A Solo Female Vanlife Traveler on Loss, Legacy, and the Miles That Heal

Sunny Lane
Oct 7
3 min read

By Sunny Lane | The Drift – Tales from the Road

When solo female vanlife traveler Susan Lebold lost her husband to brain cancer in 2018, the life she knew fell away. In just a few short years, she had also said goodbye to her father and mother, and her son had grown and moved on into his own independent life. With the people she loved most now gone, Susan found herself standing at a crossroads—not just of grief, but of identity.

"I didn't know how to live as a single, unattached person," she says. "I wasn't even sure who that person was."

Susan Lebold takes a selfie with a sweeping scenic view behind her—open road, rolling hills, and a sense of freedom captured in the moment.

For a while, the path forward remained unclear. But then something unexpected cracked open. A close friend bought a vintage VW camper van, and over time, their conversations turned into something more than nostalgia. They became a vision. The idea of getting a camper van of her own gave Susan something she hadn’t felt in years: a reason to look ahead.

She began researching options, ultimately deciding she wanted something new and reliable—a modern custom campervan that could support a future on the move. That search led her to Drifter Vans. "I've never looked back," she says. "I've put over 40,000 miles on it already."

Vanlife Healing Journey Across the Country

Those miles have stretched far and wide. Though she keeps a home base in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Susan is almost always preparing for the next stretch of open road. As a solo female vanlife traveler, she’s explored the backroads of New England into New Brunswick, followed the Atlantic Coast to Florida, crossed the southern states, and gone all the way to the Pacific. This year, her route will follow the Lewis and Clark Trail west, then return through Canada and the Canadian Rockies.

Susan’s Drifter Van parked against the backdrop of a stunning sunrise, with warm light illuminating the van and casting soft glows across the landscape.

Her travels aren’t just sightseeing—they’re a living tribute to memory, legacy, and healing. One of her most meaningful journeys so far was a two-month trip to California, retracing a cross-country road trip her grandparents had taken in 1938. Armed with her grandfather’s scrapbook, she visited the same places and wove his stories into her own, documenting it all on her blog, Family Breadcrumbs.

“It helped me feel more connected—not just to them, but to myself,” she says.

Connections Over Highways: A Solo Traveler’s Perspective

Susan's approach to vanlife is grounded in presence. She avoids highways when possible, choosing instead the scenic roads that pass through small towns and forgotten corners. Every place, she believes, holds a story worth discovering.

Susan’s dog relaxing inside her Drifter Van, nestled comfortably near the window with soft morning light streaming in.

"Despite the turmoil going on in the world, and the deep divisions in our country, I have found that there are many wonderful and interesting people to meet no matter where you are or where you come from."

Advice for Aspiring Solo Female Vanlife Travelers

Her advice for anyone considering vanlife—especially women traveling solo—is simple and wise:

"Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Life won’t hand you the right moment. Sometimes, you just have to start moving and trust that the road will reveal what you need."

You can follow Susan's cross-country reflections and stories at www.familybreadcrumbs.com.

Susan’s van driving down a quiet, remote road surrounded by open landscape, capturing the spirit of solo travel and freedom.

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