I left Florida on January 2, 2021 and didn’t return home until early November, 2022. So, yeah, 22 months on the road, where my longest stay anywhere was 14 days (the limit at most state and national parks). So how did things go, spending that much time in almost constant motion?
First, let’s see a map (courtesy of Spot Trace) showing every stop in those 22 months…
I’ll start by saying two cross-country trips in two years got old the second time through the middle of the country. In 2021, I did the Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakotas route, which let me see family in WI and explore new places around the Great Lakes, as well as setting me up for fall in the Utah National Parks. All I can really say about those Utah parks is if you haven’t been, for pete’s sake, GO!!! They were breathtaking, stunning, glorious, and made my heart and eyes so full of beauty that I will never forget.
Challenging Conditions
As with 2020, the first year of the pandemic, both 2021 and 2022 presented challenges. In 2021, COVID closures were still a thing, and many a visitor center or museum was closed and many people (me included). It was a challenge to get my first COVID-19 vaccination but a change in federal administration meant more shots in more pharmacy chains and getting my second one was way easier. And, yes, I get a booster when needed, thanks to pharmacy chains that make shots available without having to go through a doctor’s office or clinic, a boon to vagabonds like me.
By the end of 2021, gas prices had started to skyrocket and I found myself debating whether to go up to the Pacific Northwest or stay lower and drive about 1,000 miles less over the course of wandering my way to Florida by Election Day, 2022. Being in California might have influenced that decision, as it was the first time in my life I’d paid over $5.00/gallon for economy-grade gas anywhere in the US. Yikes.
I didn’t really think about what the weather might be going from New Mexico to New York via Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Indiana. Turns out summer weather in that area isn’t great, and I had to up my weather game as well as my hotel game to keep my cool (literally and figuratively). Chalk one up for learning experiences there. I did get to stay a weekend in Metropolis, though, so that was pretty cool.
Back to the Northeast
I did make it back to the Northeast this fall, for the first time since 2017, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Camping on the shore of Lake Erie, an afternoon cruise out of Burlington, VT; kayaking with a friend near Worcester, MA; a cool tourist weekend in Boston; and a few weeks on the Cape reminded me of why I lived there 12 years and how much it is still one of places where I feel like I’m coming home. Seeing so many friends did even more to lift my spirits, from lobster dinners and diner breakfasts to brewery visits and car shows.
Looking at the Stats
Just for fun, let’s compare 2021 and 2022 by the numbers.
Trailer Miles
- 2021: 9800
- 2022: 8000
Travel maps by year: 2021 map and 2022 map.)
Gas
- 2021: $3600
- 2022: $3300
So 1800 less miles, but only $300 less in gas. Thanks, 2022 gas prices.
Lodging:
- 2021: $11,500
- 2022: $6000, with three hotels stays to escape the heat costing an additional $1000
It’s good to have an emergency fund/savings so that you can do a hotel on short notice.
Surprise Costs
- 2021: $500 for a holiday weekend at a KOA; the local state parks closed and so I had nowhere else to go in stormin’ weather.
- 2022: Hotels to beat the heat, two tires for the Alto after a blowout.
It’s good to have an emergency fund/savings for things like tires and being kicked out of campgrounds.
Closing Thoughts
Would I do 22 straight months again. Maybe. But I’d do it a bit differently. I would think more about the weather along routes at the time of year I was thinking to go, for starters. And I might take a month in the middle to stay in an airbnb or something like that, just to have a break from moving over and over again. Towing my little house behind me is convenient as far as having my own bed and a handy toilet while in transit, but it also means I have to pack everything up every time: dishes, clothes, books, and all the little knick-knacks that I might have set up while I was stopped.
I saw amazing things and caught up with old friends and made some new ones. I remain amazed by how huge and how diverse my country is, not just the landscapes but the people. Talking to cashiers in tiny stores, watching the weather with a fellow camper, getting help to back into a difficult spot — are the moments that I remember as my mind goes back over the last 22 months. From Florida to Minnesota, New Mexico to Massachusetts, it was quite a ride.
