Kerouac knew it. So did Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompson: nothing can compare to the feeling of hitting the open road.
Filmmaker, photographer and YouTube creator Drew Simms has made the open road his brand, documenting staggering rugged landscapes across the U.S. — and around the globe — from behind the wheel of his fully customized third-generation Toyota Tacoma overland rig.
So when we asked him if he’d like to take a 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter on an epic road trip of his choosing, we knew he’d chart a truly awe-inspiring adventure.
His plan? A weeklong, coast-to-desert traverse of Oregon culminating in a few nights of camping under a spring meteor shower. In addition to honing his astrophotography skills, Drew put Toyota’s off-the-lot overlander to the ultimate test on sand, mud, rocks, dust — and everything in between.
Each destination, vehicle accessory and piece of travel gear was picked with care. And in the end, Drew scored multiple nights of clear, dark skies and plenty of streaking meteors.
Want to go deeper into Drew’s epic adventure? Head over to Your Window to the Wild and dig into all the glorious details, photos, and insights from the trip.