Nationwide — Danielle Danielion, a 26-year-old African American woman from Los Angeles, California, has converted a used school bus into her full-time home after spending around $35,000 on renovations. She wanted to avoid paying rent while living out her dream of traveling and experiencing life on the road.
As a child, she often imagined living a nomadic lifestyle. But by 2021, after finishing college, she was still living with her mother and didn’t want to get stuck paying rent. To chase her dream and save money, she decided to buy a school bus and transform it into a comfortable mobile home, according to People.
She found the right minibus in September 2021 and began a renovation that lasted three and a half years. “I knew that if I were to live in a vehicle, I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible,” she said. She chose a bus instead of a van or RV because it offered more space and allowed her to design it exactly how she wanted.
Danielle looked for a short bus with under 200,000 miles and a straight roof, which made it easier to build and even let her stargaze from the top. By the end of the project, she estimated spending between $25,000 and $35,000, including the cost of the bus itself.
The biggest expense was the solar power setup, which cost around $3,000. The next was spray foam insulation for around $900. Danielle completed around 85% of the work on her own, but hired help for tasks like removing seats and installing the solar panels.
She finished the renovation in March 2025 and has been living comfortably in the bus ever since. Her friends admire her lifestyle, and while her family was unsure at first, they’re now supportive but still a bit concerned about her safety. Danielle currently takes odd jobs and hopes to find remote work so she can continue traveling.
She usually parks at rest stops, Walmart lots, campgrounds, and national parks. Depending on the season, she moves to cooler places to stay comfortable. For Danielle, bus life isn’t glamorous but rewarding.
“Someone who wants to live nomadically or even if they would like to be stationary in a bus, they have to be okay with not having all the luxuries of a traditional home,” she said. “This lifestyle is meant for a person who is comfortable with change and things not always going how you plan.”
Despite the challenges, Danielle says she remains grateful for what she’s built. “I learned everything along the way. Don’t let fear hold you back from living your dreams.”