- Rachel Harris, 22, lived in a Jeep with her dog, Fado, for a year before upgrading her rig in 2023.
- Harris said living on the road is rewarding but tough when it comes to showering and getting sick.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rachel Harris, 22, about traveling the US in her camper truck. She chronicles the experience on social media, where she has over 500,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I started traveling pretty young because of my older sister. We have been on amazing adventures together, and she has inspired me to be brave and to seek out the unknown.
In high school, I worked two jobs and would save up all of my money to spend summers traveling with her. We would go to places like Puerto Rico, rent a car and camp.
So early on, I learned how to travel cheaply.
After graduating college in 2021, I didn't have any money. I also had no luck finding a job. My friend offered up his couch in Colorado until I could get back on my feet.
For months, I worked as a waitress to save up money so I could afford to live on the road full time. When I had enough cash, I moved out and started living in my car with my dog. After living in the car for over a year, I finally bought my dream rig.
Over the last few years, I've had some really amazing experiences and have explored many beautiful places. This year, my pup and I traveled from the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, all the way to Alaska.
Having time to be outside and explore has become the basis for my career as a photographer and content creator. I'm now a freelancer and making six figures a year. Without living in my car, I would never be in the position that I am now.
Living in a car isn't for the faint-hearted
Living in a Jeep Renegade with my 60-pound dog definitely wasn't ideal, but I made it work.
The SUV had five seats and I would fold them down to make a bed. On top of my jeep, I had a big box with all my things. Inside the car, I had a cooler for my food and camping stoves. I also had a portable shower and a gym membership to take showers. My dog and I were super smushed in there.
To afford gas and food, I did random freelance work and sold my artwork. I did basically anything I could do to just get by. It was the only way I could afford to keep living on the road.
After saving up money, I purchased a $1,700 camper in January 2023. The vehicle was super shady but it was the only thing I could afford at the time. Unfortunately, it ended up getting destroyed in a windstorm in Mexico.
In June, I got a job working as a social-media manager for a marketing company. When I was promoted to director, I was finally in the financial position to get my truck and camper. I now have all the luxuries.
The camper has a full electric system with solar power. It also has a crate, freezer, sink, heater and under-bed storage for my clothes. It's built for off-roading, which was my biggest goal. I wanted a truck camper instead of a van because it was important to have a vehicle that was capable of getting to remote places.
I've made a lot of sacrifices but they've been worth it
This year, I have been moving so much. I don't know how many states I've been to, but I would guess at least 30. So, there has been a lot of driving. I don't keep track of how much I spend on gas, but it's definitely the bulk of my expenses every month.
Living in a vehicle is definitely not easy. Everyday chores become a task. You have to find places to shower. If you have mechanical problems, you're basically homeless. And if you're sick, it's not fun living in your vehicle.
I don't get lonely on the road because I love traveling with my dog. Fado is super active and loves being outside and going on adventures.
I'm also super close with my mom and sister and I have some really amazing friends. The nomad community is really strong, so I end up meeting up with friends quite often. I definitely could not live this life without a solid community.
I have had a handful of scary experiences traveling, but never anything super bad. The way I look at it, women face the most danger in their everyday life. People they meet at school or at work pose a greater threat.
In Oregon I was followed by a man in a truck. For weeks, I couldn't shake the feeling that he had put a tracker on my car. That was probably the worst experience.
I definitely have missed out on some life events due to my traveling too, but I'm okay with that.
My dating life is pretty nonexistent, but I'm also okay with it. It's not something that I'm pursuing at all. If I'm going to meet my person, they're just gonna walk into my life naturally.
I've established a career as a travel blogger
A year into living in my car, my content creation really started to take off. I do a lot of video creation on Instagram and TikTok. I also post videos to Facebook and YouTube.
Most of my money comes from Instagram and TikTok sponsorships. I typically make $4,000 a post on Instagram. In all, I make around $10,000 a month. It's not all from social media, because I still work for a marketing agency — I would say a third of my income comes from the marketing agency.
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about travel bloggers is that their lives are financed by daddy's money or a trust fund. It's super frustrating because I've worked really hard to get where I am.
I definitely work a lot but it's flexible. During the day I go out on adventures or film and then at night, I typically do computer work — that's when I do most of my emails for the marketing company. I work 40 hours a week.
This year has been the first time that I wasn't broke.
Now that I am more stable, I can afford nice things. I love buying organic food. I can also afford to eat out when I'm in a city or get a hotel room if I'm sick — these are little things that I never could afford before.
How I am living currently is the best quality of life that I've ever had because I'm always outside. I love not being in society, exploring the world, and enjoying my peaceful life with my dog.
I definitely see myself in a few years hopefully having some kind of home base but still continuing to travel. But for now, I see myself living on the road.