Mistakes, Lessons Learned, and Pro Tips
Every trip I learn something new, sometimes the hard way. Here are the biggest mess-ups I made on our 2025 trip, so maybe you can skip a few headaches.
The Humidity Trap
On my drive back home, I decided to just throw my pad down and sleep outside in Kansas. Absolutely beautiful campsite, but I didn’t realize how humid it was until I woke up sweating, sticky, and restless, and I ended up driving to a rest area at about 5 AM. Lesson learned: in the central and eastern states, don’t sleep outside in the summer. Just sleep in your car with the engine and AC running at a rest area. Once you hit the Rockies and higher elevations, then you can start sleeping outside again. A general rule for me is that it feels uncomfortable sleeping outside when the dew point is above 60 degrees. If it's 70 or above, absolutely forget it.
Bring Quarters
Laundry is your lifeline on a long trip, and quarters are like gold. I’ve shown up at hotels (even the ones that said they had laundry) only to find the machines were broken or, worse, coin-operated with no change available. Bring $40 in quarters, minimum, and call ahead to confirm hotel laundry is working.
Debit Card Fail
I didn’t bring a debit card, only a credit card. Turns out, some places are cash only. I had to get creative and send myself money via Western Union as a last resort. Always have a debit card and a little cash on hand, just in case.
Forgot to Modify
Twice this year, I forgot to modify my campsite reservations after overbooking to grab prime spots. I lucked out, and the camp hosts called me to ask where I was, but they didn’t have to, and I’m lucky I had cell service. They could have cancelled my reservations, which would have been devastating. These trips have so many moving parts that you cannot expect yourself to remember everything. When there is something you know you will need to do, give your future self a break and set a calendar reminder immediately.
Thermostat and Home Prep
I left my home thermostat set at 73 instead of bumping it up. We cooled our empty house… In Atlanta… During summer… For a month… Make a checklist for things to do at home before you leave: thermostat, trash, mail, etc.
Plane Seats
For my family’s return flight, I failed to reserve their seats in advance. I don’t know what happened. Joanna checked in the night before, and she and the kids almost got split up across the plane. There were only three seats left together in the very last row. Could have been bad. Never skip this step. Book those seats early.
Forgotten Meds and Routines
Out on the road, your normal routines are easily forgotten. On a long trip, forgetting meds (like antidepressants) or basic daily habits can sneak up on you and leave everyone unusually cranky/irritable. Build a new routine for the road, and set alarms for reminders.
Family Time: The Realities of a Month on the Road
One thing you should know going in: being together as a family for a month straight, you really don’t get much time apart. You’re basically trapped together in the car, in the tent, and at the campsite. There’s going to be arguing, there’s going to be frustration, and there are going to be moments when everyone just needs a break but can’t really get one. That’s totally normal. At home, you have routines and ways to get space from each other, but on the road, that’s not always possible.
The main thing is to stay calm, keep your sense of humor, and don’t let yourself get sucked into the arguments your kids are having. Lead by example, take a deep breath, and remember that rough moments are part of the deal when you’re doing something this big together. We definitely had our share of tough moments. If you don’t, then you’re way ahead of us!
A Few More Pro Tips
- Bring a seat cushion for the drive to prevent numb legs and a sore back. I had trouble with my legs going numb in 2024, but with the cushion, it wasn’t an issue.
- Podcasts save your sanity on solo stretches. Research and load them up in advance. We enjoyed listening to one called “Ologies” about various science topics, especially ones we would encounter out west, like episodes on Bison and Bears.
- When you’re camping, don’t count on buying firewood at the campground (they don’t always have it). Call ahead or bring your own, especially in remote areas.
- Never, ever put liquids or food scraps on the ground—everything goes in a heavy-duty trash bag.
- Set calendar reminders for every booking, modification, or anything with a strict deadline.
- Keep backup chargers, tech cables, and at least one printed copy of your full itinerary.
Be Adaptable and Patient
Stuff is going to go wrong. If you can roll with it, keep a sense of humor, and remember you’re not the first person to make these mistakes, you’ll be just fine. Some of the best stories come from fixing a screwup. That’s part of the adventure.
A Word About Risk
You also need to understand that trips like this come with real risks. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, and not all of them are within your control. The most obvious risk is the driving. You’re covering thousands of miles and, honestly, a car accident can ruin your trip or worse. I’ve never had a trip get totally derailed, but it’s always in the back of my mind.
On top of that, there’s always a chance that someone will get sick or injured, or that weather will force you to change your plans. I once got so sick in Oregon that I had to go to the hospital, and it almost ended our trip. There will be times where you might have to adjust your route, skip a site, or even bail on camping altogether and find a hotel if things get really rough. I knew in advance that I could fly my family out of Seattle if they weren’t enjoying the trip.
The point is, you’ve got to go into this mentally prepared for things not to go according to plan. Do your best with the things you can control, and try not to freak out if things go sideways. It’s just part of the deal when you’re on an adventure like this.
