Chet Hanks Embraces Life on the Road

A recent solo road trip along the California coast led Chet Hanks to rethink his concept of “home,” prompting him to trade a luxury rental for a nomadic lifestyle. The 35-year-old actor and musician, currently pursuing his country music aspirations in Nashville, shared his journey towards making this unconventional choice in a new interview.

Hanks explained that he had just acquired a condo in Los Angeles, fully furnished, and it felt like a significant step for him. He stated, “I didn’t want to own furniture or settle into a traditional apartment anymore. I was stuck living in Airbnbs and hotels, which, as nice as they are, don’t offer the comfort of having your own space.”

He continued, saying, “I went on this trip because, honestly, I was bored and alone. I wanted to take a little break, so I drove to Carmel in the Bay Area. It’s a stunning location. Staying in an Airstream trailer there was such a good experience that I thought, ‘This is what I want for myself.’ So I went ahead and got an RV.”

While Hanks isn’t quite ready to invest in an Airstream just yet, he found an RV that meets his needs perfectly. “It has a kitchen and a walk-in shower, which is a big deal for trailers since many have combined toilet and shower units. This one’s called a wet bath,” he mentioned.

Living in a trailer park hasn’t been what he expected. Hanks describes his neighbors as “great people,” despite the age gap—he sees himself as much younger than them, feeling the difference of “30 or 40 years.” He said, “You might think trailer parks are sketchy or dangerous, but in reality, most residents are retirees.”

In his downtime, Hanks enjoys campfire activities and gatherings around the fire pit with his neighbors. However, he admits that his routine is quite relaxed: “For the most part, I’m just doing what I normally do at home, which is lying in bed and binge-watching Netflix.”

Hanks began his country music career in 2025 with his band, Something Out West, which he formed with Drew Arthur. They’ve already released a track called “Leaving Hollywood” and performed at the Stagecoach Festival, where his father, Tom Hanks, was spotted supporting him.

They even performed a song titled “You Better Run,” with a music video inspired by the beloved film “Forrest Gump.”