This Family Built a 240-Square-Foot Tiny House on Wheels—and Then Traveled 7,000 Miles Across the U.S.

Tiny houses have become iconic in recent years, thanks to their creativity and innovation. While there’s no doubt that tiny homes symbolize different things for different people, on a practical level, living in a tiny house can mean freedom from a decades-long commitment to paying down a mortgage, and a life burdened by too much “stuff.”

For Florida-based couple Hannah and Greg Wilnau, their custom-build tiny home wasn’t just a minimalist lifestyle choice—it became the key to a life of near-constant global exploration.

In 2018, the Wilnaus sold their house and most of their possessions to travel full time. Armed with just two backpacks each and a remote digital business they built themselves, they spent a year hopping between countries—Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Holland, Italy, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic—documenting their journey on their YouTube channel Tiny Living Big Adventure.

“Minimalism found us gradually,” Hannah told Travel + Leisure. “After those years of traveling with just two carry-on backpacks each, we realized we didn’t need much. It was freeing.”

But after exploring over a dozen countries in Europe and Asia, the Wilnaus realized they had barely scratched the surface of their own country. And that’s when their next adventure began: building a tiny house on wheels so they could travel the U.S. without sacrificing the comforts of home.

The idea stemmed while the couple was living in Hanoi, Vietnam. “I heard the [YouTube tiny house channel] Living Big In A Tiny House theme song from the other room,” Hannah recalls. “Suddenly Greg calls out, ‘Babe, we should design and build our own tiny house on wheels and travel cross-country—like an RV!’”

Hannah’s only exposure to tiny homes was watching HGTV with her mom, but she knew going tiny was feasible, given the minimalist lifestyle that the two were already living. On top of that, the couple was now expecting a child, and a tiny house on wheels offered a way for them to travel, while still having a home base. “We weren’t ready to buy another home, or choose a permanent location,” Hannah said. “A tiny house on wheels offered that stability, plus the challenge we craved beyond the typical RV route.”

The Wilnaus set about designing and building their tiny house, with the knowledge that it would need to withstand the stress and strain of being driven around on a year-long cross-country road trip. Greg, who had experience in construction, led the build with help from his father and family.

Their sleek 240-square-foot home measures 20 feet long and is clad in modern slate-grey metal. Large windows on both sides and 11-foot ceilings make the compact space feel open and airy.

Inside, clever design and smart features help maximize space: built-in stair storage, a pull-out pantry, and a drop-down ledge for a private office nook in their bedroom. Despite a small footprint, the couple splurged on a 3-by-4-foot shower, ensuring Greg, who is 6’3″, could shower comfortably.

The kitchen is a favorite space, complete with a full gas stove. “My favorite moments are Novembers in Florida, when I’m cooking inside while Greg and Taylor make a fire outside,” Hannah told T+L. “We open the windows and it feels like one continuous space—bringing the outdoors in creates the feeling of so much more room.”

By mid-2021, they were finally ready to hit the road with their newly constructed tiny house across Colorado, Montana, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and more—covering over 7,000 miles before returning to Florida.

As their daughter grew and their family plans expanded, the Wilnaus realized their beloved 240-square-foot home needed backup. “We outgrew the main tiny house,” Hannah explained. “It worked perfectly until our daughter was almost three years old, but we want to expand our family and need more space now.”

In 2024, they completed a second 16-foot-long tiny house, adding 192 square feet of space that now serves as an office, music studio, second bathroom, and a bedroom for Taylor.

Now settled in central Florida, the couple is looking to purchase land where they can park both tiny homes permanently. They even plan to build a larger structure to link the two units, potentially using their original tiny home as a guest house or short-term rental.

While their homes may be small, the Wilnaus say the lifestyle they’ve created is anything but limiting.

“Minimalism eliminates mental burden—we know what we need and aren’t carrying extra stuff. This awareness changed everything. We don’t want another big house—not because of size, but because it wouldn’t be intentional space.”

Taylor, now five years old, has become a seasoned traveler herself. Beyond their U.S. road trip, the family have since traveled together to Iceland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and even Antarctica. “Kayaking through ice and icebergs—with penguins jumping out of the water right in front of your kayak—was just incredible,” Hannah told T+L.

In total, Hannah has visited 42 countries, Greg 41, and Taylor is already at 21.