Category Road Trip Adventures

We have zig-zagged across the country and, boy-oh-boy, do we have some gems to share! Browse campsites, off-road trails, scenic outlooks, oddities, museums, hiking trails, and more.

Yosemite Valley

Braving traffic to see Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Most pictures that you see of Yosemite are of and from the Yosemite Valley. This haven in the Sierra Mountains is flanked by El Capitan, Half Dome, and numerous other dramatic monoliths. It's no surprise that everyone wants to come here. But I do mean EVERYONE. Even in the fall, as we were, driving through Yosemite Valley is one extended traffic jam. Finding a parking spot is borderline Sisyphean. When we finally found a parking lot with space, we either walked or rode the bus. It's a beautiful place but the crowds are overwhelming.

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20 Road Trips For 2020

The vastness of the United States frontier has made road trips a classic piece of Americana. It is the ultimate way to the explore the states. But that said, there are so many routes to take. In celebration of a new decade and the 50th birthday of our Avion, we are sharing 20 road trips—from half day excursions to multi-day epic quests—that you should add to your bucket list.

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2019 Report

Aluminum Avion C11 truck camper driving down Shafer Road through Canyonlands National Park.

2019 closes our fifth year of wandering and third year traveling in our Avion truck camper. In the course of exploring California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky we have wracked up over 14 thousand miles on our truck, and so many new discoveries. We took on our biggest overlanding trip to date on the Rimrocker Trail, learned about the perils of low octane fuel, completely derailed our summer travels due to altitude sickness, and became a little more cautious of unattended dogs after Chris's rabies scare.  It's been another year of amazing experiences and, while it's hard to pick highlights form a year so full of new discoveries, there are a few particular gems.

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Sunrise Hiking

A sunrise hike of Bryce Canyon National Park from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point along the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails.

It's 5am and I lie in bed contemplating sleep. It would be so nice, but it seems to be avoiding me. To my right, Chris stirs.⁠ "Can't sleep?"⁠ Part of it is the sleeping. ⁠Part of it is the opportunity.⁠ We are parked right outside of Bryce National Park. The sun will be coming up in an hour or so. We have time to get there to see the sunrise. But it means facing the below freezing temperatures outside of our cozy bed. Even so, this very well may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.⁠ We are both tired, but even Chris doesn't grumble as we layer on ski pants, heavy coats, and dash for the truck cab. ⁠

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Lone Rock Campground

Beach camping along Lake Powel for off-road vehicles at Lone Rock Campground in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area just north of Page, Arizona.

Lone rock campground on Lake Powell is listed as a primitive campground. But primitive campgrounds don’t have running water in my book. Lone Rock does. Granted, even primitive campgrounds tend to have fire rings and solid, if unpaved, roads. Lone Rock does not. That is because Lone Rock is a beach campground and anyone that wants a scenic, lakeside site has to contend with loose sand.

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How To Drive On Sand

Airing down the tires of a truck camper when driving on the sand.

We are not the types to seek out sandy trails when off-roading. Yet, there are vistas, campsites, and other gems only reachable through a patch troublesome sand. So, in the course of our wanderings, we have had our share of sandy situations and have learned a few tips and tricks when driving on sand.

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