How I'm Preparing for a Five Week Road Trip

Wynston and I are going to be living in our minivan camper conversion as we explore the United States over a period of five weeks. This sort of solo undertaking takes research, preparation and a lot of open-mindedness.

Travel is not new to me, and neither is driving a long distance by myself. But because I will be living on the road for five weeks with my dog, it’s important that I prepare properly.

In this post I share how I’m preparing for a five week road trip with Wynston around the USA. I’m working on my van, mind, body and soul so I am fully ready to be living out of our vehicle.

How I’m Preparing for a Five Week Road Trip

It’s no secret that I love road trips with Wynston. They clear my mind and fulfill my soul. Driving on the open road takes me into a new plane of existence where I experience ultimate peace and clarity. And that’s why we’re hitting the road for a while.

Here’s what I’m doing to get ready for our journey:

Tracking Weather Systems

In Arizona we don’t have much weather to worry about. It just gets hot and dusty. However, the rest of the country is very different.

October is still considered hurricane season, and I’ll be in the line of fire at the time, chillin’ on Miami Beach. Luckily most gnarly hurricanes have either hit or dissipated by October, but I’m still keeping an eye on weather just in case!

I added the main cities that we’ll be staying in to the weather app on my phone, that way I can keep an eye on what temperatures are looking like. I’ll need to pack clothes according to weather trends for this time of year.

Keeping Track of a Budget

I bought my van. I outfitted it. I’ve had some fun adventures already. But it’s time to really stick to a budget now.

I’m no longer buying anything new for my van unless it’s a necessity. I don’t want to keep spending money on “things” that I don’t really need. I’d rather have that money for actual travel expenses!

I’ve been keeping track of a budget via a Google Doc I made myself. Wynston and I are traveling the country, but I don’t want to become broke in the process.

Preparing the Van

The Wynner needs an oil change and full point inspection before we explore the country. Obviously I need to make sure it’s in good shape to put some serious mileage on.

Planning My Menu

I hate cooking, and I’m often too lazy too cook when I camp and travel. Therefore, I’ve been compiling a list of “no-cook” van meals and snacks.

I asked my Facebook followers for suggestions, and they offered me some great ideas to keep my blood sugar and energy up while driving and traveling. I actually look forward to grocery shopping for our trip!

Researching Stops and Tourist Attractions

Wynston and I are traveling so we can see friends, family and everything else our country has to offer. I’ve been researching notable tourist attractions in the cities we’ll be staying in, to see what fun we can have.

Mapping Different Routes

I have mapped out several different travel routes for our trip. I’ve done a ton of math to calculate timing and distances between cities and states. It’s been quite the undertaking, but I’ve really enjoyed this portion of preparation!

Touching Base With Friends and Family Around the Country

My close friends and family (and well, everyone else) knows that Wynston and I are hitting the road, so I’ve touched base with several people who I’d like to see or stay with. One perk of being an internet writer and community member is knowing a plethora of amazing people around the world. I look forward to seeing my sister, brother-in-law, Indiana family and several friends!

Completely Redoing My Van

I tore apart our minivan camper in order to do a complete inventory and create a different living setup. I have a simple and minimalist style, and I wanted to lighten my load a bit.

Since we’ll be living in the van for five weeks, I want to pack as light as possible in terms of extra “stuff.” I don’t want to bring anything I don’t need. I rearranged my space to better suit the lifestyle Wynston and I enjoy while in the van.

Vet Appointment

I made Wynston a vet appointment because it was important for me to get a clean bill of health for him to travel. Dr. Roach was incredibly pleased with Wynston’s healing progress, and she said he’s good to go! She gave us a health certificate so I have it just in case we get stopped somewhere along our journey. I also got another six months of heartworm, since that’s super important!

If you missed it, Wynston was attacked and ripped in half by the neighbor dog on April 27th. He underwent two life-saving surgeries.