Tons of folks in the road‑tripping world travel solo and love it that way. I don’t blame them, because I know the pain of being asked, “Shall we go on a hike today?” and thinking, “No, I want to lie in the hammock eating campfire macaroni,” but saying, “Yep, sounds great—let me get my boots.”

It can be tempting to go it alone, to be a lone wolf, to prove that you’re independent, capable, and completely okay with the inevitability of making mistakes. And to an extent, this is an excellent way to craft a life on the road that serves you best. The thing is, though, that there are oodles of super knowledgeable, decent, good-time nomads on the road who are keen to share what they know, or just settle in for some campfire chats. Why? Because some people just want to live their best lives and help others do the same.

In this issue of ROVA, we learn from and about other travelers. Clinton Harris pops into Moonlanding III, an otherworldly van-life experience in the New Mexico desert, where nomads meet to learn technical skills, take a break from driving, meet like-minded folks and dance under the moon. We talk to three overlanding experts about their off-road adventures, picking their brains for expert advice and hearing some hairy stories. Solitude-hunters will enjoy Jess Carolan’s guide to escaping the crowds (hint: it involves an alarm clock), and Brenda Huynh’s tips for first-timers visiting Yosemite help remove the overwhelm of a giant, people‑packed national park.

You’ll also find useful nuggets of information about power and connectivity, learn the history of fifth-wheel campers, and discover more destinations to add to your itinerary—including Louisiana’s Outback, the Creole Nature Trail.

The whole point of ROVA is to get you inspired, educated, entertained and connected. And we are lucky enough to work with amazing storytellers who help us to achieve that goal. Do you have a story? Hop on over to our website or Instagram to share it with us. You never know who you might inspire to live their dream life.