After the euphoria of 2021, vanlife is slowing down: the great thrill of post-Covid is waning, caught up by a less fervent market, a tense economic context, and the renewed appeal of foreign destinations. Travelers are not abandoning the motorhome and the converted van, but they are becoming more cautious, increasing last-minute reservations and watching for prices that are stabilizing. Between the desire for absolute freedom and the reality of the wallet (not to mention the footprint on nature), the trend is losing some of its luster, while revealing the contradictions of a road dream that is now more reasoned.
Having skyrocketed since 2021, vanlife is now facing a serious slowdown. Between a tense economic context, the renewed appeal of foreign destinations, and budgetary realities, the world of converted vans and motorhomes is sliding from an euphoric boom to a phase of normalization. The market remains solid but less frantic: prices are stabilizing, travelers are more wait-and-see, activity varies by region, players are innovating (apps, “early bird” offers, internationalization), and there are current paradoxes surrounding cost and carbon impact.
After the explosion of desires for escape into the great outdoors, post-Covid vanlife is setting itself to a more reasonable pace. Many enthusiasts have discovered rolling freedom in recent years, like this regular camper who, after three days in a van in the Jura, said she no longer knew the time nor the place, so complete was the disconnection. The emotional momentum is intact, but the commercial dynamic is slowing.
On Instagram and beyond, from Shy’m to Jérémy Frérot through thousands of anonymous users, the celebration of the road continues. ObSoCo sees it as a mirror of our time: reinventing our relationship with time, space, others, and nature. And yet, the wave breaks a little offshore: inflation, energy costs, flight tickets becoming tempting again… enthusiasm collides with reality.
From the intoxication of freedom to the reality of the wallet
The “freedom” in vanlife has lost none of its charm, but it comes with a budget that, for many households, invites a slowdown. Desires persist, but frequency and anticipation change: people book later, compare more, and watch the kilometers… and the bill.
Numbers and trends: a growth that is leveling off
On the platform side, growth is slowing without extinguishing. At Yescapa, which merged with Goboony in 2023, the number of 30,000 families per year in 2019 has risen to over 100,000 today at the group level. Activity remains solid, but travelers are waiting until the last moment, a sign of an uncertain climate.
The numbers from Uni VDL confirm this nuance: as of the end of July, 27,506 new vans and motorhomes have been registered, which is +7.82% over one year. The second-hand market is progressing much less (+1.79%), although over 67,000 vehicles have been exchanged. Caravans, on the other hand, are declining (new: –5.48%; second-hand: –3.73%), proving that not all segments are riding the same wave.
Southwest, surfing, and weak signals
As a totem region of the “van + surf + great outdoors” culture, the Southwest is showing signs of weariness. Stakeholders are noting a decrease in dynamism, though the desire to drive to the ocean has not disappeared. To prepare for a stylish getaway in the region, one can gather ideas from these Southwest vanlife essentials or mix sessions and siestas with this guide surf × motorhome in the Basque Country.
Prices, ecology, and the “paradox of market freedom”
At Wikicampers, the price barometer is stabilizing after significant increases. The average price of a vehicle is around €43,000, but some models exceed €100,000. ObSoCo speaks of a “paradox of market freedom”: freedom has a price, not to mention that these vehicles are not the best suited for discovering nature.
To align dreams and consciousness, Wikicampers is now highlighting the carbon impact of vehicles. On the rental side, the average basket and duration of stay are changing little, and activity is returning to pre-Covid levels. Notably: many first departures thanks to the Koko Pilot app, while the community shares its good plans for spots on Park4Night and Bivouacs Huttopia.
Last minute, maxi-flex, and micro-adventures
Traveling by van is becoming more agile: one leaves on a whim, targets off-peak seasons, chooses shorter routes, and prioritizes experience over mileage. Micro-adventures are gaining ground, especially when fuel costs remind of reality.
From layout workshops to long-distance tests
On the ground, craftsmen like this Landes garage that has become a pro at local layout are noting a lull by early 2025 despite a decent 2024. Custom kits remain appealing, but financial decisions are tightening.
On the vehicle side, the attraction for “ready for anything” models remains. To get an idea of comfort and consumption over time, nothing beats a return of experience: the 2000 km test of the Citroën Holidays illustrates well the compromises of a rolling home designed for travel.
Influence and attention economy
Vanlife remains highly visible on social networks, and some live quite well from it. Useful decoding to measure the reality behind filtered postcards: the incomes of tourism influencers illuminate the mechanics of an imaginary turned into business, between inspiration and incitement.
The call of foreign lands: the market is internationalizing
Many French people are now traveling beyond borders. The typical model: fly, pick up a van on-site, and hit the road. The rental company Roadsurfer operates nearly 100 agencies in 18 countries (including 11 in France) and offers unlimited mileage packages. Result: activity up by 30% in the first half, expansion into North America and Oceania, and a promotional offer of “early bird” for €150 to boost reservations for 2026 starting on September 22.
From Lille, for example, it’s easy to shift towards Northern Europe and its minimalist landscapes. Elsewhere, cultural-nature itineraries remain safe bets: Alsace and its castles to explore in a road trip style, starting with these secrets of the fortified castles of Alsace that are perfectly suited for nomadic stops.
Book early or play the waiting game?
The tension between “planning everything” and “departing when the desire strikes” shapes the market: early booking offers appeal to the planners, while last minute reassures budgets. Between the two, vanlife continues to carve its path, less loud, more thoughtful.
Towards normalization rather than a decline
The 2025 outlook resembles elegant stabilization: demand exists, but it is refining. Prices are stabilizing, the second-hand market acts as a buffer, apps facilitate travel, international compensates for local fatigue, and travelers weigh the desire for nature against the constraints of inflation. Vanlife is no longer the absolute totem of the post-crisis era: it is an art of traveling that finds its proper cruising speed.
