What started with Westfalias, Vanagons, and VW Busses has, a half century later, turned into the movement that is #vanlife. Viable options for living in or adventuring in, travel vans have come a long way in getting hearty folks out on the open road and back into nature.
For all things vans, Palisades Tahoe hosts the Adventure Van Expo Sept. 12 and 13.
What began back in 2018 as a single event in the parking lot at Homewood ski resort has spread to a six-pack of summer stops that started in San Juan Capistrano in May and hit up iconic outdoor locales such as Hood River, Ore., Enumclaw, Wash., Bozeman, Mont., and Winter Park, Colo. The North Lake Tahoe weekend is the culmination of the organization’s 2026 calendar.
Founder Neil Morse started the expos after he got into van life himself. He bought a van and started fixing it up. “There was very little info out there about how to build it out,” he said, “so, I thought a show would be a great way to share knowledge.”
The hands-on guy he is, in addition to DIYing his own van, Morse started DIYing his own expos. They are “for anyone curious, [who] likes to check out cool stuff,” he said, explaining that owning a van is not a requisite for attending.
The main goal of the consumer expo-style event is to educate. Over 80 vendors will be on site to offer advice, experience, and myriad products to get your van where it needs to be. Campers, trailers, truck-top tent systems and all things travel vehicle-related can also be found.
Custom vans will be available to buy as well. Interested parties can preview the inventory on adventurevanexpo.com, then meet the seller and tour the van during the event.
But the weekend is more than just stuff and things. It’s also a gathering place, a time for the tribe to come together and to welcome newcomers — a couple days to mingle and share ideas, to see old friends and meet new ones, to relax, recharge, and have a good time.
DJs will fuel the energy all weekend long. Truckee’s Mogrog food truck and Morelos Tacos from Tahoe City will provide the grub, and breweries (TBD as of press time) will pour the beer. Attendees can also opt to camp overnight and keep the good times going.
“The camping zone is a great place to hang out,” Morse said, noting that there are often fireplaces ripping (safely in cylinders) and music being played.
A highlight of every expo is touring the DIY builds (“everyone is so different from the next”) and the DIY contest, in which attendees vote on the best and most unique van in terms of functionality and style. When asked which one most stood out to him from expos past, Morse responded, “A DIY build by a shipbuilder. He spent a couple years on it. It looked like the inside of a sailboat — amazing work.”
Indeed, the creativity poured into maximizing a van’s relatively small square footage can be inspiring. Inventive, adventurous people regularly turn the mundaneness of a boxy vehicle traditionally used for utilitarian purposes into a home, or at least a home away from home, one that uniquely represents who they are.
Tickets to attend the event are only $11.20 with fees. They are good both days and can be purchased online at adventurevanexpo.com or day-of at the gates near the parking lot at Palisades Tahoe. Camping tickets (including entry) are $52 per night or $92.80 for both Friday and Saturday nights. Entering the DIY contest saves some money on camping, and there are various camping options, including the storyteller camping zone and the Noovo Camping Area.
On the appeal of van life in today’s world, Morse said, “I think it’s about the freedom to travel at your own whim. There’s so much to explore and discover in our amazing country, not to mention Canada and Mexico.”
Given that renting a room in Tahoe/Truckee can run folks close to $2000 a month, buying a used van and fixing it up represents a different and sometimes more viable option for sticking around our beloved area. For those who own their own home(s), spending $100k or more on that tricked out Sprinter can be an avenue for the adventure-seeking soul within to stretch its legs.
Either way, the journey is the way at the Adventure Van Expo. And remember — the adventure that we are ready for is the one that we get.
On the Horizon
Headlined by Leftover Salmon, The Devil Makes Three, and Elephant Revival, the Hangtime Music Festival will debut this Oct. 16 to 18 at the fairgounds in Placerville. The event fills the void left by the Hangtown Music Festival, which infused the venue with joy in Octobers from 2011 to 2021. As the festival draws near, look for more titillating info and scintillating stories at moonshineink.com.
