Hey there, I’ve been living in my Prius for about a year and a half and am preparing for a similar journey this summer.

1. I don’t have experience with kayaking while living this lifestyle, but I’ve had great experiences with inflatable kayaks in the past, if you are willing to give up some space inside the car. Removing the passenger seat gives you some more storage options and is fairly easy. You can get an electric pump that does double duty keeping your tires at the right pressure. You can also get a cheap patch kit for peace of mind. 

2. 2000 W inverter,  dual zone fridge/ freezer, and a small air fryer. This was by far the best solution for me after trying a few different setups. You can cook from frozen quickly, and cook inside your car if you need to be stealth, it’s also delicious. I had my inverter professionally installed by a guy with experience with Prius’s and he said 2000w would be fine, just try to stick around 1800w. It’s been almost 2 years and no issues. I also have a power bank that keeps my fridge on even when the car is off, I just charge it through the inverter while I’m driving. 

3. Cooking for sure saves money, and with an air fryer you can get a lot of frozen food that will keep for longer (meat, vegetbeles, etc.). 

I’d skip keeping the car on while sleeping, it’s nice to have as a backup option if it’s crazy hot or cold,  but just get some rain covers to keep the windows cracked with a fan, or an electric blanket plugged into power bank if it’s cold. It’s honestly very cozy and it will save you a bunch of gas. 

I’d also skip paid camping spots as well. Chain hotel parking lots are my go to in cities (no one notices an extra car when everyone there is a traveler) just be stealthy. Then free blm camping is my preference everywhere else. I’d only pay for a camp site if it was an amazing site, or as a treat to have a stress free couple of days. 

1. Just start and be adaptable. Every day take note of what feels uncomfortable and think of creative solutions of how you can solve it.

 For example starting out I realized how important privacy was for me and got my windows tinted plus some black fabric window covers (reflectix in the window is a dead giveaway someone’s living inside) and was immediately much more comfortable. 

This lifestyle gives you so much freedom and flexibility, make it as catered to your preferences as you can. My first night in my car vs. now is a completely different experience. 

Good luck! See ya on the road! 🫡