Ever wondered how to make money with walking videos?
Imagine getting paid just for taking a walk – whether through a busy city, a peaceful park, or along a scenic coastal path.
It might sound too good to be true, but thousands of YouTubers are already making money by simply recording their walks and uploading them online.
Walking videos have become incredibly popular on YouTube, especially in the travel, ASMR, and relaxation niches.
Viewers love watching these videos to explore new places, de-stress, or even use them as background visuals while they work or study. And where there’s an audience, there’s money to be made!
The best part? You don’t need fancy camera gear or editing skills to start.
With just a smartphone, a steady hand (or a gimbal), and a simple filming approach, you can create high-quality walking videos that attract thousands of views.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to make money with walking videos on YouTube, from filming techniques to monetization strategies.
Ready to turn your daily stroll into a passive income stream? Let’s dive in!
Why walking videos are a great way to make money on YouTube
Walking videos might seem simple, but they have huge earning potential on YouTube.
Millions of people watch them daily for relaxation, virtual travel, or just to have a peaceful background while they work or study.
Think about it – some people want to explore a new city before visiting, while others enjoy the calming effect of a slow-paced walk through nature.
There’s even a growing audience that uses walking videos for ASMR, mindfulness, and sleep aid.
Unlike vlogging, you don’t need to be on camera or talk if you don’t want to. Your video is all about the experience – the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the location.
That means anyone, anywhere, can start creating these videos without worrying about being a “YouTuber personality.”
Another perk of these kinds of videos is that they tend to have a high watch time, which is a BIG factor in YouTube’s algorithm. The longer people watch, the better YouTube promotes your videos, helping you grow faster and make more money.
If you enjoy walking, filming, or just want a low-effort way to make money online, this could be your perfect side hustle.
Next, let’s go over what you need to get started!
What you need to get started
Getting started with walking videos is easier than you think.
Don’t overthink it!
You don’t need expensive gear or professional editing skills – just a few essentials to ensure smooth, high-quality footage.
1. A camera or smartphone
A good camera makes a difference, but you don’t need a fancy setup.
Many YouTubers record walking videos with just their smartphone (iPhone or Android) in 4K or 1080p.
If you want better quality, action cameras like the GoPro Hero or DJI Pocket are great lightweight options.
2. A stabilizer or gimbal
Shaky footage can ruin a walking video.
A gimbal (like the DJI Osmo Mobile) helps keep your shots steady, making your videos look smooth and professional.
If you don’t have one, try holding your phone with both hands and walking gently to minimize movement.
3. A microphone (optional)
If you plan to include natural sounds like footsteps, birds, or city noise, consider a small external microphone.
Otherwise, you can add background music later.
4. A simple video editor
You don’t need fancy editing. Free tools like DaVinci Resolve, iMovie, or CapCut are enough to trim clips, adjust brightness, and add music.
That’s it! With just these basics, you’re ready to start recording.
Next, let’s talk about how to make your walking videos engaging!
How to make engaging walking videos
Recording a walk might sound easy, but not all walking videos are equal.
The best ones keep viewers hooked with smooth motion, interesting locations, and immersive sounds. Here’s how to make yours stand out.
1. Pick the right location
The setting is everything.
Choose places that are visually appealing, unique, or relaxing.
Great options include:
- Bustling city streets – New York, Tokyo, Paris, or any place with vibrant life.
- Scenic nature trails – Forests, beaches, lakes, or mountain paths.
- Night walks – City lights and neon signs create a stunning vibe.
- Historical sites – Castles, temples, old towns, or ruins attract history lovers.
2. Keep your camera movement smooth
A shaky video is distracting.
Walk at a steady pace, keep your hands relaxed, and use a gimbal if possible.
Avoid sudden turns or looking around too much – slow and steady movements feel more immersive.
3. Capture natural sounds or use relaxing music
Audio makes a HUGE difference.
Some viewers love raw ambient sounds like footsteps, birds, waves, or distant chatter.
Others prefer soft background music.
Experiment with both styles and see what your audience enjoys.
4. Pay attention to lighting
The best times to film are early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight is soft.
Midday sun can be too harsh, and low-light conditions at night might need a camera with good night mode.
5. Keep your videos long (but interesting!)
YouTube favors long watch times, so aim for 20-60 minutes per video.
Take smooth, uninterrupted shots and avoid too many cuts. A natural, flowing walk feels more immersive to viewers.
Once you have a great video, the next step is monetization – let’s dive into how you can actually make money from walking videos!
