Camping and road tripping is the best way to spend a vacation for many people. Also, road tripping is a fantastic way to make unique memories and visit extraordinary places. However, whether you live on the road or you are road-tripping for long periods, you might wonder how you can shower on long road trips. Luckily, there are many ways to shower while you travel.
So, how to shower on a road trip? Although there are many ways to shower on the road, the most popular is using the showers at gyms, swimming pools, or truck stops. Also, you can buy a portable shower. Portable showers are easy to carry around, take very little space, and you can shower when and where you want.
Everything is fantastic when traveling for long periods until you start to smell. Showering is the biggest challenge that we face when traveling by car. People on the road always wonder where their next shower will be. Unless you own an RV equipped with showering facilities, you might also have this problem. Fortunately, there are a few ways to shower on the road.
How Do You Shower on a Road Trip?
Unless you stay in a hotel, showering on a road trip can get a bit tricky. However, to experience all the good things about traveling, such as the freedom and seeing incredible places, we also need to experience the less pleasurable things. How often you can shower on a road trip depends mainly on where you travel and for how many days. However, there are many ways to shower while traveling by car, and some are more luxurious than you think.
1. Invest in a gym membership
Showering at gyms is our favorite way and a very well-known method to use. If you are traveling long distances, you will want to invest in a gym membership. All gyms have shower facilities, and some are open 24 hours! From all the options we experienced, Planet Fitness is the most cost-effective.
For $20, you get to choose from many locations nationwide. Additionally, you can use their workout equipment and Wi-Fi. Some gyms also have spas and saunas! However, many gyms do not offer towels, so make sure to bring one of your own.
If you want to go cheaper, you can take advantage of the free introductory passes. Introductory passes are cost-free and allow you to do what you wish, like take a shower. The downside is that these passes will enable you to go in only once.
Nevertheless, when you travel through many different cities, you can choose from more than only one gym. So ask for introductory passes in gyms you pass along the way. This way, you can get your workout done, get a free shower, and use Wi-Fi for free each time. Popular gyms among travelers looking to clean up are gyms with locations across the country like:
- Planet Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- 24 Hour Fitness
Read this article on our website to learn how to figure out how much a road trip will cost!
2. Take advantage of community swimming pools
Suppose you do not want to pay for expensive gym memberships. In that case, we advise using the showers of the community swimming pools. They are reasonably affordable, usually just a few bucks, and some come with fun water slides.
In addition, some swimming pools offer shower use only options in towns or cities with outdoor recreation, which are even more affordable. Therefore, we advise calling ahead to check if they provide this option.
3. Find a truck stop with showers
If you have been on the road for a long time and are looking for a shower, then a truck stop might be a place to give it a try. Gas stations like Pilot & Flying J, Loves, and TravelCenters of America are gas stations with showering facilities. In North America, you can find thousands of showers across hundreds of locations.
They are initially gas stations to provide meals and showers for truck drivers, and you can find them all over the country. The showers have soap and shampoo, and at the gas station, you can also find meals, coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi.
The showers are usually not cheap ($7 – $15). So, they end up being more expensive than a gym membership after only two visits, and you can only find them on interstate roads and highways. However, unlimited hot water and excellent water pressure are worth spending some cash on when you are desperate. In addition, the facilities are also very clean and well-maintained.
It is very straightforward. All you have to do is walk to the counter, say that you would like a shower, and after paying, you will have a code to one of the private showers. However, the showers get very busy around nighttime, and it is best to go in the morning. If showering at gas stations seems weird to you, you should know that people do this all the time, and many travelers use this road trip hack very often.
4. Invest in a portable shower
A portable shower will be the best investment if you wish to shower when and where you want. These are easy to carry around, take very little space for storage, and require only a one-time purchase, making portable showers worth the money.
Portable showers hold, in general, 5 gallons of water. Most are gravity-fed, and they heat the water with the sun. To shower with warm water on cold mornings, in the evening, before going to sleep, fill one or two thermos flasks with hot water. In a thermos flask, the water will stay hot for many hours. Then, the following day, you can enjoy warm water for showering. We suggest showering during the day when it is less cold.
When using a portable solar shower, try to catch your shower water to dispose of later. Use biodegradable soap, and, whenever possible, dispose of your wastewater correctly.
Portable solar showers come in different styles to suit your specific needs. The prices range from $10 to $200, depending on your desired system. See our top picks for portable solar showers below.
Portable solar shower bag providing a 20-liter capacity. This bag comes with a heat-absorbing design. It is lightweight and foldable, making it space-efficient and easy to carry. With access to direct sunlight, it will heat water to 113°F (45°C) in 3 hours. In addition, this portable shower comes with a showerhead with an on/off switch with low to high water flow, a hose, and a water tap, providing you with a great showering experience.
Unlike the gravity-fed portable showers, which you need to hang above your head, the Nemo Helio LX Pressure Shower can be placed on the ground. As a result, it provides the ideal pressure, for example, for washing hair or cleaning the dishes. Additionally, its foot pump delivers excellent water pressure.
