Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Nikole
Welcome to our official guide to campervan Showers!
Taking a shower while traveling in a campervan can be quite a difficult task, especially when your van doesn’t have the space for a shower or a toilet.
Hello, Nikole and Clark Stone here. We travel in our Ford Transit Connect and only have room for our slat bed and some storage. We typically use a battery-operated shower or use campground showers due to our lack of space.
No matter the type of van you have, big or small, you can always find a solution for your hygiene needs. You don’t need a fancy built-in shower system to travel around in your mini motorhome.
Here are the top showering items you can use for your van that will provide you with the best hygiene solutions.
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Types of Portable Campervan Showers
To stay clean while traveling, an effective shower system is essential.
A simple option is an outdoor shower. To get an outdoor camper van shower, you’ll need a battery-operated shower system and a bucket of water. The pump will draw water from the bucket and deliver it through the showerhead.
Alternatively, you can explore other outdoor shower options, such as solar showers, attaching a showerhead to your main spigot, or using campground facilities with showers.
Battery Powered Campervan Shower
We love our battery-operated campervan shower by Ivation. It works perfectly with our outdoor shelter (I will go into more detail about this later on).
Simply place the pump (located on the opposite side of the shower head) into a bucket of water, press the on button, and it will begin to pump water from the bucket, through the included hose, and out the head.
After a 2-3 hour charge, this battery-operated campervan shower provides up to 60 minutes of continuous use. You can charge it through your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or a solar charger.
The water pressure isn’t impressive, but it’s better than most solar showers.
The only downside to this shower is not having heated water right away. However, if you heat up some of the water over a fire or a propane burner it makes the water bearable.
Try these camper van water heater options for a warmer experience.
Be cautious when adding boiling water to your shower to avoid burns.
We usually fill a 3-gallon bucket with two small pots of boiling water, which brings it to a comfortable temperature. Always test the water with a thermometer to ensure it’s safe.
Solar Shower
Solar or “bagged showers” often come with a black bag that heats water in the sun. The showerhead is attached to the bottom, along with a short hose for directing the water.
While solar is the most compact camper van shower option, it’s not always convenient. On cloudy days, you might be stuck with a cold shower, and even on sunny days, you’ll need to wait for the sun to warm the water, which can be frustrating.
This Advanced Elements Solar Shower comes with a hose and spray nozzle which attaches to the bottom of a 5-gallon bag. It is not pressurized, but instead is gravity-fed.
You will need to hang the shower somewhere like a tree or the back of your van.
These are super cheap and draw no power whatsoever. If you find yourself boondocking this would be a great alternative shower option for your camper van.
Roof Top Showers
Similar to solar showers, rooftop showers are also a non-energy-consuming product, and they are a great option if you want a “hidden” shower.
The water in these is pressurized and can heat up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The aluminum Yakima shower can be installed on the roof rack of your campervan for easy access. You can use this to get pressurized water for washing bikes, equipment, or a shower.
The black powder-coated aluminum will help heat up the water for your shower while you are traveling or parking.
Once you are ready for a shower, connect your hose and it’s ready to use.
Make sure you pack an air pump (one you use for your bike would work) in order to pressurize it.
Makeshift Shower
I’ve seen people turn a brand-new weed sprayer into a portable shower—a great, budget-friendly, non-electric option for a campervan.
Just be sure to use a new sprayer, as chemicals from an old one can linger for years.
Campervan Shower Heater
There are many options you can choose from when it comes to putting a water heater in your camper van. Probably the most popular option is to install a propane heater.
You don’t need a water heater especially If you travel only in warm climates or during the warm months. We opted out of a heater because we don’t do a whole lot of winter traveling.
You can choose from several different types of heaters such as propane, wands, or even stovetop heaters.
Camper Van Privacy Options for Showering
Taking a shower in the middle of the wilderness can be somewhat invasive to one’s privacy.
I don’t care if there is no one for miles I still feel like my privacy is being invaded if I don’t have some sort of privacy curtain around my campervan shower.
Canopy
We use a private shelter on our trips with our campervan. The canopy folds up to a small enough size to fit in our rooftop compartment. When we are ready to set it up we have instant privacy.
We got ours from Walmart but shares the same features as the ROPODA Pop-Up Tent. It is 6.4 feet tall so you can fit someone who seems to tower over everyone (my husband included).
I also like the fact that it has a bottom, so you aren’t splattering mud and dirt over your feet. Lastly, I love the storage pockets for things like soap and shampoo.
Shower Curtain
I’m sure most have heard about the shower curtain hung behind the two doors in the back of the van trick. Create your privacy shelter by hanging a shower curtain on the two doors that open up in the back.
You can either get a tension shower rod and increase the tension so the ends hit both doors ( this only works if your doors stay stationary) or you can tie a rope across the tops of the doors and feed the shower curtain through the rope.
Shower with clothes on
If all else fails, just shower with your bathing suit on. you can still get plenty clean while wearing your swimsuit in the shower. On the plus side, it’s less clothing that needs to be washed later.
