The Whip
““If you go anywhere, even paradise, you will miss your home.” ”
The best part about living in your car, is your home is always with you. I have a Subaru Outback. I love it because it's higher off the ground, plenty of space, and has very good mileage. While preparing for this trip it was extra important to only take what I needed, as every bit of space counts. I would also be picking up my boyfriend and his stuff too so I had to conserve!
Organization is key, and making sure you aren't claustrophobic while you're sleeping is very important. Be sure to check out my guide on minimalist packing here!
Another important thing is where you sleep. I wanted a bed. Something where I would be comfortable and not feel like I'm uneven or not flat. This was the shining feature of our car living and let me just say, its a lot more comfortable than a lot of beds I've been in, and definitely a step up from sleeping on the ground in a tent long-term.
The Route
Monterey, CA; Winnemucca, NV; Salt Lake City, UT; Casper, WY; Gillette, WY; Laramie, WY; Boulder, CO; WaKeeny, KS; Tulsa, OK; Guymon, OK; Rye, CO; Moab, UT; Zion, UT; Santa Barbara, CA; Carmel, CA
SLC Mormon Temple
City creek center mall
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City was my first major stop. Driving in was quite the excursion coming from the West. The highway is bordered by the Great Salt Lake and it was windy that particular day. Definitely a thread the needle type situation.
I have always wanted to go to SLC to see the mormon temple, and luckily this dream came true! Although non-mormons can’t go inside, the outside was beautiful and made for great pictures. The grounds of the temple are very quiet and serene complete with gorgeous trees and blooming flowers. The temple was dedicated in 1893 and has definitely stood the test of time. This past April it was announced that the temple will close for renovation December 2019, so be sure to check it out before then!
SLC is a good walking town with lots of history. From my hotel (The Quality Inn Downtown) it was about a 10 minute walk to the temple and the main downtown area. The hotel was clean and efficient enough for my needs. My main agenda was checking out the city.
Though I was only there for a day, I was able to see a lot including the City Creek Center—probably the most beautiful mall I've ever been in. High glass ceilings, all kinds of stores, and even a creek running through the entire mall. Of course I checked out Lush and Sephora and picked myself up some goodies for the trip.
There was also a Mormon bookstore (Deseret Book) nearby which was interesting to check out. They had books, movies, toys, games, and interestingly a room full of white robes which I assume is for temple-wear. While I’m not religious myself, it was interesting to see all the Mormon themed merchandise they had, and the hundreds of different languages that they publish the Book of Mormon in. This place was a straight-up Mormon Barnes and Noble.
When it was time for dinner, I decided to treat myself. Because I’m Lebanese I’m always looking for good Arabic food and Laziz Kitchen definitely satisfied my craving. I had their Zaatar fries and their Laziz Lebanese Bowl with Falafel which can be made vegan! For the price, it was a lot of food and I enjoyed my experience there immensely.
SLC is a great hub and a good halfway point for a lot of places in the midwest. They have a plethora of hotels and restaurants to choose from and lots to do. I enjoyed my short time there and can't wait to go back again someday.
Wyoming
I loved Wyoming. Big skies, lots of stars, and pretty nice weather.
Big sky country
I picked up the bf in Wyoming and we went to Gillette, a small town in the Northeast corner of Wyoming. While there wasn’t a lot to do, the walking was plentiful. On an all night walk we went to 3 parks, a cemetary around sunrise with views for days (pictured below to the left), and made a stop at the Walmart for energy drinks (we needed it).
After leaving Gillette, we headed to Laramie where the University of Wyoming is located. After visiting with some friends, we set off on the road again towards Colorado, and the car camping part of the road trip truly began.
Boulder, CO
Boulder was a great city. It was awesome being able to see the surrounding mountains from anywhere in the city. When arriving in the city make sure to watch out for bikers while driving. Boulder is a huge biking city, and I loved all of the eco-friendly actions within the city.
