What is your biggest dream? I’ve always been an outdoor adventurer, and after a year studying and working indoors, I decided to pursue a lifelong dream. I would take a road trip across the United States and Canada.
I had declared 2023 as the year for making bold decisions, and it was time to make my dream of travel come true. I was inspired by what philosopher Jim Rohn once said:
“Opportunity surrounds us all, appearing and disappearing just as fast,
leaving behind fond memories to those who respond to its appearance,
or regret to those who were then too busy to bother.”
His words motivated me to plan a trip across the country. I began drafting the longest solo cross-country road trip of my life. I wanted to visit as many national parks as possible and go hiking with no specific return date in mind. This is my story and a journey of discovery about myself and America, things that surprised me, frightened me, and refocused my life. I ended up driving 10,800 miles/ 17,380 kilometers in total.
Have you ever taken a long road trip alone?
In August of 2023, I packed up my Toyota 4Runner and set off on a solo cross-country trip through 22 states and Canada. I was a 33-year-old -Black African woman traveling U.S. and Canadian highways and mainly sleeping in the back of my car in national or state parks.
As Jim Rohn said, “Seize the infrequent opportunity to do nothing for a change, or something for a change.” I chose to do something for a change and learned some key lessons you might appreciate. Traveling solo taught me the importance of resilience, independence, self-confidence, meticulous planning, attention to detail, and adaptability. It demanded a keen awareness of my surroundings and living with uncertainty. The trip was challenging and incredibly rewarding. I explored new places, met new people, and broadened my horizons. You, too, can embrace opportunities that come your way for personal and professional growth.
First, I Had to Plan and Anticipate
I knew I had to carefully chart a course to unfamiliar and unseen destinations. Early on, I began to have doubts. I wondered if my plan of a cross-country trip was unrealistic and almost impossible to achieve. I didn’t know anyone who had done it before. But I felt ambitious and audacious, and I persisted. To plan my exact itinerary, I relied on several maps from REI and visited one of my favorite State Parks in Washington State: Discovery Park. There, I spent several hours drafting my route under a tree I named after Nobel Prize winner and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai.
One challenge was planning for the weather as I drove through different states from summer to fall season. What clothes should I bring, what would I eat, where would I sleep, and how long might I stay at each location? I knew some things might not go as planned, and I might forget some details. But I’ve always relied on my intuition and problem-solving skills. Because I informed my immediate family and two friends of my grand dream and shared my itinerary and locations, I never felt alone during the entire 52-day on the road. I had individuals to check in with who provided emotional support, companionship, and a sense of security.
Dreams Take Courage and Flexibility
A friend recently shared a mathematical equation for a cross-country road adventure:
Dream + Courage + Planning + Preparation = Success
I believe the dream of taking a long journey away from home requires a great deal of courage, plus unwavering self-belief and flexibility. Life is ever-evolving. It’s a journey that demands adaptability and a readiness to embrace disappointments. For example, I had planned to drive north from Seattle, but due to the smoke of summer wildfires and road closures in Canada, I had to change plans and head south through Oregon and California. I quickly realized the importance of adaptability and flexibility in the face of uncertainties.
Advice: To build your confidence before embarking on a long road trip, take short trips closer to home, perhaps to a national park. Practice pacing and, if hiking, estimate how long a trail might take based on elevation and weather conditions. You’ll develop confidence that you will be better prepared to handle challenges during a long journey.
Preparation
What did I prepare? Of course, I wanted my road trip to be safe and successful. Preparation requires anticipation of needs. I asked key questions. How much cash should I carry? What foods to pack? What clothes? What personal items, like a toothbrush, tissues, towels, cell phone, batteries, flashlight, and umbrella? I wondered where I would find showers and stay clean. The foods I bought at the beginning of my trip included watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, hard-boiled eggs, and dried food packets. I stored many items in a cooler that I kept cold with bags of ice bought at gas stations.
Because I planned to go on hikes, I brought my Osprey hiking backpack and Daylite waistline pack for easy accessibility and comfort. In these packs, I kept all my hiking essentials, such as my first aid kit, water, food, extra layers of clothing, pocketknife, sun protection, headlamp, map, and compass. If you’re looking for a hiking backpack, one of my favorite packs is Osprey’s Women’s Mira 32 Hydration Pack. Its large capacity holds all your hiking needs, including extra clothing you might need should the weather change. You can also check out my Backpacking Essentials: Hiking Gear Checklist which I have used on past camping adventures here.
Advice: To manage your laundry and personal hygiene. Laundry was easy to do at
campgrounds and at hotels where I stayed. I found most campground laundry facilities
to be quite clean. I used the handy bathing wipes to keep myself clean during my trip.
However, after a couple of days, I would feel the need for a proper shower. I often booked
a hotel for a shower and a bed, a welcome break from sleeping in the back of my Toyota.
Risks, Safety, and Security
Safety is always a concern on a road trip. You can’t plan for every possibility or danger, but you can take smart measures. I learned the hard way. While visiting Big Sur in California, I went hiking in the wilderness. In my excitement, I forgot my Osprey hiking backpack with its hiking gear essentials. Also, I wasn’t wearing the best shoes for hiking, which I discovered when I came face-to-face with a rattlesnake, and I was wearing sandals. You’ve never seen me turn and run faster, and I escaped without getting bitten. Why was I wearing sandals? Silly, I know. This experience taught me to beware of a false sense of security and this lesson: Don’t take chances and be prepared.
Advice: Cell phone reception is extremely limited in the Big Sur area. That’s why I
always rely on three other options. A paper map. Google map directions printed out. Or a
screenshot of a map in case you lose cell phone service.
The People You Meet Along the Journey
A challenge on any road trip is not the places you go, but the people you encounter. I had many pleasant meetings with strangers. In fact, I met more good people along the way than not-so-good ones. I have concluded that a successful trip requires two types of compasses: a physical compass for direction and a moral compass for judging and reacting to situations. Your inner habits and intuition provide direction and have the potential to keep you safe or put you in regrettable situations. You must quickly assess each person you meet and their possible motives. Two of my most positive encounters are worth sharing.
First. My car was getting grimy, so I stopped at a self-serve car wash to clean it. An attendant checked on me a couple of times to see if I needed any help. I was grateful for his attention. As he finished his shift, he told me he was about to go home. I guess he saw the concerned look on my face when he told me he was leaving and there would be no attendant on duty. It was a little after sunset. But, to make sure I felt safe, he asked a fellow customer to keep an eye out for me. He must have changed his mind because he stayed chitchatting with the customer until I was done. His act of kindness was generous and refreshing. It reminded me that good people still exist despite the negative news stories we often hear.
Second. Another happy incident happened near White Sands National Park in New Mexico. I attended one of their guided sunset tours. One of the couples on the tour saw me arrive and said hello. After the tour, as I was driving to my campsite, the couple recognized my car as I drove past their campsite. They stopped to chat, reintroduced themselves, and kindly offered help if I needed anything during the night. They were strangers, yet their kindness and genuine concern about me as I was traveling solo was reassuring. We shared a cup of tea/coffee and fruit in the morning.
I met some friendly and helpful people, but . . . as I traveled through cities and states, not everyone made me feel comfortable or welcome. I had to remember that every person we meet is a mystery, and not everyone has honest or good intentions. More than once, my instincts came to the rescue and saved me from possible danger. For example. I pulled into a gas station on the border of New Mexico and Texas and got out of my car to get some fruit from my cooler to eat on the drive and to get gas. A man pulled up next to me, and I immediately sensed something was not right. It was 10 in the morning, and I was the only person at the gas station.
The man began talking to me before he even got out of his car, commenting on the fruit I was taking out. As he talked, he began reaching for something underneath his driver’s seat. A sudden, strong, negative feeling struck me. Instinctively, I said to myself, “Don’t panic, get back in the car, lock the car, avoid eye contact, start the car, and drive off; worry about the seat belt later.” And that’s exactly what I did. As I was driving off fast, I could see the man in my peripheral vision and hear him screaming, “Can I ask you a question?” I watched the back of my car using the side mirrors and saw the man drive off a few seconds after I fled the scene. He didn’t even pump gas.
This could have been a possible robbery, a carjacking, or something worse. Thankfully, over time, I’ve learned to react wisely and stay calm enough to survive stressful situations. Our past experiences truly shape how we perceive and respond to situations, allowing us to interpret what we see. I’m grateful that the knowledge I’ve gained over the years helped me to think on my feet, anticipate what was about to happen, and use my wisdom to quickly plan and act to ensure my safety.
If you plan to go on a cross-country road trip or any trip, you’ll need to rely on your instincts. It is important to be able to assess and judge situations and act fast, especially in unfamiliar territory. Your brain and intuition will pick up clues and try to make sense of what you’re seeing, feeling, and sometimes even smelling. By the end of the trip, you will likely become more aware of your surroundings, able to detect danger and interpret clues and threats. However, it is important not to let fear distract you from enjoying the journey. Remember that tomorrow is built on today, and sometimes, you have to take risks to truly experience life.
A Mind Trip
It all started with a dream. Even before embarking on my journey, I had already envisioned myself at the end of it. And although I didn’t know all the answers regarding my trip, I chose to remain open and willing to take calculated risks. By the end of my journey, I came to realize that success is a state of mind. While a map and compass are necessary for basic route finding, managing your own mind is the key to unlocking a truly unique and fulfilling experience. It’s important to dare to dream. Then, act to fulfill that dream and become what you are capable of becoming, always realizing there’s no guarantee that everything will go according to plan. The renowned global life coach Benjamin Zulu once said, “Belief is the seed of all greatness.”
I encourage you to do the same, to step into your journey toward success. So often, we sell ourselves short by not tapping into our many talents and potentials. We tell ourselves, “I can’t do this or take this trip.” Of course, no amount of reading about a destination will ever make us feel fully prepared. And that’s OK. Take a leap of faith and do it; knowledge awaits. We can live in the past, dwelling on yesterday’s mistakes and be discouraged. Or we can be brave and choose to focus on the possibility of good things working out.
Do’s and Don’ts: Be clear on your boundaries and lean in on your instincts. Don’t share your current location on social media. I was sharing my travel highlights on my Instagram when I was a state or two away.
Favorite Places: California, Arizona, Washington-DC, and Alberta, Canada. I felt safe, and there were many activities to do that one could spend a week or two there.
Favorite National Parks: Shenandoah-Virginia, Carlsbad Caverns-New Mexico, Banff, Yoho, and Jasper National Parks in Canada.
I hope that the itinerary I shared of this trip in a previous post will inspire you to plan your next adventure. Keep in mind that your journey will be unique and different from mine. Whatever you dream about and set out to do will reward you with valuable lessons about yourself. Pay attention to the subtle clues that nature provides you. Above all, take time to marvel at the beauty of nature. Remember, it’s not the distance you cover, but the stories you collect and the experiences that shape you.
Finally, always strive to be a representative of humanity and a person who cherishes mother nature.
**Indigenous Land Acknowledgment**
I want to acknowledge that most of the places I visited, National Parks during this trip, are lands where Indigenous people were forcefully removed, resulting in hardship and the loss of their cultural practices. I honor all Indigenous people and hope that one day, what is rightfully theirs will be returned.
Happy travels. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter at Travel with Irine.
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