Jo Piazza; Getty

For Jo Piazza and Nick Aster, a camper van trip through the national parks of Colorado and Utah wasn’t just a summer escape—it was a way to reconnect with the adventures they loved pre-kids. “It was time for a trip out west,” Jo says. “We’d visited a lot of these national parks when we lived in San Francisco, but now it was about showing our kids—Charlie, 5, and Beatrix, 3—what makes these places so special.”

The couple, who live in Philadelphia and were expecting their third child at the time (Eliza, now born), mapped out a 10-day loop that started and ended in Denver. Along the way, they visited Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat Springs, Dinosaur National Monument, Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Breckenridge. “It was a bit of an epic romp,” Jo laughs. Here's how they spent their family vacation—and how much it cost.

Dead Horse Point State Park at sunset

Dead Horse Point State Park at Moab National ParkKarl Hendon/Getty

Why rent a camper van?

Pregnant, outdoorsy, and realistic about the physical demands of camping with two small kids, Jo knew she needed more than a tent. “Sleeping on the ground just wasn’t going to cut it,” she says. “A van gave me a good place to sleep—and full disclosure, Nick often slept out in the tent with the kids to give me a bit of luxury.”

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They rented their “cabin camper” through Outdoorsy—a fully tricked-out truck with a massive cap in the back that felt like a log cabin on wheels. “People commented on it everywhere we went,” Jo says. “We’d get high fives, people asking to take pictures. At one point, someone said, ‘Hey man, we saw you in Canyonlands two days ago! That thing is awesome.”

Planning a flexible route around national parks

Unlike their usual meticulously planned vacations, this one was intentionally open-ended. “We had a general loop in mind,” Jo explains. “We knew we wanted to hit Rocky Mountain right away since it’s so close to the airport, and we knew Charlie would go bananas for Dinosaur. But the rest we figured out as we went. That’s the beauty of traveling by van—you don’t need to lock in hotels every night.”

This flexibility came in handy during a July heatwave in Moab. “We broke up the camping with a stay at the super-unhip Marriott,” Jo says. “It had a fake red rock pool and a mini water park. It flew in the face of the National Park ethos, but with 100-degree heat and two little kids, we just leaned in. They loved it.”

Jo Piazza and Nick Aster with Charlie, 5, and Beatrix, 3Jo Piazza

Dinosaur National Monument Colorado/Utah

Dinosaur Monument Quarry wall shows visitors dinosaur fossils still half buried in stone.Peter Unger/Getty

Top highlights for parents and kids

The kids’ favorite moments weren’t always the ones Jo and Nick would’ve picked, but they rolled with it. “They’re still talking about the pool in Moab and the fossil quarry at Dinosaur National Monument,” Jo says. “Also, they were weirdly into how much attention the van got.”

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison was a surprise standout for the adults. “There were hardly any visitors, and the dark sky was just incredible,” she says. “We caught a ranger program where the kids learned about constellations under a super clear Milky Way. It was magical.”

And though Jo once preferred low-key park campgrounds, she now sees the upside of KOAs. “Pancake breakfasts and mini golf? Yes, please,” she says. “The kids were thrilled, and frankly, so were we.”

The bottom line

Group size: 2 adults, 2 kids, 1 on the way

Days on the road: 10

Flight cost: ~$1,000

Van rental + campgrounds/hotels: ~$2,600

Gas, food, and extras: ~$400

Total trip cost: ~$4,000

The family’s camper cabinJo Piazza

What daily life in a camper van with kids actually looks like

Though the camper was cozy, it wasn’t set up for lounging in the back while driving. “It was more like a truck with a cabin on top,” Jo says. “So we kept drive times short—just a few hours a day—and stopped whenever something interesting popped up.”

Their daily rhythm was less about the van and more about what happened once they parked. “We’d arrive, set up the tent and kitchen, cook, maybe hike if there was daylight left, or just start the campfire,” she explains. They ran into hiccups, of course. “Our camp stove failed the first night,” Jo says. “So we made quesadillas over the fire. Smoky, but pretty delicious, honestly.”

Kid-tested gear and road trip tips that worked

Some items proved unexpectedly helpful. “Headlamps were key—the kids loved them and we always knew where they were,” Jo says. “The kid-carrying backpack was a lifesaver on hikes—it’s comfier than piggybacking and doubles as a lunch tote. And swimsuits were essential. Rivers, lakes, KOA pools… any kind of water saved us from meltdowns.”

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They also brought a steady supply of car snacks. “Yogurt pouches, cheese sticks, and Dip’n Dots at gas stations were clutch,” she adds. “It’s our go-to bribe. Works every time.”

Games helped, too, but they had a shelf life. “The alphabet game gets old fast,” Jo says. “Better to have someone riding shotgun asking national park trivia or tracking license plates. We once saw Alaska and Hawaii parked next to each other. It felt like a cosmic event.”

Hot Air Balloon in Steamboat, CO

A hot air balloon in Steamboat, Coloradoevanbrogan/Getty

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, ColoradoStarcevic/Getty

Managing the hardest parts of the trip

Their biggest challenge? The heat. “We knew it’d be hot in July, especially in Moab, but it was still rough,” Jo says. “We adjusted by hiking early or late, lathering the kids in sunscreen, and making sure everyone had hats and tons of water. And when all else failed, we drove to higher elevation.”

Other bumps included a minor incident right out of the gate. “Nick picked me up at the Denver airport and whacked the van into a low-clearance sign,” she recalls. “There was nowhere to back up, so we just crawled through the pickup zone slowly and hoped for the best.”

Would they do it again?

“Oh, absolutely,” Jo says. “We’re already plotting a Pacific Northwest version. I’d probably downsize the van a bit. Some of those mega-RVs have full kitchens and flat-screens, but they’re expensive and a pain to drive. I’d love one with a pop-top so we could all sleep inside without setting up a tent.”

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Her biggest advice to other families thinking about a camper van trip? “Do it. It’s way more fun than a car trip, and cheaper than hotels. But break it up with a hotel here and there so you can do laundry and reset.”

And while national park camping can feel impossible to book these days, she recommends looking outside the box. “The KOAs and private campgrounds are actually kind of awesome. Yes, there are giant RVs with satellite dishes, but the people are friendly—and the kids will love the pool.”

Final advice for families new to van life

Jo’s top tip is to manage your expectations. “Don’t try to do too much. Be mindful of how long kids can sit still and how far they’re willing to hike. Sometimes the most memorable part of the day isn’t the canyon view—it’s the stick they found on the ground,” she says. “And honestly, that’s okay. Both are magic in their own way.”

Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler