Usually, hopping in a car and traveling across the country is an experience reserved for truckers and retirees, but for 23- and 24-year-old Hillsdale alumni Regan and Jordan Monnin, it’s just their way of life. 

Road tripping across the state of Michigan for their honeymoon in September 2021, the newlyweds developed a love for life on the road and struggled to accept the monotony that came with a 9-to-5 job. 

“Sleeping and camping and living in the Jeep on our honeymoon was so much fun, and we absolutely loved it,” Regan said. “When we got back to Cincinnati, we realized the city wasn’t the best thing for us, so we were loosely talking about going on the road for months.”

The Monnins explained that they eventually hit a breaking point in December and they needed to get out of the city. They began attending RV shows, looking at vans, and trying to find the best option for how to get on the road. With the price of vehicles at an all time high, the couple realized they couldn’t afford to sell everything just to purchase a van, and they came to the same solution. 

“I came home from work one day and told Jordan that we should live in his Jeep,” Regan explained. “He told me he had been thinking the same thing, so we decided to do it.” 

Their 2015 Jeep Wrangler required some extra love, care, and equipment in order to be road trip ready, so Regan began researching, watching YouTube videos, and following other “van-life” influencers online. 

“It took two months of research and three months of building the Jeep and getting it ready,” Regan said. 

“Our apartment’s lease ended in May, so our goal was to be on the road by June 1.”

Upgrading their Jeep required a new roof rack to hold their tent, an outdoor kitchen setup, auxiliary lighting, a rear bumper with a water carrier and tire holder, and ladders to climb on top of the vehicle. In order to create room for storage inside the car, the Monnins took out the back seats and replaced that space with shelving to hold their food, tools, and personal belongings. 

With all the necessary tools and extensions to make the Jeep their home for the foreseeable future, the Monnins set off on the road, spending their first night in Defiance, Ohio, and the next month in the state of Michigan. 

The couple began documenting their new lifestyle on social media, with Instagram and TikTok accounts dedicated to their journey. Regan, the hand behind the videos, details the monotony, the highs and lows, and the odd questions that people think of, like “Where do you shower?” and “How can you afford all this?”

“I started social media accounts for fun and it turned into a really nice way for friends to follow us around, as well as highlighting the cool stuff we get to do,” Regan explained. “Jordan can make disc golf videos, post his photography, and I even had a video go viral on TikTok.”

Jordan, the mechanic, facilities manager, and driver, spends his time taking care of Regan and the Jeep and competing in disc golf tournaments throughout the country. As an avid, competitive ultimate frisbee player in high school and college, Jordan has been involved in the frisbee world for years. 

After injuring his shoulder and back during his junior year of college, Jordan picked up disc golf as a more relaxing way to continue his love for frisbee. During COVID, it was one of the few activities he could constantly participate in, and he developed a real skill for the sport. 

“There were still leagues and tournaments all during COVID, and I just kept getting better and better at it,” Jordan said. “When Regan and I were discussing going on the road, she asked if I wanted to play disc golf professionally, and I realized it was something I thought I would really enjoy.” 

The couple bases their travel schedule off tournaments to help boost Jordan’s national ranking and pursue his dream of joining the professional circuit. Similar to the amateur versus pro golf circuits, disc golf has different levels depending on your national ranking. With two sponsorships and a growing social media following, Jordan has a three year plan to increase his brand, skill, and his support system in order to join the professional circuit. 

Following tournament schedules and finding opportunities for Jordan to play, Regan is continuing her remote job with a publishing company, which requires internet connection five days a week. 

“Most free campsites don’t come with internet service or WiFi, so we usually stay in Walmart or Cabela’s parking lots overnight,” Regan said. “We’ve had no issues spending the night in parking lots, but there are some odd people every once in a while.”

As they have headed out west, the couple has noticed more van campers like them. 

With more national parks and attractions in the west, people who live on the road tend to spend a lot of time at national parks and monuments. 

Currently stationed in northern Idaho to visit Regan’s family, Regan and Jordan are resting and gearing up for their next adventures in the coming year. 

“We leave here on the 18th of September and are headed to Utah for two weeks, and we’re going to see a lot of national parks,” Regan explained. “After that, we’re going to stay in some places for a week at a time, and then in December, we’re heading to either Florida or Texas for an extended period of time.”

Going into the disc golf off-season, the Monnins wanted to set up in an area with lots of disc golf courses and opportunities for Jordan to get a part time job to help fund the next leg of their travel. 

“We’re trying to make and save money when it’s possible,” Jordan said. “If we can do that for a couple months while 

I can still practice and improve, it’s just a smart move. We’re trying to look towards the future and prepare for when we settle down.”

But for now, the couple sees no signs of settling down. While they’re young, without any kids or family to look after, they are able to travel across the United States in their Jeep and continue to do the things they’re passionate about. While it’s not always easy, and the drastic change in lifestyle took some serious adjustments, the Monnins wouldn’t give up this opportunity for anything.

“It’s definitely difficult adjusting to life without a home base or stability, and people think we’re crazy for doing this,” Regan explained. “But we’ve seen more friends in the last three months than we did while we were in Cincinnati, and once people see us living like this and in our element, they realize that we’re not that crazy – we’re just having a really great time.”