Fitness on the Road: Practical Ways to Exercise While Travelling in a Campervan
One of the greatest joys of vanlife is how easily movement can become part of everyday life. Morning walks straight from the door, hikes that start where you parked up, and the simple act of being in tune with the seasons and outdoors more often can feel like a reset for both body and mind.
But even with all that outdoor freedom, staying active on the road is not always straightforward.
Weather can turn, energy can dip, injuries can flare up, and sometimes the novelty of walking, even with great views, wears thin. Bicycles are an option for some, but with limited space internally and not always wanting and being able to to have bikes mounted externally, this is not always a practical option.
Add in limited space, no regular gym, and constantly changing routines, and it is easy to feel a little stuck.
If you have ever found yourself wondering:
I’m bored of walking, what else can I do?
How do people actually keep fit full time in a van?
I want my usual gym-level workouts when I’m travelling.
I don’t want to spend money or carry loads of kit.
What can I do to keep my fitness up whilst travelling during the winter?
You are not alone.
Fitness on the road rarely looks like a neat routine or a perfect plan. It is more about adapting to where you are, what you have access to and the weather and seasons.
This guide explores a range of realistic options and ideas for staying active while travelling in a campervan or motorhome, beyond walks and hikes, so you can pick up some new ideas and find a rhythm that works for you.
Beyond Walking and Hiking: Location-Based Ways to Move on the Road
One of the advantages of travelling is that exercise does not have to be generic. Many activities are deeply tied to place, making movement feel more like part of the adventure than something you have to tick off.
Wild swimming is an obvious one for many vanlifers. Lakes, rivers and the sea offer a quick workout, a mental reset, and a strong connection to the landscape around you. Rock climbing and bouldering is another popular option, whether that is indoor walls in towns and cities or outdoor crags if you already have experience.
Paddleboards and kayaks can often be hired locally, removing the need to carry bulky kit. Coastal areas, lakes and slow-moving rivers frequently have rental options, lessons or guided sessions that make it accessible even if you are new.
Other location-based activities worth keeping an eye out for include:
Surfing or bodyboarding in coastal areas
Coasteering experiences
Via ferrata routes in mountainous regions, particularly in Europe
Trail running routes promoted by local tourism offices
Outdoor fitness groups or bootcamps in parks – tip: keep an eye on the local info boards as you wander through towns and villages, as there often flyers and posters sharing what classes/events are going on.
The key is flexibility. You do not need to own the kit or commit long term. Hiring equipment or joining a one-off session allows you to try new forms of movement without adding clutter to your van.
Have You Heard of the ‘Parkrun Alphabet’?
For those who enjoy running, (or even a relaxed walk/jog combo), Parkrun offers a simple way to build consistency into life on the road. Held weekly and free to attend, Parkrun events now take place across the UK and in many parts of Europe and are a great way to join in with the sense of local community.
The Parkrun Alphabet challenge adds a playful twist. By choosing events with different starting letters, you can turn movement into a travel game. It encourages exploration, gives structure to a week, and adds a sense of progress without pressure.
You do not have to be fast, competitive or even particularly fit. Many people walk the course, or go for a walk/jog combo or treat it as a social outing - especially if there is a coffee and cake waiting at the end! It is a low-barrier way to combine exercise, community and travel, with the added satisfaction of slowly ticking letters off the alphabet, including the famously tricky X, Y and Z!
Adapting Your Fitness to the Seasons and the Road
Staying active while travelling often requires a shift in mindset, particularly when seasons change. In summer it’s not hard to think of options, but Winter brings shorter days, colder temperatures and less motivation for long outdoor sessions.
Movement does not need to look the same year-round. Some seasons lend themselves to long hikes and outdoor sports, while others are better suited to swimming, stretching, mobility work or indoor workouts.
This is also where listening to your body matters. Injuries, chronic pain, fatigue or simply a busy travel period can all affect how much movement feels supportive rather than draining. Gentle options like swimming, yoga, pilates or short strength sessions can be just as valuable as more intense workouts.
Consistency on the road often comes from letting go of rigid expectations and allowing routines to evolve. There may be weeks of more intense activity and then weeks where simple mobility is what’s needed or best fits the schedule.
Real Life Tips from Jo...
Gym Access on the Road: What I’ve Learned as a Full-Time Nomad.
