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Boondocking Across America


JWalmsley

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The Ultimate Act of Rebellion

There are a lot of different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Boondocking also knowns as Free Camping is one of those ways that allow you to fully experience life outside of the big city on your own terms. There's something attractive about being all by yourself, out on the open road, dependent on no one and nothing. Disconnected living in a time where everything is connected can be considered the ultimate act of rebellion. Yet we need disconnection sometimes. Boondocking allows you to disconnect and unwind, leaving behind the things that tether you to the real world and freeing your mind and body to explore nature the way it's meant to be explored. But how exactly do you boondock across America? This guide will help you on your journey as you explore the highways and byways that make up the US.

What is Boondocking?

An RV parked while boondocking in a field..

In short, boondocking can be described as the art of camping in an RV or Travel Trailer without a hookup. The apparent downside to boondocking is that you lose any sort of connection or electricity supply to your RV. On the upside, however, that lack of a leash means that you aren't restrained to civilization of any kind. It gives you the freedom to roam as you please. Some of the views we've found while boondocking are hidden gems that no one would even consider looking for. These locations aren't usually covered as popular destinations because they're so far away from where people regularly visit.

That's the true beauty of boondocking. Being all alone, dependent on yourself, and not having to worry about anyone else being close to you. You must be responsible while boondocking, though. You need to have a checklist of the things that you need to carry with you, and everything that you take to a site, you need to carry with you when you leave. Unfortunately, not all campers engaged in boondocking think the same way, and sometimes you'll come across the leavings of someone else who used a site in the past. The only thing you can do is to promise yourself that you won't be like them.

In recent years, boondocking has become quite popular with campers. It can be quite cost-effective and allows you to a lot more freedom for your travels. Being disconnected from the rest of the world also has its perks. Overall, boondocking is something that anyone who enjoys camping should try at least once to see if it appeals to them.

Types of Boondocking

An RV parked while boondocking at a vineyard.

Boondocking isn't just limited to a single kind of camping. You might hear the term "dry camping" when talking about these visits. There's no difference between the two conditions. However, within the field of dry camping, you will notice several different subtypes, namely:

Overnight Stay

Overnight stays happen when you're driving across a region and just want to pull up and park for the night. Several businesses provide parking to overnighting RVs, although some do have a cost attached to them. Walmart parking lots specifically have provisions for RVers intending to overnight. Other businesses might offer a similar courtesy to visitors. It's definitely better than having to shell out $50 for a single parking spot!

There's also the opportunity to borrow a parking spot from a friend you might have. It's very likely, depending on how much the friend likes you, that it'll be a free parking spot, and you might even be able to stay longer than a single night, depending. There are entire communities of people dedicated to the practice, which has garnered the nickname "Moochdocking." A few landowners have even allowed visitors to park on their land for free, but it's always essential to consult nearby owners before just pulling up on their spread to park for the night.

Scheduled and Developed Campsites

Campgrounds that are operated by federal, state, county, or municipal authorities are great locations for staying for a short amount of time. These spots are the best for boondock campers who aren't entirely into the lifestyle yet but want to give it a try. In many of these developed campsites, there's a limit on the maximum stay time. While some of these sites might be free, a few of them have fees attached to entering, parking, or using hookups for your RV. Several of them operate on a reservation basis, while others use the first-come-first-served methodology.

Many campsites come with amenities such as fire rings, grills, picnic tables, and other things that might be necessary for a proper camping trip. Because of how easily accessible and close to amenities they are, these sites tend to fill up quickly during holiday weekends. It would be in your best interest to book ahead to ensure you get the best sites.

Primitive or Rustic Campsites

These are the ones you'll encounter most often in your boondocking travels. They're the roughest living and are situated quite far from civilization. For newcomers to the idea of boondocking, taking on these sites might be an exciting thought, but you could quickly find yourself out of your depth. These sites are perfect for those who have been boondocking for a while. Even campers who have a little bit of experience in roughing it while camping might enjoy them. There are no amenities, and there's usually no one else for quite some distance.

You'll usually find these camping spots on federal lands within forest reserves or wildlife areas. National parks also fall into this category. Usually, when you set up camp in these spots, you can spend some time exploring the area you're in. More often than not, there will be a lot of trails you can trek through. It's by exploring like this that you find the fantastic, breathtaking views that boondock campers crave. If you ever wondered precisely how beautiful nature gets, this is the best way to experience it yourself.

