Two campervans parked by a turquoise beach, seen from above

5 Ways to Make Friends on the Road

10.09.2026

One of the most beautiful things about travelling is that you never really know who you're going to meet.

A campsite can turn into a dinner with strangers. A quick conversation at a viewpoint can become a day trip together. And sometimes, a simple "Where are you heading next?" can be the beginning of a friendship that lasts far beyond the journey.

If you're travelling by van and want to meet more people along the way, here are five simple ways to make it happen.

1. Stay somewhere for a little longer

It's easy to arrive somewhere, spend one night and move on the next morning. But staying a little longer gives you something valuable: the chance to actually get to know the people around you.

Choose a campsite, parking spot or area you enjoy and stay for a few days. You'll start recognising the same faces. Maybe someone will invite you for a coffee, you'll end up sharing dinner, or you'll simply start saying hello when you pass each other. Friendships often need a little time to grow.

And sometimes, even years later, you still remember exactly where you met them, what you talked about and how it felt to have them around.

Maybe that's what makes vanlife friendships so special. They don't necessarily need a long history to become important. Sometimes, all they need is a shared road.

2. Just say hello

This sounds obvious, but it can be difficult. You see someone sitting outside their van with a guitar. Someone is cooking dinner next to their camper. Another traveller is working on their van or planning their next route. You might think: "They probably want to be left alone." – Maybe they do. But maybe they're thinking the same thing about you.

A simple "Hey, how long have you been standing here?" is often enough to start a conversation. You don't need a clever opening line. Curiosity goes a long way.

Sharing tajine, salad and fresh bread around a wooden table

3. Share something

Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Make a little too much pasta and offer some to your neighbours. Brew coffee and ask if someone wants one. Share some fruit, a bottle of something cold or a meal you just discovered on your travels.

It doesn't have to be anything special. Sometimes the best conversations start with: "We made too much. Do you want some?" And before you know it, you're sitting together for hours.

4. Say yes to spontaneous plans

Someone asks if you want to join them for a hike. Someone is going to the beach. There's a sunset spot everyone is heading to. Someone has found a little local restaurant.

You don't have to say yes to everything, of course. But some of the best travel memories come from plans that weren't actually plans at all. Be open to invitations.

You never know where they might lead – or who you might meet along the way.

Three friends smiling during a via ferrata climb in the mountains

5. Don't be afraid to stay in touch

You meet someone, spend a few amazing days together and eventually your routes go in different directions. That doesn't have to be the end.

Exchange Instagram handles. Take a photo together, let them write in your Miles & Memories Journal, send them a message when you arrive somewhere they recommended. And if you really connect, make a plan to meet again.

Travel has a funny way of bringing people back together. You might meet again on the other side of the country. At a festival. In another country. Or months later, completely by accident.