I was on a mission for Hemp mascara so we headed to Twenty Ninth Street Mall to Sephora. After my very exciting purchase, we decided we needed to find camp. Finding free campsites can be a challenge but luckily there are countless resources online. One of my favorites is freecampsites.net (for mobile use). We decided on this one:
The Campsite
This campsite was FAR off the beaten path. After following a dirt road for a while you come to a driveway looking path with a sharp left turn. Follow the hills up (this is a one car road and almost a little sketchy). After about 10 minutes of driving, you’ll come to some openings in the road. Once you see fire pits you’re golden! The views are incredible and an excellent place to spend the night!
WaKeeny, KS
WaKeeny was a nice little town. We ended up staying at a Travel America for the night, but we were able to visit Minooka Park about an hour away. The lake there is supposed to be the clearest lake in KS and boy was it.
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa was hot! We walked a lot near the river on a beautiful trail made for bikers and walkers. People had set up hammocks on the designated poles and soaking up the sun was the only thing on people’s minds.
We spent the night at Walmart in the parking lot since there weren’t any available free campsites. When camping like this it’s important to be stealth in terms of window coverings; however we just asked an associate inside and they said we were good to go! There was a Sonic nearby too so we cheated on our cooking plans.
Turkey mountain was close by too—an excellent place for hiking and enjoying nature!
Bishop Castle, CO
A hidden gem SW of Pueblo, CO. This castle may look (and feel) sketchy but it is far from it. The beautifully done architecture, with seemingly recycled material, makes for a true visual phenomena—reminiscent of some Escher prints. The castle is huge (at least 5 stories tall) and made from stone, iron, and wood. The owner, Jim Bishop has been constructing the monument for nearly 60 years, and has left hidden treasures all around for visitors to enjoy. The stained glass was breathtaking, and the view from the peak made me feel like I was on top of the world. Rickety staircases and ladders make this place a true jungle-gym for all ages.
My favorite part was the dragon at the front which looks like it will breathe fire at any moment.
Bishop recently had a fire in their gift shop so be sure to leave a donation if you can! If you’d like to support them, but can’t make it to the castle just yet, you can donate here. I hope this place stays around for years to come. It truly is an American monument.
The Campsite
Our campsite for the night was beautiful and surrounded by huge trees. There was even an old grave nearby which would be great theming for some scary campfire stories. It was off the highway a bit, but the dirt road was wide enough and not too hard to find.
Arches National Park - Moab, UT
Arches was so much fun and the sites were incredible. Though I did bring in a lot of red sand into my car, the climbing trails and the large rock formations were definitely worth it.
My favorite trail was the one to the double arches. The trail itself wasn’t that long and most of it had a boardwalk from the parking lot making it easy for anyone to walk. The enormity of the arches was truly breathtaking and you can see for miles. You can even climb up them for a panoramic view of the park!
Arches was hotter than hell, so be sure to bring plenty of water with you as there are only a few water sites throughout the park.
The city of Moab was also exciting. Lots of cute restaurants and food trucks as well as my personal favorite, the Moab Rock Shop! This place had every kind of specimen you can imagine including things found in the area. Instead of taking something from our national parks, check out this hidden gem (no pun intended) and take a little piece of Arches home with you.
The Campsite—Willow Flats Rd.
This map is not the best, but it will give you a general idea of where the campsite is. A flat area with plenty of big parking spaces and even some lots, this campsite provides AMAZING stargazing. I had never seen so many stars.
Find Willow Springs Rd. or BLM 378 and follow the road back towards the campsites. It’s before you get to Arches but close enough to enjoy the sites nonetheless. I think this was my favorite campsite on the whole trip!
Zion National Park
If you thought Arches was great, try Zion on for size. The breathtaking beauty of this park is truly astonishing. Rock formations larger than life surround you as you explore the untouched land.
The bus system at Zion is truly awesome and allows for better mobility throughout the park. It takes you anywhere you want to go and serves as a source of information about the park. Large windows allow you to see the beauty surrounding you and an escape from driving.
Santa Barbara, CA
After Zion we drove all the way back to my home state of California. It was a long drive and though we missed some in between I can’t wait to go back and see all those sites again. The trip was great. The bed was so comfortable, and the fact we didn’t pay for camping once still astonishes me. So hit the road! Go see what’s out there! You might be suprised at all the cool things you’ll find along the way.
Our trip may have come to an end, but the memories we made will last a lifetime…
Summer 2018