If you miss the structure of a gym workout or enjoy going to classes, gyms can be surprisingly accessible while travelling. From my own experience as a full-time nomad, combining exercise with access to showers has been one of the most practical ways to stay consistent, and works for me whatever the weather or season.
On top of this, a couple of years ago I gave myself the challenge of going to 52 different gyms around the UK in a single year – the equivalent to a different gym each week. Here are a few things I have learned along the way to make the most of it:
Look for free day passes: Many gym chains offer complimentary day passes if you go online and signup or fill in a form. I found Everyone Active and Anytime Fitness particularly good for this.
Multi-site memberships: If you belong to a popular gym chain like PureGym or The Gym Group, they allow access to multiple locations, which can work well if you are regularly travelling via towns and cities. They also offer monthly ‘bring a friend’ friends passes, so if you know someone who already has a membership, it is worth asking if you they can arrange a free pass to a location on your route. Little know tip - I have found these don’t need to be used at the same gym location they go to.
Gym options in Europe: Across Europe, low-cost gyms such as Basic-Fit are widely available, particularly in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. They tyically offer affordable day or short-term passes and have easy access entry systems with English language options.
If classes are your preference: Yoga, pilates, spin, circuits and HIIT sessions tend to be a similar structure across all gyms, making it easy to drop in and pick things up quickly without feeling out of place.
Spot the promos: Keep a look out for short-term promotions which can be useful if you are staying in one area for a couple of weeks. I have seen promos such as ‘10 days for £10’ or ‘three days free’ when I have been travelling around. Some gyms offer general trials aswell - I have found a number of free trials offered for 5 or seven days.
Exploring a specific region: Local authority gym memberships sometimes cover an entire region, which can be ideal if you are exploring one county and can get a short term membership. For example. I joined ‘Highlife Highlands’ in Scotland for under £30 for a month which gave me unlitmited access to around 25 different gyms/leisure centres/pools across the Scottish Highlands. I also did similar when I spent a few weeks travelling the NLAND250 route across Northumberland, and the same again in Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Of course prices/options may change but you get the idea - just email/call ahead and ask about short terms memberships as they are often not displayed on the websites!)
Simple Workouts You Can Do In or Beside Your Van
If you prefer to keep things simple or want more options for cold or wet weather days, there are plenty of ways to move your body without leaving your pitch or carrying bulky equipment.
Here are Jo’s top tips and the things she always carries with her in the van:
A yoga mat is one of the most versatile items you can carry. It works for yoga, stretching, mobility work or short bodyweight workouts. If you need inspiration, free yoga classes for all levels are widely available online.
Resistance bands take up almost no space or weight, come in a variety of resistance levels and offer a surprisingly effective strength workout for upper and lower body. They can be used inside the van or outdoors and are often easier on joints than free weights.
A suspension trainer or TRX-style system provides a full-body workout and packs down into a small pouch. With a high secure external anchor point such as a roof rack, it can be used almost anywhere. I have also used mine anchored to a tree branch when parked up on a campsite.
Other low-space options include:
Bodyweight circuits using the van for support and parts of the workout – e.g the door step for tricep dips or lunges.
Skipping rope for quick cardio sessions.
Balance boards/platforms to increase core strength when using the laptop in a standing desk setup.
These options are particularly useful when you do not want to travel into town or commit to a gym visit.
Finding a Rhythm That Works for You
Staying active on the road is less about following a perfect plan and more about finding what fits your lifestyle, energy levels and travel rhythm at any given time.
Some people might find motivation through gamifying movement, whether that is a Parkrun challenge, visiting a certain number of gyms over a certain time period (like Jo), or setting a more seasonal goal. Others benefit from having an accountability buddy, even if that accountability happens through messages or shared check-ins rather than physically exercising together.
Creating new routines while travelling is very different to life with a single base. Familiar cues, communities and routines disappear and everything takes much more intention.
The hope is that these ideas offer a starting point out of stuckness, not a rulebook.
Movement should support your travels, not compete with them. Whether that looks like a swim, a class, a stretch by the van or a completely new activity tied to where you are, it all counts!
Do you love to find new ways to work out whilst on the road?
We’d love to hear your tips too… chime on our socials or tag us in a post, so we can share more ideas with the community!
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