Vanlife Road Trip: NYC to San Diego

Winter Southern Route - 10-15 Days

~3,500 Miles
11 Days
12 Stops

Trip Itinerary

Start

New York City, NY

Starting Point

Begin your cross-country adventure in the heart of New York City. Make sure your van is stocked, fueled, and ready for the journey ahead. The southern route will take you through beautiful landscapes while avoiding icy northern roads.

Photos coming soon...

Day 1

NYC → Shenandoah Valley, VA

350 miles 6 hours
Route: Take I-78/I-81 through Pennsylvania into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This route avoids heavy I-95 traffic and offers beautiful Appalachian Mountain views.

Head west and south toward Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. As you enter Virginia, you'll be surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Consider a quick detour to Shenandoah National Park overlook or a stretch of Skyline Drive if weather permits.

Overnight: George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout these national forests. Find a forest road pull-off or primitive campsite near Harrisonburg or Staunton. Free camping with quiet nights under the stars. Temperatures will be cold (often freezing at night).

Photos coming soon...

Day 2

Shenandoah Valley → Charlotte, NC

300 miles 5-6 hours
Route: Continue south on I-81, then I-77 into North Carolina. Cross the Blue Ridge Mountains near VA/NC state line with sweeping views at Fancy Gap overlook.

Arrive in Charlotte by afternoon. This major city is a good chance to resupply and enjoy urban amenities. Consider visiting the city or continuing to nearby camping.

Overnight: Uwharrie National Forest (1 hour east of Charlotte) allows dispersed camping. It has primitive sites accessible by forest roads. Alternative: Kings Mountain State Park (45 min west) has campgrounds but charges fees.

Photos coming soon...

Day 3

Charlotte → North Georgia Mountains

250 miles 5 hours
Route: Head west through Western North Carolina via I-85/I-26 or US-74. Drive through Asheville, NC and optionally Great Smoky Mountains region. US-19/74 can take you towards Cherokee, NC on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Experience mountain scenery through Western North Carolina. Asheville is a charming mountain city and gateway to the Blue Ridge. If conditions are safe, drive up to Newfound Gap for panoramic views of snowy peaks.

Overnight: Chattahoochee National Forest, GA. Free primitive campsites around Blairsville or Dahlonega. Popular spots include Cooper Creek WMA, Chattahoochee River Road, Dick's Creek Road, or Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites. First-come, first-served and free. Wooded hills or streamside locations far from city lights.

Photos coming soon...

Day 4

North Georgia → Cheaha Mountain, AL

300 miles 5-6 hours
Route: Drive through Atlanta (avoid rush hour), then west on I-20 into Alabama. Head to Talladega National Forest in eastern Alabama.

Visit Cheaha Mountain - at 2,407 feet, the highest point in Alabama. The Talladega Scenic Drive (AL-281) takes you up with beautiful views. Even in winter, often "above the clouds" with stunning sunsets. Short hike to Bald Rock for great vista.

Overnight: Talladega National Forest. Disperse camp in forest land surrounding Cheaha. Turnipseed Camp is a primitive campground off Highway 281. Along Skyway Motorway (NF-600) are spots used by dispersed campers. Wake up to tranquil mountain "island in the sky" atmosphere.

Photos coming soon...

Day 5

Cheaha → New Orleans, LA

350 miles 5-6.5 hours
Route: From Cheaha, take I-59 south through Laurel to Hattiesburg, then continue to New Orleans. Option to stop in De Soto National Forest in Mississippi for camping.

Enter the Deep South. Option to camp in De Soto National Forest (free dispersed camping) or push on to New Orleans for city culture - French Quarter, jambalaya, beignets, and live jazz.

Option 1: De Soto National Forest, MS - free dispersed camping. Janice Landing on Black Creek or Bethel Road spots. Quiet pine forest campsite.
Option 2: New Orleans area - Treasure Chest Casino lot in Kenner (free if you patronize casino), or Bayou Segnette State Park ($30, 15 min from downtown).

Photos coming soon...

Day 6

New Orleans → Sam Houston NF, TX

290 miles 5 hours
Route: West across Louisiana on I-10. Cross Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, pass marshes and bayous of Atchafalaya Basin. Enter Texas and skirt Houston via I-610 or Beltway 8.

Welcome to the Lone Star State! Sam Houston National Forest surrounds Lake Conroe north of Houston. Stop at Buc-ee's mega-travel center in Baytown on I-10 - quintessential Texas road trip stop.