Benefits of Boondocking

Boondocking is for adventurous souls longing to see the world. The age of explorers is long past, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything in nature left to discover. However, while it's a beautiful experience, many people considering boondocking have concerns about its safety and security. If you camp responsibly, this becomes less of an issue. There are several reasons why you might want to consider boondocking as a camping option, including:

Affordability

Boondocking usually costs nothing, aside from the money you pay to fill up your gas tank and buy your supplies. Even developed campgrounds that have an attached fee don't usually run you more than $10 to $20 a night. If you're more into roughing it, then those developed campsites are not worth the money. It would be easier to find dispersed camping at a free site and enjoy it on your own. In the case of RV owners, parks that cater to those vehicles have steadily increased their prices over time. As a result, boondocking would save a lot of money over a year. If you're an RV owner, you should definitely consider it as an alternative to pay-to-camp spots.

Breathtaking Sights

A person stargazing at the night sky while camping in the desert.

It's one thing to pay for an experience and enjoy it, but it's another to discover a spot all by yourself. Many dispersed campgrounds exist near the edges of lakes or along the banks of rivers. Some of them are located along cliffs or plateaus. Tourist brochures can't reproduce the views from these locations, so you have to go and see them yourself. Their uniqueness is what attracts people to them. Finding a spot that takes your breath away in a national park, or along the edge of a bluff as the world unfurls like a tapestry at your feet is one of the most life-changing experiences you will ever have. The potential downside is that you'll always want to discover more.

Solitude

We are social creatures, but too much socializing can leave us bored with a need to recharge. The isolation you get from boondocking is unmatched. You don't need to worry about ever interacting with another human being for as long as you're out there. It's truly a unique feeling being that far away from the hustle of humanity that you're likely to find in cities or towns. Because of the variety in campgrounds, you can choose a site that has neighbors nearby if you prefer being closer to people. For those of us who like our alone-time, there are wide open spaces that we can lose ourselves in with little worry about running into another person.

Losing Yourself in Nature

A breathtaking site of a lake and mountains while boondocking.

You get a particular appreciation for nature as a boondock camper. RVing usually helps you reconnect to the world around you uniquely. By setting up camp far away from civilization, you get to appreciate nature in a completely different way. When you lay down that first night in the middle of the wilds, switch off your lights and realize how many stars adorn the night sky that you just don't see when you're in a town or a city is when it hits you how much you're missing out on. Nature might be all around us, but scarce few of us take the time to appreciate our surroundings.

Finding Boondocking Sites

We've outlined several of the best free campsites for boondock travel trailers, campers and RVers in different parts of the country. However, boondocking sites aren't necessarily campgrounds. Aside from the suggestions we've mentioned, there are a few distinct sources that you could look to for your boondocking needs:

Forestry Sites

The US Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) usually have spots in national forests set aside for campers. Calling ahead helps you to know if you need a permit to camp on those sites if there's a fee attached, and what the maximum stay time is at the park or forest. Contact information for each department is available on their websites.

Some government-owned lands like (BLM) will require you to pick up a camping pass and may have restrictions on the length of stays permitted.

Membership Clubs

A new development that is probably long overdue in the camping world is the idea of a membership camping site. Landowners can offer up spare space on their properties for RVers to take a few nights to explore the area. Membership to the sites like these is affordable and well worth it if you plan to be boondocking for a while. Additionally, if you're a member of some organizations such as the Elks, parking lots for those lodges might accommodate members for overnight stays. Consulting the chapter's secretary may offer more insight into leveraging these options.

Store Parking Lots

Any port will do in a storm. When you're passing through a civilized area, and you need to stop for the night, the cost of an RV park will probably be expensive. However, you can always choose the free option and park in the parking lot of a big-box store like Walmart. Companies such as Costco, Menards, and even Cracker Barrel offer free overnight parking for RVers, but the accommodation differs by location. Some require you to register with the administration before parking. Consulting the store's staff might clue you in to where you're allowed to park and stay.

Places That Should be Avoided

In any locale, there are a few places that you ought to be aware of that are no-go areas. Whether because the residents aren't particularly friendly to visitors or the location is a crime hotspot, there are a few warning signs that the experienced boondock camper will notice immediately. A few of the elements to consider when you're picking a spot to stay are:

  • In populated areas, What looks like a deserted spot during the day might get very busy at night. If you don't know anyone locally, ask around to find out if that spot is one you should be staying in.
  • If staying at a place that trucks are likely to be present, be courteous. Truckers can be territorial, and it's better that you didn't put yourself in harm's way over a parking spot.
  • Boondocking is about privacy, security, and solitude. If you notice a space for your RV to squeeze between two others, you might want to avoid that spot since it will probably annoy your neighbors.
  • Federal lands are available for all to use, but the onus is on your to ensure that the road can handle your vehicle's size and weight class. Doing research beforehand as to whether the route can manage your rig will save you some moments of anxiety on the way to your campsite.
  • On private lands, make sure the landowner knows you're there and has explicitly permitted you to stay. If they haven't, then you have no right to be on that spot.
  • Many boondocking campsites have a limit on how long campers are allowed to stay. Make sure you know if there's a maximum stay-time for that particular campsite. If you require a permit to camp at that location, you should also be aware of where you can get it and how much it costs (if anything). Knowledge about your camping site is the most important thing for a boondock camper.

