Solo Camping, Infinite Adventure
Here at Many Happy Miles, we love to spotlight real women showing up for things that feel a little intimidating, a little inconvenient, and maybe even a little wild. We’re talking about the magic of Type-2 fun that is definitely out of your comfort zone but somehow becomes your favorite story later.
Have your own adventure you'd like to share? Let us know here.
Meet Jessica Scott, 44, an elementary school teacher from York, PA. After a difficult divorce in 2024, Jess knew she wanted to be more adventurous. "I was also looking for quiet time in nature and solitude to help reset my nervous system after years of living in an anxious environment," she says. Rather than waiting for her schedule to align with somebody else's, Jess took herself solo car camping and hasn't looked back.
Is camping new to you?
Growing up, we camped for family vacations. I also spent a lot of time by myself in the woods behind my childhood home, making trails and using my imagination. Camping is the perfect fit for travel and hiking; plus it's pretty low budget, and using my car as a home base lets me feel safe while I'm mobile.
Tell us, what's your camping vibe?
I camp using a combo of a tent and my car. The tent attaches over the back of my Honda CRV, so I can sleep in the safety of my car, but still have some storage and privacy. My car has an awkward hump in the back when you put the seats down, so I had a handy friend of mine build a custom platform for sleeping and storage. I’ve been camping for a year now and I’ve camped in 7 different states and visited multiple state and national parks!
Which fears about your solo adventure have you sent packing?
Putting my tent up without making a complete fool of myself was honestly my biggest fear! For my first trip, I chose a campground close to home. It was so windy that I couldn’t get the tent up and I ended up shoving it back in my car and going home. But I didn’t let that firs outing stop me! I went out again, and the tent went up just fine.
Camping can be stressful. What's one trick you use to stay positive?
I’ve framed my mistakes and mess ups as an "opportunity to learn." After each trip, I intentionally ask myself, "What did I learn this time?" It helps me remember that fear and failure are both very normal feelings.
What's your ride-or-die gear?
My SUV tent is from Napier Outdoors. It’s surprisingly simple to get up, even by myself. I also have a smaller tailgate tent that just slips over the tailgate and has a screen. After my windy tent struggle, I knew I’d need something for breezy weather if my big tent didn’t cooperate.
Other things I love: My Coleman stove, a headlamp with a red light option (keeps bugs away), and a backseat organizer that functions as a nightstand in the car. I also spend hours reading in my Eno travel hammock every time I camp. Also, trees. I scout campsite photos to make sure my site will have appropriate trees for the hammock.
Favorite camping trip so far:
My first trip might always be one of my favorites because it felt like such a victory. I was in Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland. The weather was absolutely perfect and I was able to hike to the falls right from my campsite.
What has surprised you about heading out solo?
First is how NOT alone I feel. I really enjoy my own company and being able to make decisions without consulting others. I get to decide if I want to get up early and hike or spend a slow morning reading in my hammock. I have also grown to love a campsite that doesn’t have any cell service. I use the satellite messaging on my phone to check in with my family, but otherwise, I love being disconnected!
What solo camping advice do you want to pass along?
- Do it scared! Anxiety often gets a bad reputation, but it’s a completely normal human feeling. I try to remind myself of that, and I’ve noticed that each time I push through something hard, the anxiety feels a little smaller the next time.
- Research before you go. Looking at maps, campsite photos, and reviews has helped me find the best sites and campgrounds.
- When making a s’more, use a marshmallow Peep instead of a plain marshmallow. Trust me on this one.
Follow Jess on Instagram: @JessGetsOutThere, where she shares her car setup, more camping photos, and lots of exploring.
Have your own adventure you'd like to share? Let us know here.
