Road Trips & Van Life
2025 marked the start of my road trip era, beginning with a solo spring journey around the Pacific Northwest in a rented campervan. That first taste of sleeping under stars and ancient red cedars, whipping up coffee in my van’s kitchen each morning and at every scenic roadside pullover, and letting the journey itself be the destination, hooked me in a way that has made road tripping — especially by campervan — my favorite way to explore and adventure.
On this page, you’ll find the traces of each of my road trip adventures, from travelogues from the road to road trip routes you’re more than welcome to try for yourself. Keep checking back as new routes and reflections are added over time.
Road Trip Travelogues
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Southwest Road Trip: My Solo Campervan Adventure from Phoenix to Joshua Tree National Park (Part 1)
Read about the first three days of my solo nine-day road trip through the desert Southwest in a campervan, from Phoenix to Joshua Tree National Park.
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Southwest Road Trip: Joshua Tree, Palm Springs & Historic Route 66 (Part 2)
Picking up in Joshua Tree National Park, my solo campervan adventure through the American Southwest continues in Part 2, where the road stops feeling new and more like a life I want to continue living.
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Southwest Road Trip: Prescott, Grand Canyon, & a Return to Phoenix (Part 3)
From Prescott’s pine forests to the Grand Canyon’s south rim, this final chapter follows the road back to Phoenix and the end of a nine-day journey I’ll never forget.
Road Trip Routes
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8-Day PNW Route
Starting and ending in Seattle, this 8-day route includes rainforest campgrounds, driving on the coastal Highway 101, and touches of tribal land and culture, too.
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9-Day American Southwest Route (Winter-Friendly!)
Coming Soon!
Road Trip-Relevant Partners & Brands I Love
One of the ways I am able to continue populating this blog with useful content is via affiliate links. If you plan to shop any of the brands or sites listed below in the lead-up to your road trip, please consider shopping via the links below. In doing so, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you - thank you!
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Roadsurfer
Roadsurfer is a campervan rental company offering fully equipped vans and RVs for flexible, self-guided road travel. I partnered with them for my Pacific Northwest and American Southwest road trips in 2025, traveling in their Liberty Lodge campervan. If you’re looking for a low-commitment way to try campervan or RV travel for your own road trip, Roadsurfer makes it accessible and straightforward.
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Upside
Upside is a cash-back app for gas stations, making it easy to save while on the road. I rely on it any time I’m driving, but especially when I was road tripping in California, Washington, and Oregon where gas prices were sometimes $5/gallon or more! It’s a simple tool that helps stretch your travel budget — and if you want to get started, my invite code AMBER88489 gives you a little extra when signing up.
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Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is a membership program that lets you spend the night at wineries, farms, and other interesting spots in your campervan. On my road trips, I’ve found it adds a layer of adventure to overnight stops and it’s helped me discover local gems I wouldn’t have found otherwise. You can join to unlock unlimited stays at 5,000+ scenic spots and save 20% with the code NOMAPS20 at checkout.
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RV Overnights
RV Overnights is another membership platform that shows you where you can request overnight stays at unique host locations — from farms and wineries to local attractions — without traditional campsite fees. I used it for the first time on my American Southwest road trip and found it helpful for finding stops and useful resources like propane and dump station info, which made planning overnight breaks easier where there wasn’t a suitable campground en route.
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AllTrails
AllTrails is an app that helps you find hikes and access detailed trail maps, including offline downloads for areas with limited cell service. I use it often on my road trips to confidently explore trails and terrain off the beaten path and outside cell phone signal range (which happens quite often, I’ve found).
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World Nomads
World Nomads is a travel insurance provider designed for adventurous travelers. It’s a smart tool for anyone planning a road trip who wants coverage for accidents, medical emergencies, or unexpected changes along the way. It’s especially handy for travelers who plan outdoor activities, long drives, or any journey that takes you off the beaten path.
