Meetups are where a lot of van life friendships, convoys and relationships begin. They range from a handful of vans in a farmer’s field for the weekend to big organised gatherings with live music and workshops. If you have never been to one, it is normal to feel a bit nervous about rolling up alone. The good news is that most people there felt exactly the same at their first one.
Here is what to expect, what to bring and how to make the most of it.
Types of meetup
- Informal gatherings arranged through social media groups or community apps, often on a campsite or private land with permission.
- Organised events and festivals with tickets, pitches, talks, workshops and sometimes van tours.
- Interest-based meetups for self-builders, solo travellers, women, families or people with dogs.
- Small convoys, where a few vans travel and camp together for a few days.
For ideas on where people gather, see our guide to the best van life meetup spots in the UK.
A simple plan for your first one
Before you go
- Check the details: is it on a campsite or private land with the owner’s permission? Do you need to book or buy a ticket? Are dogs, fires and generators allowed?
- Arrive self-sufficient. Fill your water, empty your waste, charge your batteries and bring enough food. Many meetups have limited facilities.
- Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to leave.
Arriving
Arrive in daylight if you can, as it is much easier to find a spot and meet people. Park where the hosts ask, leave sensible gaps between vans for privacy and fire safety, and do not block access routes. Then simply say hello to your neighbours. “Is this your first one too?” is a perfectly good opening line.
During the meetup
- Bring something to share: snacks, a pot of chilli, firewood or a game. It is an easy way to join a group.
- Van tours are part of the fun, but always ask before stepping into someone’s van. It is their home.
- Respect quiet hours. Some people go to bed early, and generators and music carry a long way at night.
- Keep dogs under control and clean up after them.
- Fires: only where the hosts allow them, in a raised fire bowl or designated pit, and never left unattended.
- It is fine to take time out. Nobody expects you to be sociable every minute. Shutting your door for an hour is normal.
Leaving
Take all your rubbish and waste with you, leave your pitch as you found it, and follow the Countryside Code. Meetups depend on landowners being happy to host them again. Swap contacts with the people you got on with, and make loose plans to meet up further down the road.
What to bring
| Essentials | Nice to have |
|---|---|
| Full water tank and empty waste tanks | Camping chairs and a table to share |
| Enough food and drink for your stay | Something to share around the fire |
| Charged leisure battery or a power plan | A head torch and fairy lights |
| Bin bags for all your rubbish | A game, guitar or frisbee |
| Warm layers and waterproofs | Contact cards or your VanDates profile ready to share |
Our guide to campervan electrics helps you work out whether your battery will last the weekend without hook-up.
Staying safe
Most meetups are friendly, welcoming places. Common sense still applies, especially if you are travelling alone. Trust your instincts, keep valuables locked away, do not feel pressured to drink or to share exactly where you are heading next, and park where you can drive away easily. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has helpful personal safety advice, and our solo van life safety guide covers more.
From new faces to road friends
The friendships made at meetups often last well beyond the weekend. Keep in touch, share routes, and say yes when someone suggests a convoy. If you are hoping to meet someone special, meetups are one of the most natural places to do it; our honest guide to dating while living in a van has more ideas, and finding community on the road covers building a network over time.
Join the VanDates community
VanDates helps people who live and travel in vans find each other, whether for friendship, convoys or romance. Whether you are new to van life, one of the full-timers or a self-builder, create your free profile and see who is heading your way. More guides are on the VanDates blog.
