You probably have a trip like this. A slow one in the fall. No flights, no itinerary. Leaves turning, a coast road, coffee somewhere with a view, and nowhere you have to be afterward. You describe it every September. Then September ends.
The reason is usually the same. It never fits. There is never the free stretch of days, or the right vehicle, or a setup that makes it easy instead of a project. So it becomes next fall. The trip never gets cancelled. It just keeps getting pushed back.
So we designed this fall's giveaway around it. The idea was simple: put every piece of that trip into one prize, so the winner has nothing left to sort out except the route.
Piece oneThe reason to go slow
The headline prize is a restored 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus with a camper conversion, finished in bright orange and white. Four-speed manual. A 1.6L air-cooled flat-four in the back. Inside are diamond-stitched rust-orange cushions, a table, curtains on every window and a place to sleep.
A Bus like this is the vehicle people walk across a campground to ask you about. There is one prize Bus, and one winner gets it.
Piece twoThe reason to stay put
Anyone who has camped in a van knows the problem. Once you park somewhere beautiful, you don't want to move. Breaking camp to go get coffee is the tax on the whole lifestyle.
So the package includes a classic Italian Vespa, custom-painted orange to match the Bus. Park by the lake, take the Vespa into town for pastries, and leave camp exactly where it is.
Piece threeThe reason it actually happens
This is where the postponed trip usually falls apart. You have the van, but not the power, or the signal for the work you can't fully leave, or a way to keep food cold past day two. The travel bundle covers those on purpose:
The package also includes $10,000 cash for the costs that usually become the excuse: gas, campsites, insurance, the week off. The approximate retail value of the full Grand Prize is $100,000.
The drone shot, the coffee on the table, the Vespa run into town. It's all in the box. The only thing missing is you.
The Thanksgiving detail
Entries close Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. The drawing takes place on or about November 18, run by our independent administrator, American Sweepstakes & Promotion Co. We announce the winner on Thursday, November 19, exactly one week before Thanksgiving.
Somewhere this November, a family will pull in for Thanksgiving dinner and walk past an orange VW Bus and a matching Vespa on the way to the door. One person at that table will spend the whole meal answering questions about it.
So what is VanLife?
VanLife is a membership club for people who love the open road: weekend campers, overlanders, and anyone who follows van builds late at night. Members get up to 15% off everything in our shop, cash back on everyday spending, free digital wallpapers, trees planted every month, and automatic entries into giveaways like this one.
Membership starts at $15 per month and renews automatically each month until you cancel. You can cancel anytime from your account. You don't need to join to enter: the free mail-in entry method is in the Official Rules, and each mail-in entry is worth 10 entries.
Fair questions, straight answers
"Do real people win?" Yes. Our past winners are listed by first name and state on our winners page. One recent winner chose a cash alternative instead of the van, and we filmed the check handoff. This giveaway's Official Rules don't include a cash alternative.
"Will I get stuck in a subscription?" No. Membership is month to month with no contract. It renews monthly until you cancel, and you can cancel anytime from your account.
"Is there really a free way to enter?" Yes. Mail a hand-printed 3" x 5" card as described in the Official Rules. Each one is worth 10 entries. Paying does not improve your chances of winning.
"What are the odds?" They depend on how many eligible entries we receive. Most entrants will not win. One will, after verification under the Official Rules.
"What's this about trees?" Every order on VanLife plants trees, and every active membership plants trees each month. We've planted more than 175,000 so far.
The short version
- Restored 1969 VW Bus camper in orange, 4-speed manual, 1.6L air-cooled engine
- Classic Vespa custom-painted to match the Bus
- $5,000 travel bundle: EcoFlow solar power, Starlink Mini, Dometic dual-zone cooler, orange JBL Boombox 4
- $10,000 cash. Total approximate retail value $100,000
- One Grand Prize winner takes the full package
- Membership from $15/month, renews monthly, cancel anytime from your account
- Free mail-in entry available. No purchase necessary.
- Every order plants trees
- Entries close Nov 12, 2026 · winner announced Nov 19, one week before Thanksgiving
Where you go from here
Common questions
Do the Vespa, gear and cash all go to one winner?
Yes. There is one Grand Prize winner, who receives the Bus, the Vespa, the travel bundle and the $10,000 cash. Total approximate retail value is $100,000.
Can the winner take cash instead of the vehicles?
No. The Official Rules for this giveaway don't include a cash alternative, and the prize can't be transferred. The Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value.
Do I have to pay to enter?
No. You can enter free by mail. Each mail-in entry is worth 10 entries. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by November 12, 2026 and received by November 17, 2026. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Full instructions are in the Official Rules.
How does the membership billing work?
Membership starts at $15 per month, is billed monthly, and renews automatically until you cancel. There's no contract. You can cancel anytime from your account.
Who can enter, and when is the drawing?
Legal residents of the United States and Canada who are 18 or older, or the age of majority where they live. Void where prohibited. Entries close November 12, 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, the drawing is on or about November 18, 2026, and we announce the winner on November 19. A Canadian winner must correctly answer a skill-testing question.
Does the winner pay taxes or need a motorcycle license?
The winner is responsible for all taxes, registration and licensing, and for meeting local emissions and safety requirements. The Bus is awarded as is. US winners receive an IRS Form 1099. Depending on the model and where you live, riding the Vespa may require a motorcycle license or endorsement.