A Solo Journey: One Woman’s Campervan Adventures in Southern Nevada

First Things First

I flew into Las Vegas and rented a kitted-out rig from Escape Campervans. There are a number of companies that rent vehicles like this, but I went with Escape because I’d been seeing its brightly colored vans at state and national parks for years. The paint jobs are purely aesthetic, but for me, they provided an element of whimsy during the sometimes-intimidating adventure.

From their five vehicle models, I chose the Del Mar, which sleeps up to five. I wanted a spacious experience and wasn’t disappointed. The Del Mar is a solid choice for anyone traveling with kids in car seats, as it has a static second row that means you won’t have to take seats in and out of the van to set up the sleeping area. You can bring your own gear or add extras, such as a kitchen kit or bedding. Flying in as I was, I added on most of the offered accessories: Lugging camp chairs or a comforter on a plane was not appealing. With my transportation and accommodation settled, it was time to decide where to camp.

Make Good Choices

The van contract has a 100-mile-per-day allotment with a charge for each additional mile. That meant I was limited only by my imagination—and how much I felt like adding to the bill. I’ve wanted to stay at Valley of Fire State Park since my first visit years before, but the temps can be insanely high in the summer when I normally camp. A trip in late fall made this my best bet.

I decided to also take advantage of the scenic beauty of Mt. Charleston. The destinations seemed the perfect counterpoints to one another: deep red sandstone formations vs. pine-scented forests.

And Away We Go

Day one is all about the getting there, I reminded myself as I pulled into Mt. Charleston’s Fletcher View campground at almost 3:30 p.m. I had about 90 minutes before the sun set, so I hustled to get set up for the night.

Overlooked detail No. 1: Where your campsite is matters. I don’t just mean which campground. By choosing a gorgeous spot tucked tight up against a mountain, I shorted myself precious daylight. The sun was already behind the hillside, which led to overlooked detail No. 2: Camping at 7,000 feet elevation in late fall means the temps will be low. Like, really low. I had checked the forecast, of course, but fell prey to the assumption that it never gets cold in southern Nevada. I’m from northern Nevada, so I figured the beanie, gloves, and coat I brought were plenty. I never would have thought my trip would be so severely impacted by the thermometer.

I converted the kitchen table and seating area into my bed, knowing I didn’t want to do that in the dark. The kitchen setup is housed in the rear of the van accessed by opening the two back doors. As the light waned, the prospect of standing outside the van, with the back doors open while I cooked, wasn’t very appealing. The wonderful dinner I planned to cook with the propane stove, along with hot tea and cookies for dessert, no longer sounded so romantic an idea. Instead, I took a quick tour of the campground before hunkering inside the van for the night, eating protein bars and fruit. The temperature dipped into the mid 20s overnight. Overlooked detail No. 3: The kit that included the space heater would have been a good thing to get.

New Choices

It was a rough night, to be sure, but I emerged from the van—looking a bit like the Michelin Man in all my layers—ready to make this solo camping trip everything I had envisioned. Quite chilly still but with daylight encroaching, I made a quick breakfast of hot tea and oatmeal and set about exploring the van and all its equipment.

The kitchen area has a sink with a five-gallon water tank and pump-action faucet. A slide-out propane stove, refrigerated drawer, cubby spaces, and countertops round out the basic offerings. The refrigerated drawer was the perfect size for me and potentially one other person. Larger groups would need a cooler. I had purchased the kitchen kit add-on, so I had dinnerware, cups, glasses, silverware, pots, pans, a towel, sponge, and dish soap. Overlooked detail No. 4: Read what your added kits include. Paper towels do not come with the van, nor do tissues, toilet paper, trash bags, or other paper goods.

Now deeply conscious of the short days, I chose a quick hike and a drive through picturesque Kyle Canyon before heading to Valley of Fire for my next night.

After a roughly 90-minute drive, I pulled into my campsite at Arch Rock campground. The temperature was in the high 60s, and I had at least five hours of daylight before me. I took advantage of the warmth and light to set up the campervan for the next two nights. I decided to leave the bed in place for the duration of my trip; warmer temps would allow me to eat outside, after all. A quick lunch of salad and soup, and I was off to explore Nevada’s first state park.

Satisfyingly Solo

The next two days were spent wandering among the remarkable geological features the park is famous for. While hiking through the sandy washes or taking pictures of petroglyphs and chuckwallas, I never had time to dwell on the fact I was alone. There were some moments I wanted to share a spectacular sight with someone. Ultimately, the secret to comfortably traveling alone might be to go where the senses are positively overwhelmed. Well, that and have a secure and comfortable place to stay each night.

The campervan was a great solution for me: It had just enough creature comforts—sans the heater I would have loved my first night—to make camping alone a success. It was not without its challenges, but the bed was amply comfortable, I was able to cook hot meals and make tea, and while I felt completely safe in the campgrounds I chose, the door locks clinched that feeling.

For anyone flying into town (or someone like me who doesn’t own their own RV), a campervan rental is a great option. You certainly don’t have to travel alone, but once in a while, I highly recommend it.

Tips From The Road

Depending on what your rental includes (and make sure you know), here’s a few thoughts on what I wish I’d brought:

• A level to make sure you’re parked on a flat surface. In a pinch, use the lip balm method (lay the tube on its side on a flat surface and see which way it rolls)
• A phone holder that clips into air vents
• A lantern
• Single-use heat packs for hands and feet, or a hot water bottle
• First aid kit