Cross-country road trip FL to AZ (BBB bound) - Follow along!

[VW_MAN_73]

Sorry, I'm late!
Our cross-country road trip in the '71 VW Westfalia continues - Silverado CA bound
From the Desert to the West Coast: Phoenix to Silverado Campout trip...

Our cross-country road trip in the ’71 VW Westfalia continues, and the adventure just keeps getting better. Our last leg of our trip started in Phoenix, we trekked to Lake Havasu City for Buses by the Bridge VW event, and then made our way back to Phoenix. After spending time in Tempe and Scottsdale, we packed up and hit the road west once again, bound for Silverado, California for one of what has become, our favorite VW events, Camping all weekend!

Leaving Arizona behind, we crossed the desert with high spirits and a bus full of essentials (plus a few extras, because… road trip!). The journey from Phoenix to California is a scenic one, but something about doing it in our restored bus makes it feel more intentional. We set out to make this trip happen, coast to coast and we were so close to achieving it.

Joshua Tree NP
From the Colorado Desert to the Mojave, we crossed two worlds in one awesome cruise through Joshua Tree National Park! We entered the Cottonwood (South) entrance and cruised about 50 miles up through 29 Palms. The visitor's center was already closed, we just missed it by minutes. Thankful to have a ranger help get us a stamp for our NP passport book.

NOTE: Cholla Cactus Garden trail and parking lot are temporarily closed. Many people still pulled off to see the acres of teddybear cholla in the Pinto Basin

Reuniting with our new VW friends
We met Jose at Buses by the Bridge back in January. Believe it or not, we parked our bus in what we learned was "his spot"! The same spot he's been parking for many, many years. We hit it off and had a great weekend together, so much so that he invited us to camp at his house if we were ever in the area. So, we hit up Jose and let him know we were making the haul from AZ to CA and passing through his town. He opened up his home, and his killer garage! This was a dream shop, filled with early splits. He introduced us to his friend Ruben, another VW lover and recently a master-fabricator! We had the chance to camp alongside Ruben and experience his creation "VW Armadillo" firsthand. This video gives you a closer look, though even the best footage can’t quite capture how amazing it is in person.


Link


Silverado Campout Vibes
After breakfast and a VW bus convoy, we rolled into Silverado Canyon just in time to catch the campout atmosphere in full swing. Buses (and beetles with tents) lined the shady tree-covered area as so many of our fellow VW community gathered around. There’s nothing like being surrounded by people who get the charm (and chaos) of vintage VW travel. We camped, connected with old friends and new, and got to relax. The canyon was alive with VWs everywhere. Nearly 300 air- and water-cooled Volkswagens showed up for a full weekend of camping, community, and classic vibes. Campground full of buses, beetles, and awesome VWs. We had another awesome lantern walk experience too. Music, food, fun, conversation... and camping with like-minded people. Doesn't get any better than this.

Sunday was the actual car show. We rolled over to the site where all the beetles, ghias, and Type 3s snuck in during the early morning hours to set up their display. We weren't there for an award, but hoping for an honorable Longest Distance Traveled mention! HA! Ruben won a top 10 award and one for best engineering for the VW Armadillo!

Here's our recap video from the event:

Link


Rolling Solo
After the Silverado Campout weekend, we ventured off on our own, towards LA. We took a detour for a fun, quirky, roadside attraction. Have you ever driven through a Donut?! We did! Ang found a cool building that you can drive through, and they have giant donuts on each end. The best part, although it was afternoon, they still had donuts for sale and these were THE FRESHEST DONUTS we've EVER tasted. Such a simple staple, but it sure made the roadtrip more fun. Back on the road, we made our way to the coast. What a cool feeling! From Florida's coast, to California's beachy coast. We checked out Hermosa and Redondo beaches, walked the boardwalks, popped into a few shops, and enjoyed our time there. We even saw a sea lion on the beach banks.

Parking the Bus
We made our way to Torrance, a coastal town in the greater LA Area. We were lucky enough to find parking and settle in. Disconnected the battery, emptied the cooler, unpacked all our clothes and belongings, and headed back home... until the next one.

Check out our vlog from this trip:

Link


As we continue to make miles, we’re reminded that the journey is as much about the moments in between as the destination. Campouts, roadside stops, gas station convos, and long stretches of highway. All that plus taking in the scenery, that’s what makes this trip memorable.

Next trip: SoCal VW Week
Stay tuned, we can’t wait to share our next adventure!

Trip Stats:
Bus: 1971 VW Westfalia
Route: Phoenix, AZ -> Silverado Canyon -> Torrance, CA
Nights camped: 4
Repairs so far: Zero (knock on wood!)

Have you ever camped in a VW or done a cross-country trip in a classic? Drop us a comment or share your experience.

