Welcome wanderers
Roam Lab documents our adventures on the road. But along the way, we’ve found a community of outdoor adventurers coming together to share and inspire.
We are two software developers on a perpetual road trip across the USA—finding the joys of the small and the monumental and, occasionally, writing about it. Between our adventures camping, hiking, biking, paddling, and overlanding, we share our process renovating our 1970 Avion C11 truck camper, living on the road, and overcoming literal and metaphorical obstacles.
Join us and feel free to share your own experiences along the way!
Lexi & Chris
Lessons From The Road
We cover a lot of ground in our travels. Almost as much as the metaphorical ground we cover in our writings. We share the research that drove our DIY camper renovation process. Learn about our favorite trails and lessons learned in our overlanding reports. And even get outdoor-approved recipes from our campfire cooking section.
A Perpetual Road Trip
Check our where we have been and click through our map for recommendations organized by state.
Our Vehicles
It’s been a long road to the right rig…
Our beloved vehicles have taken us across the country and back again. They are part of our story, shaping our route and trajectory. Our 1986 Dodge Ram van, Dodgy, and its successor Dodgy II—a 2015 3500 Dodge Ram truck—have each brought specific capabilities and limitations to the table. We’ve dirtied our hands with renovations and augmentations. Other times, we’ve had magnificent plans that have just fallen through. Either way, it all contributes to our story on Roam Lab.
1970 Avion C11
Truck Camper
Camper Conversion
DIY Renovation
Top Recreation Destinations
Our favorite destinations by activity
Boondocking
12 destinations
Boondocking or "free camping" is staying over night in informal campsites such as undeveloped campgrounds, parking lots, or driveways. This can mean drastically different camping styles depending on the individual. We have had our share of secluded nights in the wilderness and noisy truck stops. The common thread through all of these? We didn't pay a cent for the site.
Camping
11 destinations
Hiking
24 destinations
We are dedicated hikers. Trails offer a unique opportunity to engage with a new region's environment. Whenever we have a lull in our travels, we are on the eye for a trail.
Paddling
2 destinations
Rafting, kayaking, canoeing, SUPs, and more—we love paddling lakes and rivers any way we can. While our nomadic lifestyle makes owning a boat impractical, inflatable watercraft have opened up the waterways of America in ways we hadn't even considered. Today, not only can we drive up to marina or some other public launch point, but we can bike, hike, and off-road to remote put in points for some backcountry paddling. Don't just learn about paddling destinations but how to expand your paddling experiences with pack rafting, bike rafting, and other ways to push the limits of water-sports.
Overlanding
13 destinations
Sailing
1 destinations
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