The Joy of a Cross-Country Adventure

by Jennifer Tritt

Two years ago, my husband and I spent the month of September driving round-trip across the country; we covered more than 7,500 miles, through twenty-three states. We traveled from the warm, sunny coast of North Carolina to the cold, rocky one of Oregon, visiting ten national parks along the way.

The trip was in celebration of the newly found freedom of retirement and ten years together. The experience left us feeling proud to belong to this diverse nation and in awe of its history and beauty.

In addition to creating lasting memories, we learned noteworthy lessons I’m happy to share with fellow travelers.

Planning is essential.

Shaping our dream of wandering the country into a plan was challenging. Compromises were required as we fleshed out the details, developed a reasonable itinerary, and agreed upon a budget.

Our first decision was to make it a road trip. There was no hurry; no longer were we bound by the demands of work and the approval of vacation requests.

We chose September because the weather would be ideal for hiking. We built the schedule around national park lodging, where reservations are recommended a full year in advance.

For peace of mind, we booked all our hotel rooms before we left home. My husband created a binder with a sheet for each day, including driving directions, recommended breaks, destinations, lodging, and restaurant options.

In-depth planning probably prevented multiple arguments. Who wants to decide where to eat in an unfamiliar town after driving for hours? Why risk having to stop at several places to find an available room?

Anticipation is bliss.

In the year leading up to the trip, we read articles and books and watched countless travel vlogs. We talked with friends and family about their experiences and our interests.

We familiarized ourselves with the Oregon lighthouses, the wines of Sonoma, and the distinctive features of the national parks. We learned about the Oregon Trail pioneers, the Gold Rush, the Old West, and Native American cultures.

We hung a large, laminated map and drew our path onto it. We marked each major destination and hotel with a color-coded sticky note. Every time we looked at the developing visual representation of our journey, our excitement grew.

We looked forward to walking along Broadway in Nashville and Beale Street in Memphis. We planned to have a drink at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming, and watch a shootout reenactment in Deadwood, South Dakota.

We noted roadside stops like the Corn Palace and Wall Drug in South Dakota, and the Old Trail Town in Cody, Wyoming. Maybe we’d spray some paint at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. By departure day, we felt prepared and ready for adventure.

Driving provides perspective.

Driving across the country provides an understanding of its sheer vastness, not something one can grasp by studying a map. We experienced its diversity of climates, vegetation, and landscapes.

We drove by miles of cornfields, up and down mountains, along twisty roads, and through endless straight stretches of plains. We passed through tunnels and across many bridges, each amazingly different from the last.

On average, we drove 250 miles per day. Some hours were spent in flowing conversation and others in quiet reflection. We stayed in several destinations for two nights, which provided restful breaks from the road.

Nature is magic.

We found peace and connection by slowing down and saturating our senses in the natural world. We enjoyed a variety of beautiful and challenging hikes. The wonders of forests, plains, geysers, hot springs, and spectacular rock formations were absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

Being immersed in the quiet and majestic settings of national parks, day and night, was well worth the price of lodging. We stayed in Yellowstone and Yosemite, and right outside of Grand Teton and Redwood.

Our favorite places were Redwood for its grand pathways among massive, towering trees;

Yosemite for its granite cliffs, huge waterfalls, and giant sequoias; Devils Tower, Wyoming, for the calming energy that the unique rock formation and surrounding forest exude; and Multnomah Falls, Oregon, for the early morning climb to its very top amidst incredible, lush beauty.

People are kind.

It was heartwarming to encounter friendly people all along our cross-country voyage. Throughout the entire month, neither of us felt threatened or endangered, nor were we treated unkindly by anyone.

Whether in shops and restaurants or along hiking paths, most folks have a smile and helpful information to share. The locals know the best places to eat, and you’ll never find those places on your own.

The rangers at the national parks are consistently approachable and patient. They can help you plan hikes based on current trail conditions, weather, desired time frame, and difficulty. They also know what kind of wildlife has recently been spotted where you’re headed.

Home is wherever we’re with people we love.

Neither of us missed our physical home. We were together, exploring and enjoying what seemed to be unending natural beauty. We had what we needed: food, clothing, comfortable shoes, a shower, and a cozy bed.

Our travels highlighted the value of new, shared experiences over belongings that require storage space and care. Not surprisingly, photos are our most prized souvenirs.

Our road trip across the USA was a life and love-affirming adventure. It far exceeded our expectations and brought my husband and me great joy.