Tips for Next Year’s Summer Photo Road Trip
Photos and words by Sean Rayford
As a photojournalist of nearly 30 years, I’ve made my fair share of road trips. From Willie Nelson’s ranch outside of Austin, Texas to Miami — and up the Atlantic Coast to Newport, Rhode Island.
The latter was part of my latest adventure as I continue in my first year teaching photography workshops.
Pedestrian lunch traffic in Manhattan, New York City on Aug. 5, 2026
This latest road trip covered 19 days and about 3100 miles. From Columbia, South Carolina to Newport, Rhode Island with stops in the Shenandoah Valley, small towns in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Jersey, Delaware and in Philadelphia, New York City and Newport. And the mountains of West Virginia.
Basically, I escaped the sweltering heat of the South Carolina summer
During this time I hit up two state fairs, a county fair, a local fireman’s carnival, Coney Island, two demolition derbies and a mullet contest. I took a sailboat cruise in Newport and rode the Staten Island Ferry five times.
I overnighted on a farm in Delaware, in someone’s driveway in Rhode Island, at a couple rest stops, a Cabella’s parking lot, a Newark area parking lot, street side on Staten Island and Philadelphia and in state and national forests in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
I spent two nights on a cot in my brother’s living room and 3 nights at a hotel/motel during the 19 day road trip. That leaves 14 nights in the van.
New Jersey State Fair Demolition Derby at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey on August 3, 2026.
Jersey and New York
New Jersey lives up to it’s bad reputation. Home to the worst drivers along the East Coast. Bad smells. Concrete and trash. Bad attitudes.
Sorry Jersey.
If you’re planning a road trip stop into New York City, and have no desire to drive into the city, avoid the Jersey PATH and pay the toll to get onto Staten Island. Park at the outlets or on the street and walk to the ferry.
Instead of tunneling like a rat into the Big Apple, cruise in on one of these free ferries with a magnificent approach into Lower Manhattan.
The Staten Island Ferry departs every 30 minutes and you’ll pass the Statue of Liberty on the way in.
Step outside on an open deck and soak it in.
That said, the New Jersey State Fair, in Sussex County, is one of the best fairs I’ve been to. And it’s in a part of the state that isn’t grey with a poopy chemical smell.
Newport, Rhode Island.
Newport, Rhode Island
I had my suspicions that Newport, Rhode Island might be a gem for photographers. I’d been here once before in the winter. And after this latest trip, I can confirm that Newport is outstanding for photographers. I highly recommend the sailboat cruises around the harbor. Next time, I’m renting or bringing a bicycle.
Do the Cliff Walk in the morning for better light.
Newport might be better than Charleston. Just don’t go to Newport in the winter and don’t visit Charleston in the summer. Unless you like suffering.
I found this spot along the Rhode Island coast and you can’t overnight here, but you can spend a morning here. Remember, it’s about the journey as
Overnighting/Day Use Strategy
If you’re looking good spots to overnight and vehicle campsites aren’t available, use rest stops, travel/truck stops and places like Cracker Barrel —near state and national forests or other public areas that offer day use.
Wake up early, use the restroom and drive to the spot and spend the morning there. It’s not the same as waking up in the forest by the creek, but it will have to do when you have limited resources.
Also, I find the HipCamp app to be useful for finding one of kind vehicle camping opportunities.
Coming soon: A Photographer’s Guide to Road Tripping. In blog, zine and YouTube formats.