Building out your van is a blast but actually sleeping it can be terrible on a bad camper van mattress. There are a few ways to go about your van bed. Some folks actually throw in a full size mattress and while it’s probably comfortable, you sacrifice a ton of space.

The next alternative is making your own by cutting a custom piece of memory foam. I had made thick memory foam cushions for my van and they did work out well. Being separate cushions was nice for turning the bed into a couch and using them in different configurations. The downside was the cracks that would spread while sleeping and make lumpy zones. It was still plenty comfortable, but not consistent or perfect.

I still have the memory foam, modular cushion system going but I added another element to my bed setup that has been an absolute game changer.

Enter the River Bed Sleeping Pad

For years, I did multi-day river trips and brought along my thin foam backpacking mattress. It’s not the most comfortable bed but gets me through the night on remote trips. I had friends bring along river pads for beds and wanted to grab one but was put off by the price. Well, I was really just too cheap.

Then I went on a rafting trip with a friend and he had a spare. I spent the most comfortable night of my life on the bed. It was set across uneven river rocks and was still just incredible. After a few months in the van, I was trying to figure a better bed and has a light bulb moment.

Why not throw a river bed in the van. I can sleep comfortably inside, roll it up and out of the way if needed. I can take it on river trips. Pull it outside to sleep under the stars. Throw it over a bad hotel or hostel bed. You get the idea.

There are two brands that I know of and I went with the NRS Riverbed. The Paco Pads are also great. I’ve slept on both and they feel the same. You can find them in singles or even doubles for bigger beds and couples.

Ultimately, I think the river bed is the best camper van mattress option around. It’s versatile, affordable and it requires zero time to build and setup. No sewing, no trouble. Just add a pillow and your sleeping bag and it’s ready to go.

I frequently pull mine out as well to sit and read, nap on the beach and sleep under the stars. I used to have my setup as a convertible couch and it turned out to be an overly complicated process each night. Now I just fold the pad in half for back support and lay it back to sleep.