9 Days, 3 States, Endless Memories: Our Family Overlanding Adventure

Sometimes the best trips don’t need months of overplanning—they just need a map, a camper, and the willingness to say, “Let’s go.” This summer, our family loaded up the Mammoth and set out for a 9-day loop through Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. By the end, we had covered mountain passes, desert cliffs, and wildlife-packed valleys that reminded us why we love overlanding in the first place.

Colorado: Starting Strong in the Rockies

We kicked things off in Buena Vista, where the air is thin and the mountains tower like old guardians. The trails wound us through alpine forests, with sweeping views that made every hairpin turn worth it. Our evenings were the real highlight— a nice dinner off the skottle, mountain sunsets, and the kind of cool air that makes a hot cup of camp coffee in the morning feel like luxury.

Utah: Flaming Gorge Nights

Next stop: Jug Hollow at Flaming Gorge. If Colorado fed our appetite for big mountain views, Utah slowed us down with still waters and wide-open skies. Days were spent dipping into the lake, and nights turned into family movie theaters thanks to a little projector and some surprisingly cooperative kids. It’s the kind of place that makes you linger, even when the itinerary says move on.

Wyoming: Moose Jams and Geysers

From there, we wound north into Jackson Hole and the Tetons. We spotted moose casually blocking the road (because apparently they own it), and hiked trails where every turn revealed another postcard view. Yellowstone was a mix of geothermal wonders and patience-testing traffic—bison and tourists both tend to move slowly. But standing as a family in front of Old Faithful erupting? Worth every second.

The Road Home

By the time we turned south again, the camper smelled faintly of campfire, trail dust, and waffles (yes, we busted out the waffle maker for dessert one night). The kids were already asking when we could do it again, and honestly, so were we.

Nine days, three states, countless memories. Trips like this remind us why we overland—not just to chase the views, but to stack up stories we’ll tell for years to come.