7 Awesome Benefits To Camper Life In A Park Model

Let’s face it — a lot of us feel overwhelmed by how much stuff we own. And let’s be honest, we’re not too fond of the bills that come with it either. Ever dreamed of ditching the excess and embracing the simplicity of camper living in a tiny house?

Yeah, us too.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through 7 of the best benefits of camper living in a park model tiny home.

What Is Park Model Camper Lifestyle?

First, you may be wondering what park model campers are. Park models are similar to tiny homes in fact, all of the park models that we create would be considered THOWs. Like many tiny homes, our park model tiny homes are built to RVIA standards, though NOAH is another popular one, making some people believe that they fall into the “camper category”. This isn’t entirely false; it’s just that most people wouldn’t view our park models as campers. 

This tiny home camper lifestyle could be something you do for only part of the year, such as in the summer, or in some cases, could be a way of living year-round. Living in a park model camper for only part of the year may be more sustainable for most people, but it will require you to rent or own a second property and all the items that go with it.

You may be wondering if you can live in a park model full-time. To help you figure that out, we have a full list of tiny home park model regulations for every state that we serve with park model homes. Take a look at the table below to find the regulations for the state you would like to learn more about.

7 Reasons to Embrace Camper Life

1. Freedom To Explore

Park models RVs offer you the opportunity to embrace the camper life with luxury. Think of it as getting all the creature comforts of traditional living, but being able to do that anywhere you wish. Now thats what we call freedom! 

Unlike traditional camper life, which allows you to pack up at a moment’s notice, most park models are best suited for longer-term stays. However, moving them around every few years can be a really fun way to see the country while still having a “home base.” But we haven’t told you the best part yet.

One of the biggest requests we get from people is being able to move their park model home on their own. And now you can do just that! 

Check out the Nook Family (in the video above) and The Nook Studio. Each of these models can be moved with a large heavy-duty pickup truck (at least a 3500 dually) and would need to have modifications made to the unit itself to ensure that it is road legal. But now you can truly have camper life in a Zook Cabin park model, no matter where you want to go. 

Even if you don’t plan on moving your park model, this park model tiny home lifestyle encourages you to spend more time outdoors and find adventures in your own backyard.

Want to try before you buy? Check out our rentals page. Here you can stay in nearly any kind of our park models  homes and see which one fits your needs thet best.

2. Affordable Housing Choice

As of May 2025, the median house cost is nearly  $417,000.  That means no frills, just the basics of a modest home. However, park models allow you to enjoy high-end living while enjoying the freedom of camper life and possibly mortgage-free living.

And you thought that was only for the uber wealthy right?

Let us walk you through how this could all work to your favor and create a a debt free living arrangement for you.

At Zook Cabins, our park model homes start at just $63,500 for a Nook Studio Base  (Pricing is subject to change without notice). Prices do increase as you go up from this model, but so do the features and square footage. But for the sake of this example, let’s use this price and model.

Given that the average person has  $3150,000 worth of equity in their home, you could sell your home, purchase a park model home and enjoy owning your park model home totally debt-free and still have a sizeable financial cushion after you purchase the park model. 

So let’s look at the numbers of it

With this kind of financial spread, you could comfortably fund your park model and living site for 18+ years. 

While you may be mortgage debt-free, there will still be bills for basic daily utilities. So keep that in mind as you prepare to create your financial plan for camper living in a park model. 

3. Community And Social Connections

If you are considering camper life as a way of living, the odds are you love being around people, and if you don’t, you may be in for a surprise.

As we continue to adjust to living post-pandemic, one aspect of society seems to have become an important part of life again. Community and social connections.

By choosing to engage in camper living with a park model, you will be surrounded by community at the resorts or campgrounds you decide to stay at. In these communities, you will find people with a common interest in exploration and a minimalist lifestyle.

Here you can really live among people who understand what you desire. So, whether you need help winterizing your park model, knowing where you can park it, or understanding the tiny home delivery process, the people in this community will be happy to share their wealth of knowledge with you!

4. Sustainable Living And Minimalism

Do you know the best way to live with less stuff? Make sure you don’t have room for it. 

Think about it, a park model home can not be more than 400 square feet. This dramatically reduces the amount of stuff that you can have in your home without feeling like you’ve walked into an episode of “Hoarders”. 

While the culture tells us that the next purchase will improve your life, a camper living in a park model will require you to decide what is truly a critical purchase and what you can live without. 

In this way, you can embrace a minimalist lifestyle without feeling like you have lost much to begin with. 

5. Connection To Nature

Camper living, even in a park model, embraces the great outdoors as an integral part of happy camper living. While the motto “Home is where you park it ” is true, it matters even more where you choose to park. 

