Do you dream of living on four wheels but wonder how you’ll keep paying for fuel and brie sandwiches? Don’t worry — there are countless ways to make money while travelling. We’ve tried quite a few ourselves (with mixed success and lots of fun). Here we share our experiences and handy tips to boost your vanlife income!
🍓 1. Seasonal Work: Roll Up Your Sleeves!
Simple, social, and good for your tan: seasonal work is perfect if you like being outdoors. Think fruit picking, vineyard work, hospitality, or farm chores. This is a popular way to build vanlife income while staying close to nature.
🍏 What to Expect as a Fruit or Vegetable Picker on the Road?
Fruit and vegetable picking is one of the most popular ways for travellers to earn some extra cash. Especially among vanlifers, like our Vanlife buddies Patas Travelling, because you can often park your camper right on the farm and live right next to your work.
Workdays usually start early, often between six and eight in the morning. Not necessarily because farmers are early birds, but because the fruit is still fresh then, and you avoid the hottest hours of the day. A workday usually lasts about six to eight hours, sometimes with a short lunch break. The work itself is quite physical: you stand a lot, often have to bend down, lift, or even climb trees, all day long. So, prepare for sore muscles (but also satisfaction).
Pay varies by place. Sometimes you get paid hourly, usually between nine and thirteen euros. Other times, you’re paid per crate or kilo, for example, seventy cents per crate of picked apples. In that case, working fast and neatly pays off. It’s smart to ask upfront what your net earnings will be, because sometimes deductions are made for taxes, insurance, or housing.
And the most important question to vanlifers: can you stay with your camper on the property? Usually yes! Many farms offer free camping spots. Sometimes it’s a patch behind the barn, sometimes a basic parking space. You usually have access to a toilet or shower, and occasionally you even get a meal or some fresh veggies. But it’s not always guaranteed, so always ask beforehand.
Our own experience? We once helped pick peaches for a few weeks in Spain. It was hard work, but the view among the orchards at sunrise made up for it. And the free fruit in our breakfast bowl? Also, no hardship! All in all, fruit picking is a great way to earn money and be close to nature. You gain discipline, meet other travellers, and sometimes end up in places you’d never otherwise visit.
👉 Tip: Check websites like Workaway, Helpx, or WWOOF — or just pop into a local farm shop!
⚠️ Heads up:
Although the work is often in a beautiful setting and you stay physically active, it can be pretty tough on the body. The days are long, repetitive, and sometimes quite tiring — especially if you’re paid by kilo or crate and have to keep going for decent pay. Weather plays a role too: rain, cold, or extreme heat don’t make it easier. Also, there’s no guarantee on how long you can stay, as it depends heavily on the harvest or season. Flexibility is key — but if you’re willing to work hard, you’ll come away with a great experience and some extra cash.
🧑💻 2. Freelancing from Your Van
Do you have a skill you can offer online? Think writing, design, marketing, translation, or customer service. Laptop open, solar panel on — and you’re good to go.
💻 Working as a Freelancer on the Road — Laptop Open, WIFI On, Let’s Go!
Freelancing (self-employed without staff) might be the ultimate freedom when living in a camper. No boss, no fixed workplace, yet vanlife income on your own terms. Sounds like a dream, and honestly? Often it is, as long as you have some discipline and a decent internet connection.
What does it look like in practice? Working from a shady spot near your camper, laptop on your lap, with a view of the mountains, a lake, or even the supermarket parking lot with good WIFI (yes, that happens too). Workdays vary: one day you spend five hours in front of your screen, another day you’re out in nature because nothing’s scheduled. Flexibility is key.
What kind of work can you do as a freelancer? Vanlifers, we know work as copywriters, photographers, graphic designers, social media managers, coaches, programmers, or virtual assistants. Basically, any online job that isn’t location-bound can be done anywhere — from Portugal to Poland.
You manage your own payments. You send invoices to clients, often with a fixed hourly rate or project fee. It’s useful to have a few steady clients so you don’t have to constantly look for new work. Also important: keep your admin in order, even on the road. Tools like MoneyMonk or a simple Excel sheet often suffice. And check tax rules — especially if you spend a lot of time abroad.
Our experience? We’ve found our rhythm here, too. We earn a little income from this website via ads and affiliate links. Not a fortune, but a nice extra while on the road. Freelancing on the road means hard work and smart planning. But if it works out, it’s one of the best ways to travel sustainably and earn money.
👉 Tip: Get a good data solution, like a MiFi router or local SIM card. Coworking spaces are also popping up more often, even at campgrounds!
⚠️ Heads up:
Freelancing on the road sounds fantastic — and often is — but there are some downsides. The line between work and free time quickly blurs. Without a fixed workplace or hours, it’s tempting to “just quickly” work all the time — or to procrastinate too long. It can be hard to build a stable vanlife income, especially if you rely on one-off gigs. Clients may disappear, or payments may get delayed. Plus, you have to handle everything yourself: admin, taxes, insurance… no friendly accountant around the corner. And let’s not even mention WIFI cutting out just before your online meeting. In short, freelancing is super free but also a big responsibility.