To make it ready for a warm shower, set the tank with water in the sun or fill it directly with hot water. The 7-foot hose is ideal for holding it overhead for a hands-free shower. Use the foot pump to pressurize the 5.8-gallon tank for 7-10 minutes of intense, continuous spray. Additionally, with a few extra pumps, you can keep it fully pressurized when you use it.
The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower is a 10-liter portable shower that gives about eight and a half minutes of water with the showerhead fully open. The black color absorbs heat from the sun, or you can add hot water directly to the bag for a hot shower. Additionally, it is so tiny that it can fit in your pocket. The material is 100% nylon. It is waterproof, leak-proof, and folds up with ease. It weighs only 4.25 ounces, making it compact and light. This portable shower is an excellent option for backpacking.
RinseKit Portable Outdoor Shower is not only a great shower for camping. It is also a great device to clean your gear, clean dishes, or wash your car. The capacity of this shower is 3 gallons of water with a spraying time of up to 8 minutes. In addition, it maintains pressure for a whole month.
5. Use baby wipes to clean your body as well as you can
If a shower is not an option, or you simply want to feel more fresh right here right now, you can purchase baby wipes to clean your body as well as you can. You can buy baby wipes even in the most remote villages.
How Can I Shower Without Hot Water?
We have all been there at least once when you are about to take a nice hot shower, only to discover that the water is cold. It can happen in your house or on a camping trip where all the people before you used up all the hot water. To get through the cold shower with as little discomfort as possible, use the following tips we gathered from research and our own experience.
Mentally prepare yourself for taking a cold shower
Cold showers have a lot of health benefits. Additionally, a cold shower can positively impact the rest of your day. So rather than thinking about a cold shower as a bad thing, you can mentally prepare for it and believe that it is a good thing.
A cold shower will wake you up better
A hot shower will probably make you feel sleepier in the morning, and that is because a hot shower will relax your body and make you feel as if you are still in bed. In contrast, a cold shower will make you feel more awake because of the shock in your body due to the sudden drop in temperature.
Also, a significant benefit of cold showers is the increase in respiration (the amount of oxygen your body brings in). The increase of oxygen in your body will make you feel awake and more energetic.
The increase in respiration happens because while your body experiences the shock in the temperature drop, your body goes into vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction causes your blood vessels to shrink. This change in your body will better oxygenate your blood and tissues, which can also improve your blood circulation over time.
A cold shower is good for your skin
A hot shower feels nice, but it is not great for our skin. Because of hot showers, your skin can often get dry. Also, you can lose healthy natural oils from your skin because of it. With cold showers, this happens much less. Also, cold water is good for your pores and your hair. Cold water can increase your hair’s grip resulting in stronger and healthier hair.
A cold shower is great for muscle recovery
If you are into sports, you probably know about athletes taking ice baths after their training or using ice packs to reduce the soreness in their muscles.
After we exercise, we often experience soreness in our muscles which usually comes the day after. A cold shower after exercising is similar to an ice bath. A cold shower can prevent soreness in your muscles and help your muscles recover at a much faster rate.
As you now know all the benefits of taking cold showers, let’s see what you can do to minimize the discomfort.
Read this article on our website to see how much gas will cost on your road trip!
The first thing we recommend is making your towel nice and warm, so it is ready when you step out of the shower. You can do that by placing it on a heated radiator or using a hairdryer. If you use a hairdryer, set it up, make sure that you do it without causing any fire hazards, and ensure that the towel will be warm when you are done.
When your towel is ready, put the shower on the highest pressure so that you can wash your body as fast as possible. Then, step into the shower, put your head under the water to get your hair wet, then apply shampoo, and quickly step out from under the shower. Wash your hair with the shampoo, and then put your head back under the water to wash it clear of the shampoo.
Once you are done with your hair, apply your body wash and step back into the shower. Wash your body quickly, starting with your back and then your front. Once you are done, step outside and grab your warm towel.
Conclusion
Showering on a road trip is not as difficult as you might think. The easiest way to get a nice hot shower is by using the showers in the gym, swimming pools, or truck stops. However, using a portable shower is also an option that many people use.
Are you forced to take a cold shower? Then try to mentally prepare yourself for it by considering all the health benefits. Furthermore, it can be helpful to use a hot towel afterward. This will give you something comfortable to look forward to.
Hopefully, this article was helpful and gave you a better understanding of how to shower on a road trip.
Related Questions
Can I Go to Planet Fitness just to Shower?
Yes, it is allowed to go to Planet Fitness just to shower. After all, you are paying for a membership that includes all the facilities that the gym has to offer.
How Can I Stay Clean Without Showering?
Make sure you wear deodorant every day. Do your shoes start to smell? Provide them with some deodorant as well. Furthermore, wear new clothes every day or hand wash your clothes on a daily basis.
Where Should I Shower if I Live in a Car?
When living in a car or van without shower facilities, it can be a challenge to find yourself a place to shower. Your best option is to take a gym membership and use the showers there. Of course, a portable shower will be an option if you don’t worry about showering outside.
