Meet The Roamer Who Spent 2 Years Criss-Crossing America In An RV

A recent transplant to Oklahoma City after two-plus years of RV living and 13 years in Chicago, Matt Kirouac is a travel writer with a particular passion for national parks. He’s the co-founder and co-host of Hello Ranger, a national parks community blog, podcast, and app. Together with his husband and travel partner, Brad, Matt has visited upwards of 30 national parks, and countless national monuments and preserves. He is the author of The Hunt Guides Chicago and Unique Eats & Eateries of Chicago, and his bylines can be found in Travel + Leisure, Eater, Culture Trip, and others. 

Kirouac sat down with Thrillist to talk national parks, LGBTQ+ travel, and the pros & cons of life on the road.

Thrillist: Matt, thank you so much for talking with us. It’s kind of mindblowing that, after more than a decade in Chicago, you left it all behind to live in an RV. Walk us through that decision… was RV life always a dream of yours?

Kirouac: I absolutely loved my time in Chicago—especially the years spent at our loft in the Ukrainian Village. The RV thing had long been a fantasy of mine, and for my husband, Brad, but I’d never actually considered buying one and doing it full-time.

Early 2018 was a super busy time for us. I was traveling solo for writing jobs, and Brad was often on the road for work. We missed each other and needed to come up with a solution. It all happened rather quickly—one day we’re floating the idea and fantasizing about buying an RV, and the next day we’re at a dealership, driving one off the lot! 

It was about really LIVING our lives together, more fully and regularly. And it was about immersing ourselves in as many experiences as possible. I didn’t want to sit stagnant in one place for too long, or only return to places I know and love. I wanted to explore and see parts of America that most people never do.

And it was all rainbows and sunshine for the next two years, right?

Kirouac: When we first moved in, I basically had an emotional meltdown. It was a drastic change going from a big city to a 26-foot RV with a tiny stove and shower the size of a dumbwaiter. I had to become comfortable with a lot less, going long stretches of time without seeing family and friends. 

The opportunity to uproot and travel full-time is a dream for so many, that not many people are able to do. So I spent two years pinching myself and reminding myself of that. And at the risk of tooting my own horn, I discovered I am capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. More than anything else, I loved being able to experience so much with my husband and our dog. We did more in two years than most couples do in a lifetime, experiencing the highest highs and lowest lows, coming out of every experience stronger and more loving; more appreciative of the little things, and more appreciative of each other.

RV sales and rentals went through the roof last summer. Still, there’s a lot of stereotypes about the RV community. Who’s actually out there driving these things?

Kirouac: There’s definitely a prevailing stereotype that it’s a lifestyle cornered by retirees and snowbirds in Florida. And that’s legit, but the RV community is FAR more widespread than I ever would’ve thought. There are families with kids of all ages, single travelers, young couples, folks with pets, LGBTQ+ travelers—all staying connected through online communities. We formed enduring bonds with so many wonderful people on social media. It’s the best part of Instagram! We’d post our itinerary—saying we’ll be in this particular city or national park—and our friends and followers would help us plan hikes or meals.

For people of color and the LGBTQ+ community, cross-country travel comes with a whole different set of fears and headaches. What was your experience traveling as a gay couple?

Kirouac: I will happily say that the vast majority of places we’ve been and people we’ve met have been absolutely lovely, gracious, and welcoming. I was able to make meaningful, sincere connections with so many towns—Albuquerque, Orlando, and Rapid City all come to mind.

Check out the full article from Thrillist here.