United States

For us the U.S. is home. Growing up we grew accustomed to tall green pine trees, hemlock, and redwoods. We moved to Los Angeles & lounged on postcard-worthy beaches. We drove HWY 1, one of the most scenic stretches of American highways to the Pacific Northwest every summer.

& then we converted a camper van. Long-term road-tripping allowed us to get to know the United States on a whole new level.

This is the land of breath-taking road trips. & although it’s not a typical budget traveler destination, it absolutely can be.

USA Travel Guide

Recommended Cities: Seattle (WA), Florida, New Orleans (LA), Savannah (GA), Bar Harbor (ME),

National Parks: Yosemite, Death Valley, Redwoods, Yellowstone, Glacier, Smoky Mountains, Acadia, Rainier

One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: There’s nothing quite like staring up at El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. If you get to visit one National Park, make it this one.

Snorkel with Manatees in Silver Glen Springs.

Things to Consider Before You Go: The U.S. isn’t cheap. The one travel cost that breaks your budget? Accommodation. Consider renting or purchasing an SUV or van to sleep in instead of expensive motels. Check out my entire page on vanlife.

Estimated Backpacker Budget

On a Shoestring: $45/day

Flashpacker: $60/day

Backpacker Luxury: $70/day

Keep in mind these are vanlife budgets. Whether you have an RV, Toyota Camry, or Camper Van all three of these calculated budgets assume you won’t be paying for lodging. On a shoestring expect to be buying groceries, cheap gas, & skipping the more expensive tourist attractions. Backpacker Luxury opts for a few restaurant meals a week and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground.