Move over, #VanLife: TikTok influencers who live in their cars say they can still cook, shower and do it all while traveling the US

• While #VanLife has been a hot pandemic trend, car living often bears the stigma of homelessness.
• With over a million followers between them, these TikTok influencers hope to change that perception.

From viral social media accounts to the Oscar-winning film "Nomadland," the "van life" phenomenon has earned a lot of attention in recent years. In 2019, the Census Bureau estimated that there were more than 140,000 Americans living in vans, recreational vehicles, or boats, up from 102,000 in 2016, and the remote work boom sparked by the pandemic has likely pushed that number even higher. The hashtag #VanLife, started in 2011 by author and filmmaker Foster Huntington, now has more than 12 million posts on Instagram.

But amid the photos of road warriors spending thousands to trick out old Volkswagen campers and dangling the keys to shiny new RVs, you'll find a smaller community of nomads who are choosing to live out of their sedans or SUVs, with only minor adaptations.

Largely composed of women and nonbinary travelers, this group roams the country alone with none of the creature comforts of larger vehicles, using TikTok to document their day-to-day on the road. While car living often comes with the stigma of homelessness, they hope to turn that narrative on its head by proudly opting into #CarLife.

"There's a lot of misinformation around why people are actually homeless and why people are choosing an alternative lifestyle, even if they do have an income and if they do have money," said Brooke, who lives in an SUV with their dog, Pippa. On their TikTok account, which has over 72,000 followers, they answer questions about where they go to the bathroom, how they prepare meals, and why they made the choice to live in a car.

A conscious choice

For most of these now-nomads, their decision to hit the road was a pipe dream made possible because of the pandemic. When the world seemed to shut down in March 2020, it gave them the push they needed to start their adventures.

Brooke owned a small hair salon that had to close its doors when the pandemic first hit, which they took as a sign to hit the road. Grace of @noperfectplan, who has been living in her Toyota 4Runner since May 2021, said having a remote corporate job allowed her to easily transition to the nomadic lifestyle.

Some of the travelers said they faced pushback from their friends and family, who questioned their decision to move into their cars. Sara, who chronicles her car-living journey for 1.4 million followers on TikTok, said her parents didn't take the news well.

"Where I come from, that's not a thing that people do or that people know of other people doing," Sara told Insider. "It took weeks to years for my family to finally get to the point where they trust me to watch out for my own safety and that I've handled everything."

'While you're in a car, you're literally forced to be outdoors'

Like most people looking to travel the country, the influencers interviewed by Insider initially considered living in an RV or camper van. (All three declined to share their last names, citing concerns about online harassment and potentially being followed while traveling.)

Brooke and Pippa initially moved into an RV in August 2020, but after Pippa had a medical issue that necessitated pricey care, Brooke sold the RV and switched to "Sheila," a 2004 Honda CR-V, in May 2021. While this wasn't Brooke's original plan, it ended up working better than they imagined — and they found they didn't miss all the headaches the RV's amenities caused.

"I didn't have to deal with plumbing, propane, solar, all the crazy things that you have in an RV," they said. "I can just pop it all in the car and park wherever I need to go."

Sara, too, had originally planned to travel in a van. But after a long period of saving up money from seasonal jobs to buy one, she decided to opt for a 2006 Ford Escape instead, outfitting it with a cube shelf for storing her belongings, and an old mattress.

"One day I just pulled out of my apartment and left," Sara said. "It was the biggest road trip I ever did and I was terrified to do it by myself, but it ended up being like one of the most liberating things ever. Since then, I've driven across the country four more times."

TikTok gives #CarLifers a chance to share their adventures, tips, and tricks

All three travelers interviewed by Insider have grown substantial followings on TikTok by showcasing their destinations and how they equip their cars. They constantly field questions about how they sleep (mattresses embedded in their cars), cook (handheld stoves), go to the bathroom (outside or in public restrooms), and shower (memberships to Planet Fitness or other gym chains).

"TikTok is a good way to show the everyday grind of road life," Grace said. On TikTok live videos, "I'll just go about my everyday tasks, like meal-prepping my food. People are so genuinely curious about that and I don't have to say a word."

While TikTok itself doesn't provide much profit for the car lifers, it has helped direct followers to their YouTube pages, where they post more in-depth content that they can monetize.

"Social media has been so profitable for me, and most of my income comes from there," Brooke said. "I wouldn't have a monetized YouTube channel if I didn't have people to ask to support it."

TikTok and YouTube have also helped car lifers form a community. "Some of my best friends, I met on the internet," said Sara, who's met up with fellow car lifers to catch a sunrise or sunset when they cross paths.

Harassment, both online and offline, is a risk

Although TikTok has allowed car lifers to normalize their choices, they have also encountered their fair share of hate online.

"Old men and women come into my chat saying, 'Why are you homeless?' 'Are you homeless?'" Brooke said. "They don't listen to what I'm saying."

Despite being fully self-supported, Sara said trolls have accused her of using her "daddy's money." She's also endured sexist comments: "People will say, 'What is wrong with this girl? You're crazy if you think you can do this by yourself, why don't you travel with a man with you?'"

The digital harassment has made the TikTokers wary when it comes to their physical safety. Many post content only after they've already left a destination. They carry weapons for self-defense and satellite phones in case they have an emergency in a location without a cell-phone signal.

Sara put an NRA sticker on her Ford so no one would suspect she was a woman traveling alone. Brooke, who is nonbinary, said that they try to avoid looking "feminine-presenting" by wearing baggier clothes, and sometimes avoid towns they think will not be friendly to LGBTQ+ people.

Some of the car lifers acknowledged that white privilege helps make their safety on the road possible, and that they might not have the same ease if they were not white. (Insider approached car lifers of color for this story, but requests for comment were not returned.)

"Ultimately, I feel that being a white traveler does come with an extreme amount of privilege," Brooke said. "I can guarantee I've had less conflicts with locals or even police as the result of existing as a white person. I know that even with all the safety measures I have to consider, my skin color ultimately draws less attention."

Despite the potential for harassment, car lifers say the experience has made them stronger and more assertive, and more likely to trust their gut. The ability to simply drive away from a bad situation helps, too.

"You need to set boundaries with strangers, and it's going to be uncomfortable," Sara said. "As women, we're taught you need to people-please and be so kind and so gentle, but when you're out there traveling in an unknown city and unknown place by yourself with nothing but a centimeter of glass and metal as your protection, you have to be assertive and set boundaries."

Their time on the road has been life-changing

For car lifers, one of the biggest benefits of the lifestyle is the ability to be close to nature.

"For someone with depression and ADHD, throwing you into nature and forcing you to get out of bed in the morning because the sun is up — it's the perfect combination for me," Brooke said.

All three travelers said they recognize that their lifestyle isn't for everybody. They encourage people to try car living out before fully committing to it, and stressed the fact that it comes with sacrifices. But if you're willing to give up some creature comforts, traveling the country doesn't require a fancy van — or even a TikTok account.

"It's easy to craft your own journey, and you don't have to share that on social media," Grace said. "If people just want to live their life, save some money, it's totally doable."