Follow along on YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify for more from the road.
_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[KTPhil]

[richparker]

I just spent 2 night in Joshua Tree last week on out big road trip. Here’s the link to my trip, if you’re interested. Road trippin to Cali

What camp ground do you have a reservation at? On this trip we stayed at Indian Cove. It was definitely nice, but it wasn’t connected to the rest of the park. That was a bummer. My wife really liked walking around Yucca Valley, there are lots of cool shops there. Have fun!

Don’t start a new thread, keep everything in one place on this thread. Peep my Cali thread, three different trips in one place. Keeps it tidy.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build

[VW_MAN_73]

The cross-country road trip continues! We'll be heading back to the bus in Phoenix this Thursday and cruising West through Joshua Tree National Park and onto Silverado Campout in California! Anyone going to be there? Starting a new thread for our upcoming trip!

Can't wait to get back to the bus. 2 months has been too long!

_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[VW_MAN_73]

That’s awesome! It was great meeting you. Look forward to seeing you at more shows.
Do you plan on going to the Silverado Campout? We’re planning our voyage there from Phoenix!

[Xevin]

\m/
Nice to meet up with you two. And Xatie loved her surprise road-trip to Oatman

Safe travels
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Keep on Busin'

[VW_MAN_73]

Thanks! That's awesome. We had such a great time and look forward to next year. There's a great community out West!

[DocNexil]

[VW_MAN_73]

Jan 15th, we flew out from Tampa to Phoenix with our 2 VW friends, Dan & John, to complete the Final Stretch of our Cross-Country Road Trip in our '71 Westy for Buses by the Bridge 2025!

We're officially on the move again! After 2,650 milies on the road already, we're off for another 220+ miles of awesome scenery before rolling into Buses by the Bridge.

We first pulled over at an old-school diner on the way. Had an amazing lunch at 5 & Diner!

We followed some random billboards for "Daniel's Really Good Fresh Jerky" and to our surprise, was a hidden treasure. Jerky tastings galore and we stocked up on some awesome snacks for the week. Definitely worth the stop!

We rolled into the BBB pre-line at 7:30pm and were awarded #217. There were VWs that arrived Sunday from what we hear. Buses by the Bridge was a great experience and we cant wait to come back again. We have two YouTube videos to watch, one features an overview of the show itself, while the other is our vlog and personal experience.


Link


Feel free to pick or watch both!


Link


Sunday afternoon, we left the show and snagged a photo at the Lake Havasu City mural.

We drove the bus over the iconic London Bridge which was such a cool experience. We were surrounded by history and incredible views. Took a walk over and under the bridge.

As we set out back towards Phoenix, we stopped to take in the nature and hiked along the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Such a peaceful spot that so many people pass by.

On the road again! We had a place pinned on our route that we didn't look too much into. After a treacherous 4.5 mile ride down a windy, dusty, and rocky road, we finally made it to The Desert Bar. Literally in the middle of nowhere. We didn't believe it at first, but it turned out to be SO worth the ride. We spent the afternoon soaking in the unique vibes, enjoyed lunch and listened to live music. Sometimes the hardest roads lead to the best destinations!

Along our route, we stopped by this little slide of roadside history on US-60 in Salome AZ. The old stage shop with its "We Flush Radiators" sign might not be flushing much these days, but its still a fun reminder of simpler times.

We stumbled upon Doug's Buggs & Bunnies VW shop in Mesa AZ. Fish gave us a private tour and some stickers! Was a pretty cool place, packed with VWs, parts and more!

Found a unique lunch stop, The Chuckbox! Had some really delicious burgers in an old, historic building!

We washed off 3,000 miles of dust, dirt, and pure fun off the bus, before storing it away again for a bit.

The bus is now safely tucked away once again, marking the end of our incredible FIRST cross-country road trip. It's been such a fun journey, but our adventure is far from over. Stay tuned to see where we take the bus next!

_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[VW_MAN_73]

Exactly what we did! If it weighs under 50lbs, and it’s an awkward shape, just wrap it up.

[Xevin]

[Slip356]

What’s with the ‘rims wrapped in towels’?

[Xevin]

Link


Looking forward to liberation. Safe travels.
_________________
Keep on Busin'

[VW_MAN_73]

Leg Two: Houston to Phoenix - Back on the Road

Christmas morning, we flew back to Houston. The plane was nearly empty and the roads are bare! We were reunited with the bus and hit the road again. Leaving the storage unit and heading west again feels great!

First Buc-ee’s stop for the bus, and it didn’t disappoint! Grateful they were open on Christmas Day so we could stock up on road trip essentials (and a few snacks, of course). Bonus: We met Buc-ee himself, decked out in holiday cheer, and even scored a sticker for the window!

