Camper Van or Motorhome for a Family – Which One Is Better?

Camper van or motorhome for a family? This is a question we’ve faced many times over the years. As a traveling family, we’ve tried just about every combo imaginable: a trailer with a van, motorhomes, and camper vans.

And from experience, we can confidently say – for our four-person crew, a camper van is the best fit.

Why a Camper Van Works Best for Our Family

The compact size, agility, and just-the-right-amount-of-space make a camper van the most practical choice for our family. For us, the most important thing is that the van has everything we need, without any unnecessary extras. As a vanlife family, we’ve ended up loving our van because:

• it has all the essentials
• it's easy to drive in tiny villages, mountain roads, and city streets
• it works as a daily car, too
• and it can turn around in almost any dead-end! :D
  
  

Only 5 m of camper van length, and 4 people inside. Half of them were quite small at the time, though!

When You End Up in a Dead-End – Smaller Is Smarter

We tend to gravitate toward places where a full-sized motorhome just wouldn’t fit. And not just once or twice, we’ve had our co-pilot jump out of the van to check if we have millimeters of clearance to make a turn in the wilderness, a mountain village, or a random tunnel.

Weight limits (3.5t), height and width restrictions – they all come into play with a larger rig.

And we’re just not fans of restrictions – especially those coming from outside. We'd rather sacrifice dance floor space inside the van than give up the freedom to explore. Sure, you can’t pass each other in the hallway without sucking in your stomach, but those are the kind of compromises we’re happy to make.

Plus, motorhomes don’t always offer that much more storage than camper vans – it all depends on the layout and what kind of gear you travel with.

But the most important thing while traveling isn't storage room - it's having a good night's sleep. That means having a proper bed and preferably merino wool bedding to maximize nightly comfort.

We freshened up this motorhome with new upholstery, and installed safety belts for the little backseat passengers.

Our Criteria When Choosing a Camper Van

Since we’re often heading to the less-traveled (and sometimes barely drivable) roads, a nimble and compact vehicle is a huge benefit.

Our camper van has everything we need, and we manage just fine as a family of four – actually, it’s gotten easier as the kids have grown. Babies and toddlers take up the most space, both physically and energetically. For that stage of life, a full-blown RV might have been the smarter choice!

But for us now, the most important features (especially in our recently imported van from Germany) were:

• four proper sleeping spots - no more fiddling with fold-out beds, thanks
• enough easily accesible storage for everyday gear
• a functional kitchen and a large enough fridge
• a toilet, but no need for a full shower room
• a bright and airy feel
• minimal fuss in day-to-day use

You can fit a camper van anywhere you can fit a regular van - almost anywhere, that is.

We don’t really need space in the back of the van for large hobby gear. What we value more is accessible and functional storage for everyday stuff – clothes, shoes, and some lightweight outdoor essentials. If we need specialized equipment, we usually rent or borrow it on the spot, and we can always install a bike rack ourselves if needed.

A toilet is a must for us, but we’re happy to skip the shower and full bathroom setup. Instead, a functional kitchen and a decently sized fridge are big pluses, since we cook most of our meals on the road. We don’t enjoy grocery shopping every other day – and we love ending up in places where there’s no supermarket or restaurant nearby anyway.

Light, a sense of space (as much as you can get in a camper van), and minimal hassle are also important to us. In a van-sized setup, the mood between four people can shift quickly if something practical doesn’t work.

And sure, things go wrong sometimes (just like they do at home, even with more space), but we dare say that living in a small vehicle has taught all of us a lot about patience, awareness, and emotional intelligence. In a camper van, there’s simply no space to annoy each other on purpose without it bouncing right back at you.

But since how and where you travel is so personal, it’s really worth taking an honest look at your needs and weighing the options. A hardcore active traveler might need that larger gear storage space, whereas a laid-back van life dreamer may be perfectly content with just the basics and the vibes.

For this motorhome we designed our own laundry bags, and installed an extra side for the upper bed to keep anyone from falling down. A new upholstery was needed, too, since the old fabrics were from the 80's.

The Pros of a Camper Van for Family Travel

Based on our years of experience, here are the biggest benefits of a camper van for a family:

• all the essentials, nothing unnecessary
• compact size for both city and nature
• standard van dimensions - easy for narrow roads, tunnels etc.
• lightweight: no road restrictions
• B-category (standard) driver's license is enough
• easy to drive, especially for less experienced drivers
• easy to wild park and blend in
• even fits into city parking spots

That’s why a camper van for a traveling family has been our top choice.

When a Motorhome Has the Edge Over a Camper Van

Of course, motorhomes have their perks too, especially if your priorities lean toward comfort and space:

• generally more spacious and home-like
• more sleeping options and flexibility
• roomier bathroom and shower
• potentially more storage space, especially in the rear

But these come with a price: a bigger, heavier vehicle that’s more complicated to drive and park – especially in city centers or remote backroads.



When cruising along the Alpine roads, a camper van is the biggest vehicle we'd dare to drive there.

Downsides of a Camper Van – What to Expect

To be fair, camper vans aren’t perfect either. Our biggest complaint? When one person moves, everyone else has to adjust. If you’re cooking and someone opens the toilet door, you have to move out of the way. If someone wants to get dressed while another is trying to grab something from a cabinet… well, it’s a game of human Tetris.

But once your routines settle in, and everyone learns the flow, it gets much easier.

Challenges with a Motorhome – Bigger Isn’t Always Better

With a motorhome, the size of the vehicle was our biggest issue. You really have to be aware of height, width, and where you can fit – some gas stations have low canopies, and many parking garages or inner-city gates just say “nope.”

In European city centers, for example, you often have to park way outside and walk in. Wild parking gets trickier too – with a big motorhome, you can’t just “blend in” to a quiet spot in the woods. You need to be more careful about where you stay overnight: is it legal, safe, and spacious enough? You can read more about wild camping here.

Also, more space means more stuff – and more mess. In a camper van, you physically can’t leave things lying around, because there’s just no room. It’s minimalist living and organization at its best.

In the fall of 2018, we drove to Norway to see the Lofoten with granparents.

Final Thoughts: Camper Van vs Motorhome for a Family

If you ask us, a camper van is the best choice for a family that values flexibility, freedom, and a touch of adventure.

If you want more comfort, space, and don’t mind staying in official campsites or planning routes carefully, a motorhome might be a better fit.

But ultimately, it all depends on how and where you travel. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution – and sometimes, the best way to figure it out is to try both. And yes, make a few memorable mistakes along the way ;)

- Hanna