In autumn 2020, filmmaker Nick Neumann and his companion Thaís from Brazil, embarked on an unforgettable roadtrip across the United States in their trusty van. During the five month journey from California to Florida and back, as the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election converged, they encountered people from all walks of life eager to share their stories and perspectives on a changing America. As the miles rolled on, the cultural and political divides between urban and rural America became more pronounced. The cities were changing, while the countryside offered a slower, more rooted existence. Yet, amidst these differences, the travelers’ focus on human connections revealed common threads that unite us all.

In this book you'll find not just a travelogue filled with stories, photos and maps, but a guide to embracing curiosity and exploring places off the beaten path, beyond the typical #vanlife photo ops. With useful tips and insights from their van dwelling experience, this book will inspire you to hit the open road and discover the incredible beauty and variety of America's landscapes, cultures, and people. Join them on this extraordinary journey and let it ignite your spirit of adventure.

Our Route

The route East is in blue. Each dot shows a location where we slept. The RV icon denotes sleeping in the van, while the bed icon denotes sleeping indoors in either a friend’s house, motel or Airbnb.

It took us 96 days to cross the country and reach Key West. We traveled 7520 miles, averaging 90 miles per driving day.

The route back West is in Orange. The black line represents our driving route.

Our journey back across the States took 60 days. We covered 6544 miles in route west. It was the dead of winter so we moved quickly. On the days we drove we averaged 148 miles.

In total we drove 14064 miles over the course of five months.