The Ultimate 2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide to Epic Vanlife Adventures
2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide
The 2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide is a curated list of vanlife meetups, RV gatherings, and nomadic events across the U.S.
It’s organized by quarter to make travel planning easier, and updated as new gatherings are announced.
Now in its 6th annual edition, this guide tracks confirmed and recurring meetups nationwide to help nomads plan real-world connections ahead of time.
Currently tracking meetups in:
AK · AR · AZ · CO · FL · IL · KY · LA · MO · MI · OR · OK
(list updates as new events are added)
Last updated: January 8, 2026
Want Your Meetup Featured?
If you’re organizing a meetup in 2026 and want to be included in our list, fill out the form below to submit your event details. If your country isn’t listed, please include that information with the meetup name.
Interactive Map of the 2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide
Use this custom, interactive map to learn more about meetups across North America! 🌎
Tap the upper left-hand icon to explore the map key.
📲 On mobile? Use 2 fingers to pinch-and-zoom and move around the map.
2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide Pre-trip
Before hitting the road, make sure you’re prepared:
- Use Allstays to find the best campsites and RV parks near each meetup location.
- Plan your journey with RoadTrippers to discover must-see spots and optimize your route.
- Explore nearby hiking trails with AllTrails to make the most of your outdoor adventures.
- Don’t have a camper? Rent one through Outdoorsy and join the adventure.
⚠️ Note: Event Details May Change
Dates, locations, and details for these meetups are subject to change. I’ll update this guide as new information becomes available — but it’s always best to double-check with each event organizer before making travel plans.
If you notice something that needs an update, feel free to contact me or leave a comment so I can keep the list current. 🙌
Jump to Quarter
Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4
Quarter 1: January – March 2026
JANUARY 2026
WRTR (Women’s Rubber Tramp Rendezvous)
Jan 7, 2026 to Jan 9, 2026
Quartzsite, AZ
📣 Event Details:
The Women’s Rubber Tramp Rendezvous brings together women who live or dream of living the nomadic life — whether in cars, vans, or RVs. It’s a welcoming space to connect, learn practical skills, and build community with fellow travelers on the road.
📌 Hosted By: Homes on Wheels Alliance
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Free
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Dirt (last mile)
Pride in the Desert
Jan 8, 2026 to Jan 12, 2026
Quartzsite, AZ
📣 Event Details:
Join us in the Arizona desert for a free annual gathering featuring community-led workshops, a talent show, BIPOC tea hour, yoga, a potluck, and more. Allies and questioning folks are warmly welcomed—reach out if you’d like to host or add to the schedule.
📌 Hosted By: Vanlife Pride
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Free
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions:
16th Annual RTR (Rubber Tramp Rendezvous)
Jan 10, 2026 to Jan 15, 2026
Quartzsite, AZ
📣 Event Details:
The Rubber Tramp Rendezvous is the big one — a yearly meetup for nomads and soon-to-be nomads from all walks of life. It’s all about community, inspiration, and swapping knowledge on how to live freely and sustainably on the road.
📌 Hosted By: Homes on Wheels Alliance
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Free
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Dirt (last mile)
Women’s Van-Life Meetup/Retreat 2026
Jan 16, 2026 to Jan 18, 2026
St. Augustine, FL
📣 Event Details:
A women-only vanlife retreat focused on rest, renewal, and empowerment — offering coaching, community, and soulful connection. Held at St. Johns County Fairgrounds, this event invites women on the road to reset, recharge, and realign their journey.
📌 Hosted By: Natalie Betancourt
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $135-195
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Easy Access
Skooliepalooza: The Ungathering
Jan 19, 2026 to Jan 30, 2026
Ehrenberg, AZ
📍 33.5812778, -114.4746389
📣 Event Details:
Same place. Same time. Every year. Show up, Have fun, clean up, leave. All are welcome. No registering, no profitizing, no b%llsh*t.