If that’s not your style read our guide to washing clothes in a camper van.
How to save water
Saving water during your vacation can make the difference between only having one shower and having two. Plus you can be more eco-friendly living the van life.
Use this KAIYING Drill-Free High-Pressure Handheld Shower Head to help save on more water. This water-saving showerhead helps conserve water by allowing you to turn off the flow while you lather up.
How to Shower Inside a Camper Van
To shower inside your camper van, you will need to design and build a van water system. For a shower to work fully, a pump, pipes, and drain should all be installed within your camper van.
You will also need to build walls or install a curtain to enclose your showering space—this will ensure that nothing gets wet while the shower is in use.
There are several reasons why one would want a shower installed on the inside of their camper van:
- It’s warm to shower on the inside while using your camper van in the winter.
- Provides the most privacy.
- It is easier to use and usually, no setup is required.
Other Camper Van Shower Options
When on the road for long periods it can be difficult to find the water necessary for a shower, or you may not have the means to carry a campervan shower.
If you find yourself unable to take a shower for a few days and you just can’t stand the stink anymore, here are some other options for you to choose from.
Gyms: Planet Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and several other gyms offer access to all their gyms if you become a member. Personally, I like Planet Fitness because there seems to be more of them than any other gym, and more are being built. Planet Fitness is also fairly cheaper than other gyms.
Camp Grounds: Why not stay at a campground for a few nights to take a few showers and live in some luxury? Most campgrounds will have bathrooms free for anyone camping there to use.
Truck Stops: If you are desperate for a shower, truck stops offer a shower for a fee. Showering while people are shopping for bagged candy and bottled sodas isn’t ideal for me, but sometimes you have to make a compromise when you are in a pinch.
Beaches: While technically you can rinse off with beach showers you cannot use soaps or shampoos. So this may be a good temporary fix to help you from smelling too bad.
Recreational areas: Many cities within the US will have recreational areas with showers. You may have to pay a small fee to use them, and they aren’t always maintained. These areas do the trick when you are desperate.
Non-water Campervan Shower Options
When all else fails and you find yourself with no water or shower options, here are some great emergency showering alternatives:
- Dude wipes
- Shoe Spray
- Dry shampoo
I don’t recommend using this as your main source of hygiene, but they can get you through some pretty stinky times.
Dude Wipes: To help you from getting too stinky Dude wipes may just get you through the day without making your partner gasp in fear of your foul stench.
Shoe Spray: For those who have horrible-smelling feet, here is the perfect shoe spray to keep the smells away. My husband can’t stand when I take my shoes off in close quarters, because it stinks up the whole area. With this Hex Performance Spray, I no longer have to worry about offending him.
Dry Shampoo: I don’t know about you but my hair gets super greasy if I don’t wash it after about two days. I can get away with not washing it longer by using dry shampoo. Shop dry shampoos here.
Platforms for Showers
If you find yourself needing to take a shower outdoors, try one of these platforms. They help keep the sand, dirt, and mud off your feet and help prevent nature from splattering back up at you.
Bamboo
Bamboo shower platforms are so perfect for your outdoor bathroom. They allow for drainage so there isn’t a ton of water pooling at your feet. It helps keep your feet and legs clean while you take a shower.
The great thing about this platform is the folding feature so you can easily store it just about anywhere within your campervan.
Towels for Showering in a Camper Van
The types of towels you purchase can make all the difference when it comes to showering. You don’t want your typical bath towel taking up space in your small campervan with its bulkiness, but you also want it to dry you well.
Turkish towels
Turkish towels are of the best quality when it comes to drying off after your van shower. Not only do they fold or roll up into a small size, but they dry wonderfully.
With these 100% cotton Turkish towels, you can feel the softness and dry off with more ease.
They are a bit more on the pricey side, but they work so wonderfully.
Microfiber towels
I’m not too impressed with microfiber camping towels when it comes to drying off after a shower- it feels like skin against skin when drying off.
Since they are cheaper towels I have them as a backup, but I only use them in emergencies.
On the plus side, these towels DO dry fairly fast and are super-compact, making them great for any campervan shower setup.
These Youphoria Microfiber towels come in 3 different sizes and several different colors.
Biodegradable Soaps For Campervan Shower
Using biodegradable soaps in your outdoor shower can be helpful for the environment. Try MRS. MEYER’S CLEAN DAY Moisturizing Body Wash for a refreshing a safe shower.
Just because certain soaps are biodegradable doesn’t mean you can soap up in a lake or a stream, it can still be hazardous for bodies of water.
Make sure you don’t use any type of soap in any sort of body of water. Biodegradable soaps still need soil to break them down properly.
You typically want to shower at least 200 feet away from any body of water.
In Conclusion
camper van showers offer a fantastic way to stay refreshed on the go while maximizing convenience and efficiency. Whether you choose a compact, water-saving model or a more elaborate setup, the right shower system can make all the difference in your travel experience. Happy travels and happy showering!