How to make money with walking videos
Now that you know how to create great walking videos, let’s talk about the fun part – making money. There are multiple ways to monetize your content, and the best strategy is to combine several income streams for maximum earnings.
1. YouTube ad revenue (Google AdSense)
The most common way to earn is through YouTube’s Partner Program, which allows you to make money from ads. To qualify, you need:
✅ 1,000 subscribers
✅ 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views
Once you’re eligible, YouTube will start placing ads on your videos, and you’ll get a cut of the revenue.
Longer videos (20-60 minutes) perform better because they allow for multiple ad breaks, increasing earnings.
2. Affiliate marketing
You can recommend products in your video descriptions and earn a commission when viewers buy them. Popular affiliate programs include:
- Amazon Associates (link to cameras, gimbals, and walking shoes)
- Booking.com or Airbnb (if your walks are in touristy areas)
- Stock footage sites (more on this later!)
3. Sponsorships & brand deals
As your channel grows, companies might pay you to feature their product or location in your videos.
Travel brands, gear companies, and tourism boards love collaborating with walking channels.
Even a small channel can land deals with local businesses!
4. YouTube memberships & Patreon
If your audience enjoys your videos, they may pay for exclusive content.
Offer perks like behind-the-scenes footage, private walking tours, or ad-free videos through YouTube Memberships or Patreon.
5. Selling stock footage
Walking videos are perfect for stock footage platforms like Shutterstock, Pond5, or Adobe Stock.
Uploading clips from your walks can generate passive income, as businesses and creators pay to use them in their projects.
By combining YouTube ads, affiliate links, sponsorships, memberships, and stock footage, you can turn simple walking videos into a profitable side hustle or even a full-time income.
Next, let’s look at how to grow your YouTube channel faster and get more views!
How to grow your YouTube channel with walking videos
Creating great walking videos is just one part of the equation – getting people to watch them is the other.
YouTube is a search engine, so you need to optimize your videos to get discovered. Here’s how to grow your channel faster and attract more viewers.
1. Use the right keywords in your titles
People search for specific types of walking videos, so your titles should include long-tail keywords like:
✅ “4K Walking Tour in Paris – Relaxing City Walk”
✅ “Night Walk in Tokyo – ASMR Walking Video”
✅ “Nature Walk in Switzerland – Peaceful Mountain Stroll”
These keywords help your video appear in search results and recommendations.
2. Create eye-catching thumbnails
A high-quality thumbnail (the video preview image) is what gets people to click. Use bright, high-resolution images from your walk, and avoid text clutter.
Make it look inviting and professional.
3. Upload longer videos for better watch time
YouTube favors videos that keep people watching, so aim for at least 20-60 minutes per video.
The longer people stay on your channel, the more YouTube promotes your content.
4. Organize your videos into playlists
Group similar videos together – such as “Best Walking Tours in Europe” or “Relaxing Nature Walks”.
Playlists encourage binge-watching, which boosts your overall views and revenue.
5. Post consistently
Consistency is KEY.
Try to upload at least one video per week to keep your audience engaged and help YouTube recognize your channel as active.
6. Engage with your viewers
Reply to comments, ask viewers where they’d like you to walk next, and create polls.
Engaging with your audience boosts your channel’s visibility and encourages more people to subscribe.
7. Collaborate with other YouTubers
Partnering with other walking video creators, travel vloggers, or ASMR YouTubers can introduce your content to a wider audience.
A simple shoutout or collab video can bring in hundreds of new subscribers.
By following these growth strategies, you’ll start seeing more views, higher engagement, and better monetization opportunities.
But before you go all in, let’s go over some common mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste time or effort!
Biggest mistakes to avoid when making walking videos
Even though walking videos are simple to create, there are some common mistakes that can hurt your growth and earnings.
Avoid these pitfalls to save time and make your content more professional.
1. Shaky footage
No one wants to watch a wobbly, unstable video.
If your footage is too shaky, viewers will click away. Use a gimbal or stabilizer, or at the very least, walk smoothly and hold your camera steady.
2. Ignoring SEO and bad video titles
A title like “My Walk in the City” tells YouTube nothing about your content. Instead, use descriptive, keyword-rich titles like:
✅ “4K Walking Tour in New York – Times Square Night Walk”
✅ “Peaceful Forest Walk with Relaxing Nature Sounds”
This helps people find your videos through search and recommendations.
3. Poor audio quality
If your video has distracting wind noise, traffic sounds, or muffled audio, viewers won’t stick around.
Either use a microphone to capture natural sounds or add soothing background music in post-production.