📌 Hosted By:
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Free
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️Road Conditions: Rough / High Clearance Recommended
FEBRUARY 2026
Nomads in the Desert
Feb 1, 2026 to Feb 5, 2026
📍 33°39’27.0″N 114°10’31.3″W
📣 Event Details:
All are welcome. Whether you’re vanlife-curious, full-time nomadic, or just craving good people and open skies, come camp with us.
This is true off-grid, wild camping — ⛺ no toilets, no showers, no hookups.
Boondocking style. Self-contained, self-reliant, and community-driven.
📌 Hosted By: Robles Fanny and Jess Whitt
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Free
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Desert access near Quartzsite. Expect mostly dirt and rocky roads with some flatter sections. Generally passable for vans and RVs in dry weather. High clearance recommended. Conditions can change after rain.
LIFTOFF!: Florida’s #1 Vanlife Festival & Expo
Feb 5, 2026 to Feb 9, 2026
Melbourne, FL
📣 Event Details:
VanFest’s third annual Florida event is the perfect place to showcase your brand, connect with a passionate community, and make a lasting impression.
📌 Hosted By: Lance and Jess Vanfest
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $12.41-168.69
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Mixed
Nomad Nexus Mardi Gras Meetup
Feb 5, 2026 to Feb 18, 2026
Slidell, LA
📣 Event Details:
Nomad Nexus is a multi-day gathering designed for vanlifers, RV travelers, skoolie owners, and nomads seeking community on the road. This long-form meetup brings together full-time and part-time travelers for 10–14 days of workshops, drum circles, campfire storytelling, craft fairs, and skill-sharing. All rigs are welcome, and the focus is on building real connections, learning from one another, and creating a sense of home within the nomadic lifestyle.
📌 Hosted By: Melissa “Mo” Schwaner
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $45-585 +fees & processing
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Gravel (Easy Access)
9th Annual Skoolie Swarm
Feb 20, 2026 to Mar 2, 2026
Melrose, FL
📣 Event Details:
Skoolie Swarm is the premier gathering celebrating the nomadic and traveling lifestyle, anchored by a major winter Swarm in Florida, a roving fall gathering, and with an exciting expansion of events on the horizon.
📌 Hosted By:
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost:
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions:
MARCH 2026
Peace Love & Vans Florida
Mar 6, 2026 to Mar 9, 2026
Dade City, FL
📣 Event Details: Whether you’re a vanlifer or vanlife-curious, Peace Love & Vans is the place to be. Enjoy a weekend packed with custom vans, live music, contests, raffles, vendors, and frozen Piña Coladas—all set in scenic natural locations with plenty of outdoor fun nearby.
📌 Hosted By: Vanlife Outfitters
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $159-249
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Mixed
Vero’s Van-Go Weekend
Mar 13, 2026 to Mar 15, 2026
Vero Beach, FL
📣 Event Details: Celebrate vanlife with custom, factory, and self-built rigs, live music, food trucks, a chili cook-off, swap shop, vendors, and more—fun for vanlife veterans, newbies, and anyone curious about the lifestyle.
📌 Hosted By: Vero
🗺️ Region: East
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $10-124
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Mixed
Quarter 2: April-June 2026
APRIL 2026
RendezVan
Apr 16, 2026 to Apr 19, 2026
Bend, OR
📣 Event Details: RendezVan returns to Mt Bachelor.
📌 Hosted By:
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Mixed
Tenkiller YouTube Meetup
Apr 17, 2026 to Apr 19, 2026
Park Hill, OK
📣 Event Details: The 3rd Annual Tenkiller YouTube Meetup is scheduled for April 17 -19, 2026! Stay tuned for more information!
📌 Hosted By: Lenard Mountain Homestead
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost:
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Gravel / Mixed
MAY 2026
Swarm on Route 66
May 2, 2026 to May 13, 2026
Pontiac, IL
📣 Event Details: Skoolie Swarm on Route 66. More details soon!