Essentials for Boondocking Responsibly

By now, you should be excited to head out on the open road and discover what America has to offer you. Not so fast, pilgrim. You're forgetting one crucial detail, one that many new boondock campers overlook. Generally, you can survive out in the wilderness while camping comfortably enough once you have three main things: Water, Food, and Electricity. These are what you'd call your essentials. Obtaining them isn't horribly painful, but being prepared is vital to your survival and the ability to remain out in the wilds for as long as possible.

See our guide Tips To Keep In Mind When Traveling

Water

In most commercial RVs, there are usually three tanks for water storage. One is a freshwater tank (for potable water), one is a grey water tank (for wastewater from sinks and the shower), and one is the black water tank (for excrement). Larger containers translate to a longer time that the RV can remain self-sufficient. Eventually, however, you're going to have to head to a dump station and refill your potable water. There are a lot of ways you can preserve water out on the road including

  • Flushing your toilets less
  • Keep your dishwashing to once a day
  • Navy showers - use running water only when necessary while showering

There's no hard-and-fast rule for what you should do to conserve water. Each V's water flow situation is different. The only accurate way to figure out what the limits of your water storage situation are and how long you can go before a dump is by trial and error. The better you are at conserving water, the longer you can stay out in the boondocks.

Food

Meal planning is among the most vital skills to have when boondocking. Stocking up on groceries might only happen once in a while, so knowing what you need during your one grocery trip before heading out into the wilderness is essential. If you're planning on heading far from civilization, you won't have the option of dropping into the nearest 7-11 to restock. Just like in real life, having a shopping list that references your meal preparation schedule can help you keep costs to a minimum.

Additionally, depending on what your RV comes with and what amenities you might have, using tinned goods and ready-to-eat meals might be an option you can look at exploring. If you're not much of a wilderness chef, these will at least ensure that you have something you can eat, even when you're too tired or busy to rustle up some dinner. Your food, like everything else out here, is your responsibility. Knowing what you can cook and eat and how long before you need to get supplies is an essential step in evolving your boondocking.

Electricity

As much as we'd like to throw out all the trappings of the world, it's a sad consequence that we need electricity for a lot of things. RVs typically run on two separate electrical systems. There's a 120-volt power supply that's akin to the power distribution in your home (AC). There's also a 12-volt supply that runs off batteries (DC). If your RV is of the driving type, there's yet another electrical system that helps to operate the vehicle. For isolation, this power system is separate from either of the other two. You can think about that one as the auto-electrical system in a car.

If you're going to be off-grid, you obviously won't have any hookups for your RV to connect to. Typically, in the past, generators have been used to power RVs while out in the boondocks. The upside is that, as long as you have fuel, generators can run indefinitely when you need them to. The downside is that they can be loud, and that might end up driving the wildlife away and disturbing your neighbors. Generators can plug directly into an RV and power the entire rig as well as recharge the batteries. When you switch off the generator, the cells take over the supply of power.

Solar power is becoming more accessible, but it suffers from a few hurdles that make it unreliable. Panels can't generate enough power on cloudy days, and they are not very efficient in catching energy even when you are out in bright sunlight. Generators are still the best option, even with their downsides. The demand for power that each RV has differs by what's connected to its electrical system. Figuring out how much battery power it will take to run your rig, and for how long, is a trial-and-error errand. Ideally, you should do this before you set out to boondock so you'd have a baseline for operation.

Don't Be Afraid to Try

Boondocking, just like camping, is about your planning and managerial skills. You need to plot your course to get to your campground, know how long you're spending there, and where you'll be getting supplies and dumps from. The fun part of the trip is getting into the great outdoors with the most minimal comforts of home with you. Boondocking is one of the last great adventures we have as explorers of our own country.

There's no better way to discover the secret gems of America than to boondock across it.

See more guides on tips for boondocking in a travel trailer or RV.

If Boondocking sounds a little too much for you, see our guide on finding the best RV parks.

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