For that reason, we really recommend that you look at the seasonal temperatures of the area where you are hoping to park your home. If you love the great outdoors on the cooler side, check out Maine and Vermont. However, if you like to get things nice and toasty all year round, check out Texas and Arizona. 
No matter how you choose to connect with nature, we know that a park model, especially ones like the Luna, will help you enjoy camper living all year round in your park model.

When you live in a small living space like a park model camper, the outside world becomes your living room. While this may seem like an inconvenience at times, especially when the weather turns bad, the benefits outweigh the negatives. You’ll find new ways to enjoy the world and may realize you’re happier because of it. In fact, it’s a proven fact that being outdoors contributes to your mental well-being.

6. Flexible Lifestyle Options

We all love options. Whether it’s because you want almond milk instead of cow’s milk in your latte, or want a different siding for your park model, we like having a say. Well, park model camper living gives you the ability to enjoy a flexible lifestyle and address the goals that you have in your life. 

Picture this, for years you lived in an RV Resort with your park model enjoying the camper life. But now, you’re getting tired of the same old same old and are looking for a new sense of adventure. Instead of needing to sell your home, you can simply call the community that you are interested in moving to and see if they have any openings. 

Simply set up transport, and your park model can be moved to your new location, allowing you to embark on a new chapter of life. 

When you’re ready to move again, you can rinse, wash, and repeat the process. Finally, you can call yourself a happy camper.

7. Relaxed Living

We all know that one person who got rid of it all and started living an unconventional life. Who knew that living in a van down by the river would have such a different connotation these days?  

But the truth is that campers living in a park model or van can offer you a new level of the relaxed life that you want. 

With this kind of living comes less responsibility for grounds maintenance, less housekeeping, less money for bills, and, most importantly, less financial responsibility. So instead of trading your time for dollars, you can start trading your time for the memories and relaxation that you always wanted.

Is the Park Model Camper Life Right For You?

Let’s be honest, as much as forgoing all of the things that life has to offer by living the park model camper lifestyle, it is not for everyone. 

Life is complex, and there are no quick shortcuts to happiness. Embracing a more minimalist lifestyle, like the park model camper life, is often harder than it seems.

Here are the 3 top questions we tell people to consider before taking the leap into this lifestyle. 

3 Questions to ask before full-time camper life

1. Can I Live With Less? 

Before you go and donate everything and totally Marie Kondo your house to move into your park model camper lifestyle, we recommend practicing. Here’s what we mean by that:

Measure the rooms in your house and see how much space you are actually using. How big is your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room? If it is more than 400 square feet, it may be time to practice living in a ‘smaller footprint” in your own home. 

Limit yourself to only using 400 square feet and see how easy, or difficult, it is to live in a space that size. If its no problem at all, park model living will be a breeze for you.

After trying it for a few days, you may find that 400 sqft is just the right amount, or maybe it’s way too small. The important thing is that you tried it out and figured it out before committing to it 100% and ending up living a life that you hate. 

Now, if you’re someone who is renting a co-living space, you may already have less space than a park model. Typically, people who have lived in small or shared spaces like this are happy for the extra space and privacy provided by a park model. 

2. How Will This Affect My Family?

Living in a tiny home can be an excellent thing for the right family and a nightmare for the wrong family. If you are young and embarking on a new life either solo or with your significant other, camper living in a park model can be a great way to get started.

These spaces are also great for people who are recently single or retired.

Additionally, park models are very popular for RV resorts if you are looking for a vacation home on a budget. 

On the other hand, if you have a large family, you may feel overwhelmed by the fact that your home is only 400 square feet. 

Traditionally, it is recommended that you have about 600 square feet per person. But if you are already considering park model camper living, you are probably prepared for what others would call a lack of space. 

3. Is This Lifestyle Sustainable?

Some people want to live forever in a park model tiny home and truly embrace camper life, and we applaud them. However, you really need to consider, “How long can I live this way ?” 

If your goal is to do this for a few years and then sell it or turn it into an Airbnb, you will probably have no issues with this lifestyle. 

However, if your goal is to do this forever, you may want to consider how you will do this from not just a practicality standpoint but also a logistical one, as not all RV parks allow year-round living. 

Wrapping It Up… 

The park model camper life isn’t for everyone. It can be hard to let go of possessions and your lifestyle, and sometimes it simply isn’t practical. However, embracing a more relaxed lifestyle focused on the things that truly matter is something we could all do better at. In fact, we have developed a design and decor idea list for park models so that you can maximize your new minimalistic life.

If you’re ready to take the plunge into park model camper living, even if it’s only for part of the year, we’d love to hear from you. At Zook Cabins, we offer a range of park models, from real wood models to modern styles. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!