A Day in My Life Living Out of a Car

What It’s Really Like After 3 Years of Full-Time Vehicle Living

Hi, I’m 25 years old, and I’ve been living full-time out of my car for the past three years.

When people hear that, I usually get one of two reactions: either wide-eyed fascination (“That’s so adventurous!”) or wide-eyed horror (“Wait… you LIVE in your car?”). The truth is somewhere in the middle. Living in a car isn’t always easy, but it’s not tragic either. It’s simple. It’s freeing. And it’s taught me more about myself than anything else I’ve done in my life.

So I thought I’d walk you through what an average day in my life looks like—from waking up in a parking lot to cooking dinner under the stars.

☀️ 7:00 AM – Wake Up (Somewhere Legal… Hopefully)

I wake up in the back of my SUV, cozy under a pile of thrifted blankets and my sleeping bag. My windows are cracked for ventilation, and my DIY blackout curtains (cut from dollar store fabric) are doing their job.

I usually park overnight at a:

Walmart

Planet Fitness lot

Church parking lot (if allowed)

Or on quiet residential streets if I’m stealth camping

The first thing I do when I wake up is check my surroundings. Is it safe? Did anyone leave a note on my windshield? (It happens.)

Then I stretch, fold up my bedding, and slide everything back into “day mode,” turning my bed into a couch so I can sit upright.

🚿 7:30 AM – Hygiene & Gym Time

My next stop is usually Planet Fitness, where I have the $24/month “black card” membership. It gives me access to showers, clean bathrooms, and a place to start my morning in peace.

I take a real shower (not the baby wipe kind), brush my teeth, moisturize, and maybe even sit in a massage chair while sipping some coffee I made the night before in my thermos. It’s honestly my version of a morning spa.

If I’m in a hiking or beach town, I might just use a public beach shower and rinse off there, especially in warmer months.

☕ 9:00 AM – Coffee & Breakfast (Mobile Café Edition)

I pull into a nearby park, trailhead, or quiet parking lot with a view. This is where I make my morning coffee and breakfast.

My kitchen setup:

Butane single-burner stove

French press or pour-over cone

Reusable mug

Small non-stick skillet

Collapsible table & camp chair

Breakfast is usually:

Oats with almond butter and fruit

Scrambled eggs and tortillas

Yogurt and granola

Or just a protein bar on busy days

I love these quiet mornings. They’re peaceful, and everything tastes better outside.

💻 10:00 AM – Work Time (Wi-Fi Hunting)

I work remotely as a freelance writer and virtual assistant, which funds my lifestyle. Sometimes I work from libraries, sometimes coffee shops, and sometimes I just tether from my phone if I’m parked somewhere scenic and quiet.

My workday tools:

Laptop

Wi-Fi hotspot

Portable battery bank

Noise-canceling headphones

Clip-on laptop fan (cars get HOT)

On work-heavy days, I might spend 5–6 hours focused. On lighter days, I do a couple hours and then head out to explore.

🚗 3:00 PM – Errands, Exploring, or Driving to a New Spot

Afternoons are flexible. If I need groceries, I hit up a local market or Trader Joe’s. If I’m in a new place, I’ll go for a hike, hit a thrift store, or explore cute little towns along the way.

I usually drive a little each day—not much, just enough to charge my power station via my car’s 12V socket and change up the scenery.

Sometimes I’ll just find a shady spot and read, nap, or edit photos from the road.

🍲 6:30 PM – Dinner Under the Sky

Dinner is one of my favorite parts of the day. I either cook at a campsite, a public park, or even in a hidden corner of a parking lot if I’m stealth camping.

My usual meals:

Pasta with veggies

Stir-fried rice

Lentil soup

Tuna wraps with salad

I have a small cooler for perishables and keep lots of shelf-stable staples in bins. I light a citronella candle, put on a playlist or podcast, and enjoy the fresh air.

🌅 8:00 PM – Wind Down & Reset

After dinner, I clean up my kitchen setup, refill my water jugs at a public fountain or gas station, and brush my teeth using a collapsible basin and water jug.

I usually park at my “sleep spot” before it gets dark so I can settle in low-key and not attract attention.

Once I’m parked:

I set up my bed

Hang my blackout curtains

Crack the windows for airflow

Change into comfy clothes

And chill with a movie, audiobook, or journal session

🌙 10:00 PM – Lights Out

When you live in a car, you go to bed earlier—there’s no lounging in a living room or mindless TikTok scroll under a warm comforter. I crawl into my sleeping bag, zip up, and lay back, listening to the crickets, traffic, or sometimes the occasional raccoon rifling through a trash can nearby.

There’s a weird kind of peace in it. I know where everything is. I know how to protect myself. I know what matters.

And even though I don’t have a house, I’ve never felt more at home.

🛠️ The Reality: It’s Not Always Instagram-Pretty

Yes, there are hard days:

It gets lonely

It gets cold (or WAY too hot)

Sometimes I can’t find a safe place to sleep

I miss showers, real kitchens, and long baths

And yes, people do judge me

But there are incredible days too:

Waking up to mountain views

Watching the stars from my sleeping bag

Meeting other nomads who get it

Learning how little I actually need

Feeling wildly, beautifully free

Would I Change It?

Honestly? No.

Living out of my car has made me resourceful, resilient, and deeply grateful for the little things—like warm coffee, a full tank of gas, or clean socks. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. It’s mine. And it’s taught me how to live with purpose instead of just going through the motions.

Thanks for spending a day with me on the road. If you’ve ever thought about vehicle life or want to know more about how I make it work long-term—drop a comment or message me. I love helping other people make the leap, even just for a weekend adventure.

See you out there. ✌️🚙💨