This summer I crossed off a major bucket-list item- I had the opportunity to explore Minnesota’s North Shore in a Vanna Adventure Van! I had an epic experience staying at three different campsites, visiting four incredible State Parks, and enjoying countless stunning views of Lake Superior. After my maiden voyage solo travel adventure, I’m excited to share my experience traveling in a Vanna Camper Van for a weekend!
Vanna Adventure Vans is a Moorhead, Minnesota-based custom camper van builder. In addition to building amazing vans, they also offer a rental service. Vans can be rented on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Click here for more information!
Interested in booking your own adventure? Use Code: KAT40 for $40 off your booking! Check out VANNAVANS.COM .
If you’re looking to plan your own adventure to Minnesota’s North Shore, check out my post:
Before I Left
Prior to this trip I had only visited Duluth and Minnesota’s North Shore once. Based on my previous experience I had a few places I wanted to re-visit and a big list of places I wanted to see for the first time.
My list of places to re-visit:
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Palisade Head
- Black Beach
Jake and I visited in 2020, here are some of our photos! We stayed at River Place campground for two nights and had a great experience.
Check out related posts: Jay Cooke State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park.
In addition to wanting to re-visit these places, I also had a list of spots I wanted to hit for the first time. I compiled my list based off of information from Blog Posts, the Explore Minnesota Website, Instagram, other social media, and word of mouth.
- Canal Park in Duluth.
- Bean and Bear Lake Lookout on the Superior Hiking Trail.
- Tettegouche State Park.
- Cascade River State Park.
The Planning
After I decided on my stops I entered all the destinations into Google My Maps and decided on my route. I wanted to drive to the Duluth area and stay one night before heading up along Voyageurs Highway. My Northern-most destination was Cascade River State Park; this is where i booked my final campsite.
Sites are easy to book on the Minnesota DNR website. I would encourage you to book as early as you can as the North Shore is popular and it can be difficult to find campsites.
When booking be sure to select drive-in site, car/truck/van and the length of your vehicle (I selected >10 feet).
This Post is primarily detailing my experience renting a Vanna Camper Van, but please let me know if you’re interested in more information about my North Shore Minnesota Itinerary!
What I Packed
One perk of renting a Vanna Camper Van is that almost everything you need is already in the van. The tiny kitchen comes stocked with cooking and dish ware. All the bedding, pillows, and blankets were tucked away in the storage cabinets. Mae’s Moon, the van I took for my adventure, even had a no-flush toilet and a first aid kit.
For My 3-Night Stay I Packed
- 3 Hiking outfits with layering options.
- 3 Pairs of shoes: my hiking boots, tennis shoes, and a pair of slip-ons.
- 1 Rain jacket.
- 1 Heavy sweatshirt.
- 1 Pair of pajamas.
- 1 Backpack (day pack).
- 1 Belt bag.
- 3 Large water bottles.
- Food for one person for three days.
- Dog supplies.
- Media supplies. (camera, tripod, extra batteries, chargers, and more!)
What I Wish I Packed (and what I didn’t need)
A few things that I wish I has packed include: an extra blanket for sitting fireside, a smaller camping chair, more snacks for on-the-go.
What I didn’t need was: extra meal food (I would be more intentional while planning meals).
The Logistics
Picking up the Van
I scheduled a pick-up time with the team at Vanna on Thursday afternoon. Upon arrival we went through the paperwork and I signed the necessary documents. They then gave me a full tour of the rig, ran me through some troubleshooting, and answered my questions.
One thing I wish I had done was unpack more of my items. I used my duffle bag to store my clothing, but in hind-site I would have unloaded my items into the available storage.
Returning the van was even more simple. I let the team know what time I was getting back, and they were there to help me unload my gear and grab the keys. They will do a walkthrough either while you’re present or afterwards to check for forgotten items and any damages.
Driving the Van
Leaving the Vanna Headquarters driving a massive van was one of the most intimidating parts of my adventure. Relative to my small car, I felt like I was driving a school bus. It took me a short amount of time to figure out lane management, the space I needed to turn, and understand the general size of the vehicle.
By the second day I felt like a pro! If driving the van is something you’re nervous about, this is normal! I would suggest listening carefully to the instructions and taking things slow.
Parking the Van
I played it safe on my first camper van adventure and parked far away from other vehicles! Although Mae’s Moon, the van I was in, fit comfortably in a traditional parking spot I made a point to keep distance from other vehicles. I avoided situations where I needed to traditionally parallel park, because even though there was a backup camera this was out of my comfort zone.
Inspired to book your own adventure? Head to VANNAVANS.COM and use code KAT40 for $40 off your booking!
Camping in a Van
Camping in the Vanna Adventure Van was a seamless experience. It truly felt luxurious to be able to sleep on a real mattress in a comfortable climate during the height of summer.
Booking my Sites
As mentioned in the planning section, I planned my route and booked all of my sites in advance on the Minnesota DNR website. I was sure to book a car/truck/van site and enter the appropriate dimensions. I liked having my sites booked in advance because I didn’t have to worry about arriving early or at a certain time.
Camp Life
Some of my favorite moments of the trip were in my lawn chair at camp with Brutus. One of the perks of traveling in a camper van is the minimal setup and take down. Many times I was able to pull up to my site, unload my chair and enjoy some downtime.
The amenities provided in the van including the cooking and dish ware made meal making very easy. It was easy to boil water on the propane stove for coffee in the morning, and wonderful to eat a meal off of a real plate after a long day.
Running Water and Electricity
One of the luxuries of adventuring in a Vanna Camper Van is having running water. The convenience of being able to fill my water bottles, wash my dishes in the sink, and take a shower was unparalleled.
The tank held just enough water for me to live comfortably for three days including two quick showers, a sink of dishes each day, water for coffee each morning, and countless water bottle fills.
The Camper Van also has an off-grid electrical system. I was able to charge my devices, run the fans, and have warm water for showering!
The Van hosts technology to be able to see how much water and power is remaining in the system. By the end of my trip I had used most of my water, but much of the power remained. Although the campsites I stayed at hosted full amenities, it was nice to have everything I needed to enjoy a fully off grid experience.
Personal Safety
I felt incredibly safe during my experience renting a Vanna Camper Van. Mae’s Moon was designed by a young female with the intention of solo travel. Considerations that added to my sense of safety included:
- A dividing wall with locking door separating the cab of the van from the back.
- Magnetizing blackout paneling for all the windows.
Other steps I took for personal safety:
- Bringing my dog with me. Brutus isn’t a guard dog, but he does alert to sights and sounds.
- Locking all of the doors at night.
- Being aware of my surroundings.
- Carrying pepper spray.
- Never telling anyone I met that I was traveling alone.
In addition to rentals, Vanna Adventure Vans also does custom build outs! if you’re looking to own your own rig, be sure to check out VANNAVANS.COM . For rentals use code KAT40 for $40 off!
My Takeaway
I loved My Experience Traveling in a Vanna Camper Van and I can’t wait for my next adventure. I found the weekend to be incredibly liberating as my debut into solo travel. If you’re considering solo travel, getting into camping, or exploring off grid, traveling in a Vanna Adventure Van would be a great first step!
Be sure to check out my Related Posts: 9 Stunning Stops along Minnesota’s North Shore and Visiting Minnesota’s North Shore: The Best 3-Day Itinerary
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