How to Navigate Loneliness on the Road 🛣️
No one really talks about how lonely travel can be. Especially solo travel— well, and for long periods of time.
When I first started traveling, I thought the adventure alone would fill the emptiness I felt. After losing everything — and my sweet boy Dallas — I needed peace, healing, and a way to feel alive again. Travel gave me that… but it also handed me silence. And in that silence, I met my loneliness head-on.
In Costa Rica, I remember sitting on my balcony one day, surrounded by jungle sounds, and realizing that solo traveling wasn’t always beautiful. I mean, sure, but it was also raw, quiet, and sometimes really uncomfortable. I didn’t have my friends nearby. I didn’t have Dallas. I didn’t have anyone to fill the empty spaces but me.
But over time, I learned how to move through that loneliness instead of letting it swallow me. (Let me tell you- I could have just laid in bed for days.) But in that space, I started to feel something shift — I began to actually enjoy my own company.
Here are a few things that helped me navigate loneliness while traveling — and might help you, too:
🏡 Create little routines that feel like home:
When everything around you is new, having a few consistent habits can ground you — morning coffee in the same spot, journaling at night, going for daily walks. Those small rituals help you feel steady, even in unfamiliar places.
🧘♀️ Take care of your energy:
Protect your peace by spending time with people who feel genuine. It’s okay to take breaks and be alone when you need to recharge.
👯♂️ Be intentional about connecting:
Join expat or nomad groups, coworking spaces, or community dinners. Say yes to invitations — even if you feel nervous. Real friendships are often found in unexpected places. (Remember, you only have to show up!)
🏰 Find community in coliving spaces or hostels:
Solo travel doesn’t have to mean being alone. Staying at a coliving space can be one of the most healing choices you make — surrounded by people who get it, who are also figuring life out in their own way. You’ll find comfort in shared meals, deep conversations, and spontaneous adventures.
🪷 Find joy in small, everyday things
Slow dowwwwn. Whether it’s a sunset, a good meal, or a walk through a local market — notice the little things. Gratitude shifts everything. When you learn to find beauty in the simple moments, you realize you’re never as alone as you feel.
🌏 Take time to connect with the locals
One of the most beautiful parts of traveling is getting to know the people who call a place home. Join a class, learn a few phrases (or more!), visit markets, or eat where they eat. Those simple moments of connection help you feel grounded and remind you that you don’t just visit a place — you belong to it, even for a little while.
Loneliness is part of the journey, but it doesn’t define it. If anything, it’s the quiet space where growth happens — where you start to hear your own voice again.
Travel taught me that you can be both alone and deeply connected at the same time — to yourself, to the world, and to something bigger. ✨
