Trans‑Americas Journey: Life on the Longest Road

Two journalists reimagine life through 18 years of slow overland travel

They set out in 2006 thinking the journey would last three years. Nearly two decades later, travel writer Karen Catchpole and photographer Eric Mohl are still on the road. Their Trans‑Americas Journey is one of the longest ongoing overland travel projects in the Americas. Since the day they drove out of New York City in their truck, they have travelled more than 262,000 miles (422,000 km), spent 6,700+ days on the move, and crossed 103 land borders. The journey has taken them through 19 of the 23 mainland countries of the Americas, from the Arctic tundra of Alaska to the windswept plains of Argentine Patagonia. Their travel style is defined by slow overlanding: they avoid fast itineraries and major highways in favour of back roads and extended stays in national parks, small towns, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Over 18 years they have logged over 18,300 gallons of fuel consumed, documented 410+ national parks, and visited more than 130 UNESCO sites, creating a unique long‑form record of the Americas for readers and followers.

At‑a‑Glance:

Web Name: Trans‑Americas Journey
Name: Karen Catchpole & Eric Mohl
Generation: Gen X
FI Status: Partial financial independence: sustained by freelance journalism & Patreon support
Travel Type: Long‑term overlanding in a pickup truck with camper shell
Travel Regions: North America, Central America, South America
Media Platforms: Website blog, Patreon, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Backstory:

Before launching their journey in 2006, Karen and Eric were fully immersed in media careers in New York City. Karen had a background in travel writing, and Eric worked as a professional photographer. The couple lived in a rented Manhattan apartment and led a lifestyle that was urban, structured, and career‑driven. The idea of the Trans‑Americas Journey began as a three‑year project to drive the full length of the Americas, starting in Alaska and finishing in Patagonia, while documenting the experience through writing and photography. They sold or stored most of their possessions and invested in a Chevrolet Silverado outfitted with a custom camper shell that would serve as both transportation and home. In the early months of the trip, they travelled extensively through the United States and Canada, covering 85,800 miles across the U.S. over 1,248 days, and 14,300 miles in Canada over 94 days. By 2008, they had completed the North American segment and moved south into Mexico, beginning a new phase of immersion in Latin America. Their background in journalism shaped their approach from the start: rather than chase tourist itineraries, they set out to report and photograph lesser‑known locations, creating a long‑form travel record for readers and media outlets.

The Shift:

The Trans‑Americas Journey was originally planned as a temporary sabbatical, but the experience of life on the road fundamentally changed their outlook. Once they reached Mexico and Central America, the pace of their journey slowed dramatically. Instead of racing toward Patagonia, they began to prioritise immersion and observation over speed. They spent 548 days in Mexico alone, covering 24,700 miles, and documented everything from colonial cities and remote beaches to dozens of UNESCO sites and national parks. Over the next years, they crossed into Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, spending between 60 and 210 days in each country. By the time they shipped their truck to South America in 2013, the journey had evolved from a finite project into a life reimagined. In South America, their commitment to slow travel deepened. Argentina became their single longest stay: 1,400 days (≈47 months) and 43,000 miles driven, including extensive exploration of Patagonia, the Andes and remote borderlands. This shift transformed the trip into a lifestyle of mobile journalism, where travel itself was no longer the means to an end but a framework for living.

How They Made It Work:

Sustaining 18+ years of continuous travel requires financial planning and adaptability. Karen and Eric operate on a partial FI (Financial Independence) model, relying on a combination of freelance journalism, photography assignments and reader support through Patreon. Unlike influencer travellers, they have deliberately kept their website and social media ad‑free and sponsor‑free, prioritising independence and credibility. Their publicly shared fuel logs provide a transparent view of road‑trip economics: as of March 2025, they have consumed 18,356 gallons of fuel and spent $56,908 USD. They control costs by travelling slowly, which reduces fuel and maintenance expenses, and by using free or low‑cost camping spots when possible. Vehicle maintenance is a critical part of the plan: their truck has endured high‑altitude roads, unpaved mountain passes reaching 5,013 m, and remote desert crossings. This combination of journalism income and strict cost control allows the journey to continue without depleting savings or requiring sponsorship compromises.

Where They Travel & Why:

The Trans‑Americas Journey is driven by a commitment to deep, place‑based travel rather than destination collection. Their route includes 19 mainland countries, and they have made a conscious effort to explore “the dinky dots”; their term for small towns, remote communities and overlooked sites. They have visited over 410 national parks, ranging from Denali in Alaska to Torres del Paine in Chile, and over 130 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, and Antigua Guatemala. Their blog documents both popular landmarks and under‑reported destinations, often with logistical details that help readers understand the reality of overland travel. In Argentina alone, they chronicled everything from Patagonian estancias and glaciers to wine regions and urban neighbourhoods. This approach results in multi‑layered coverage: natural landscapes, cultural history and the practical mechanics of life on the road. For followers, the value is not just inspiration but actionable knowledge on how long‑term overland travel can be sustained.

Challenges & Real Talk:

Life on the road for nearly two decades is not without significant challenges. Vehicle maintenance is constant: long distances, unpaved routes and high‑altitude driving take a toll on suspension, tyres and engines. Border crossings remain one of the most unpredictable aspects, with 103 crossings completed and each requiring careful management of permits, insurance and vehicle paperwork. Fuel cost volatility directly impacts the budget, as seen in the range from $1.04 per gallon in Ecuador to $4.75 in the U.S. Weather extremes also shape their days: they have endured Andean snow, Patagonian winds, Central American rainy seasons and Amazonian heat. Remote travel demands self‑reliance, as services can be hundreds of miles away. Unlike the polished image of social media travel, Karen and Eric share the reality of mechanical breakdowns, long waits, challenging bureaucracy and isolation. This unfiltered view of long‑term travel reinforces the credibility of their journey and provides realistic expectations for aspiring overlanders.

What Keeps Them Going:

Sustaining a project of this length requires more than logistics: it is fuelled by purpose and curiosity. Karen and Eric are motivated by the immersion in place and story that slow travel allows. Every border crossed, park explored and town visited becomes part of a cumulative record of the Americas that is both personal and journalistic. They find meaning in the flexibility to wake up wherever the horizon leads, in connecting with communities far from the tourist circuit, and in documenting cultural and environmental heritage. This journey is proof that long‑term overland travel can be sustainable, meaningful and rooted in professional storytelling, not spectacle. It represents a life reimagined through travel, where mobility replaces fixed location as the central mode of living.

Advice to Readers:

From their public posts and interviews, Karen and Eric consistently advise aspiring overlanders to: “Slow down. Skip the top‑ten lists. Find the dinky dots.” They recommend focusing on immersion, patience and preparation rather than speed or volume. Key takeaways from their journey include the importance of mechanical readiness, border documentation planning, and a realistic approach to budget and endurance. Their experience demonstrates that long‑term travel is achievable without sponsorship or luxury, but it requires a mindset shift toward adaptability and resourcefulness.

Links to More:

Website: trans-americas.com
Instagram: @TransAmericas
Facebook: Trans-Americas Journey

Disclaimer: Income, income streams and financial independence details & status are drawn exclusively from publicly available sources. No inference, harm or misrepresentation is intended toward any individual or entity.