Most travel content today is, frankly, fake. It’s all filtered sunsets, staged laughter, and luxury hotels that nobody can actually afford. But then you have Joe & Nic's Road Trip. It’s different. Honestly, it’s one of the few corners of the internet where the "real America" isn't just a marketing buzzword used to sell truck tires.
Joe and Nicole (Nic) didn't just decide to take a long vacation. They sold their house. In late 2021, they packed up and committed to a massive, multi-year project: visiting every single state in the U.S., all 50 state capitals, and hundreds of tiny towns that the rest of the world has basically forgotten.
What Really Happened With Joe & Nic's Road Trip
This wasn't some sponsored corporate trek. They’ve been documenting towns and cities across the country, mostly focusing on the "bones" of a place. You won't find Joe talking about the best Instagram-worthy brunch spots. Instead, he’s walking through the downtown area of a place like Yazoo City, Mississippi, or a fading mining town in Arizona, looking at the architecture and talking about the median income.
The channel—formerly known as Lord Spoda—has grown to over 700,000 subscribers precisely because it’s gritty.
Sometimes it’s uncomfortable.
Joe doesn't sugarcoat the "blight and decay" he sees in places like rural New Jersey or the Pennsylvania Rust Belt. He uses real-time data from sources like the US Census Bureau and AreaVibes to give context to what you're seeing on screen. It’s a mix of a history lesson, an economic report, and a boots-on-the-ground travelogue.
💡 You might also like: Tiempo en East Hampton NY: What the Forecast Won't Tell You About Your Trip
The 24,000 Mile Milestone
By late 2024, the duo hit a massive milestone: finishing the final leg of their 50-state tour.
This specific journey covered 24,000 miles. Think about that for a second. That is roughly the circumference of the Earth. They hit 50 capitals and 142 major towns and cities in that stretch alone. They started out in San Diego and wound their way through the Pacific Northwest, hit Hawaii and Alaska, then zig-zagged through the Heartland before finishing up on the East Coast.
The variety is wild. One day they're in a "3rd world" feeling pocket of rural Mississippi, and the next they’re reviewing a local restaurant in a booming Texas suburb.
Why People Are Obsessed With the Format
The "secret sauce" here is simplicity.
📖 Related: Finding Your Way: What the Lake Placid Town Map Doesn’t Tell You
There are no fancy drone shots every five seconds. There’s no high-energy "hey guys, welcome back to the channel!" intro. It’s mostly Joe walking with a camera, showing you exactly what he sees. Nic is often behind the scenes or appears for meal reviews, providing a different perspective on the local vibe.
People watch because:
- It’s raw: If a town is dying because the interstate killed it, Joe says so.
- The Stats: He actually looks at the poverty rates and crime statistics, which gives a "why" to the visuals of boarded-up windows.
- The Architecture: Joe has a genuine appreciation for how buildings used to be made, often pointing out 19th-century brickwork that’s being reclaimed by nature.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a time capsule. In 2026, as more of these small "wide spots in the road" disappear or get swallowed by urban sprawl, these videos are becoming a historical record. They visited places like Magdalena, New Mexico, and forgotten coal towns in Virginia that most people wouldn't even stop at for gas.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that the channel is "poverty porn" or just focuses on the negative. That's not really fair. While they don't shy away from the rough parts of Memphis or the "dangerous" side of Alabama, they also highlight the resilience of these communities.
👉 See also: Why Presidio La Bahia Goliad Is The Most Intense History Trip In Texas
They find beauty in the "Backwoods Wisconsin" time-warps and the serenity of hidden Jersey towns. They’ve even done deep dives into surprising success stories like Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the weather might be brutal, but the community is thriving.
It’s about the truth of the American landscape. Sometimes that truth is a beautiful Art Deco courthouse in a town of 500 people. Sometimes it’s a food poisoning scare in a rural diner that nearly takes Joe out.
Practical Takeaways for Your Own Trip
If you're inspired by Joe & Nic's Road Trip to start your own cross-country trek, don't just follow the interstate. The interstate is where culture goes to die in a sea of identical fast-food chains.
To see the real country, you have to:
- Get Off the Highway: Use the "avoid highways" setting on your GPS for at least one leg of the trip.
- Visit the Downtowns: Every small town has a center. Even if it's mostly empty, that’s where the history is.
- Check the Stats: Before you go, look at the history of the town. Understanding why a town exists (mining, timber, rail) makes the visit ten times more interesting.
- Support the Locals: Skip the Starbucks. Find the local diner where the residents actually sit and talk.
The journey Joe and Nic started isn't just about ticking boxes on a map. It’s about understanding the complex, sometimes messy reality of the United States. Whether they're exploring "abandoned" Texas or the "most sacred city" in Pennsylvania, they prove that every "wide spot in the road" has a story worth telling.
Start by mapping out a 100-mile stretch of a state highway near you. Look for the towns that the major highway bypassed in the 1960s. Those are the places where you’ll find the remnants of the old world, the best local stories, and the kind of authentic travel experiences that don't need a filter.