Two months ago I spontaneously decided to pack up my apartment and move into a campervan. Well, not quite spontaneously. I planned for a trip, just didn’t quite realize when I started that I wouldn’t be coming back. I’d been itching to leave Los Angeles for some time, but hadn’t been able to decide on a destination.
Funny thing. Once I got on the road, I realized I didn’t need to know my destination to get moving.

It’s been nearly two months on the road. I’ve seen natural landscapes beyond my wildest imagination. Towering cliffs that make otherworldly canyons of red, brown, and rusty hues. Teal blue rivers that carve out lush, green oases in Arizona’s deserts. Phallic clay monuments that rise out of the earth like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. Sweeping sandstorms, roaring waterfalls, spring snowstorms, and pouring rains. It’s been a feast for the senses and a respite for the mind. It re-inspired my sense of awe in my home country.

For the first leg of my trip, I had a wonderful companion.… for the second month, I traveled solo. I can’t count how many times I heard, ‘you’re alone? That’s so brave.’ It’s crazy, how pervasive this idea – that women should be afraid of solo travel – is in this country. I mean, male or female, you have to be smart… lock doors. Park so you can leave quickly. Don’t tell strangers you’re by yourself. But I felt a whole lot safer alone in the wilderness than in the middle of the city.

I managed to hit nearly every national park in California, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. From the Grand Canyon to Yosemite, to lesser known gems like Capitol Reef and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

I camped almost entirely on public land – which is free, more remote, and a far better experience than developed campgrounds. Paid campgrounds are often swarming with people, and it seems silly to dish out $15-25 for a picnic table and barbeque pit. In the states, the Bureau of Land Management and National Forest Service allow free dispersed camping in previously disturbed areas. If you’re looking to investigate this option for yourself, this website is a great resource. Or you can do what I started doing at the end – go to the BLM website, pull up the map of your area, and drive down itty bitty roads until you find a killer spot.
Contrary to popular belief, I found it was entirely possible to maintain full time work from the road — I managed to run my nonprofit, plus launch a new business on this trip. You have to be strategic about where you camp, and boy have I come to appreciate public libraries (free, reliable wifi!), but I think I’ve been more productive these past couple weeks than I was before I left. Certainly more creative. : )

If you’re thinking about giving van dwelling a try, I can’t recommend it highly enough. This ranks one of the best travel experiences of my life.  I think it’s time I buy a van of my own…