📌 Hosted By: Travis & Michelle
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost:
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Dirt
2026 Mid-America YouTube Meetup
May 15, 2026 to May 17, 2026
Kingston, OK
📣 Event Details: Join creators and subscribers at the 2026 Mid-America YouTube Meetup, May 15–17 at Lake Texoma State Park (Joe’s & Floyd Campground). Network, share lessons, and celebrate community. All channels welcome! Bring merch to sell or give away. Contact mthomesteadok@gmail.com for co-hosting details.
📌 Hosted By: MT Homestead
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Gravel / Dirt
JUNE 2026
Peace Love & Vans Colorado
Jun 12, 2026 to Jun 15, 2026
Spanish Peaks Country, CO
📣 Event Details: Join Peace Love & Vans for its first Colorado festival at Hummingbird Ranch, in Spanish Peaks country near Rye—about two hours from Denver. Home to legendary events like Sonic Bloom, this westward PLV gathering promises music, community, and unforgettable vanlife vibes.
📌 Hosted By: Vanlife Outfitters
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $89-249
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Dirt
Quarter 3: July-September 2026
JULY 2026
Camp Pride
Jul 2, 2026 to Jul 6, 2026
Fall Creek, OR
📣 Event Details: Camp Pride invites adult queer folks to reimagine the magic of summer camp and nurture their inner child. Enjoy community bonding, games, vegan meals, queer performances, and even prom night—all in a supportive, joy-filled environment that celebrates authenticity and connection.
📌 Hosted By: Vanlife Pride
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Paved / Mixed
Vanstock Alaska
Jul 18, 2026 to Jul 21, 2026
Palmer, AK
📣 Event Details: Alaska’s First Vanlife and Traveler’s Festival – 4 day, 3 Night Campout festival in the heart of the Mat-Su Valley
📌 Hosted By: Vanstock
🗺️ Region: West
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: $250
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Dirt / 4×4 Recommended
AUGUST 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
K26: Bluegrass Bounders Nomad Meetup
Sep 2026 TBD
Land Between the Lakes, KY
📣 Event Details: 2nd Annual Kentucky Nomadic Meetup.
📌 Hosted By: Mellow Nomadic Adventures & Time 4 Xploring
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: Site Fees, Firewood
🛣️ Road Conditions: Gravel / Mixed
Jonnie’s Journey Meetup
Sep 2026 TBD
Fredericktown, MO
📣 Event Details: Annual YouTube and Nomad meetup by MidWest Vanbuilders.
📌 Hosted By: Midwest Van Builders
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: Site Fees, Firewood
🛣️ Road Conditions: Grass / Mixed
M-26 Meet-up
Sep 24, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026
Merrill, MI
📣 Event Details: M-26 Meet-up for Content Creators, supporters, RVs, van life, skoolies.
📌 Hosted By: Where RV Staying
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost: Paid
💸 Pricing Notes: Site Fees, Firewood
🛣️ Road Conditions: Gravel / Mixed
Quarter 4: October-December 2026
OCTOBER 2026
NOVEMBER 2026
2026 Ouachita YouTube Meet-up
Nov 6, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026
Mena, AR
📣 Event Details: Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
📌 Hosted By: Peter King
🗺️ Region: Midwest
💰 Cost:
💸 Pricing Notes:
🛣️ Road Conditions: Mixed / Gravel / Dirt
DECEMBER 2026
💡 Got an Idea for the 2026 Nomadic Gatherings App?
Hey, fellow traveler! The new 2026 Nomadic Gatherings App is rolling out in beta — built to help you discover events, save your favorites, and connect with other nomads on the road.
I’d love your input as this project grows. If you want to test early features or share ideas to make the app even better, hit the link below and join the adventure.
👉 Become a Beta Tester or Share Your Ideas
2026 Nomadic Gatherings Guide FAQ
More Meetups from the Community
The nomadic world is full of amazing folks mapping events of their own.
One great resource is the Thunder’s Garage Vanlife Events List — a continually updated collection of van-life gatherings across the U.S. and Canada.