We ventured out of the way just a bit to cross paths with an old bus I once owned, which is now a billboard in Texas and for sale, to buy back its rims for my ’61 SO23 project. Stay tuned for how I get these home!

As we head along I-10 west, the scenery wasn't too thrilling. We enjoyed some music to keep us chugging along. A few breaks for gas refills and lunch at a rest/parking area. After the sun set, we couldn't help but to see bright lights from afar. Christmastime in the Texas Hill Country with over 1.6 million lights!! Lights Spectacular in Johnson City, Texas was a pleasant surprise.

We stopped for the night in Kerrville, TX. We didn't quite meet the state park we had set out for, so we ended up at a quiet Cracker Barrel RV/parking lot. Made a quick dinner and headed to bed. An early start allowed for a quick breakfast, and a pit stop at Harbor Freight to gear up with a rivet gun, a battery powered drill, and a stylish raincoat jumpsuit. With the pedal assembly finally fixed, we’re ready to rack up those miles.

The road brought more surprises. A wild change of events for our solo road trip. Something incredible happened. We happened to come across a VW convoy heading to the same place we were! We were only 2 mile markers behind them and they invited us to tag along! We convoyed from Fort Stockton to Marathon Tx. Our new VW friends extended a warm introduction to new friends. We were welcomed with a cozy place to camp, a homemade cooked meal, a big ol' bonfire, and an incredible night with new friends.

Woke up to a chilly morning. We contributed by cooking up a hearty breakfast and helping with some bus repairs. We all walked to a nearby coffee shop to warm us up from the inside out. Then we treked into Big Bend National Park together. We circled our 'wagens, for a well-earned lunch break while soaking in the stunning scenery. These shared moments remind us that VW life is about more than just the journey, its about the people you meet and the memories you make along the way.

We parted ways from the group to continue our solo road trip journey westward. Feeling so grateful for the beauty of this place and the incredible community we get to share it with. Big Bend NP is beautiful! Exploring the terrain here was amazing. Around every corner was sprawling desert views. Seeing the bus tucked into such a stunning backdrop made it all the more special.

We then rolled into Marfa, TX. Stopped to check out the iconic giant Marfa mural. Snagged a few quick shots with the bus, we had to skip the infamous Prada installation this time due to many tourists. We soaked in all the Texas vibes as we continued west.

We watched a beautiful sunset and finally crossed into New Mexico late. Stopped at a fun place called Peter Piper Pizza, not realizing it was also an arcade. We clowned around a bit and played skeeball, ice hockey and other arcade games before retiring for the night. Bright and early, we woke up to finding out our spare gas tank was stolen overnight right off the luggage rack. Shame on us for being so trusting and not moving it inside for the night. We found out a nearby truck/trailer also had 2 gas tanks and a diesel tank stolen. A reminder to stay vigilant. Stopped by a nearby walmart to restock the tank, then get it refilled in the event of a fuel emergency. As we've seen on the interstate, sometimes there's 75 miles or more before service.

We stopped quickly for a photo op at the Worlds Largest Chili Pepper! HA! Our next major stop was Bowlins Continental Divide gift shop. We browsed around, purchased a few souvenirs to take home, and snagged a pic of the bus in front of a giant, colorful teepee that you can see from the interstate.

Within no time, we made it to the AZ state line. Probably not the safest and smartest idea, but we had to get out and take a photo at the state sign! It was memorable. We've been driving nearly 2,400 miles to make it to this point.

We kept trekking, keeping our eyes peeled for the giant Saguaros! Once we were close to the Saguaro Nation Park (East division) we started to see lots of them. Since we have our America The Beautiful pass, we got right in and drove the 8-mile loop. SO many cacti, so much amazing scenery, It took us about an hour to go around the whole loop, stopping a few times for pictures and to take it all in. We didn't go on hikes, because we were on a bit of a time crunch to get the bus parked in phoenix. So, back on the road we went.

We caught another amazing sunset and made it to our storage unit, except, there were locks on our door. Parking the bus in Phoenix brought challenges with storage. It became a really long night. About 10 phone calls later, and 5 more storage properties and units, we had to postpone our flight to a later one, finally got the bus secured, wrap up the rims in towels and loads of tape, and get to airport.

We finally arrived home in Tampa around 2am. This was an eventful 24 hours and taught us the right questions to ask next time we plan to keep the bus in storage, like what's the clearance of the doorway with the pad/door, and is the door on the length or width of the unit.

This journey has been filled with unforgettable sights, quirky stops, and the kindness of the VW community. In just 2 weeks, we fly back out and complete our journey to Lake Havasu City for the BBB show. We will have 2 of our VW friends with us for this last leg. Really excited to mark this journey as complete soon! Thanks for sticking around. Stay tuned as we complete this cross-country adventure!
_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[VW_MAN_73]

With all major restoration complete, it is finally time to hit the road from Florida to Arizona! The ultimate destination is Lake Havasu City where we will join hundreds of others at Buses by the Bridge (BBB) Show in January 2025.

