[This article is excerpted and adapted from Erik Kuna’s KelbyOne conference class “Life is a Highway” Keep reading or click below to watch the video on our YouTube channel.]

I love traveling in unconventional ways—and I definitely love traveling on the highway. Just getting out there on the open road, driving around, experiencing new things. Really getting lost. Because sometimes, some of the best images come out of that.

Life is a highway. And at the end of the day, getting out there on the road, there’s so much more to traveling. A lot of people get caught up in just going to major cities, big airports, iconic monuments, or large national parks. And they never go to those places in between. For me, that’s just as much a part of the adventure—sometimes even more enriching—than the big destinations we always think about.

The Freedom of Road Trips

I love traveling on highways and open roads, like when I was in the Tetons—just getting out there. Why do I love it so much? Because it’s freedom. It’s freeing. You can go anywhere, do anything. You’re not restricted like you are in cities, or when you’re on a tight schedule.

 I believe this can unlock your photography, because we often get locked into certain locations, or photo tours, or rigid plans. But when you give yourself the freedom to modify plans—to say, “I’m going that way instead because there’s no clouds over here,” or “I’m going to skip this shoot because the light’s bad”—you can adjust. You can go eat now, shoot later. You can chase the light.

I do a lot of planning. I teach planning. But here’s the thing: when you’ve done the planning, it makes it easier to modify those plans quickly. You already know what’s possible, where you can go, and what your options are. So you can really get lost in the moment.

Another thing I love? It lets you and your family experience the “in between” parts of our world. I got to show my daughter something she’d never seen before—driving between Amarillo and Dallas, we saw a crop duster flying low over farmland. She saw something coming out of the plane and asked, “What is that?” I explained it was fertilizer. And we had a talk about how food makes it from field to our grocery store. It’s cool to connect those dots—for her and for me. We’ve seen grain silos, distribution centers, farms. And as a photographer, those moments are amazing. You’d miss them on a plane.

Why I Ditched the Tour Bus

There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a trip in a tour bus. I’ve done it. And they always show up too late, leave way too early, and dump hundreds of people into the same location in the worst light.

It’s always the middle of the day, in flat light, and now you’re working with a crowd and bad conditions.

And for years, I did that. I kept asking myself, “Why am I doing this?” That’s when I realized—you have to free yourself. Try something different. Ditch the typical hotel-plane-tour routine.

Because there’s nothing like going to some of these places in beautiful light. Being at the Grand Canyon at twilight? Incredible. Sunset or sunrise? Even more amazing. Middle of the day? Not so much.

Your Ride = Your Freedom

So, let’s talk about how you do this. I’m just saying—consider taking a road trip. Get on the highway. But think about your vehicle.

I love camper vans, RVs, trailers. There’s nothing like taking your hotel room with you and always having it nearby. Plus, if you’ve got dogs like we do, they can come along.

You can also just take a car. Toss an inflatable mattress in the back. I’ve done it! Ramtin Kazemi and I were just out in Arizona. We slept in our cars in a remote location, shot overnight, had cameras running. It was fine for a night (or two).

If you want more comfort, go for an RV, camper, or van. That way you still get those creature comforts but can stay closer to where you want to be.

Prep Matters

So a couple things to consider when traveling this way: your vehicle. Is it safe? Can it handle where you’re going?

I do a lot of maintenance before a trip. I make sure I’ve got what I need to change a tire, inflate a tire, or call for help if needed. It’s not as complex as it sounds once you get into it.

You’ve also got to ask: Is the vehicle too big or too small for what I’m doing?

A lot of people start with something too big, and they get frustrated. They’re backing into things, struggling with parking, pulling a trailer for the first time. Start small. Rent something manageable. Work your way up.

Also think about fuel economy. It makes a difference. I’ve compared the costs—traveling this way saves me money. But you’ve got to factor in fuel usage.

And route planning? I always try to build loops. I’m never tracing over where I’ve already been or having to backtrack the way I’ve been. It keeps things interesting and avoids repeat drives. If I’m renting, I’ll try to plan a one-way trip. It’s not always feasible, but if you can do it, it helps.

Plan Around Photography

Plan around light. Around photography. My wife and daughter are not morning people. So, for me, every morning’s a photo shoot. I grab coffee on the way back, and we do breakfast after.

One tip: always arrive before you need to be there. If Google Maps says it’s 45 minutes, I plan for 1 hour 15. Give yourself that buffer time—for weather, road delays, or any cool surprise stuff you want to stop and shoot along the way.

During the day, I usually build in a break. Midday is when the crowds show up. It’s hot. It’s harsh light. As a photographer, you know that’s just not the time to be shooting. I’ve modified my schedule. That’s when I rest, nap, recharge—so I can get back out and shoot when the light’s beautiful again.

Travel at Night (If You Can)

I’m a night photographer, and I don’t mind driving at night. If you’re a night owl like me and want to maximize your time, overnight driving can be great.

Highways are quieter. Most truckers are off the road. People aren’t traveling. It’s actually less stressful than daytime driving.

I’ll only do this on major interstates—not back roads. But for long trips, it’s a smart way to knock out travel time without losing your best daylight hours.

Rent First, Buy Later

If you don’t have a vehicle yet—rent. You can go to sites like:

Just search based on where you’ll be, whether you want to drive or tow, and pick what fits. Always start with renting. You’ll learn what you love (or hate), and avoid buying the wrong thing.

Same advice I give on gear—don’t buy a lens until you know it’s what you need. Try the f/1.8 before spending on the f/1.2.

Camp for Free and Save Big

Another way to save: free campsites. There are sites and apps that help you find places to park your RV or camp for free.

And the Bureau of Land Management has fantastic places like Bisti Badlands and Valley of the Gods where you can camp for 14 days for free. Not all of these public lands offer free camping, but many do.

I’ve stayed outside Badlands National Park this way. It’s free, it’s gorgeous, and it puts you exactly where you want to be.

Check out:

Put Yourself in Front of the Good Stuff

At the end of the day, I’m just trying to help you connect with that adventure. That freedom. Part of photography is putting yourself in front of cool things in the right time, in the right light, in the right location. And that’s a lot of what travel photography is all about.

Capture the World. Perfect the Edit.

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