After White Sands and the long drive from New Mexico, we landed in Coconino National Forest outside Flagstaff and honestly did not want to leave. We ended up staying two full weeks, and it turned into one of our favorite stops so far.
There is nothing particularly flashy about it. No dramatic canyon views, no famous trailhead, no must-see landmark. It is dispersed camping in a ponderosa pine forest with good weather and no one around, and that is exactly why we loved it.
Why this spot worked so well
We found it on The Dyrt, which is still our go-to for finding dispersed camping. Coconino National Forest has a ton of options and we got lucky with a spot that had zero neighbors for basically the entire two weeks. Pine trees everywhere, quiet, and the weather was perfect. Not too hot during the day, cool at night, the kind of weather where you just want to be outside all the time.
The real reason this spot was so great comes down to the babies. Rooster has been doing really well with his recall training and this was the kind of place where he could just be off leash and hang out near the van. We have been working on it with him since we got him and he is honestly impressive for not even being a year old. The concept is pretty simple, it is called capturing. Anytime he naturally stays close or comes back on his own, we reward it. Over time he just learned that staying nearby is a good thing. For a Brittany with that much energy, we were not sure how it would go, but he just gets it.
Goose was out there living his best life too, just hanging out under the van doing his thing. He is an outdoor cat on his own terms and dispersed camping is where he thrives. We trained both cats with a clicker so anytime they hear it they come running for treats. It works like a charm and it makes us feel a lot better about giving them outside time. Mav joins Goose under the van sometimes but she mostly prefers to stay inside. She is more of an indoor cat and that is totally fine.
What a typical day looked like
We are really leaning into slow living this year and Coconino was the perfect place for it. We both work regular remote schedules so our days had a rhythm to them. We would work during the day, take Rooster on a walk on a trail near camp in the afternoon, and then just hang out. Rebeca usually handled lunches, Ethan made dinners, and we would eat together outside. That was pretty much it. No big agenda, no itinerary, just living.
Not every week has to be a big adventure. Sometimes the best weeks are the ones where nothing really happens and you are completely okay with that. Two weeks of pine trees and quiet and a dog who just wants to run around camp is a pretty great life.
Project Hail Mary movie date
We did go into town one day during the first weekend, Saturday March 21st, for errands and a movie date. We saw Project Hail Mary at Harkins Theatres in Flagstaff and we have a lot of feelings about it.
If you have not read the book, first of all, go read it. Or better yet listen to the audiobook. Ray Porter narrates it and he does an incredible job. It won the Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year and honestly it deserves it. It is one of those books where the narrator makes an already great story even better.
The movie totally did the book justice. Obviously the book gives you more of that feeling of being right there with Dr. Grace, confused and not knowing what is going on, and you experience all of that uncertainty with him in a way that hits different on the page. But the movie was so good. Ryan Gosling was great in it, the visuals were wild, and they nailed the friendship at the center of the story. We would absolutely recommend it.
Our honest take: the movie works completely as a standalone. You do not need to read the book first to enjoy it. But the book is so good that we would say do both. If you are going to pick one format to start with, go with the audiobook. You will not regret it.
After the movie we grabbed some groceries and supplies and headed back to camp for another quiet week. That second week was more of the same and we loved every minute of it.
Flagstaff for van lifers
Flagstaff is a solid van life spot. For us it was really about having a place where the babies could be free, where we had a trail to walk together in the afternoons, and where the weather was comfortable. Surrounded by pine trees at elevation, the temperatures were perfect for March. If you are looking for dispersed camping in the area, check The Dyrt for Coconino National Forest options. There are a lot of them and the 14-day limit gives you plenty of time to settle in.
Have you camped in Coconino or spent time in the Flagstaff area? We would love to hear about your experience. Drop a comment below!
Wandering with Charlotte 
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