2025: Our most ambitious year on the road yet

2025 was a heck of a year for us. After five years of slow-moving, full-time RV living, we picked up the pace and covered more ground than ever before. Back in March, I realized we were on track to sleep in far more places than any other year, and so I began logging every campsite out of curiosity. By December 31st, we had slept in 99 different locations in 2025. If I had to guess, I’d say that’s at least double our previous average.

2025 at a glance

We spent the first night of the year aboard the TMC cargo ferry taking us from Baja California to mainland Mexico. For two and a half months, we explored all-new territory before returning to the Baja peninsula. Then, in late spring, we traveled east to visit dear friends in northern Michigan. In signature style, we managed to avoid interstates for most of our three weeks throughout the Midwest. By summer, we had returned to Colorado for work, yet we still shuffled from place to place often. Our trips to two different Overland Expos—one in Arizona and one in Colorado—added plenty of miles to the odometer. As large and overwhelming as these events can be, Overland Expo continued to connect us with more and more like-minded people whom we’re now thrilled to call friends. By fall, the fatigue of moving so frequently began to set in, and we embraced the opportunity to spend an extended period of time on our property in western Colorado. When November rolled around, a bucket of curveballs was thrown our way, altering our plans for the ’25/’26 winter significantly. Still, we managed a little five week tour around Arizona before returning to Colorado.  On the second to last day of the year I underwent surgery, forcing us to remain in one place for the outset of 2026.  But before 2026 gets any further along, I wanted to dedicate a post to the colossal year of travel that was 2025.  

Stats

U.S. states visited: 10
Mexico states visited: 16
Miles traveled: approx. 17,000
Number of campsites, driveways, and parking lots slept in: 99

Why we traveled more than ever in 2025

At the end of 2024, we completed version 2.0 of our truck camper setup. Upgrading to a flatbed with custom utility boxes finally allowed us to carry everything we needed and wanted for long-term travel without towing a trailer. Because our Four Wheel Camper is a basic shell model, we had always relied on some kind of trailer for added space and functionality on extended trips. However, when we decided to head to mainland Mexico, we knew we didn’t want to tow anything, which is what got the truck upgrades underway. Once completed, our truck and camper were more functional than ever; we needed for nothing more. Without anything in tow, moving around became much easier.

This was all an experiment that we very intentionally undertook in 2025. Why? Because we were trying to decide if we wanted to drive the Pan-American Highway to Argentina at some point in the near future. Committing to a trip of that scale would mean living in the truck for nearly two years and moving frequently. Our trip to mainland Mexico was a litmus test to help us decide if we’re truly cut out for the Pan-Am.

2025 highlights

It’s not uncommon for people to ask us what our favorite place is; whether it be our favorite beach in Baja, or our favorite town in Colorado, or just our favorite place in general. The more places we go, the harder this question is to answer. I tend not to think of places in terms of favorites but more in terms of the memories they hold that make them special. With that, I’d love to break down 2025 into the places and experiences that we won’t soon forget.

Most unusual place we spent a night

The TMC cargo ferry that took us across the Sea of Cortez on a 16-hour passage was definitely the most unusual place we’ve ever spent a night. Tucked tightly between rows of semi-trucks, we slept to the soundtrack of running engines all around us while being rocked back and forth by the ocean’s waves. That night, I realized that if we could sleep here, we could probably sleep just about anywhere.

Mexico Day 37: Boarding the TMC Ferry to Mazatlan

The best view seen from our camper door

Claiming that there was a “best” of anything in 2025 is a bold statement given just how much variety we experienced. However, one particular place will forever stand out in my mind for being one of the most magnificent things I’ve ever seen from our camper door. In Mexico, while camped at a private property in the state of Puebla, we were graced with unobstructed views of an active volcano that rises to 17,694 feet above sea level. Popocatépetl was absolutely captivating to watch with steam billowing from its crater every few seconds. I am now eager to get back to Mexico, specifically the volcano region, to explore more of these breathtaking behemoths.

I can’t mention extraordinary views without mentioning one of our favorite spots in the U.S. In the spring, we returned to Comb Ridge, Utah, a place we’d been eager to visit again since our first time there ten years ago. For the second time, this remote spot in southern Utah blew us away with its sweeping views of one of the most unique geographical features in the West.

