing growth metrics. Our founder has spent years on the road living the van life lifestyle and experienced the planning pain firsthand. The features on Vanyage come directly from real frustrations encountered on real trips.

Our team combines:

• Firsthand van life experience — real time spent living in vans across multiple US states and climates
• Data analysis expertise — background in financial analysis and data science to build accurate, honest models
• Software engineering — modern web development to make data accessible and easy to use

Our Commitment to Accuracy

We're committed to honest numbers. If van life in California is expensive, we'll tell you. If South Dakota is a budget-friendly hidden gem, we'll highlight it. We don't have sponsored rankings, affiliate-driven recommendations, or hidden agendas. Our only goal is to give you the most accurate picture of van life costs possible.

That said, our estimates are estimates. Actual costs depend on your specific vehicle, spending habits, health, travel patterns, and hundreds of other variables. We do our best to give you a realistic range — not a false sense of precision.

Disclaimer

Vanyage cost estimates are provided for informational and planning purposes only. They represent averages based on publicly available data and may not reflect your actual experience. Actual van life costs vary widely based on individual circumstances, spending habits, vehicle type, health conditions, travel patterns, and market conditions.

Vanyage does not provide financial, legal, or insurance advice. For major financial decisions, please consult a qualified financial advisor. For insurance coverage, please work with a licensed insurance professional who can assess your specific needs.

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you — whether you have a feature request, found a data discrepancy, spotted an error, or just want to share your van life story.

Email: support@vanyage.com

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"The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask."

— Keep exploring.