I traveled in a camper van for the first time. My 10-day trip through the Pacific Northwest wasn't perfect, but it exceeded my expectations.

"I spent 10 days traveling between California and Oregon in a Mercedes Sprinter van with a friend. We had to stop for gas more than I expected, and a full tank cost about $200, which added up. The trip went surprisingly well, and some of the scenic views from RV parks were the best part."

"Experiencing new forms of travel exhilarates me, especially because I never know what to expect. Before I set out on my first van-centric road trip from San Francisco to Portland and back down the Oregon Coast, I had a vague understanding of life on the road. During my 10-day journey with a friend, I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of my preconceived notions about van travel were wrong."

Ten days were spent traveling between California and Oregon in a Mercedes Sprinter van with a friend, covering a route from San Francisco to Portland and down the Oregon Coast. Frequent stops for gas were necessary, with a full tank costing about $200 and fuel expenses accumulating over the trip. The journey went surprisingly well, with scenic views at RV parks highlighted as a top experience. New forms of travel produced exhilaration from unpredictability. Initial vague expectations of van life shifted, and several preconceived notions about van travel proved incorrect during the trip.

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