In the summer of 2022, my husband Jordan and I hit the road with our dog Bartleby, escaping the brutal heat of summer in Texas. Traveling across the country in our self-converted Ford Transit camper van was the adventure of a lifetime. We experienced the beauty of nature and bonded as a family while camping mostly for FREE at National Forests and BLM land.
We left our home in Austin in mid-July and drove west. Our journey began in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, exploring the trees and streams of the Sacramento Mountains, home of Smokey Bear. From there, we continued west, stopping by Cibola National Forest as we headed toward the Grand Canyon. We camped in Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, enjoying the tranquility of the forest that surrounds the tourist frenzy of the Grand Canyon. At the Grand Canyon we were dwarfed by the massive scope of the canyon and in the geological timeline along the rim trail.
As we continued west, less than a week after we left home, our van shuttered to a halt in the Mojave Desert. Fortunately, we had cell service and were able to call a tow truck to bring us to Barstow, California. The heat of the day eased as the sun set, and we watched the stars begin to emerge over the desert dunes before the tow truck arrived to rescue us. That night we slept outside of the repair shop.
The next day, after what turned out to be a minor repair – yay! – we resumed our journey to Los Angeles, where we parked in a friend’s yard. After more than a week in Los Angeles catching up with music and movie friends, we were more than ready to get back into nature.
We stopped by Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada, where we swam in the lake and plucked off very small leeches. We said hello to the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas en route to the mountains of Utah. In Fishlake National Forest we met Pando, a colony of aspen trees with a root system thousands of years old that stretches over 108 acres and is one of the heaviest and oldest living organisms in the world. I love Pando.
From there we traveled into Colorado and spent August exploring Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Uncompahgre, Rio Grande, White River, and Pike National Forests. There is so much to say about these forests, and I will get into the details in future blog posts! Suffice it to say, we loved being enveloped by the beauty and cool temperatures of the Rocky Mountains.
On our way out of Colorado, we stopped by Cache Creek BLM land to try our hand at prospecting for gold. Good thing we enjoy sorting rocks! (that’s all we found)
As we drove east, we stayed at HipCamp sites, paid campgrounds, and friends houses, until we reached Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. We found a gorgeous site along a river, and were only disturbed by a Jehovah’s Witness who somehow found us in the woods. Continuing east en route to visit family in New Bern, North Carolina, we explored Nantahala National Forest. I’d like to spend more time exploring North Carolina’s National Forests in the future.
After staying with family in New Bern, we headed north. Delaware State Forest in Pennsylvania was a great find. The campsites are free and top quality, you just need to request a site a couple of days in advance. In Vermont, we spent a rainy few days in Green Mountain National Forest and one night in a lot across the street from Vermont Distillers. That was the only distillery, brewery, or winery that we stayed at during our travels; it worked out well and I will keep my eyes open for more opportunities like that.
We stayed with friends in Connecticut to attend a wedding – nothing is better than celebrating love! Afterwards, we stopped by Foxwoods Casino, where we camped for free in their RV lot and won enough to buy a nice dinner. That worked out well, thank you Lady Luck!
Now early October, we saw stunning fall foliage through Jefferson and George Washington National Forests in Virginia. I could spend so much more time enjoying these secluded forests! We stayed at Prentice Cooper State Forest in Tennessee and Bienville National Forest in Mississippi, before landing at Prairion Bayou Recreation Area in Louisiana to catch our breath before returning home. Our last stop of the summer trip was at a friend’s farm in north Texas.
Then we made our way back to our home in Austin! The summer was a dream come true, but returning home (and back to work!) had its benefits. I started planning our Summer 2023 trip almost immediately, and long for life on the road. Some day, I’ll crack the code on how to spend more time living camper life!
The freedom of the road and opportunity to be engaged in exploration was an unforgettable experience. I treasure the time we spent enjoying nature, working on art projects, hiking, and relaxing together. There is so much more to say about camper van life – its challenges and benefits – that I look forward to exploring in future blog posts.
Lauren Vunderink 