After several years of part-time van travels in Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chevy Express, we have sold our sticks and bricks to full-time in the Chevy Express. Your advice through the last several years has been very helpful. Got on the road yesterday from KY on our way to see the desert blooming in Arizona. Plan to spend about a month or so in AZ area before heading back east to visit family. Then onto to Maine for a workamping gig for the summer. Hope to cross path with some of you in the future!
Going full-time
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bullfrog !
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Welcome to life on the road! You will most likely find a slower pace works better for enjoying everything an area has to offer.
Congratulations!
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Congratulations and best wishes for the journeys ahead!
We are also a couple traveling in a Chevy Express, albeit part-time. I would love to hear any particulars you would be willing to share about how your van is set-up, as well as how full timing evolves for you!
We are also a couple traveling in a Chevy Express, albeit part-time. I would love to hear any particulars you would be willing to share about how your van is set-up, as well as how full timing evolves for you!
Overland One
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Congratulations. whereabouts in Kentuc
Congratulations. Whereabouts in Kentucky are you from? I live in Bowling Green and am heading out when my lease is up in July. Going to hang around KY and TN for a bit to make sure the van build works well, then will probably head west toward some blm lands. I am going to attempt to boondock my way around in areas like Daniel Boone National Forest and some other places here. I wish you safe travels.
We lived in Paducah, KY for the last 27 years. Overland One- Land Between the Lakes in KY/TN would be a good option not too far from Bowling Green if you need a place to start out. They allow dispersed camping with a annual permit that isn't too costly.
We definitely agree with Bullfrog that slow travel is best for us. We get sidetracked and find the most interesting places to hike and visit. It took us longer to get to Arizona than planned as there was much to see in TX and NM!
We will be around Quartzsite around April 1. Anyone still in that area?
We definitely agree with Bullfrog that slow travel is best for us. We get sidetracked and find the most interesting places to hike and visit. It took us longer to get to Arizona than planned as there was much to see in TX and NM!
We will be around Quartzsite around April 1. Anyone still in that area?
bullfrog !
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Should be several in the area as it is still cold in several places at higher elevations. Still snow in several places although with daytime highs above 50 degrees the pavement tends to be clear and dry.
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Pirate Camp will still be in Quartzsite til April 15th.......LTVA South
Then we'll move closer to Parker and camp on the Colorado river for a couple weeks before heading farther North .......Maybe soak in the river
I sent a PM earlier............TEXT/ phone #
I will possibly stop by Pirate Camp to say hello on my way north to Lake Havasu City. Depending on how hot it gets I might spend most of April in the Havasu BLM areas. They are enforcing the 14 day stays at Lone Tree and Craggy Wash but there are other choices there that make the 25 mile rule easy to comply with.
If the HOWA spring BYOV happens I might go there but so far that is not announced as happening this year.
If the HOWA spring BYOV happens I might go there but so far that is not announced as happening this year.
Overland One
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Yes, LBL is on my list too. I have camped there many times back in my college days and it was great. I am basically going to hit up every national forest, corp. of engineers, and National Park in this region. From what I have been reading, I can camp at many national parks for $12.50/night (or thereabouts, depends on the park) with the multi agency senior pass. (Mammoth Cave is $12.50 last time I checked) I hope to do as much dispersed camping and boondocking (free) as possible. I am looking forward to it.
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Southern Illinois has excellent camping spots close to Kentucky. Shawnee National Forest has Garden of the Gods:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=10685&actid=70
There is dispersed camping in Shawnee and in the Illinois State Parks. Missouri has dispersed camping, too, in their state parks.
One of our favorite campsites in southern Illinois is Ferne Clyffe State Park:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/FerneClyffe.aspx
Giant City is another favorite: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/GiantCity.aspx
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=10685&actid=70
There is dispersed camping in Shawnee and in the Illinois State Parks. Missouri has dispersed camping, too, in their state parks.
One of our favorite campsites in southern Illinois is Ferne Clyffe State Park:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/FerneClyffe.aspx
Giant City is another favorite: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/GiantCity.aspx
Overland One
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Carla, thank you very much. I will check all those out and add them to my growing list. (No such thing as too many locations right?) I have been looking west in MO in areas like Mark Twain National forest and other places. I will probably slowly work my way west after a while, taking back roads and staying out of cities. Thanks again, I really appreciate the information. PS Garden Of The Gods sounds like a really cool place to see.
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You're welcome
If your van has decent clearance, my grown kids love to camp at Jackson Falls in Shawnee Forest. I went there alone, but never found the falls. Saw quite a few people dispersed camping along the dirt/rock road through the forest. Here is the link:https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=32359
Further west is Trail of Tears State Forest: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/TrailOfTears.aspx
Trail of Tears is not too far from Snake Road in Shawnee. People come from all around the country to witness the snake migration:
Snake Road
A sign marks the south end of Snake Road in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois. Snake Road is the only road in the world closed every year (from March 15-May 15, and again from September 1-October 30) for its biannual migration of snakes and other reptiles. ~ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/snake-migration/https://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/ilinois-road-closed-for-snake-migration/
Have fun!
GOTG was awesome...except I have a mega fear of heights, LOL. So I parked myself on a bench well back from the edge and hugged a tee as a safeguard. Had to close my eyes as some fool was sitting on the edge dangling their legs over. I finally worked up my nerve to use the binoculars and almost had a heart attack as the fool was my college grad daughter!
