Boondocking
21 CRITICAL Things To Know Before You Go
It all begins with an idea. you may want to explore nature in a way you’ve never done before. Or maybe you have a desire to escape from the hussle and bussle of city life and find yourself, explore and create. Whatever it is, the way you approach boondocking can make all the difference.
BOONDOCKING:
21 CRITICAL Things to Know Before You Go
#1 Value
With boondocking you will find the some of the best camping value anywhere. Where else can you get FREE camping complete with some of the most amazing views on the planet. While it may be true that the cost of adding solar or a generator could be factored into the cost, we’re just considering the actual per night costs, with are FREE!
#2 Getting There
You’re probably going to have to maneuver down a dirt washboard road to get there. While that may not always be the case, we’ve found that getting to these amazing boondocking locations takes you off the main road and onto the off beaten path more often than not. Be prepared for that and just go slow, remember, you are towing your home behind you so don’t rush.
#3 Stay limits
Be aware of the stay limit. Many Bureau of Land Management (BLM) locations allow 14 night stays but some are 10 or even 7. Just be aware. Also know that after you leave one BLM spot you often times are required to move at least 25 miles before staying at the next boondocking location.
#4 Alone
You may find yourself all alone. To many, this is the ideal situation. To other who find safety in numbers, this can be a lonely feeling and a situation they are not wanting to get themselves into. Know before you go and alway stay at your own comfort level.
#5 CROWDED
This one is the opposite to #4. Boondocking is becoming more and more popular, and with that popularity comes more people. One of the most beautiful boondocking locations we know of is the Upper Teton Dispersed area just outside of Grand Teton National Park. This site is amazing, but hard to find a spot.
#6 NOTHING WILL BE CLOSE
You’ll likely have to drive a ways to get groceries, laundromats or propane. Just plan on that and don’t be surprised. If you happen to be at a location that is close to some services then that could be a bonus.
#7 power
Make sure you realize that you will not have any hookups of any kind so be prepared with solar or a generator or you’ll be without power real soon.
#8 water
Again, no hookups will be available so learn to ration your water use. Use a water saving shower head. Capture shower water in a bucket while waiting for it to get hot. Take a Navy shower. Get a composting toilet to save water. There are a lot of water saving tips you can employ to stretch your fresh water to last longer.
#9 INTERNET/CELL SERVICE
This can be a hit or miss. Some areas we’ve boondocked at have had amazing cell service while others have had zip, nada, nothing so know before you go. There are resources such as Campendium.com that provide crowd sourced info on camping locations, including Boondocking, and they try to list cell service availability broken down by carrier. Another relatively new option you might want to explore is Starlink!
#11 research
There are a lot of tools out there to help you know before you go. We’ve already mentioned Campendium.com. Another one is TheDyrt.com. Facebook forums, friends and other YouTubers can all be great resources. Make sure the location is a match for your style of camping (is it desert, in the mountains, on a lake). It is close or far from town? Make sure it aligns with the goals of your trip.
#12 length of stay
Most if not all boondocking locations have stay limits. They are typically in the 14-day, 10-day or 7-day time frame. After your time limit expires, know how far you must go before you can boondock at the next location. Often times you may camp for free on BLM land for 14 nights but then you have to move at least 25 miles before staying at the next BLM Boondocking location.
#13 register
While it may seem strange, some BLM areas, even though they are free, still might have a camp host that you must register with. Look for signs in the area you are going to for more information.
#14 nature
Be prepared to immerse yourself in nature. You’ll have a chance to see stars you didn’t know existed, or hear coyotes howl at night, or see deer or bear or snakes. All sorts of possibilities abound in nature once you get away from the cities and people.
#15 activities
Get out and explore all that your location has to offer. That could mean hikes, jeep rides, mountain climbing, bird watching, swimming. The list is really endless and the best part is they are often times free.
#16 Food Prep
One great idea is to prepare as many meals in advance as possible. This way you are not having to do as many dishes of big items like pots and pans while out boondocking thus saving even more water.
#17 Use ESTABLISHED CAMPSITEs
Find a spot that already has a fire ring or obvious previous camping use. DO NOT CLEAR a new space or make a new campsite. Stay on designated roads.
#18 garbage
Unfortunately unsightly garbage is becoming more and more of a problem on our public lands. You will need to pack it in and pack it out as there are usually no garbage facilities! We, and everyone we know, follow the policy of leaving the site better than we found it.
#19 emergencies
Know what you will do or can do in case of an emergency. Where is the closest ER, closest cell signal, closest sheriff? Make sure someone knows where you are at. We like to drop a pin and text it to our kids.
#20 prepare
Prepare for your stay - know how long your water will last, your propane, your black/grey tanks. You can test this at a local campground by not using their hookups.
#21 conserve
Learn to conserve all your resources and you’ll find boondocking to become easier and easier to do. We hope you love boondocking as much as we do. It’s our favorite way to camp and we can’t wait for our next boondocking adventure. We love it!