The 5: Jessica Watkins’ Five Most Interesting Places to Sleep While Walking Across America
I’m a standup comedian and filmmaker living in New York City. Several years ago I quit my day job waiting tables and walked across the United States performing comedy. For the better part of a year, I walked solo from Delaware to California, pushing a running stroller full of gear living off the kindness of strangers and questionable jokes. I did the walk to fast track my standup career—that didn’t work!—BUT, I did film a documentary called SPECIALish. SPECIALish is part comedy special, part footage from the road, and it’s being released all places digital May 11th. Watch the trailer below!
While on the walk I stayed at campgrounds, state parks, the side of highways, motels, hotels, a tour bus, a treehouse, used travel websites like Warm Showers, Couch surfing, and complete strangers opened up their homes and families to me. Most days I didn’t know where I would lay my head that night, but somehow it always worked out, every place kept me safe.
The Top 5 places I slept while walking across the U.S. doing comedy
Along The C & O Canal
In spring, I walked the 184.5 mile lush green trail that snakes between the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the Potomac River. The canal runs from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland and operated from 1831 until 1924 to transport old timey cargo, mostly coal from the Allegheny Mountains. The Potomac River is beautiful, sometimes raging and apparently one of the most polluted waterways in the country as I was constantly warned to not actually touch or get in the water. #America. Unlike any other trail I took, there were free hiker/biker campsites every dozen or so miles. The sites had great vistas, water wells to pump and porta potties for your bum, making it a delightful trail to camp along.
East Nashville, Tennessee
There is no place like home. It’s where I was born and raised and where my family has called home for over 70 years. I grew up in the same house my Dad did and my parents still live there next door to my Memaw. Nashville has been through a lot in the last year and half—tornados, Christmas day bombing, floods, more tornadoes—but this town can make it through anything and it’s worth a visit. In the age of covid, skip the downtown tourist traps and super spreader bars and enjoy all the wonderful outdoor parks and greenways Nashville and its surrounding areas have to offer! Grab a bike ride at the Fontanel, a canoe down the Harpeth, or hit up a winery. *We are no longer accepting bachelorette parties*
The Toaster House – Pie Town, New Mexico
Since before my walk started I’d heard about Pie Town, New Mexico. Some would say it’s in the middle of nowhere but as Kathy from the Pie-O-Neer told me… “all roads lead to Pie.” She was right. If you are traveling straight through the Southwest, you will likely pass through Pie Town (and if you haven’t read this, you might miss it). Snuggled in this high elevation “ghost” town along the well traveled continental divide, that—according to my research—ranges from a population of 111 to 186, rests a large wood cabin called The Toaster House. Why is it called The Toaster House? I don’t know to tell you the truth, but I do know that there are dozens of old toasters hanging all around the property and a sign on the door that reads, “no one lives here, make yourself(ves) at home”. It’s a hiker, biker haven in the middle of the desert stuffed with the memories and treasures from years of those passing through. Like a mirage, there is an old fridge on the back porch stocked with frozen pizza and beer. All maintained from the donations and kindness of strangers.
On the side of the road in New Mexico
As you get West, the towns get further and further apart and your only bet for a good night’s sleep is a little stealth camping. You want to wait until the sun goes down, just before the darkness falls, and find a nice tree or bush for cover and throw your tent up. A lot of land out West is THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, which means they are public lands and it’s your right to camp there. But sometimes it’s hard to know the difference between public and private property so your best bet is go unnoticed and leave before the sunrise with no trace left behind. New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment and camping under that big bright night sky, you understand exactly why.
Some Casino in Arizona
The longest day I walked was 36 miles. It was after a three day road camping stint, which ended with me making it to a casino just outside of Phoenix, AZ. I remember a hot shower, a cold pool, and winning $50 playing no-limit hold’em. (Basically, I recommend staying at any casino.) Casinos have a wild energy, the feeling that anything could happen, that all your luck could change tonight. It’s a hopeful feeling to have, and when 13 hours of your day has been dodging oncoming traffic, all of a sudden a lucky roll of the dice feels like it could be just around the bend.
