The Story Behind “Drive Across America"

by Scott Turner

When Joe and I packed up the old Subaru and pointed it toward the western horizon, we didn’t set out to film a documentary. We didn’t plan on starting a multi-episode series. And we had no idea that “Drive Across America” would become one of the defining adventures of a place called GoofyTown. Honestly? We just wanted to take a trip , a real road trip, the kind where you let the miles tell the story
Drive Across America.

So many things about this journey felt worth capturing.

The scenery, the challenges, the little conversations, the laughs, the unexpected moments… all of it felt like part of a story bigger than the two of us. So we kept filming. And as we drove west from Pennsylvania, the story began to unfold.

How It All Started

Like every great GoofyTown idea, it began with a simple question, “Hey what if…”
“… what if we just go?”

I remember Talking with Joe on the phone. We had been out West before, and I wanted to go again. Between the two of us, the journey would later be titled, “the do over”.

I recall that It was one of those Beautiful Pennsylvania spring days when the air feels energetic and the sky looks extra blue. We had a nice chat, and I described what I thought might be a possible itinerary. We had been waiting for the opportunity to fly our drones in some of the same places that we had already visited in Colorado and Wyoming. I could picture us doing exactly that…

A day trip wasn’t enough. We needed a bigger adventure.

“What if we head west?”
“Like… really west?” “Yeah.” “ Let’s go.” That was pretty much it. Within a few weeks, we were loading the Subaru with cameras, drones, clothes, snacks, and just enough planning to survive whatever we were about to get ourselves into.

The Subaru: The Third Member of the Team

I have to say this, my 2009 Subaru Forester deserves its own episode, maybe its own award. That thing is the definition of reliability. It’s not flashy, it came pre-dented, but it’s a workhorse. It’s hauled gear up mountains, survived rainstorms, traveled and returned from the backcountry, and it’s been the rolling headquarters for all the GoofyTown projects. By the time we started “Drive Across America,” the Subaru already had stories of its own… but this trip added several new chapters.

From Indiana to Kansas, Baptized by Rain

Our trip officially kicked off in Pennsylvania, but Indiana felt like the unofficial starting point of the whole adventure. I guess that’s when Joe started filming.

I’ll never forget what happened next.
It poured. Not a sprinkle, not a friendly little shower. No, it rained and it poured like it was coming through a screen door in a submarine. We were driving through sheets of rain so thick that the headlights could barely cut through it. I turned on the four-way flashers, and the wipers were slapping back and forth like they were going to fly off the windshield.

Joe and I looked at each other like, “This is going well, eh?”

“Who planned this trip”, I spouted sarcastically.

But that’s the funny thing about adventures. The bad weather becomes part of the story. By the time we pushed through Indiana and crossed into Kansas, we were tired of rain but strangely energized. The first episode practically wrote itself.

Kansas to Colorado, Climbing Into the Rockies

There’s something magical about the moment you start seeing the outline of the Rocky Mountains on the horizon.

The flat land starts forming shadows. The air feels different. Even the car starts breathing heavier, like it recognizes what’s coming.

Driving into Colorado felt like crossing into another world.
Our goal was to get to a high-altitude campground that would serve as base camp for a weekend music festival. The campsite ended up being one of my favorite memories from the trip. Clear air, huge skies, the kind of vastness that humbles you. And a sense of “we’ve actually made it.”

Setting up the tent in the Rockies was like leveling up in an adventure game.

And that night, the guitars came out, the cameras rolled, and the mountains echoed.

It was the perfect second chapter.

Although we hadn't planned on making this travel series, the chapters kept writing themselves. From the music festival in Colorado we traveled to the back country of Wyoming. We got some great pictures, some awesome video, and some killer drone shots. We didn't know it, but we met the bare minimum of footage to be edited into content.

Life on the Road — The Real Story Between the Shots

When you travel across America with a friend, you learn things fast — about the road, about the weather, about the gear, and about each other.

The Weather One hour: sunshine. Next hour: wind. Next hour: a storm that makes you question your life choices.

The People Every gas station, diner, and hotel brought someone interesting. Some told stories, some asked about the cameras, and others just smiled and kept the world turning.

The Gear Drones can sense fear. Cameras need assistance in taking pictures. And yes, an entire interview can be recorded, if and only if the video camera is on.

The Food Protein bars are good… until they’re not. Small town diners save lives. Campfire dinners taste better at 8,000 feet. The car has crumbs from every state we visited.

Why This Trip Mattered to Me

The miles were great. The scenery was incredible. But honestly, what I’ll always remember most is the feeling of being out there. Two yuk yuks from GoofyTown chasing another sunset, laughing at life and collecting memories that feel bigger than the cameras could ever capture.

There’s something about a cross-country trip that resets you. Forces you to breathe. Shows you how wide and varied America really is.

This trip started GoofyTown.

Why People Connect With the Series
Because: “You guys feel like friends I’m traveling with.” “This reminds me of road trips I used to take.” “Finally, an adventure series that feels natural.” “No fake drama. Just actual life. I love it.”

The whole point of GoofyTown is to make the world feel a little smaller, a little funnier, and a little more inviting. And I think Scott and Joe’s “Drive Across America” does exactly that.
What’s Next?
Oh, we’re definitely doing more. The map is already out. Ideas are already brewing… To be continued for as long as humanly possible.