In honor of Valentine’s Day, we gathered stories of love on the road from our Wayfarians and staff. Traveling with a loved one creates unforgettable memories and strengthens bonds, but it can also put even the strongest relationships to the test.

A Total Eclipse of the Heart

“My husband and I got our Wayfarer van in February 2024, just in time for the solar eclipse in April. We picked two locations but made a last-minute pivot north to Syracuse. I was nervous—our longest road trip yet, in a new van we’d barely tested, with our recently adopted dog. What could go wrong?

“We took two days to get there, stopping at Gettysburg. I shared some of my family history from the battlefields, sparking a conversation we’d never really had before—between him, an Indian immigrant, and me, a lifelong Southerner.

“The morning of the eclipse, we decided to drive out to Seneca Lake.  The weather was beautiful, and we got a spot right by the water. He set up his camera, excitement palpable—but an hour before the eclipse, clouds rolled in.

As totality neared, the waves slowed, the birds settled, and an eerie silence fell. Darkness came like a black wall. I reached for his hand, and he squeezed it tight and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I got chills. It felt apocalyptic. In the darkness, whether in the night or day, there is no one else I want by my side than the man I married.” – Leslie R.

Roadside Datenight

“We were both having a tough week and navigating a lot in our careers. I decided to plan an impromptu date night to get us out of the house and scouted the perfect spot to park on a bluff ~10 mins from our house. 

“I picked up our favorite takeout and a bottle of nice wine on the way home, and told her to put on her best ‘outdoor clothes’ for a surprise date. We drove to the spot, parked with the rear doors opened to a view of the city, and had a great, relaxing dinner together. It was such a fun way to put the van to use just minutes from our house, and she loved the surprise.” – Andy M.

How to Adventure Together Without Losing Your Cool

We asked our seasoned Wayfarians for their best tips on keeping the peace on the road.

• We like to plan separate activities every few days on a longer trip so that we’ve got some personal space and time to be introverts. This has served us well time and time again!
• Find out their biggest concerns with camping in the van and figure out how to address those. Showers are a big deal for my husband, so I make sure we pick campsites with good facilities.
• As someone who lived in their van full-time for 3 years, having a pair of headphones (even a video game like a Nintendo Switch) so you can both escape to your own world whilst living out of a confined space is key!
• Never go to sleep angry and have your travel size hobbies you can escape to to your corner of the van. 
• We keep the radio off on every trip so we can talk more.
• Have a system, it’s a small space, know where clean clothes go, dirty clothes, who gets to change first (take turns) things that will prevent you from being on top of one another. Systems work!

And you just might find that van camping can both keep you humble and deepen your bond.

“True love doesn’t start until you have had to poop in the van while your significant other is in the van with you on the other side of the curtains because her going outside on this night would have given our stealth camping away in an instant.” – Anonymous