Road Trip Prepping, Packing, and Preparing!

The Week Before Prep! 

Well, we are about a week out from our big adventure. Because life is so busy, I wanted to record a few anecdotes about our week before prep.  

The Great Tent Debacle

We decided that the best—and most cost-effective—way to experience Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon would be to camp. This is also what Dan and I did 17 years ago, and we loved it!

Admittedly, Dan and I waited a bit longer than we should have to make our Yellowstone camping reservations. When we finally booked, there was still an RV/camping site available. At that time, we hadn’t bought a tent yet, and the woman who took our reservation assured us, “You’ll be okay on this site. It holds a 20-foot RV and an 8x8 tent.”

Fast forward to June, when I decided I wanted a tent big enough for all of us to be comfortable. After some research, I found an Ozark tent for $129 at Walmart. We loved it! So much room for activities! Everyone would have their own space, plus room for our luggage.

 

Except…we had the wrong size. This incredible tent is 18x8. I called Yellowstone, hoping we could somehow sneak an extra eight feet of tent into our site. The woman on the phone actually laughed. Nope. There was no way it would fit.

In a panic, I went back to Walmart and ordered an 8x8 tent. But this time, we decided not to open it and to bring both tents with us, making a last-minute decision at the campground about which one to set up. Thankfully, Walmart has a 90-day return window, so we won’t be stuck with two tents forever.

Packages Arriving Like It’s Christmas

Along with the tent saga, there were plenty of other things we needed to get ready for the trip. We decided to try camping cots instead of an air mattress. Not going to lie—I’m hoping this makes camping a little more comfortable.

We also needed a new cooler, Dan and I both needed new running sneakers, and the girls needed things to keep them entertained during the long car rides. So this week, we shopped and shopped, hunting for the best deals and options.

Just a few that arrived on Friday! 

It has been a tradition since the girls were little to make surprise bags for car trips. Dan and I put together about a dozen new items to hand out along the drive—something to look forward to during the many miles ahead.

Bye Bye to our Puppies!  

On Friday, we had a wonderful day with my mom and sister, Kym. However, we did leave two pieces of our hearts in West Virginia with them. We know they will be well cared for and loved, and likely, we won't have time to miss them, but our hearts are a little heavier and the house was a whole lot quieter. 🐾🐾

Packing like its Jenga!   

Saturday's agenda was the final packing day! With the laundry finally caught up, we all packed about 10 days worth of clothes, sweatshirts and sweatpants. I certainly overpacked- per usual- but we should be prepared! The Traverse packing was a bit like Jenga, figuring out all the spaces so nothing topples over. We have a crate for the back of the car we put all our camping gear and the rest of the items fit in the back. There is usually a ton of stress, a few fights, and a late night packing in the rain. However, this pack was smooth, easy, and didn't take all day! Maybe it was the week of prepping, or maybe we are just pros as this point, whatever the reason, Saturday was a great day, filled with excitement and anticipation.

Now you are all up to date with our latest news. Sunday at 3:00AM is coming soon. We leave in the middle of the night for our first stop, Chicago! Send us good wishes, prayers, and good vibes for a wonderful trip!