Journalist Erik Trinidad, formerly drawn to the VanLife trend, switched to 'car glamping'—using a standard SUV for comfortable camping. According to KOA, over 52 million North American households camped in 2025, with car camping interest up 41% since 2019, while traditional RV popularity declined 14–29%. Trinidad notes that van conversions cost $10K–$100K and RVs range from $10K for a used trailer to $60K+ for a Class A motorhome, making car glamping a more affordable option for occasional trips.
