Long stretches of open road, ever-changing scenery, and endless adventure. These are just a few thoughts that might come to mind for someone considering a road trip.
For most, taking to the open road is a way to temporarily escape the demands of everyday life and experience something new. However, for 27-year-old filmmaker and photographer Kyle Vandever, being on the road is as comfortable as it gets to being at home.
Why live on the road full time?
I first met Kyle Vandever, sitting at the top of a large granite slab overlooking Tunnel View, an iconic view in Yosemite National Park. Although we had just met, it was impossible not to pick up on his zest for life and admiration for the outdoors.
It wasn’t until after the sun rose high above the towering granite walls and we made our way through the valley that it dawned on me—he was experiencing one of the most iconic national parks for the first time from his living room.
For some, the prospect of selling your belongings and living on the road full time is a frightening proposition. For Vandever, simplifying his life by purging excess possessions and moving into his van was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to travel.
Growing up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Vandever was always drawn to the outdoors and spent his childhood admiring nature and seeking adventure. After graduating college, he quickly recognized that the 9 to 5 lifestyle wasn’t for him.
“The van allows me to live with very little overhead, rent-free and without a lease,” he explains. “It allows me to focus on my goal of experiencing more of the world.”
Meet Maggie
If you’re traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest or find yourself in the western U.S., you may cross paths with a 1995 Chevrolet G20 Sportvan named Maggie. Sporting a two-toned blue and white coat of paint, Vandever considers Maggie to be more than just a home on wheels—she’s a means of experiencing the world from a different point of view.
Since purchasing Maggie, Vandever has installed an entire kitchenette, equipped with a sink, a Yeti cooler, and other essentials that help his van feel more like home. Currently, she is in the midst of a makeover, and will soon be sporting new, low-maintenance flooring, a raised bed, and a swanky topper for added storage.
Although Vandever admits that Maggie isn’t the prettiest van on the road, he was instantly drawn to her character and charm. After all, the whole idea behind taking to the road full-time was to live a functional and comfortable life. She doesn’t need to be perfect, as long as she’s livable.
What are the benefits to living on the road?
When asked, Vandever will tell you that living on the road allows him to experience life in a unique way. Sometimes it’s easier than living a traditional lifestyle, while other times it’s a lot more difficult—either way, he says, it’s always worth it.
Freedom
For Vandever, Maggie is a ticket to freedom that allows him to live a life uninhibited by everyday expectations, excess bills, and conventional responsibilities.
Every single day is unique and unpredictable. His newfound freedom has given him the opportunity to focus more energy on telling compelling stories that inspire others to travel, document authentic experiences, and share unique moments with perfect strangers. Free of distractions and free of excess, Vandever has found a way to focus on the most important thing—his happiness.
A new perspective
“I’m driven by experiences and maybe a little stubbornness,” Vandever says. “I want to find out for myself [what’s out there], rather than reading about it in a book or seeing it in a movie.”
In addition to the freedom of living on the road, meeting new people along his journey has taught him a lot about the kindness and goodness humanity has to offer. Meeting strangers has been gratifying and humbling, forcing him to experience life through someone else’s point of view.
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Vandever advises, adding that people should expose themselves to circumstances that challenge their norm. He adds that living a nomadic life teaches you to be more accepting and understanding of others.
Less is more
In a society that is often focused on acquiring more things, living a minimalist lifestyle allows Vandever to focus more of his attention on his craft: filmmaking and storytelling. Living frugally means he doesn’t need to be overly concerned about possessions or things.
By living with less, Vandever has learned that you really don’t need as much as you think you need and less overhead has the added benefit of teaching you what is really important.
What are some challenges to living on the road?
Although living on the road full time may look a lot like a permanent vacation, Vandever will be the first to tell you that it isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Some of the things that we accept as modern conveniences—like where to eat, sleep, or bathe—present a unique challenge on the road.
Finding the basics
Although living on the road has allowed Vandever to wake up at the foothills of the Eastern Sierras, there have also been times he’s woken up in a Walmart parking lot or had to scour the web at 1 a.m. for a legal place to sleep.
After spending an entire day exploring, hiking, or working, having to figure out where you can rest your head is exhausting—both mentally and physically.
Albeit a challenge, having to consider how to get or where to find basic, daily necessities offers the unique benefit of teaching you to appreciate what you do have.
Uncertainty
Although spontaneity and adventure are often what inspire people to want to live on the road, Vandever explains that it’s the uncertainty that is often the most significant drawback to living in a van.
Whether it be poor planning, unpredictable weather, or a variety of other road trip trifles, things are not always going to go as planned. Ambiguity about where to sleep, where to go, or what you’ll be doing tomorrow can be stressful and eventually take a toll on a career traveler.
Lessons from the road
It may sound cliché, but life on the road isn’t always about the destination. It’s about how you get to where you’re going and the people you meet along the way. Vandever has capitalized on his new method of living by seeking out opportunities to tell stories about human kindness and existence.
On a recent trip to Guatemala, for example, he had the opportunity to interact with villagers that lack easy access to clean drinking water. Rather than passively documenting the experience, however, Vandever rolled up his sleeves, strapped a bucket of water to his back, and made the trek alongside the villagers. He wanted to know exactly what they experienced on a day to day basis.
By living on the road, Vandever has learned to shoot with a purpose, to convey a message that has meaning, and to seek inspiration from human interaction. By abandoning the safety and security of traditional life, he is motivated to find ways to be a better human being and inspire others to do the same.
“Be a welcoming person. Open yourself up to people and be authentic. That’s the best way to make a personal connection and really get to know people,” he says.
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Kyle Vandever is a career filmmaker with a magnetic and engaging personality. He makes a living on the road by working for brands, shooting weddings, and documenting his personal experiences on Instagram and YouTube. More than that, he’s proof that if you’re driven by your dreams and willing to make sacrifices, life on the road can be both rewarding and attainable.
