I've been reading this forum for over a year now getting advice on purchasing an RV, and it's sooooo helpful! Thanks to all of you for sharing. Now that we bought one, I'm reading more on the topic of using it, camping, having fun with the RV lifestyle!
My question is...I see many folks say things like "we never camp in a commercial campground" or "I have not stayed in a CG for years!" so where are they camping? We could have fun "boondocking" in our unit for a few days at a time, but I'm not sure where you can go do that? Especially if you'd like to run the generator? Where do people go to camp, if not at the campground?
I'm not talking while on your way somewhere, you stop at wally world overnight. I'm talking, where do you camp where you can set up the lawn chairs, have a campfire, hike or fish or whatever with the kids, where besides a campground do you go? We don't need the ammenities like swimming pool, laundry, cable, or even electricity or water so if I could figure out where to go and not have to pay CG fees for stuff I don't need, that would be great!!?? Thanks!
Ted
07 Coachmen Mirada bunk floor plan 34ft new in 2008, Ford V10
22ft Deck Boat,
Me, Dear Wife, 3 Boys (11,8,6) & Baby Girl (1)
State and National parks.. These are our prime destinations, in fact we are on a mission to see as many as possible. Most of them we have been to do not have hookups so we drycamp and use our very quiet Honda to recharge the batteries. They are also much cheaper per night. (nicer and less expensive.. What a concept!)
Typically sites are much nicer and much more space between them than privately owned parks... Not to mention the views. We use a private RV "parking lot" park when it's laundry day.
I'm not sure about the extensive camping other than in campgrounds that people talk about. State and national parks(our personal favorites) are still very much campgrounds that still charge fees, etc. We have used Walmart parking lots quite a bit as a free 1-night stopover and a Cracker Barrell once and do use our generator and even put out our chairs but would never spend a camping trip doing that. Some federal lands, especially in the southwestern desert, allow "boondocking" in unspecified sites but this isn't real common across the country. National Forrests campgrounds are a great resource and often pretty primitive and as low as $5-$8 a night. There are guides about some city and county campgrounds which may be free, but, again, not real common.
here we have the adirondack park which is a huge area in northern ny they claim its larger then the big 3 main national parks out west put together,theres many trails and trail heads for parking,theres many areas along lakes , rivers and streams where you can get off the road and park or go to a state park if you dont like doing that,they have a state wilderness area on a lake that has 50 miles of dirt roads going threw it thats gated at night with a ranger station on one end, hundreds of places in there and a state cg on the other end and its free for camping for 2 weeks at a time .most places are not places for big fancy rvs or buses or a tt, a smaller rv works best around 24 ft or so.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
National Forests often allow camping off the road for no fee. Usually like any where more than 1/4 mile from a road. This is not in the established CG in the forests which usually do have a fee. You'd need to check the regulations at the NF that you are interested in. Most of them have websites.
My wife and I almost always camp at either State, Federal, or occasionally, county campgrounds except when we are "dispersed camping" (which is the "official" name for camping on public lands, but not in a designated campground). We prefer to do the latter. As has been said, most National Forests/Grasslands, BLM lands and many State lands allow at least some dispersed camping subject to basic parameters. A word of caution, however, when it comes to campfires. Most public lands are subject to a "fire season" and fire regulations. During that period, no unregulated flames are allowed outdoors (this includes barbeques - Propane stoves and grills are usually allowed). Be sure to check with the governing agency.
National Forests
BLM land (Bureau of Land Management)
Fish and Game Preserves
COE land (Corps of Engineers)
State land
There are thousands and thousands of acres of public land where you can camp free or very cheaply. Most of it is remote and without amenities. Do a search of boondocking and you will finds lots of info. Check out the public lands and boondocking forum here at RV.net. There is also a free Yahoo group called overnightrvparking. The owner of which also operates a searchable commercial site and is a blogger here at RV.net.
Tim
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
When we go out it is usually in conjunction with another event...IE family reunion, horse show, dog show, trade shows..ect. We camp in the lots or fairgrounds were the event is held....just be polite and ask the promoter, I have had very good luck with it...many of them have even offer power hook up for our stay. The dog shows have allow camping for quite a while now...many at locations with power,water and elect. The shows them self only last till 5 at the latest leaving the rest of the day to spend with friends or exploring the area....we have seen a lot of the real "small town USA" like this...I my self hate tourist traps
Ok, so state, county, and federal lands. No National Parks here in Iowa, and when I search the state parks they all charge about the same as a private CG and provide electric, water, sewer, one even has cable. Same with our county parks, all charge about 20-25 bucks a night.
So I guess our parks must charge a lot more than the rest of the states if you are all getting no-fee areas at state and county parks? We don't even need a specific "site" made for camping, but I don't see much in Iowa where you can just pull into public land of some kind and find an area and camp? Anyone from Iowa or the boardering states know of some good spots like that?
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