shower talk
Out of all the topics people are curious about, showers are maybe one of the most frequent questions I get asked. As someone who has always utilized my showers at home as a ‘safe space’; somewhere I go to when I want to think, when I need to relax, when I need space—a shower on the road is more of a necessity than a sanctuary.
All of my toiletries live in a tote bag (use to be a backpack) to keep things simple, when it’s time to shower, I take my tote bag and a towel with me. Let’s talk about your shower options—
GYMS
When I started traveling alone in 2019, I took probably 85% of my showers at Planet Fitness. For an annual fee of $39 and a monthly fee of around $22, you gain access to any Planet Fitness in the country. Planet Fitness was one of the lowest-cost gyms I could find, and the showers reflected that price. The majority of the time the curtains wouldn’t close all the way, the stalls were only large enough to turn around in, and the cleanliness was questionable. Despite the lack of luxury, Planet Fitness served its purpose. I was able to find a location almost anywhere and didn’t have to search for shower options.
CAMPGROUNDS
You don’t always have to pay for a campground to use their shower. Some campgrounds have showers that you can pay a small fee for ($5) while others have coin-operated showers ($1 for 3 minutes). Just as I use iOverlander to find camping, I also will use it to find showers. There’s a small shower icon that will show you showers in the area or you can click around to different established campsites and check out the amenities offered.
TRUCK STOPS
Okay, I didn’t think this one would be a favorite of mine, but it is. I’m so selective and will only shower at a Love’s. The shower rooms are SPOTLESS, just like their bathrooms. The showers are all in private rooms that you get a unique code to access. The rooms have a toilet, vanity, and shower stall. There are no time limitations, the pressure is strong, and the water is hot. A shower here is honestly the closest experience I’ve had to the ‘shower sanctuary’ feeling I have at home. However, the showers are a bit pricey to be a regular occurrence, costing around $13 a shower.
BUCKETS / PORTABLE SHOWERS / WATER SOURCES
In a pinch, I have a collapsable bucket that I can fill with water. I’ll use a washcloth and some water. That or I’ll take a dunk in a lake. If utilizing one of these options, it’s imperative to be mindful of the bathing products you are using. Sea to Summit has a wilderness wash that is biodegradable and phosphate-free to either use in your bucket or at your portable shower. Never use any products in a waterway (like a lake). These products, even if biodegradable, can affect water chemistry and the wildlife living in that water source. Anytime you are bathing outdoors, the rule of thumb is at least 200ft away from any water source (the further, the better).
FRIENDS / HOTEL / AIRBNB
Lastly, if you have friends in different cities or can afford a hotel here and there, that’s an option as well. I feel so grateful that this has been my most commonly used method of bathing this time around while traveling. I feel deeply fortunate to have made so many connections in many cities where friends have been so generous to open their homes. It’s a wild feeling to know someone from a little bit of everywhere. I’ve been around more friends this go around than ever before and the love has been felt so deeply.