🏕️ 3. Camping Hosts: The Ultimate Exchange Deal
Many (eco)campgrounds look for hosts during peak season to welcome guests, clean facilities, and do small jobs. Usually, you get a spot to stay in return and sometimes a payment.
🛎 Working as a Host at Campgrounds — The Ultimate Seasonal Job with Freedom
Being a host at a campground is a lovely way to earn money and keep that holiday feeling. And no, it doesn’t have to be a dusty family campground with bingo nights (unless you like that). There are also luxury camping concepts where hosts manage stylish tents or chalets, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing happily for three years. We work as hosts for a company that rents out accommodations at various campgrounds in Europe. What makes it ideal?
The freedom and responsibility. We manage “our own” accommodations: from check-ins and check-outs to cleaning, small maintenance, and informing guests about the area. All in our way, with our own daily schedule.
Another plus: during the season (about 6 to 8 months), we always get free accommodation. So, you don’t pay for a campsite or rent — ideal for vanlifers who want to park their van and have solid ground under their feet. And it’s super flexible: you can state your preferences on where you want to work. We worked our first year in Austria, then the Netherlands, and now we’re in Luxembourg.
This job is perfect for couples, too. Many places specifically seek duos to manage several tents or cabins together. So, you can save during the season and use the winter months to travel again. For us, it’s a perfect balance: work in spring and summer, freedom in autumn and winter, and always a bit of that vacation feeling on the road. It’s a reliable part of our vanlife income.
👉 Tip: Ask smaller campgrounds if they need help, especially in pre- or post-season! Or check the European Camping Group for any vacancies.
⚠️ Small note:
The work is wonderfully varied, but especially during peak season, it can be intense. Think multiple check-ins in one day, last-minute cleaning rounds, or guests asking for something in the evening. Also, depending on the location, your work hours might not be very flexible, and spontaneous trips sometimes aren’t possible. It’s still work, with responsibilities. But if you plan well and enjoy practical tasks, it’s a great way to earn money and stay in beautiful places.
🧼 4. Start Your Own Mini Business
Are you creative on the road? Turn your hobby into your business! Think jewellery, crochet, photography, illustrations, or even self-made camper products. The possibilities are endless if you create (or invent) something other travellers will love. And the nice thing: you don’t have to think big right away. A few products, an Instagram account, and you’re already on your way.
💬 Our Experience
We’ve just started something new: Breesee — a sun banner we designed and sell in Australia. Super exciting, because it’s the first time we’re launching a product completely from scratch. From brainstorming sessions in the camper to testing samples in the Australian sun — we’re learning tons on the road. It’s still early days, but a lot of fun.
👉 Tip: Social media and markets (like camper meet-ups or vanlife gatherings) are perfect places to sell your products. And if you don’t want to build your own webshop, platforms like Etsy or Shopify make starting much easier. Also, consider QR codes on flyers or business cards so people can go directly to your product.
⚠️ Don’t forget the downsides:
Starting your own business also means responsibility. Think taxes (even if you start small), production costs, inventory management, marketing, and customer service. It takes time, energy, and patience — especially at the beginning. And income isn’t guaranteed right away, so it’s smart to see it as a side vanlife income, not your only one.
But… if you like entrepreneurship, want to call your own shots, and want to build something unique, starting a mini business is a super cool and flexible way to earn money on the road.
🎧 5. Teaching & Coaching from Your Camper
Are you good at languages, yoga, music, or another skill? You can easily turn your knowledge into income. Online teaching has grown enormously in recent years, and platforms like iTalki, Preply, Superprof, or just Zoom make it accessible for anyone with a laptop and good internet.
Think teaching English, tutoring math, or even online yoga classes, creative workshops, or DJ lessons. Coaching — like life coaching, mindset coaching, or business mentoring — also fits perfectly with the free life on the road. You decide your schedule and work wherever and whenever you want.
💬 Our Experience
We haven’t tried this ourselves yet, but we’ve met many inspiring travellers doing it. Like an Australian woman teaching English from her camper in Portugal. Or a couple offering DJ workshops via Zoom, including mini clinics from the picnic table next to their van. Anything’s possible if you do it smart!
👉 Tip: Start building your client base before you leave. That way, you can ease into the vanlife income and get used to the rhythm of remote teaching or coaching. Get a good headset and test the WIFI at your destinations ahead of time (a mobile router or good data bundle helps a lot).
⚠️ Small note:
Watch out for time zones, especially if you have international clients. Also, it’s smart to set up a nice, quiet workspace in or near your camper. And like freelancing or entrepreneurship, stability takes time to build. But if you love sharing knowledge and value freedom, this is a top way to earn money while exploring the world.
In Conclusion: Combine & Vary
And those were the five ways to fund your fuel and your hunger on the road! From picking peaches to shifting pixels, cleaning tents to selling your own sun banners — there are endless ways to keep your Vanlife adventure financially afloat.
Whether you awaken your inner entrepreneur, keep your laptop burning on solar power, or are just really good at tossing apples into crates, there’s always an option that suits you. And believe us: even if it’s not a goldmine right away, it always makes for stories (sometimes with mud up to your knees and WIFI up to the tree line).
Got a brilliant idea or hilarious work-on-the-road fail? Let us know — we love collecting those for around the campfire 🔥.
