At the beginning of the year, my husband, our two-year-old, three dogs, and I hit the road for a three-month adventure through the southern United States. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about how amazing it was…

The trip was amazing, but being on the road for that long with four small creatures had its rough moments, too. We also faced weird obstacles at almost every stop: a surprise 3 ft of snow in Flagstaff, a broken axle on the way to FL, and sickness in Wichita.

But now, six months later I’m telling Roger I miss living in the camper and wish we could do it again. So… I must have liked it enough. We were only able to do this because Roger and I both work remotely and, man, did we learn a lot about balancing work with travel. Here are some of the key tips we picked up for anyone looking to take their work on the road:

Work Tips

#1: Know Your Internet Requirements

For the sake of your work, before you leave, assess what kind of internet speed, security, and reliability you need for work. Whether it’s secure client calls or fast download speeds, plan ahead and scout Wi-Fi options to avoid frustration.

We actually have a Starlink which can get internet nearly anywhere (except the northwoods of WI apparently… there’s too many trees). Disclaimer: overall, I’m not an Elon Musk fan, but Starlink is exactly what my family needed for this trip. It was easy for both Roger and I to be online while Madi watched Sesame Street on our TV. (Yes, I’m a bougie traveler. I don’t believe in tent camping anymore.)

#2: Bring the Right Tech

Internet is one thing, but your tech is a whole different game. Pack everything you might need—chargers, adapters, portable batteries, and any specialty equipment. Trust me, you don’t want to be stuck in a remote area realizing you left something crucial behind!

I even packed up my podcast studio so I could record some episodes on the road. Did I actually do it, no… but I intended to AND who else can say their podcast mic went from SLC to FL and back?

#3: Share Your Adventure

Let your colleagues and clients know you’re on the move. Not only does this set expectations for potential delays or time zone differences, but it’s also a fun conversation starter in Zoom meetings.

Working from anywhere is a unique ability and a unique adventure. If I started a conversation with a new lead explaining I was on the road, they didn’t question my Zoom background (usually my child’s bunk). Often, they were entertained and asked extra questions. My clients took it one step further and loved tracking our trip, asking each meeting where we were at that day.

Human Tips

#1: Plan for Breaks

Don’t forget to step away from your laptop and experience the places you’re visiting. Plan regular breaks so you can explore and recharge.

While in Flagstaff (and before the 3 ft of snow surprised us), I would work for an hour in the morning and then take the dogs and Madi on a hike to explore different areas around our campsite. It was a great way to get out of our camper, give the dogs a much-needed break, and see our surroundings.

We are also big fans of exploring local food options so we often take longer lunch breaks and head to a new-to-us taco or pizza place for a bite to eat.

#2: Take Long Weekends

If possible, take advantage of your flexible location and plan long weekends. It gives you the chance to explore deeper and rest more, which makes the whole trip feel more enjoyable.

Roger generally gets Fridays off, but one of our weekends, I took the Friday off as well so we could check out the Grand Canyon. If we had friends who lived nearby our stops, we’d use Fridays to hang out with them.

BONUS: Another good use for a long weekend is relocation! We went from Flagstaff to Dallas to Oklahoma City to Baton Rouge to Melbourne FL. Because we didn’t want to interrupt our work weeks, we’d often use the long weekend to drive from one place to another. Usually we still had a built-in rest day!

#3: Balance Family Visits with Relaxation

OK. It has to be said… If you’re visiting family along the way, try to sprinkle in relaxing stops before and after. It’s nice to unwind before and after the intensity of family time.

We spent about four weeks with my parents and another four weeks with Roger’s mom. I love my family and I love my in-laws, but it was good to create some buffer before, between, and after those stays. Roger and I both wish we had built in some extra buffer in a national park on the way home so we could’ve enjoyed ourselves before jumping back into the “real life” of working from home.

If you’ve been considering a work-from-anywhere trip, I would 100% encourage you to do it. I hope these tips inspire you to take your work on the road and embrace the adventure! It’s not without it’s hurdles or frustrations, but it was an amazing experience for our little family.

P.S. Don’t feel pressured to jump into a three-month trip. We worked up to that. I used to work while I travelled all the time when I was single and we did a handful of week and two-week trips as a family before we jumped into the three-month trip.