5 Reasons I Live Full-Time in a 96 Square Foot Camper
- Matt Zefi
- Jan 25
- 4 min read
I've been living in a tiny camper for the last two to three months. I quit my job in New York City, packed my bags, moved in, drove across the entire country, and right now I'm parked in Grand Teton.
Here are the five real reasons I live in a 96 square foot camper, and what each one actually gets you.
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1. The views
This one's obvious, and it's directly behind me as I write this.
My camper has one massive window. It looks like a green screen back there. Raising the shades in the morning to an incredible sunrise has been the single best part of living in a camper.
The part people underestimate: if the weather turns, or you just get bored of a place, you move. Your view is never fixed.
If you're shopping for a camper, buy windows
This is my main recommendation. Find something with a lot of windows.
It's not that you want to spend all your time inside. It's that more windows make being inside feel like being outside, and they make a small space feel considerably larger. More windows is always better.
I got sold on this whole lifestyle years ago in Florida, on a beach on the Gulf, watching a row of campers parked on the oceanfront. Those people had a million dollar view from inside their own home, and they could drive away whenever they wanted. That image stuck.
2. It forces you to be minimalist
You're living in a smaller space, so you make sacrifices. There are enormous campers and big vans out there, but whatever you pick, you're going to be intentional about what comes in.
I wanted a tiny camper for two reasons. It was the only thing my Jeep could tow, and I wanted the challenge of living smaller.
The practical reality: I can't buy in bulk. Everything has to be small and specific. Family members try to gift me things and I'm always grateful, but almost nothing fits the constraints of this space.
Here's my favorite part of that, though. Everything in here is my favorite version of that thing.
Take shirts. In a normal closet you keep shirts you never wear and haul them around for years anyway. That can't happen here. Every shirt in this camper is one I actually like. And because you own fewer things, you can afford to spend more on each one, so what you do own tends to be higher quality.
3. Freedom, within reason
You can go almost anywhere. Let's not oversell it, though. I'm in Grand Teton right now and there's a mountain pass I absolutely cannot tow this trailer over, and wouldn't want to.
People point out that you can't off-road or tow into certain areas. True, and that's exactly why I bought a tow-behind trailer instead of a van. I drop the camper, take the Jeep, go off-road, and still camp out of the Jeep.
Weather event coming? Pack up and drive away. Don't like today's weather? Drive toward the sun.
4. Being closer to the photography
This one is specific to me, but it'll land if you shoot, or even if you just care about landscapes and wildlife.
I'm a landscape and wildlife photographer. I moved into this camper to be physically closer to those subjects. There are landscapes right outside the window and photo opportunities in every direction.
I've captured some of the best landscape and wildlife footage of my life in the last few weeks, purely because I'm parked where it happens instead of driving hours to reach it.
5. Everything I own is already with me
This one surprised me most, and it might be my favorite.
All of my belongings live in 96 square feet, which means I never pack for a trip. Everything is already with me.
If you're forgetful like I am, you know the feeling of always leaving exactly one thing behind on a camping trip. That's structurally impossible now.
It goes deeper than convenience, though. You have a *home* with you. I can be out in the middle of nowhere, step inside, and be in a cozy home with a kitchen, a refrigerator, a bathroom, and a shower. That's been a game-changer.
Does 96 square feet feel tight?
Honestly, no. After months in here it doesn't feel cramped at all. It's been considerably better than I expected.
FAQ
How small is too small for a camper?
Mine is 96 square feet and I live in it full-time without feeling cramped. Windows and layout matter more than raw square footage.
Why a trailer instead of a van?
So I can drop the camper and take the Jeep off-road, then camp out of the Jeep. A van has to go everywhere with you.
What should I look for when buying a small camper?
Windows. As many as you can get. They make the space feel bigger and make being inside feel like being outside.
Do you have to be a minimalist to live in a camper?
You'll become one. There's no room for anything you don't actually use, which turns out to be a feature.
Can you work from a tiny camper?
Yes, though focus is the real challenge when you're parked somewhere beautiful.
Final thoughts
Views you can change, a home that travels with you, and a closet with nothing in it you don't love.
Would you consider living in a camper, trailer, or van? Or is it something you'd never do? I'm curious about the why either way. Let me know in the comments.
I'll see you out there on the road.
Related:
Gear in this video
Everything I actually use out here, from this video’s description. These are affiliate links, so buying through them supports the channel at no extra cost to you.
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