Quick answer
A vanlife caravan is a group of rigs traveling the same route for a while, meeting at planned stops rather than driving bumper to bumper. To make one work, agree on the route and dates up front, keep groups small (three to six rigs is easy to park), pick meeting points instead of following each other, set a group chat, and share each rig’s location with the group at the level everyone is comfortable with. RME has caravans built in: publish a dated route, choose who can join, and keep a chat for the group.
Key points
- Plan stops, not convoys: everyone drives at their own pace and meets at the next camp.
- Small groups find campsites more easily; big groups need sites planned in advance.
- Agree on the boring things first: budget, daily distance, quiet hours, dogs and generators.
- Use a group chat and location sharing so nobody gets left behind.
- Respect stay limits and land rules; a big group is more visible.
Why travel in a caravan?
Company, shared knowledge and help when something breaks. A caravan turns a campsite friendship into a week on the road together: shared dinners, someone to help with a flat, someone who knows the next town. It’s also one of the fastest ways to make lasting vanlife friends.
How do I plan a caravan?
- Pick a route with a start and end date. “Moab to Sedona, March 3–14” is easy to say yes to.
- Plan the stops, not the driving. Choose overnight spots a few hours apart and let each rig get there on its own schedule.
- Check each stop fits the group. A pull-off that holds one van won’t hold five; dispersed sites have stay limits, and some forests limit how far off the road you can camp.
- Agree on the basics. Daily distance, budget, quiet hours, dogs, generators, and how long you’ll wait if someone is late.
- Decide who can join. Open to anyone, by request, or friends only.
- Have a fallback. If a site is full, where does everyone go?
What makes a caravan work on the road?
- One group chat for meeting points and changes of plan.
- Location sharing within the group, at whatever level people are comfortable with. Approximate is often enough to know someone is an hour behind.
- A daily check-in time, especially where there’s no signal.
- Rotate who scouts the next site, so one person isn’t always driving ahead.
- Give each other space. Park apart enough that everyone has privacy, and it’s fine to skip a group dinner.
What is good caravan etiquette?
- Don’t take over a campsite; leave room for other travelers.
- Keep noise and generator hours considerate, and follow posted rules.
- Pack out everything; a group leaves a bigger footprint than one van.
- If you need to leave, say so in the chat. No one should wonder whether you broke down.
How do caravans work in RME?
Caravans are dated routes other travelers can follow and join. The organizer chooses Open, Request (approve each person) or Invite only (with a code), and can show the route approximately until someone is approved.
Caravans show on the Roam map with the rest of the events, so travelers heading the same way can find them. Full caravans offer a waitlist. Pair a caravan with Friends Map so the group can see who is close to the next stop.
Friends Map shares your location only with mutual friends, at the level you pick: Ghost (hidden), Town (your general town), Approximate (a random point within 20 miles) or Precise. Precise can go to all mutual friends or only the friends you choose, for 2 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours or until you turn it off.
Roam spots, Trailprint, Events and Friends Map are included with a free RME account. The app shows the current plan details, so check there for anything that is still optional. Available on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android.
Frequently asked questions
How many rigs should be in a vanlife caravan?
Smaller is easier. Three to six rigs can usually share a dispersed area or a campground loop; larger groups need sites planned and sometimes reserved in advance.
Do caravans drive together?
Usually not bumper to bumper. Most vanlife caravans meet at planned stops, and each rig drives at its own pace.
How do I find a caravan to join?
Ask in regional vanlife groups, or look for caravans on RME’s Roam map, where organizers publish dated routes that others can follow and join.
Can I keep my exact location private in a caravan?
On RME the organizer can show the route approximately until someone is approved, and Friends Map lets each person share at Town, Approximate or Precise level.
Sources
Sources and further reading are listed below. Research dates and any illustrative assumptions are identified in the article. Tell us at support@roammeetexplore.com if something has changed.
Disclosure: RME publishes this page. We make RME. Other apps, events and tours mentioned are run by their respective organizations. Check their current details before making plans.