A 3-month roadtrip across the US as a solo 26 y/o woman
In February 2022, I decided to drive off West for a roadtrip that would change my life. I had very little money but I had freedom. I knew car camping would be the most affordable way to travel, so I started from Montreal, Canada and heading towards Los Angeles to escape the Winter and be able to sleep in my car without a heating system.
I had a 2007 Ford Escape that I got for 500$ from girls that were moving out of the country. I spent 40$ for a used foldable mattress and 30$ for a portable gas stove on Marketplace, maybe 20$ on used curtains at the thriftstore, another 30$ for the curtain rods. I already had a small cooler that could be powered through the cigarette lighter of the car and some basic camping gear (lights, plastic dishes).
I took off and drove through Detroit, Chicago, Iowa and Wyoming. The first few weeks it was too cold to sleep in the car, so I would couchsurf and occasionally rent an Airbnb. I was grateful to meet extraordinary people that I knew I could meet again on my way back north, one day...
I cannot describe to you the feeling when I saw the sign "Welcome to California". I couldn't believe that I had actually driven this far by myself with so little money. I met a lovely older lady who lended me her guesthouse for a couple days while I perfected my very basic car camping setup, and then I headed towards San Francisco where I started my car camping journey!
At first my main challenges were finding cheap food, quiet parking spots and bathrooms, but I quickly learned the ropes on how to find the good parking spots and I set up a system so I could pee comfortably while in my car. Since I had a normal car with tinted windows and indoor black curtains, I was able to park in the middle of busy cities without being spotted. I believe this also caused me to make my own journey and not to take the usual "vanlife" routes, so I only met other car-campers and vanlifers once or twice for the entire 3 months.
It took me a month or so to make it to Los Angeles where I had a friend that would let me use her shower. She kept offering me to sleep in her room, but I always preferred to sleep in my cozy car. I felt good in there and I parked in the shade and slept til 11 every day. I would spend my days hunting for tacos, swimming, walking and hanging out. It helped me gain so much confidence as a young single woman. I felt that I was there for myself, that I loved myself, and I would always be ok. That was one of the most powerful feeling I had ever felt.
To say car camping is easy is a lie. Just like everything, it has pros and cons. The biggest con for me was the stress of having not be spotted as a solo woman when parked in rural areas, and the state of old car which I was always worried it would break and leave me stranded. However, I would meet so many hospitable people that would give me advice, help and food, that I basically never felt lonely or unsafe.
I was reading another thread recently about vagabonding and I stumbled upon this triangle : Freedom, Comfort and Security. Most of the time, you sacrifice one of them to prioritize the two others. Most people sacrifice freedom for comfort and security. Some people like me are addicted to freedom. It is something in me that I feel I must use to its full potential. Car camping allowed me that.
Speaking about it with friends, they suggested to replace Security with Love in the triangle, because Love can also be a powerful force in someone's life. On my trip, I ended up falling in love in Salt Lake City (out of all places lol). I spent about two weeks in his arms, but in the end, Freedom was calling, and I left Salt Lake and headed East. I knew it was soon going to be time to head home to Montreal, and to start building a new life with my newly acquired confidence and inspiration.
Now, I am preparing to leave again for a similar trip, but planning to visit states I never saw such as Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. I got a different car now so I am working on my setup again. See you on the road!