Always the journey, never the destination.
Simon Rattle
Thank you so much for your stories. They really have saved us some hassles when making our own decisions. Weather can definitely be a worthy adversary. Wind can be so tricky. Does being home mean that you’re taking a break from full time in the the RV?
I took a month in Gainesville, where I have space with friends. I’ll be in and out of there till February, a more leisurely pace than my usual 🙂
Wow!! <3
Nothing changes your outlook like an extended period of terrible weather. We got burned by that a couple times and by the end, it was the absolute first thing I considered when planning our travels. Live and learn. I also agree that a month or two in an Air BnB once in a while is a good idea. Sometimes, it’s nice to just sit still in one place and not have to worry about tanks or weather or any of it.
You continue to inspire me and everyone else who reads your blog. Keep going and keep sharing!!
Thanks, Laura! I’m just as excited and interested in your Portugal adventures, it’s a reminder to me that there is always somewhere more to explore.
Loved the recap. I admire your ability to just go and not have to depend on anyone else to get where you’re going. Following you on your travels has been a great trip for me too.
Thanks! I try to show the great and not so great sides of full-timing so that people can decide if they want to do something like it, or realize they want to do something else.
Enjoy staying put, Annie, for as long as you can stand it LOL!
Well done. Interesting to see the cost breakdown. You are so right about Utah National Parks. Two of the less popular (Capital Reef NP and Cedar Breaks NM) were my favorites. Stunning geology and none of the crowds that are the norm in Zion and Arches.
… sometimes the destination.
I didn’t get up to Cedar Breaks, but it’s on my list! Hope y’all are enjoying the winter in CO.
The first picture with your truck looks very shiny. How do you keep is so clean. Your second picture of the US: Wow, them’s a lot of dots. Thanks for keeping us updated and be careful in FL.
I have followed you for years since you started on your journey and I am now in my third month living in my small class B van. I’ve learned a lot from you. I did the California coast and then across the country to West Virginia and then down that southeastern seaboard. I recently stayed at Hunting Island like you and loved it. In Saint Augustine now, will cross the statw westward to the panhandle and hit the southern States in an effort to get back to Los Angeles for Christmas I’m still working about 30 to 35 hours a week so my struggle has been finding campground reservations that are longer than one day. I thought I could be more spontaneous and that has gone out the window. I’ve literally had to plan out a month in advance or longer where I’m going to be each day, not what I had originally planned but it’s working and I’m enjoying myself. I agree with you that if I continue this journey after the holidays which I think I am, I need to plan longer periods of time in one location. 2-3 days becomes exhausting just trying to always plan, plan where you’re going to stay, plan what you want to see, how I’m going to get work done. It gets tiring. I wanted to thank you again for sharing your adventures. It really helped me make the decision to put everything in storage and hit the road. I hope someday I can meet you in person.
Jennifer, congratulations on making the leap and getting on the road, that’s fantastic! I didn’t mention the whole “oh, god, not more reservations to make” but I should have, it’s one of the most stressful things, to plan ahead to get sites for holiday weekends, and then fill in the rest. Over the summer, almost every campground was chock full on weekends. So not much spontaneous travel; I usually plan six months out because that’s how long ahead you can make reservations. I’m not the kind of camper that does cracker barrel or walmarts!
One thing you might consider is that New Mexico state parks might be a bit chilly but they have a great camping pass deal if you’re going to spend more than 30 nights camping in their state parks. I got 2 weeks at a couple of parks and 1 week at others and that slowing down was really nice last winter.
The other thing you could look at is campnab, a service that scored me some good reservations in Utah at sold-out campgrounds. They monitor cancellations so you don’t have to, and I thought the service was worth the cost (it has various levels).
Thanks for letting me know my posts have helped you figure some things out and inspired yiou to make your own adventures. Keep exploring!