4. Filming in bad lighting
Filming at midday with harsh lighting or at night without proper exposure can ruin your footage.
The best times to record are early morning or late afternoon when the light is softer.
5. Being inconsistent with uploads
Uploading one video and disappearing for months won’t grow your channel.
Aim for a consistent schedule – even one video per week is enough to build momentum.
6. Not engaging with your audience
Viewers love to interact! If you never respond to comments or ask for feedback, you miss out on building a loyal audience.
A simple “Where should I walk next?” in your description or comment section can spark engagement.
7. Not optimizing for monetization
Many beginners only rely on YouTube ads, but there are so many ways to make more money.
Add affiliate links, sponsorships, and stock footage sales to maximize your income.
By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll produce higher-quality videos, grow faster, and earn more from your channel.
Now, let’s wrap things up with some final thoughts and action steps to get you started today!
BONUS SECTION: YouTubers making thousands per month with walking videos
Everyone loves a good success story!
Happy you made it so long into the article or even if you skipped to this bit – happy to have you here regardless!
Don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for these ‘I MADE IT’ type of stories and I find them really motivating.
They keep me going when the grind gets too much as you can see what’s possible with just some patience and good ol’ consistency.
If you’re wondering whether walking videos can actually make money, take inspiration from these successful YouTube channels. These creators have built profitable channels by simply recording their walks and uploading them consistently.
1. Watched Walker
✅ Subscribers: 300K+
✅ Niche: City walking tours (London & other cities)
✅ Estimated Monthly Earnings: $5,000 – $10,000 (AdSense alone)
Watched Walker creates high-quality city walking tours, focusing on popular destinations like London. With long videos (30-90 mins), they benefit from high watch time and ad revenue.
2. ActionKid
✅ Subscribers: 500K+
✅ Niche: City walks, public transport tours (New York, Miami, etc.)
✅ Estimated Monthly Earnings: $10,000 – $20,000
ActionKid started by filming everyday walks around New York and expanded to other locations. He monetizes through YouTube ads, super chats, sponsorships, and Patreon memberships.
3. Nomadic Ambience
✅ Subscribers: 1M+
✅ Niche: ASMR walking videos, nature & urban walks
✅ Estimated Monthly Earnings: $15,000 – $30,000
This channel focuses on relaxing ASMR walking videos with natural sounds. Many viewers use them for background ambiance, increasing retention and revenue.
4. Rambalac
✅ Subscribers: 600K+
✅ Niche: Silent, first-person POV walks in Japan
✅ Estimated Monthly Earnings: $8,000 – $15,000
Rambalac’s silent walking videos in Japan have gained a dedicated fanbase. The channel makes money through ads, memberships, and donations from loyal viewers.
5. 4K Urban Life
✅ Subscribers: 200K+
✅ Niche: Walking tours in various cities (4K quality)
✅ Estimated Monthly Earnings: $3,000 – $8,000
This channel thrives on high-quality 4K videos of urban environments, attracting viewers who want immersive experiences.
What can you learn from them?
- Longer videos = more ad revenue.
- High-quality footage & stabilization matter.
- Uploading consistently leads to growth.
- Multiple monetization streams (ads, sponsorships, Patreon) increase income.
FAQ
No! A smartphone with a good camera is enough. A stabilizer or gimbal helps, but it’s not required.
Ideally 20-60 minutes. Longer videos help increase watch time and ad revenue.
Yes! You can earn through affiliate links, stock footage sales, and sponsorships before qualifying for YouTube ads.
Busy city streets, nature trails, historical sites, and scenic walks are all popular choices.
Use SEO-friendly titles, create eye-catching thumbnails, and upload consistently to attract more viewers.
Yes, but make sure it’s copyright-free to avoid demonetization. Some viewers also prefer natural sounds.
It depends! Some channels grow fast, while others take months. Consistency is key!
Final Thoughts
Making money with walking videos on YouTube is one of the easiest ways to turn a simple activity into a passive income stream.
You don’t need fancy equipment, you don’t need to be on camera, and you don’t even need to talk – just walk, record, and upload.
With the right locations, smooth filming techniques, and a solid monetization strategy, you can grow a YouTube channel that brings in consistent views and earnings.
Whether you want to create relaxing nature walks, city tours, or ASMR walking experiences, there’s a huge audience waiting to watch.
The sooner you start, the sooner you can build an audience and start making money.
Who knows! Walking videos might just become your next profitable side hustle – or even a full-time income.
So, where will you take your first walk?