Overnight: Sam Houston National Forest, TX. Free dispersed camping at Kelly's Pond, Four Notch Hunter Camp, or Lone Star Hiking Trail trailheads. Piney woods and hardwoods, very peaceful. Free for up to 14 days (150+ feet from roads/water). Mild nights (50s°F).

Photos coming soon...

Day 7

Sam Houston NF → Junction, TX

320 miles 5.5 hours
Route: Drive west on I-10 into Texas Hill Country. Pass San Antonio (optional stop for Alamo or River Walk). Bypass via Loop 1604 and head northwest to Junction.

Enter the rolling hills and limestone outcrops of Hill Country. Junction is a small town on the Llano River - perfect for a relaxing riverside stop.

Overnight: Schreiner Park in Junction, TX - FREE riverside camping! City park on South Llano River allows 3 days free dry camping. Super picturesque riverbank location with pull-through sites, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. "As far as free camping in Texas goes, this spot is pretty perfect."

Photos coming soon...

Day 8

Junction → Guadalupe Mountains, TX

440 miles 7 hours
Route: Longer haul across west Texas on I-10 through Fort Stockton (fuel up here). Optional stop at Monahans Sandhills State Park to see white sand dunes. Continue to Guadalupe Mountains on Texas-New Mexico border.

Wide desert vistas, mesas, and distant mountains. Guadalupe Mountains National Park features the tallest peak in Texas (Guadalupe Peak, 8,751 ft) and striking limestone cliffs. February is off-season so it's quiet. Sunset on El Capitan is magnificent.

Overnight: Guadalupe Pass Rest Area on US-62/180 (free overnight parking with vault toilets), or BLM land along US-62 in Lincoln National Forest just across NM line. Turn down dirt tracks into desert and find flat spot. Cold nights (30s°F), very windy - find spot behind bushes. Incredible starry sky with no light pollution.

Photos coming soon...

Day 9

Guadalupe Mountains → Tucson, AZ

400 miles 6.5 hours
Route: Continue west into New Mexico on US-62/180, then I-10. Stop in Las Cruces, NM for authentic New Mexican chile cuisine. Cross into Arizona toward Tucson.

Enter Arizona surrounded by giant saguaro cacti. Pleasant February weather (60s-70s°F daytime). Visit Saguaro National Park or Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Beautiful Sonoran Desert landscape especially at golden hour.

Overnight: Snyder Hill BLM area (12 miles SW of downtown Tucson) - FREE dispersed camping, no facilities, 14-day limit. Large desert plain around small hill with cacti. Popular because convenient and free (off Ajo Highway). Alternative: Gilbert Ray Campground ($20, near Saguaro NP West) has water and bathrooms but fills up in winter.

Photos coming soon...

Day 10

Tucson → Anza-Borrego Desert, CA

340 miles 5.5-6 hours
Route: I-10 west briefly, then I-8 west. Pass through Yuma, AZ (last supplies before San Diego). Cross Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes) - giant golden sand hills. At Ocotillo, take County Route S2 north into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Enter California! Stop to climb a sand dune at Imperial Sand Dunes viewpoint. Head into vast Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - about 1.5 hours from San Diego. Explore trails like Morteros Trail (ancient grinding holes) or Ghost Mountain Trail (old homestead ruins).

Overnight: Blair Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - FREE primitive campground! Designated dispersed area with no reservations or fees. "Wide-open spaces and surrounding desert landscapes ensuring peaceful night away from noise." Vault toilets available, campfires allowed in existing rings. Spectacular sunset painting mountains orange and pink. Mild weather (day 70°F, night 40°F).

Photos coming soon...

Day 11

Anza-Borrego → San Diego, CA

90 miles 1.5-2 hours
Route: From Blair Valley, continue on S2 then west on S22 up the Montezuma Grade (winding ascent with dramatic overlooks). Stop in Julian for famous apple pie. Drive HWY 79 or 78 south through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (pine forests and lakes). Merge onto I-8 west for final stretch.

Wake up to gorgeous desert sunrise. Morning hike amid blooming ocotillo or cactus (February starts wildflower season). Final beautiful drive through dramatic terrain changes from desert to mountains to coast.

Congratulations - you've made it coast-to-coast!

Enjoy San Diego: La Jolla Cove, Balboa Park, beaches, and more. Option to camp at Cleveland National Forest (Pine Creek Road near Mount Laguna for free dispersed camping) or treat yourself to beachfront RV park with hot shower.

Photos coming soon...