Not sure where to even begin with this mammoth of an adventure, but let’s turn back time to 2019. I travelled across the 48 mainland states of America on a 75-day road trip with complete strangers.
Leaving London, I set off on my flight to Miami. Having only been to the USA once before when I was ten (spending the 3-week holiday park-hopping between Walt Disney World and Universal Studios), to say I was excited to explore this vast country would be an understatement. All the cities and National Parks you hear about were calling me, and I couldn’t wait to see them in person.
“The Great 48” tour was ran by the company TrekAmerica, and it certainly lived up to its name. We zig-zagged our way from Miami to Seattle – visiting numerous NPs, landmarks, towns and cities as we went. Many friendships were formed and many miles were travelled over the course of this 3 month adventure.
A little disclaimer before we jump into the bulk of this to say: TrekAmerica has since, unfortunately, ceased trading due to the impact of COVID. However, their sister company, GAdventures, run similar excursions – I’ve travelled 3 times with them (which you can read more about here) – so if you’re interested in a trip like this I’d certainly recommend taking a look at GAdentures website.
The Accommodation
The first, and perhaps most important, thing to note is that this trip was primarily camping – don’t, therefore, be expecting luxury hotel beds every night, as this couldn’t be any further from the truth! We spent the majority of our trip sleeping in cosy 2-man tents in various campgrounds and KOAs. And we learnt pretty early on to appreciate those KOAs, as hot showers and good washing facilities often felt like a treat!
The pros of camping definitely outweighed the cons for me. It’s such a joyous experience; whether you’re sat around a campfire or chatting in your tent with your new best friend, it’s just nice to be in the moment. The tents were clean and weather-proof (we definitely put this to the test some nights!) and you’re responsible for the putting up/taking down of your own each morning and night. It’s also the traveller’s responsibility to cook and wash up on an evening. Our group was split into three subgroups (which were mixed around as the weeks went by): one would be in charge of buying, prepping and cooking the meal; one would do the washing and drying; and one would have a night off. This type of teamwork really brought the group closer together, and was actually one of the activities I looked forward to the most!
On the nights we weren’t camping, we were treated to the luxury of an actual bed in hostels, hotels, a lake house and even a private cabin up in the mountains of Vermont. These nights felt special as it often coincided with free-time in the evening; the perfect opportunity to head out for dinner and experience some live entertainment. Being someone who doesn’t drink, nor enjoys loud nights out in bars, however, I often headed back for some downtime in the room whilst the others hit up the nightlife after the restaurant.
The Transport
Unlike some group tours where travel may solely rely on public transport, this one provided us with a private van. And wow, did that 13-seater van become our second home! With the USA being such a large country in terms of land mass, some days were just filled with long drives in order to reach the next destination. These driving days were great opportunities to unwind, listen to some music, take a nap or just admire the scenery.
Tugging along behind us was our trailer filled with luggage, sleeping bags, tents, cooking equipment, chairs and gazebos. So no need to worry about lugging bags on and off local buses here! Having our private van was also convenient for the likes of toilet breaks, extra stops our tour guide thought worthwhile, and the ability to do little detours where appropriate too.
The Fellow Travellers
Just with any group tour, the people you travel with can absolutely make or break a trip – after all it isn’t something you can necessarily control beforehand. Knowing you’d be spending close to 3 months with these people, many thoughts can enter your mind: “will they like me?”; “will I like them?”; “will they be too loud?”; “what if I’m too quiet?”; “will they be nice, kind people?”…. You get the idea!
Fortunately, the people on my tour were all lovely, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to spend the trip with them. We were comprised of 11 people (9 solo travellers and 1 couple) ranging from 21 to 34, and for the most part got along really well. It’s inevitable that being on a trip of such nature (the long duration, close proximity, tight schedule etc.) may result in small arguments and falling outs. But I can honestly say that I couldn’t have wished for a better Trek family! Our final goodbye after living with each other for 75 days was a hard, emotional one.
The Guides
Of course, it’s not only fellow travellers you’ll be in the company of on a trip like this, but also that of your tour guides. We had two over the course of our trip: one taking the first half, and the other the second. Tour guides can definitely affect the dynamic of the group as they each have different ways of doing certain things. Our first guide was very experienced and knowledgeable; giving us state facts each time we crossed a border, taking us to places which weren’t necessarily on the itinerary, and even offering to cook dinner most nights. Our second one on the other hand was much younger, and wanted to get more involved with the group. He took more time to get to know everyone personally, joined in with optional excursions, and tagged along for parties and nights out. Between the two, I couldn’t choose a favourite – I just feel very lucky to have had them both!
The itinerary
Obviously I’m not going to give a whole day-by-day itinerary here, as that would be both tedious for you and for me – and I’m sure you’re not going to care that we spent some days driving 8 hours straight in a van. But what I am going to share are some highlights and a general summary of the trip, because after all, we covered a lot in that time.
With the nature of this type of travel, you don’t often find yourself with more than 2 or 3 days in a place. So if, instead, you’re the type who needs 1 week minimum in a city to truly sample everything it has to offer, then this may not be for you. But what it lacks in depth, it makes up for in variety. Consider it more as a taster for America. Covering this much ground in a short length of time, does at least provide a list of places you’d like to return to one day – and equally those you don’t! Because it’s worth remembering some states don’t have much on offer, and some are merely just to drive by. Some stops will be simply a respite to break up the long drives, so be prepared for a few random (and at times, questionable) places: such as Carhenge in Nebraska (think Stonehenge but cars); and the Bubblegum Alley in California (a wall simply covered in used gum). These will leave you speechless – but not necessarily in a good way!
But then comes the good views, the incredible sights and the states that seem to have everything. And here, your time won’t feel long enough! I’d say we had an equal mix of nature and city time. And when set up at a new place, we had plenty of free-time to ourselves to explore the area the way we’d like to. That meant I had the time to do a hike and a helicopter ride at the Grand Canyon; see a Broadway show in New York City; and go horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains to name a few. Some additional highlights for me included: our Navajo tribal experience in Monument Valley; a day trip to Disneyland Resort California; and pretty much all the National Parks which we got to explore – specifically that of Yellowstone and Acadia.
The Weather
Depending on when you visit the states, the weather will vary greatly; and with the constant moving from south to north, and back again, you’ve got to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures. The weather we encountered ranged from 30°C sun to thunderstorms, and everything in between. On some nights the heavy rainfall made sleeping in tents virtually impossible, which resulted in bagging an upgrade to wooden cabins. The severe hurricane alert warnings were certainly not our favourite things. And we were even subjected to take cover in a supermarket’s storeroom when a tornado broke out in Kansas! But when the weather is nice, the weather is really nice. Fun days at the beach, walks through cities with ice creams, and enjoying the sound of nature as you wander through a new park – honestly, nothing beats it!
The Summary
To sum this up best I can, I’d start with emphasising the fact it really wasn’t a holiday. It was an adventure! And this is what any travel guide would tell you about budget-friendly group trips. You’d be up at 6:30am to boil water on the camping stove for your hot drinks and porridge, and most mornings be packed up and ready in the van for an 8am start. But I promise you, you’d have the time of your life and wouldn’t regret a thing! The days fly by but the memories last a lifetime. I only wish I could relive it!
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