Jersey to the Pacific: Glacier Bound & Ground-Level America — Wildwood, NJ → Portland, OR

Your Atlantic starting point — load up the car and hit the road early on July 4th. The boardwalk behind you, the whole continent ahead.

One night in Pittsburgh — budget motel or hostel near downtown. Rest up for the long Ohio-to-Chicago push tomorrow.

Base yourself in Logan Square — Chicago's most eclectic, walkable, plant-based-friendly neighborhood. Stay at a budget Airbnb or hostel and spend the evening exploring the boulevard, murals, and the thriving independent restaurant scene. Tomorrow morning hit the Logan Square Farmers Market (Sundays, seasonal) or grab breakfast at The Chicago Diner's Logan Square location before rolling out.

Free dispersed camping in the Tailwater Wildlife Area below Coralville Dam — a quiet, tree-lined riverbank spot five minutes from Iowa City. Fall asleep to the sound of the Iowa River with fireflies flickering in late summer dark.

Nebraska's 'Big Mac' — a massive reservoir with sand beaches and open camping along the north shore for $12-15/night. Sunsets over the water on the Great Plains are genuinely spectacular, and the stars are extraordinary this far from any city.

Sheridan Lake is a gorgeous, less-crowded Black Hills campground with a small sandy beach, forest trails, and none of the traffic snarls near Mount Rushmore. Camp among Ponderosa pines at around $22/night and swim in the lake at golden hour.

Camp inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park along the cottonwood-lined Little Missouri River — bison wander through camp at dawn and the painted buttes glow amber at sunrise. One of the most atmospheric campgrounds in the Northern Plains at $14/night.

Apgar Campground sits at the southern tip of Lake McDonald — arrive early evening, set up camp, and take a short sunset walk to the lake's impossibly turquoise water with the Garden Wall glowing pink above. This is your Glacier basecamp for tomorrow's full exploration day.

Fish Creek Campground on the west shore of Lake McDonald offers some of the park's most forested, private campsites with stunning lake views through the trees. Sit by the fire and watch the last alpenglow fade off the peaks before a well-earned sleep.

You've crossed the continent — arrive in the most vegan-friendly city in America and celebrate with a proper plant-based meal. Prasad at the Yoga Pearl does extraordinary whole-food vegan bowls; Sweetpea Baking Co on Alberta Street does incredible vegan pastries for a final breakfast. The Pacific coast is 90 minutes away if anyone wants to dip their feet in.