Secrets of a Successful Boondocker
Utah Lake, Utah dispersed camping.
I have noticed that not many people share how they successfully boondock. Maybe partially, like it is free with some bragging rights, and there should be some bragging, but there is so much more to it. So much more. What is boondocking you ask? Boondocking is also called dry camping, but not only in a tent, also in a RV. It is rewarding for its freedom, but also has its challenges, like, where can I boondock with my big rig? Is it safe?
Boondocking is very popular in the western part of the United States. There is plenty of land to park on. The 2 most popular are BLM and forest. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has land in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho and more. There might be an instance you will have to pay to camp on BLM land, but it will be a small fee. A lot of BLM land is open desert, with plenty of parking, however, careful checking is advised for road conditions.
Boondocking on forest land is also free, but some sites could charge a small fee, depending on the area. Camping on forest land can be delightful to the senses, a place of privacy and relaxation. For big rigs, it could be a challenge with the trees, so smaller rigs are more apt to camp in the forest.
When we plan to go to an area, I look at google maps and change the layer to “terrain.” It really helps you to “see” the camping area and make an educated decision whether to park there or not. It might show some bushes, trees and what the road may be like. Plus I like to look at reviews of camping sites, such as on Campendium, to see if we would fit there, what the area is like and if there is any safety issues.
When were going to Wyoming and found a lovely place between Cheyenne and Laramie, Vedauwoo Glen Road Dispersed Camping, we needed to find a site for our large setup. But not only that, a place to grocery shop, do our laundry and get gas, besides exploring. So this area was a good spot as we had a choice between 2 towns, and I did prefer Laramie, but we ended up in Cheyenne a lot. Cheyenne has a cute, historic downtown area that is a must see!
A foggy morning on Vedauwoo Glen Road Dispersed Camping!
My husband and started our fulltime rv adventure with boondocking as we wanted to be free, save money and enjoy the beautiful country we live in with a different perspective rather than a campground you pay for. I was shocked that it was not what I thought it was. You are free up to a time, you will spend money but you will still enjoy the beauty of the area you are staying in, unless there is garbage (yes, we have seen it and picked it up).
I want to share with you tips to help you be a successful BOONDOCKER:
Freedom: You will definitely experience freedom and adventure. HOWEVER, when you boondock, there is a limitation of your stay on the site, usually up to 14 days. It is doable as I think 14 days is enough time to explore the area and move onto the next one.
Costs: Yes, there are costs! The campsite is free, but I want you to think of something: how will you get water and dump your waste? Go to the grocery store or do laundry? Fill up with propane? This will require gas to go to these places and it is IMPORTANT to calculate the costs with your budget. Whether you have to take your whole rig to go into town, or a part of it, it will cost.
Delicates: When thinking of camping in the middle of nowhere, eventually you will need water or to dump your delicates. Here are some places I use to find them: Campendium, honestly I use this site the most as it not only has camping places (fee and free), but also where you can dump, get water and excellent reviews; RV dumpsites can tell you what is close to you for dump and water. Some of them are free and some not.
Explore: When we plan a place to boondock, I look to see what we can to in the area. Maybe a national or state park, visit a historic site or a cute downtown area, play in the water, hike, drive on a dirt trail and the list can go on. Sometimes we may plan for something fun and also do some laundry or get groceries. One time we were boondocking on someone’s land (check out Hip Camp for more info on camping on someone’s land for a small fee) and we were far from any major city. We planned to go to the Tetons and with Jackson nearby, we did our laundry and got gas for our vehicle. A win-win!
Fun or not: Boondocking can be a lot of fun, do not have close neighbors like at a private campground, peaceful and relaxing where you can put your chairs out and enjoy the stars or a beautiful sunrise. It is like you can feel like you are a part of nature and you wish you could stay longer. But also there have been times I wondered what moves around out there at night. So far, we have not had any problems as animals are more scared of us. Not people encounter either. But I feel boondocking is more fun than not.
Lander City Park, Lander, Wyoming - A free 3 night stay!
Becoming a successful boondocker requires good thinking and planning skills. There is so much land out there in the western U.S. for you to explore, have adventures and brag to your family and friends about. Your RV is your homebase as you travel and boondock, but we also need to think about where we can get our necessities as they do not last forever. But I wish!
Share with us a favorite boondocking spot!