1/2/2024 0 Comments Boondocking guide![]() ![]() Any warm embers or wood ash can easily spark back up in slight (and common) wind and cause massive fire damage, not to mention expensive and dangerous multi-million dollar mitigation efforts in forest fires. Just tamping down flames may work in a backyard fire pit, but it doesn’t work in these locations. Please put your fires all the way out! Especially in the West, drought and dry areas are generally in extreme fire danger. This is where it pays to know where the closest water and dump station is to your location and how long you can go conserving water. This means gray water (shower and sink) and black water (waste), as well as any garbage, etc. You take everything in with you, and you take everything out. This phrase is the “respect” of the natural location. Of course, free camping sounds awesome, but there is a way to do it the right way and have respect for the host, the public lands, or the boondocking location. Below are some good rules to follow to be a responsible boondocker. Sometimes they have an electric or water hookup for you to steal, but sometimes it’s just a visit and a spot to hang for a day or two, but you will likely be having to find a place to empty your black tanks after you leave. This is basically dry camping at a friend or acquaintances home. You are on your own, although some locations actually are pretty busy and form their own communities (such as Quartzite, Arizona each winter). You definitely need holding tanks for dispersed camping, as well as at least one reliable power source, generator or solar/batteries for all your needs. There are no services, no amenities, no hookups. ![]() In some places, you are allowed to just pull off wherever and camp for a period of time (sometimes weeks) for free. There aren’t established campgrounds, sometimes not even established roads. This is mostly out in the Western US where there are vast stretches of BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or National Forest Service public lands. Most of these incur a small fee for staying and/or for using amenities. Some campgrounds or parks have a hydrant where you can fill up water jugs, some have pit or vault toilets and showers, and some even have dump stations. Some purists argue that inside a park isn’t true boondocking, but instead dry camping. Many state parks have these situations, and some campgrounds even have overflow areas that would be considered boondocking. This means you are camping in a “campsite” but there aren’t any electric, water, or sewer hookups. This type of camping is meant for a safe place to rest for a night, not a long term camping solution. This is a “thank you” for their hospitality. Meaning don’t put your slides out, rugs, chairs, grills, etc.Īn understood courtesy is that you will purchase items or meals from the “host” store. Lastly, do not “set up camp” while you are there. It’s also important to ask where you should stay in the parking lot. ![]() The unwritten rule here is to call ahead and ask the manager for permission to stay. ![]() Many Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, truck stops, rest areas, and some other big box stores allow overnight parking. While some folks will get technical with the terms, we consider all of the below options different ways to boondock. Boondocking on private property depends on the place, make sure to call ahead because each location is different. The unwritten rule is to “leave no trace”, meaning taking everything in and everything out as to preserve nature for the next visitor. There are rules of how long and where you can stay, but it’s pretty straightforward. But, public lands in the Western US, such as BLM lands, usually allow for boondocking. Obviously private property has its own rules and some areas have laws against it. Now that you have a basic understanding of what boondocking is, let’s dive into more detail around this free camping option! Is Boondocking Legal? It’s also important to know what your goal of the camping trip is, such as getting as close to nature as possible or just staying overnight somewhere on your way to a destination. It is generally free or inexpensive and varies depending on where you are geographically. Boondocking is a word you will come across quite a bit when you’re exploring camping groups and articles, but what is boondocking?īoondocking is camping without hookups, meaning you need to provide your own water, power, and waste collection. ![]()
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