The Wake-up Call That Changed Everything
Late in 2022, I had a heart attack. I’m also a type one diabetic, and that combination forced me to take a hard look at how I was living. I decided I wasn’t going to wait around anymore. In 2023, I sold my house and my business in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and made a clean change.
In December 2023, I bought a 2024 Unity FX and hit the road with my 12-year-old Boykin Spaniel, Kona.
Before I left, I set a few clear goals: catch a fish in every state, visit all of the US national parks, and get to the states I hadn’t been to yet. The trip wasn’t random—I had a plan and a reason for being out there.
Finding my Rhythm on the Road
I started in Florida, working my way around the state during the winter. In March, I met up with friends in Islamorada for our annual fishing trip. That’s something I’ve done for years, and I wasn’t about to stop. After that trip, I drove down to Key West—and that’s really where this journey started to take shape.
From Key West, I went through the Everglades, crossed over to the Gulf side, and followed the coast west. I wasn’t rushing—I stopped where I wanted, stayed where it made sense, and kept moving when it didn’t. That route eventually took me all the way to South Padre Island, Texas.
From there, I turned north and followed the Texas border through Big Bend and up to El Paso. Then into New Mexico and Arizona, focusing on the national parks and key stops I wanted to see. After that, I kept heading north—Yellowstone, then Montana, and up to Kalispell.
I crossed into Canada and went through Calgary, Banff, and Jasper, then kept pushing north to Dawson City and into Alaska. One of the goals I had set was to drive the Dalton Highway all the way to Prudhoe Bay. I did it—and standing at the Arctic Ocean after starting in Key West was something I won’t forget. Kona made the entire trip with me.
Back South, Then Back Out Again
I spent the summer in Alaska, then worked my way back south through Vancouver. I took the ferry to Victoria, spent time on the island, and then crossed back into the U.S. in Bellingham. From there, I covered the Dakotas, into Wisconsin, and then worked my way back toward Florida through the Midwest.
In 2025, I returned to the Keys and headed west, this time making sure to hit the parks and locations I’d missed the first time. I spent more time in the Southwest, then moved into California and drove up the coast. Summer was in Oregon and Washington, and in the fall, I worked my way back east again.
Every winter, I make multiple trips up to Vermont to visit my sister’s farm. Kona loves the snow, so that’s become part of the routine.
The Journey, the Numbers, and What’s Next
Now in 2026, I’ve been continuing to move between Florida and the East Coast, with a few more national parks left to finish. Next up is Mammoth Cave, then I’ll wrap up the final parks through Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
This has been a focused journey from the start. I set out to see the country, complete all 50 states, visit the national parks, and fish along the way—and I’ve stayed with that plan.
So far:
- Over 84,000 miles driven.
- Four full cross-country trips.
- Florida to Vermont eight times.
- The full West Coast from California to Washington.
- 39 states were traveled during the journey, and all 50 were completed.
- Three Canadian provinces.
- 53 national parks visited, with just a few left.
- 200+ campgrounds, parks, boondocking spots, and RV stays.
- Fishing in 29 states and one Canadian province.
I’ve driven from the Florida Keys to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. I’ve driven from the Keys to California and up the entire West Coast. And I’ve done it all with Kona.
I didn’t start sharing it publicly until November 2025. Before that, I was just documenting everything for myself—photos, videos, and notes from the road. Now it’s grown into KampingWithKona, with a website, an interactive map, and a growing library of content.
There’s still more to do. More places to see. More stories to tell.
But this isn’t about chasing the next stop. It’s about continuing what I started—and not going back to the way things were.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://leisurevans.com/blog/myltvstory-steven-kona/