Place with the most ideal climate

The primary reason we live a mobile lifestyle is the ability to chase good weather. Because we greatly expanded our horizons in 2025, we also experienced the widest variety of weather conditions that we ever have. Mexico’s interior was cool and crisp while the country’s Pacific coast was brutally hot and humid. Our trip to the Midwest was humid but not nearly as oppressive as Mexico. Colorado was lovely as usual but noticeably warmer than any of our previous twenty summers spent in the Rocky Mountains. Utah treated us to some beautiful weather in the spring and fall, but the standout for ideal climate was December in Arizona. We’ve always enjoyed the Sonoran Desert in the winter months and December could not have been more ideal. No bugs, no humidity, lots of sunshine. Between the climate and the abundance of public lands, Arizona is a gem for full-time RV living during the winter.

Where we would live if all that mattered was the food

Oaxaca City, in Mexico’s Oaxaca state, is known as the gastronomy capital of the country. For that reason, we were stoked that we got the opportunity to spend three weeks in Oaxaca in 2025. Unlike anywhere else we’d been in Mexico up to that point, Oaxaca City offered a wide range of culinary options. Whether it was American, Italian, Mediterranean, or authentic Oaxacan, we had some of the best meals of the year in Oaxaca.

Best place to make friends

An event as big as Overland Expo is an unlikely place to find a couple of introverts like Mark and me. But in 2024, out of curiosity, we decided to apply to be presenters at Overland Expo Mountain West (one of five different OEs that take place across the country every year). Our application was accepted and we went on to really enjoy the opportunity to inspire others to live and travel in unconventional ways. In 2025, we gave travel-related presentations at both Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ and Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, CO. What we’ve come to learn is that these three-day long events are an amazing opportunity to connect with other like-minded people. Nowhere else can you find such a high concentration of overlanders and nomads. Because our chosen lifestyle can sometimes feel weird and isolating, we love any chance we can get to commune with others who have chosen a life of non-conformity.

A month in the life: Overland Expo Day 2

Most unforgettable moment of the year

There was no shortage of people concerned about our safety while we were venturing around Mexico. Unfortunately, due to the media, the entire country has become synonymous with cartel violence. While we did actually have a cartel encounter, it was hardly the scariest or most memorable thing that occurred during our four and a half months of travel. As it turns out, getting caught in a rip current in the Pacific Ocean easily takes the cake for our most unforgettable moment of the year. After all we’ve learned about Mexico over the last few years, it did not surprise us that nature turned out to be the thing to fear most—not the cartel.

This near-death experience may have only lasted a few minutes, but it was impactful enough to linger in our psyche for the rest of our lives, especially given what happened four days later. In a wild and unpredictable turn of events, Mark ended up rescuing a man about to drown in the same stretch of current. Had we not experienced the rip for ourselves, Mark never would have recognized the man in trouble or known what to do.

These two days were by far the most unforgettable of our year. They were a healthy reminder that danger is always lurking no matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you have. There’s no predicting what the future holds, which is why we embrace every opportunity to fill our lives with rich and rewarding experiences, and to always be grateful for the here and now.

Mexico Day 100: Us against the ocean

What we learned and what we’ll do differently in 2026

We stretched our comfort zones in 2025 and learned a lot in the process. More than anything, we were reminded of what makes our mobile lifestyle sustainable over the long haul. It was no coincidence that the same year we significantly picked up our pace was also the first year—in five years of full-time RV living—that I found myself daydreaming about living in a house again. A slow pace is what allows us to feel like we’re living somewhere rather than just traveling through. It allows for more life to be lived, rather than just seeing the world from the cab of our truck. Ultimately, a slow pace is the single most important factor in sustaining our love for this lifestyle for many more years to come.

Additionally, traveling to so many new places reminded us just how good we have it here in the American West. Silence, solitude, dark skies, expansive vistas, and rugged terrain are the things we value most in our travels. If anything, 2025 taught us that we don’t necessarily want to change our lifestyle; we just want to slow back down. And when I say slow down, I’m thinking something like 50 different locations over the course of the year sound lovely compared to the 99 we visited in 2025.

As for the Pan-American Highway, it’s an idea I may never fully let go of, but as of right now, it’s not a commitment we’re ready to make. Our time in Mexico showed us just how isolating and fatiguing a trip like that can be. Right now, we’d like to focus on our health and relationships—two things that are hard to prioritize when devoting one’s life to international travel.

2026 may not shape up to be as exotic and adventurous as 2025 but we’ve learned that Colorado summers and Baja winters are enough to keep us loving this lifestyle. And, I have no doubt that soon enough we’ll have some crazy idea and all this talk about dialing things back a bit may go flying out the window 😉

A few more of our favorite photos and favorite moments from 2025

If you made it this far, thanks so much for taking an interest in our travels! We love sharing the highs, lows, and everything inbetween in hopes of inspiring you to pursue a lifestyle you love.

Cheers,
Michele & Mark