Creator Travels Across US With No Money

Social media influencer Paxton Leatherman is attempting a 3,000-mile journey from Seattle to Miami.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Budget Travel

Screen-print poster illustration of a worn backpack by a rural fence, evoking the theme of a long cross-country journey. — Content creator Paxton Leatherman is traveling 3,000 miles across the U.S. on foot to support independent family-owned restaurants. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you rely on support from strangers to fund a long-distance personal travel challenge?

Content creator Paxton Leatherman is trekking 3,000 miles from Seattle to Miami with a budget of zero dollars. He intends to fund his travel by working at local restaurants along his route while documenting the experience for his online audience.

Why it matters

Leatherman aims to use his cross-country trip to bring public visibility to independent and family-owned restaurants. By documenting these interactions on social media, he seeks to highlight the importance of local eateries to his followers.

The journey spans 3,000 miles from Seattle to Miami with a starting budget of $0. Leatherman maintains an audience of 30,000 followers on his Palate Provisions Instagram account to track his progress.

The players

Paxton Leatherman

He is a content creator who previously left his employment to focus on developing his social media brand.

Palate Provisions

This is a social media brand operated by Leatherman that focuses on documenting his travel experiences and restaurant interactions.

The details

Leatherman carries a tent and a backpack, relying on public assistance and short-term work arrangements at restaurants to sustain his journey. During his first night of travel, he reported that 50 businesses declined his offers for work in exchange for meals or funds.

The journey is currently underway as of October 15, 2026.
Leatherman aims to complete his arrival in Miami by December 2026.

Travel Outlook

This trek exemplifies the rise of social media-driven experiential travel where influencers leverage digital audiences to validate and sustain unconventional long-distance journeys. It reflects a growing trend of content creators prioritizing organic, real-world engagement over traditional travel planning.

Travelers interested in similar long-distance routes should note that relying on spontaneous work agreements can be highly unpredictable for meeting basic needs. The experience highlights the difficulty of securing consistent local assistance, even when backed by an existing social media audience.

The takeaway

Documenting a journey as a full-time creator requires significant logistical flexibility when traditional funding methods are removed. For those attempting similar feats, the reality of encountering dozens of rejections emphasizes the importance of contingency planning for food and shelter.