If you have ever dreamed of taking a family RV adventure, our road trip to Southern Utah taught us that travel does not have to be perfect to be unforgettable. From breakdowns on the side of the road to breathtaking views at Bryce Canyon, this journey became one of our favorite family memories.
Road Trip to Southern Utah in a Coach Motorhome
The Road Trip to Southern Utah started with my husband buying us a Coach motorhome. I couldn’t believe how nice it was. But it needed a lot of cleaning. After cleaning “The Hillbilly Hotel” (as we call it), it was a chore to figure out how to pack for three people: the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and undercarriage. We got everything packed that we needed, and it was nice and neat, easy to get to everything. Getting organized for life on the road became an adventure in itself, and I learned a few practical tricks along the way.
The Hillbilly Hotel Adventure (Our Motorhome Mishaps)
After getting the bus home, it needed some work before we could leave for our trip. My husband worked on the Bus for a month before we could go. We found some interior things that did not work. We had to buy a new toilet and put down new flooring in the bathroom. The dumping system was not working properly, and when we tried to add water, it would not stay in the holding tank. My wonderful husband fixed it all.
The day finally came when we could leave. As we tried to pull out of our driveway, the stairs would not go up. You can not drive the bus with the stairs down. They could get caught on anything and take the side of the bus off. Well, we didn’t start that well. We left late and didn’t drive that far on the first day.
First Day On Our Road Trip to Southern Utah
We stopped the first night in an empty lot. We could do that because we had water, a generator, and a toilet that made us self-contained. But some of the places we stayed at were not that safe. When my husband was tired and needed to sleep, I took care of everything. I didn’t like doing that, but we had no choice when my husband needed to rest, and there was nothing else around.
The following morning, I took Zeus (our dog) for a walk while everyone else slept. Zeus and I would try to be very quiet so we wouldn’t wake my daughter, who slept on the pull-out sofa in the Motorhome’s main room. She would get mad at me in the mornings because I was making coffee too loudly. She would fall asleep again as we were exiting. I always had fun going for walks early in the morning with Zeus.
Breaking Down Camp
I cooked a good breakfast. As I was cleaning up breakfast, my husband and daughter were outside, checking to make sure everything was good and put away. When we all had everything put away, we would pull off and head down the road.
Unexpected RV Breakdowns on the Journey
I think we broke down not even two hours after starting. The whole day was like that. We spent most of our time on the side of the road rather than driving down it. The bus was overheating, and we could not figure out what was causing it. The motor is in the back of the bus under the master bed. My husband had the compartment open to look at the engine when, all of a sudden, oil spewed everywhere. It covered him, my daughter, drapes, the floor, and the bed. What a mess. Everybody was okay, but it made such a mess.
The next couple of days were not too bad. We still broke down, but not as much. We drove more in these two days than we did in the first two days. My daughter (Bridgette) drove most of the time. She loves to drive and did a really good job. Plus, she was ready to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
Exploring Vicksburg National Military Park
We walked through the Vicksburg National Military Park. We were traveling when COVID hit, so many places were closed, and hardly anyone was around. The park was closed, but you could still walk around the grounds. We saw some fantastic monuments and places where some battles took place. At each battle site, they had a plaque telling precisely what happened. It was truly unique.
My daughter and I tried to walk through the battle sites but got lost. My husband had to honk the bus horn so we knew where to go. It was pretty hilarious. We walked straight up the hills and down into the gully, over downed and under trees. We could not believe how we got out of the woods. But we finally found the bus.
Traveling Through Texas by Motorhome
We stopped at this little town in Texas. It had a small main street or square with shops all around it. We went into a little shop that sold homemade items. I think I walked out of there, spending a lot of money. I am always looking for homemade things. Well, I hit the jackpot at this little store. The people were so lovely and friendly.
In the next town in Texas, they had some old stagecoach wagons. I can’t believe people travel around in those things. We let Zeus run a little while as we looked over the old stagecoaches. I wanted to climb into the driver’s seat on the stagecoach, but couldn’t. A creek/river ran beside them, so we played in the water. It was very hot that day. Zeus loves to get in the water. The current almost dragged him away. Thought we might have to go swimming to get him, but he caught his balance and didn’t fall in.
Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
We finally arrived at my parents’ house in Southern Utah. The weather was beautiful all week, and the day we went to Bryce Canyon National Park, it snowed. We were traveling in the middle of May and freezing. It was so cold, and we dressed for a nice, warm, sunny day. Southern Utah is known for warmer, drier weather, so we weren’t prepared for such a cold day.
Bryce Canyon is a beautiful place. You can see all the different ways the rock has been formed, which makes it so beautiful. Over time, erosion has helped shape the remarkable formations you see throughout Bryce Canyon. The rock is sandstone, and as the water flows down the canyon, you can see the many centuries it took to carve it. The rocks are all sorts of yellow, red, orange, and white colors.
Heading Home Was Fun Too
My husband worked on the Bus while we were in Southern Utah. It paid off, too. The Bus only broke down a few times, so we saw many things. It was hard leaving my parents, but we said our goodbyes and went down the road. We stopped off at Four Corners. I had been there when it was not so commercialized. But I enjoyed showing it to my husband and daughter. They stood in all four states at the same time. That was fun. We only stopped at a couple more places. We were ready to get home.
What We Learned From Traveling by Motorhome
Traveling by motorhome taught us patience and flexibility. Things did not always go as planned, and many times we had to adjust our expectations. Breakdowns, delays, and repairs were frustrating in the moment, but they taught us how to work together as a family. My husband handled many of the repairs, my daughter helped with driving, and I often managed meals and kept things organized. Everyone had a part.
One lesson we learned quickly was to expect surprises. Even with planning, something can go wrong on the road. But those unexpected moments often become the stories you remember most.
What We Packed for Our Road Trip to Southern Utah
Packing for a long road trip in a motorhome took more thought than I expected. We had to organize kitchen supplies, food, bedding, clothing, cleaning products, and essentials for Zeus. Space mattered, so everything needed a place.
We also learned the value of packing emergency supplies, extra water, tools, and simple comfort items that made life easier while traveling. Looking back, being organized helped reduce stress and made day-to-day living in the motorhome much smoother.
Traveling With Family and Pets
Traveling with family creates a unique kind of closeness. You spend time together in a way that everyday life rarely allows. We talked, laughed, solved problems, and shared experiences that we still remember.
Having Zeus with us made the trip even more special. His morning walks, roadside breaks, and excitement around new places added to the adventure. Traveling with a pet takes planning, but for us, it was worth it.
Would We Take Another RV Trip?
Absolutely.
Even with breakdowns, oil spills, overheating, and unexpected setbacks, I would do it again. The beautiful places we saw, the time spent together, and the memories we made were worth every challenge.
Travel does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the breakdowns, wrong turns, unexpected weather, and little mishaps become the memories you treasure most. Our road trip to Southern Utah certainly wasn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.