Boondocking - how to find a spot

[Effy]

We have never really boondocked with the exception of one time at a country club for a wedding. That was planned way in advance. My wife wants to try it this weekend or next but we are a bit lost about where to go. How do you find a spot? We have some fairly rural and mountainous areas around but none that obviously don't belong to someone. I can't imagine willy nilly driving around til something looks good. Do most boondocks have pre-determined designations?

[bka0721]

reed cundiff wrote:
Should like to know what percentage of RV'ers "boondock". I have heard it is only a few percent. Which is fine by us.

Reed and Elaine

This is fine with me, too. As most that do try, revert to using a generator and outside lighting after they have retired for the night. Not behavior that I embrace.

I am not sure how plugging into to a shore power source equates "Boondocking" but knowing your power source is important, even when using Solar or Generator.

When choosing boondocking, using many methods than blindly driving down a road without knowing the outcome is not always the prudent way of accomplishing your intention to boondock. Using methods of scouting the area, by asking others, satellite views or simply a recon mission will suffice for most. Do this slowly, venturing out, if you are just beginning. Build your knowledge and confidence. After that, consider what investments will be needed to make boondocking successful. Power sources, larger tanks, capable vehicle and an emergency plan when things go south. Try it and if it is not something you are comfortable with, don't do it. For me? I rarely do anything BUT boondocking. But would love it more if more don't. :B

Safe Travels!

b

[reed_cundiff]

If you hook up to line power in southern Mexico and Yucatan, it is probably a good idea to:
1. Use surge protector since we have burned out micro-waves in Baja and Yucatan
2. Better, have a 1.5 kW battery charger and run all 110 V through battery and inverter.

There are only two RV spots in Belize that we know of. One is near Corazol and on the ocean. This is only half an hour or so from border. The other is Inglewood near San Ignacio. It is about two hours to Tikal from there on decent roads (about 20 km are not so decent). The border crossing should not be a problem but you cannot get insurance at the border. Need to get it before you go into Guatemala. You cannot drive into Belize without insurance, just like Mexico.

Inglewood is excellent with a water point and good 30 amp (110 V) power. Birding caravans spend several weeks there since there are excellent sites within a few hours. The owner is great.
Reed and Elaine

[reed_cundiff]

If you hook up to line power in southern Mexico and Yucatan, it is probably a good idea to:
1. Use surge protector since we have burned out micro-waves in Baja and Yucatan
2. Better, have a 1.5 kW battery charger and run all 110 V through battery and inverter.

There are only two RV spots in Belize that we know of. One is near Corazol and on the ocean. This is only half an hour or so from border. The other is Inglewood near San Ignacio. It is about two hours to Tikal from there on decent roads (about 20 km are not so decent). The border crossing should not be a problem but you cannot get insurance at the border. Need to get it before you go into Guatemala. You cannot drive into Belize without insurance, just like Mexico.

Inglewood is excellent with a water point and good 30 amp (110 V) power. Birding caravans spend several weeks there since there are excellent sites within a few hours. The owner is great.
Reed and Elaine

[Finally]

A trucker shared a free app that has already helped us. It is Truckers Path. Really helpful!

[Finally]

There was a long discussion on Facebook about "dry" camping and Boondocking. Mostly for overnight stays where you don't want to unhook. ( although there are some that say they can do it in 3 minutes). We put locks on ours, and a a protect-a-Tow. We may try dry camping. It would be for over night only. We are in a space right now ($43.00) . Finding the site was like the above member described. "Winding thru the forest" looking for broken faded signs and space e numbers. 40' moho pulling a toad. No way to back up. Long story short, it would have been less stressful to just pull over and dry camp.

Very helpful thread!

[reed_cundiff]

GordonThree "I would like to boondock more, but I'm too lazy to scout for spots, and too timid to just drive my truck and trailer blindly down forest trail".

We usually scout in our 4 x 4 Chevie (it has extended cab and bed so it is not much for 4-wheeling roads but sure helps pull when we get into sand - never pull in just pull out). One could sure get oneself wrapped around a couple of trees when swing room gets tight. Darned near got jammed between the church and town square in a small town near San Miguel, Mexico.

Have pulled mountain bike off rear rack quite a few times to check out campsites. Pedaled in 4 km to check out a site in Yucatan with old 28' TT. It was fine. We drove into Calukmal Archaeological Site adjacent to Belize in Yucatan (had 34' 5th wheel by then) and decided I would need to be on roof with axe, machete and saw - and were not sure that the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH, National Institute of Anthropology and History would approve or not. There is a great parking lot in which two campers were set up. It is 60 km off Mexico 180 between Escagarga a Chetumal.

Fortunately for us, Elaine is darned good at backing up. Took a wrong turn near La Paz, Baja Calfornia and she had to back up the 28' TT for about a mile. The locals (on their way to beach) really seemed to wonder what the Gringod perdidos were up to.

"Maybe boondocking would be easier with a 4x4 truck camper? Driving blind down narrow trails, it's a lot easier to turn a 20ft truck around than a combined 40+"

A lot to be said for a 4 x 4 truck camper. Like the idea of a lightweight camper pulling a TT. Then you can just drop the TT and take off. MikeinCO has a good rig (we spent several weeks camped next to them in Yucatan). As noted in their post above, they are shipping a much lighter rig to Argentina this winter.

Reed and Elaine

[GordonThree]

reed cundiff wrote:
Should like to know what percentage of RV'ers "boondock". I have heard it is only a few percent. Which is fine by us.

Reed and Elaine

I concur, I think it's a small number.

I would like to boondock more, but I'm too lazy to scout for spots, and too timid to just drive my truck and trailer blindly down forest trails.

Maybe boondocking would be easier with a 4x4 truck camper? Driving blind down narrow trails, it's a lot easier to turn a 20ft truck around than a combined 40+ foot truck and trailer combo.

Of course, if I wasn't so attached to creature comforts, I could throw a sleeping bag and tent in the back of my Subaru and go pretty much anywhere.

[reed_cundiff]

Should like to know what percentage of RV'ers "boondock". I have heard it is only a few percent. Which is fine by us.

Reed and Elaine

[reed_cundiff]

Should like to know what percentage of RV'ers "boondock". I have heard it is only a few percent. Which is fine by us.

Reed and Elaine

[deandec]

Effy wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
Boondocking is not staying without hookups at state parks, national forest campgrounds, etc. That is dry camping. It also is not staying at WalMarts, truck stops, etc. That is a one-night stop enroute to somewhere else.

Boondocking is finding a spot on public lands such as national forest land (not campgrounds), BLM land, state land (not campgrounds). In some states you can stay at fisherman's access areas run by the state.

I just looked through my boondocking reference sites and there really isn't anything in Maryland. You might want to do a post for Maryland in this site's boondocking forum. Also, look on the top of that forum at the 'Sticky' to see pictures of fabulous boondocking spots. Most are in the West.

We do a lot of it but it's in the West and there are miles and miles of remote roads to get you to that 'perfect' spot, preferably with no one else around.

Sorry but your definitions really are the same. The only difference is state parks vs public lands vs parking lot. The method is still the same. Doing some research on the web the terms are really synonymous. To me, and maybe I am wrong, boondocking is camping without hookups - self sustained, period. No matter where you are. In that sense boondocking = dry camping. I don't think geography has anything to do with it.

But the point of the thread was this; I envisioned simply finding a spot, and undeveloped piece of land in a culdesac, off the beaten path mountain road, parking lot, whatever to set up for a night. I am not looking for a dedicated spot, but the question was more general, for the free spirit "hey this looks cool, lets stop here" sort of thing. Perhaps I am over thinking it. I was also looking for something close by. Appreciate all the input, but I don't think my area (within 50 miles) is really suited to what I am looking for. I know the area, I have some ideas, maybe I try one out.

Here is how the Escapees Web Site defines the terms:

What is Boondocking?
Boondocking means wilderness camping out in the "boondocks." This type of camping, usually on public lands (state and national forests, BLM lands, etc.), is free or very low cost. Since boondock is defined as slang for rough backwoods or bush country, most boondocking opportunities are away from cities, blacktop, and civilization in general. In many boondocking areas, you just find a place and park, making sure there are no signs in the area prohibiting camping or overnight parking.


How Does Dry-Camping Differ?
Dry-camping means no water, electricity, or sewer hookups and may be free or paid. You might dry-camp in a city park, a state or federal campground, a private RV park, or a parking lot. Overnight stops at Wal-Mart and Flying J's are examples of dry camping.

[Effy]

wallynm wrote:
Speaking of the National Mall - take a joke!! the other suggestions are valid.

Effy wrote:

wallynm wrote:
There is some nice scenic National Park land on Pennsylvania Ave. not to far from you. How about some rustic Atlantic sea shore. Maybe some places in West Va. or western Penn.

PA ave in Hagerstown? I grew up in Hagerstown I assure there are no parklands.

LOL, Oh sorry I get it now. We have a main artery that runs through MD called Pennsylvania AVE so it didn't occur to me what you were talking about. Funny now that I get it.

[wallynm]

Speaking of the National Mall - take a joke!! the other suggestions are valid.

Effy wrote:

wallynm wrote:
There is some nice scenic National Park land on Pennsylvania Ave. not to far from you. How about some rustic Atlantic sea shore. Maybe some places in West Va. or western Penn.

PA ave in Hagerstown? I grew up in Hagerstown I assure there are no parklands.

[Effy]

2gypsies wrote:
Boondocking is not staying without hookups at state parks, national forest campgrounds, etc. That is dry camping. It also is not staying at WalMarts, truck stops, etc. That is a one-night stop enroute to somewhere else.

Boondocking is finding a spot on public lands such as national forest land (not campgrounds), BLM land, state land (not campgrounds). In some states you can stay at fisherman's access areas run by the state.

I just looked through my boondocking reference sites and there really isn't anything in Maryland. You might want to do a post for Maryland in this site's boondocking forum. Also, look on the top of that forum at the 'Sticky' to see pictures of fabulous boondocking spots. Most are in the West.

We do a lot of it but it's in the West and there are miles and miles of remote roads to get you to that 'perfect' spot, preferably with no one else around.

Sorry but your definitions really are the same. The only difference is state parks vs public lands vs parking lot. The method is still the same. Doing some research on the web the terms are really synonymous. To me, and maybe I am wrong, boondocking is camping without hookups - self sustained, period. No matter where you are. In that sense boondocking = dry camping. I don't think geography has anything to do with it.

But the point of the thread was this; I envisioned simply finding a spot, and undeveloped piece of land in a culdesac, off the beaten path mountain road, parking lot, whatever to set up for a night. I am not looking for a dedicated spot, but the question was more general, for the free spirit "hey this looks cool, lets stop here" sort of thing. Perhaps I am over thinking it. I was also looking for something close by. Appreciate all the input, but I don't think my area (within 50 miles) is really suited to what I am looking for. I know the area, I have some ideas, maybe I try one out.

[allbrandauto]

in md. you could go to a auto racetrack many times have gone to Hagerstown speedway its right on a small river can go and fish and take in a good dirt race and stay over night for free