where to camp

Depending on where you are, your plans, and where you are going, your car camping options will vary. I got told over and over that I’d have to stay in Walmart parking lots, that Walmart would always be my best bet, and at times my only option. I never once stayed at a Walmart. Not that there is anything wrong with using the parking lot for a night if you need to or if you prefer to. I just opted for my other options.

CAMPGROUNDS

Paying for established campgrounds can add up quickly and is not the most feasible option to utilize consistently. However, at times they are your most convenient option, a great social setting, and typically are in the heart of your destination. They also usually provide facilities and amenities like running water, toilets, picnic tables, and trash bins.

PUBLIC LANDS / NATIONAL FOREST / BLM LAND

Some of the most scenic campsite views I have ever had have come from a secluded campsite deep off a forest service road. These lands are a great way to submerge yourself in nature, be away from others, and venture off the beaten path.

Keep in mind that free dispersed camping means little to no facilities. Typically there is no running water, electricity, or toilets, and no trash removal services. It is imperative to follow Leave No Trace Principles when camping and pack out everything that you brought in!

Dispersed camping sites usually start about 1 mile off main service roads. Look for existing spaces to set up camp to lessen your environmental impact. Typically you can spot a campsite by looking for designated pullouts and fire pits. Various National Forest and BLM lands have different rules depending on the area, typically you can stay at the same site for a maximum of 14 days.

Be sure to keep an eye on the weather and be cautious of current road conditions. Again, these sites tend to be off forest service roads and can be unmaintained, rough, and at times require high clearance vehicles. The last thing you want is to be overly ambitious and pop a tire, be caught in a storm with the road washed out, stuck in the mud, etc. My Lexus impressed me with the terrain it tackled, but I never pushed to make it through areas I felt unsure about.

TRUCK STOPS

I love Love’s Travel Stop. The bathrooms are always clean, the people are kind, and the showers are pretty luxurious for showering on the road. Pilot Flying J Travel Center is another one you may frequently come across, which is just as comparable.

Truck stops are not the first nor the second place I tend to turn for camping, but if you are in a pinch and it’s getting late at night, they are a great option. You have a bathroom to use, coffee in the morning, and staff 24/7. They certainly serve as a place of convenience.

I do not park and sleep with the other 18 wheelers. I find a place in the parking lot, usually, with other cars I think are staying the night and cars with campers attached. If there are no other cars that I suspect to be staying the night, it’s a smaller truck stop, or I feel uneasy, I DO NOT STAY THERE. Trust your instincts, always. Again, this is not my first choice and I do advise you to use caution when sleeping at a truck stop. If I’m camping in a parking lot, I always back into the parking space, stay in a well-lit area, and typically people watch for a while to feel better about where I am before calling it a night.

HIGHWAY REST AREAS

Like truck stops, rest areas are not high on my list of places to crash for the night. However, when in a pinch, they are a viable option. Again, the same rules apply. I back into my parking space, stay in a well-lit area, and I do not stay the night if I am the only car camping there. If this is where I expect I’ll be staying for the night, I typically go to a Mcdonald’s or somewhere similar to use the bathroom first. I don’t know what it is about a rest area, but I hate exiting my car. It’s another get in late, get out early kind of place.

CASINOS

Not all states have casinos, and I typically only have stayed at them when in transit from one place to the next and needing somewhere to stay for a night. In my experience, most casinos allow boondocking. Rules differ among casinos, so be sure you are aware of protocol. Some casinos have lots designated for overnights, while others ask that you park towards the back of the main lot. I’ve even been to a casino where they require you to check-in to get an overnight pass. Regardless, I think it’s a good idea to hit the main desk when you first arrive; this also allows you an opportunity to use the bathroom.

NEIGHBORHOODS/CITY STREETS

When I can’t be surrounded by nature or am spending time exploring a new city, urban boondocking is my personal preference. Of course, caution is always advised and you need to be very observant of street signs, but I feel most comfortable in a busy city neighborhood. It’s one of those situations where you first scope out the area/community in the daylight to get a feel, arrive late, and then get up early before people leave for work. Being as stealthy as possible is key.

I am incredibly fortunate to have friends in so many different major cities across the country who were so kind as to share their homes with me for a brief time. However, when this was not the case, I resorted to car camping in urban neighborhoods. For example, I stayed in San Fransisco for just short of a week. To keep it easy, I stayed in the same neighborhood that I felt familiar with. To keep a low profile, I never stayed in the same place twice; I’d stay across the street or a block over from where I was the night before.

Something to consider when city camping is your proximity to amenities; you’ll want a grocery store, coffee shop, or fast food restaurant nearby so that you can use the bathroom before turning in and for the morning. I also tend to look for neighborhoods near a nice park or with a church close by.