How To Find Bathrooms & Vanlife Toilet Options
Finding public restrooms is getting a tad more difficult these days with the global pandemilovato. Vanlifers & normal travelers are all having issues finding open & clean bathrooms to fulfill their urgent needs.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with everything from “find-it-nearby” apps to in-rig toilet options.
Public Bathrooms
Every toilet is not considered equal.
We’ve gathered the most popular apps for finding the right bathroom for your urgent needs. There are plenty of apps for this type of information, but these are the top picks!
Bathroom Scout (Google Play)
Offers mapped directions to bathrooms near you & allows users to rate restrooms.
Flush (Google Play) | Flush (Apple)
Shows a list & map to nearby bathrooms & allows users to filter by needs such as “requires key” and more.
SitOrSquat (Google Play) – developed by Charmin
Allows users to review bathrooms and filter for specific needs such as a baby changing table or handicap accessibility.
Toilet Finder (Google Play) | Toilet Finder (Apple)
Shows nearby bathrooms.
Where is Public Toilet (Google Play)
Shows nearby bathrooms.
GoHere (Google Play) | GoHere (Apple) – Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
Can add restrooms & access your personalized washroom access card to show your medical need to use the restroom.
Obviously, these apps don’t have every possible available restroom in the area, but they can be a great place to start if you aren’t sure what to look for. If the apps aren’t your thing, or you don’t have time to worry about it, you can usually count on the below venues to provide relief.
Locations To Consider
- Shopping Center / Mall
- Fast Food
- Book Store: Barnes & Noble Coffeeshop
- Library
- Stores (24 hr): Kroger, Walmart, Meijer, Target, Trader Joes, Costco, Home Depot, Lowes
- Gas station / Truckstop / Rest Area / Tourist Stop
- Parks / Hiking Trails (choose larger locations, recreation centers are a good sign there will be available restrooms)
- Churches
- Port O Potty
- (Please let me know if there are some great spots I should add to this list in the comments!)
Keep in mind that some of these places are for customers only so please try to purchase something from these establishments. Have a list of non-essential items you need and buy one of them when it’s time to go!
PRO TIP: Never wait until it’s an emergency. Try to plan out your bathroom stops as much as possible. Keeping a schedule and going at the same general times throughout the day can be very handy.
As with everything, make sure you leave places cleaner than you found them. When I walk into any bathroom I wipe down the toilet seat, sink, and anything else I touch out of habit. Let an employee know if the restrooms need attention.
Your Own Personal Toilet
I am not impressed by my current personal toilet setup (a bucket with a toilet seat and garbage bags). I’ve used kitty litter in the past and wasn’t impressed with the results. There are far more sustainable ways to have a toilet in your van. I find it easiest to use a public restroom, but there are definitely times where you will WANT a toilet in your home.
There are some great, in-depth articles on the best toilets for travel. I will include them in “More Resources” at the bottom of this post.
Meanwhile, here are some great options for you to consider keeping in your rig for emergencies.
Contained Toilets
Hassock Portable Toilet paired with Reliance Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags
Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet
Female Urination Device
There are many options available these days that make relief easier for some people to contain the mess. Here are a few of our top picks!
Finale
Bathrooms will likely be the least of your worries when it comes to vanlife, so don’t stress about it! Make sure you keep clean with a constant water supply and knowing where to dispose of your waste.
– Safe Travels
More Resources
#vanlife: Where to Go to the Bathroom and Other Van Life Tips and Essentials – Postcard Academy
Vanlife Toilet Options for Campervans – Chasing the Wild Goose
A great article outlining multiple toilet options for your rig.
3 Most Common Camper Van Bathroom Options (with Pros & Cons) – Scott Adamson
Bathroom options for your rig.
Chapter 5: Showers & Toilets – Outbound Living
Toilet & shower options as well as laundry
Best Portable Toilet For Camping And Van Life – Parked in Paradise
Cassette Toilet – What Is it? How Do You Use it? Where Do You Dump It? – Kait Russo
