Rooftop Tent Trip #1: Denver to Mammoth Lakes (Days 1 & 2)

The weather in Colorado has been pretty warm recently, and spring is right around the corner. While it is a little unsettling that the temps have been above 60°F in February and March, I can’t say the sunshine doesn’t feel good. We recently returned from an Aspen trip that was a blast, even though it was pretty dry. The snow conditions weren’t ideal, but the weather was absolutely beautiful.

Since it’s been feeling pretty springlike lately (and spring is quickly approaching), I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to look back at one of our most memorable trips: our first major outing with the rooftop tent in the spring of 2023. We explored many amazing destinations over our two-week road trip. While we had many memorable camping trips before, the addition of the rooftop tent marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our outdoor adventures.

Pieces of Our Adventure

I’ll be breaking the trip up into various posts, grouping a few days in each one. During the trip, I took daily notes—some just for myself and others in preparation for our blog, which at the time was only an idea. I won’t be detailing every single day—just the parts I want to share. Now, almost two years later, I’m revisiting these incredible memories on our blog—something I’m thrilled has finally become a reality! I hope you enjoy these stories from our trip. 😊

Note: For this series, I’m switching things up a bit from our usual blog posts. As readers of Half an Hour Away know, we typically highlight how far certain destinations are from Denver, providing those distance and time insights up front. However, since this trip was more about the journey than a single destination, the format will look a little different. I hope you enjoy this new approach!

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Trip Diary Begins:

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

We left Denver in the evening. Packing seemed to take forever, but that’s how travel goes, at least in my experience. We eventually stopped somewhere in Utah to camp. 

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Thursday, May 18, 2023

We woke up and set off, driving through some cool scenery. Utah has that red rock/desert vibe, which is really pretty to drive through. We found a spot near a lake to cook breakfast, driving by Capitol Reef on the way. Jon made us fried eggs and sausage on the portable grill. Three cute dogs ran over to us to say hello, then ran off again back to their owners. It was a blissful way to start the day. Oh, life on the road truly is something special.

From there, we drove to a spot where Jon could go mountain biking and I could hike. I hiked about 3 miles, and Jon biked 8. Afterward, we made our way to our next stop—Vegas. As part of the route, we decided to visit Taco Bell Cantina. In fact, it was the only reason we went through Vegas. Of course, Vegas being Vegas, the traffic was awful. Once we finally found somewhere to park, we walked to Taco Bell. We both ordered Baja Blasts with double shots of Patron in big swirly cups. Unsurprisingly, it was a lot more expensive than your average Taco Bell trip. But was it worth it? Absolutely.

After walking around for a bit, we continued our journey. We eventually arrived in Mammoth Lakes, California. After our first attempt to find a camping spot didn’t pan out, we finally found the perfect place. We watched Better Call Saul at the folding table under the stars before getting too tired and calling it a night. We got in the tent and went to sleep. 

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Note on Solo Hiking:

I enjoy hiking alone, but it’s crucial to be cautious and prepared, especially as a woman. While some may caution against it, embracing these experiences helps me maintain my independence and enjoy the outdoors without limitation. If you choose to hike alone, make sure to carry pepper spray and/or bear spray, stay alert, and practice situational awareness.