Highlights:
Leg One: Tampa to Houston - On the Road

Thanksgiving morning, we hit the road from Florida, starting with a fitting mural in Crystal River: “The Adventure Starts Here.” It was the perfect send-off as we embarked on this incredible journey in our ’71 bus. Along the way, murals like “Be the Light” reminded us of the positivity that comes with life on the road.

Our first night’s camp at Fort Pickens Campground in Pensacola gave us a chance to settle down, cooking dinner by the bus and enjoying the stillness... except for the rain drops on the poptop. The next morning, the sea fog cleared and we explored the fort, even spotted a bald eagle! This was a reminder of how history and nature can come together beautifully.

From there, things got interesting... I realized the accelerator pedal had rusted right off! Thanks to the VW community, after a few posts in various Facebook Groups, we met up with some amazing people, like "Wild Bill", who welcomed us into his world with stories, VW contacts and challenge coin souvenirs.

Our journey continued and took us through the rest of the panhandle. We officially left Florida behind and rolled into “sweet home Alabama”. Made a pit stop at the Oasis Travel Center for snacks, a quick break for lunch, then back on the road to our next adventure. Rolled into Mobile, Alabama and was waiting to see a sign for Greenbow. Still haven’t spotted Forrest or Bubba. That’s all I have to say about that! LOL

"Wild Bill" led us to a few gulf-coast VW groups, where we were connected with another awesome VW guy. A huge thanks to Edwin, who had the part we needed! Talk about luck and the power of the VW community. We couldn’t be more grateful for the connections we’re making along the way. Quirky roadside attractions like the World’s largest rocking chair added to the fun. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; all in a single day. We ended the night late at a cozy campsite at St. Bernard State Park under a canopy of stars. After a hot dinner and some attempts at a campfire that didn’t quite catch, we’ve bundled up for a chilly evening. Our adventure so far has been nothing short of incredible.

A very chilly morning! After fueling up with a hot breakfast, we explored the beautiful grounds of St. Bernard State Park and stumbled upon a cool old wooden relic of a bridge. After a bit of bus maintenance, we packed up and ready to roll! New Orleans brought its own charm, from a morning at Who Dat Coffee Cafe to a cruise through the French Quarter. We even cruised down Bourbon Street to pop into some of the eclectic shops. Skipped the beads and snagged a sticker for the bus instead. Had to stop and grab an infamous Muffeletta sandwich! It's been a few years since we had one. Lunch on the go! A quick stop in Baton Rouge to snap a pic by a patriotic mural in added to the fun before we crossed the Mississippi River and continued westward.

We went Live on Youtube! We were out on the open highway and invited our friends and VW community along for the ride! We answered any burning questions about our trip, the bus, and the VW lifestyle. Told some road stories in real-time as we cruised, chatted, and shared our journey. This was really fun and made us want to do it again!

https://www.youtube.com/@BrewDub73

Texas greeted us with a classic roadside attraction, the Big Gator off I-10. We snagged a photo and continued our trek to Houston, reflecting on the 1,100+ miles covered so far. The bus found temporary storage in Houston as we paused our road trip, eagerly anticipating the next leg.
_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[VW_MAN_73]

Thank you. We've been enjoying it so far. I really dont mind the seat but my upper back and neck muscles are ceasing up from sitting hovering the wheel for hours. lol

We've been getting more thumbs up than middle fingers, so the freeway flyer must be doing good on the interstate! As long a there's tailwind.

[wcfvw69]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

wow, sounds like you will see Bill at BBB. you can just deposit the turd in his pocket. Dog is fine, I don't mind

I'll send you some Kal Kan and that should be enough to lay a big meaty one right on Bills shoe if that works better
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[wcfvw69]

Back to the OP.. Looks like a fun trip. You must have a good back as the seat in my old 1970 bus didn't play well with my lower back.

I'm planning on meeting up with Kevin at BBB and will smack him for his rudeness and douchey comments in his first post in your thread.

Enjoy the road trip. I bet you're getting lots of thumbs ups on the road. I was traveling east a few years back in a non VW. At a rest stop outside of Tucson, a mid-70's bus was loaded up with stuff pulled in. We started chatting as he was heading home to Florida from California. I asked if people were frustrated with having to pass him in the slow lane. The guy was super laid back and said "if they are, I'm not noticing them". lol.
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40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

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[VW_MAN_73]

It's all good. Man, I tell you.. a bay window is so comfortable to road trip in. We have everything we need.

Does the bet still stand if it comes from a dog?