As a Canadian in a law where we have no hand guns and things of this nature, I tend to see the reports of gun violence in the USA, which I am sure are like anything abnormal.I have been living in my camper full time for about a year, and travelling and sleeping in my vehicle in communities, even urban camping in tents as I travel behind bushes and things like this, but not gone stateside from Canada.I tend to just do the Walmart thing or roadside turn outs, sometimes on the street etc., I find that here if a person goes too far out in a national part for example you tend to attract forestry services, and it is just my goal to get a good nights sleep, and continue my path, I am not really a boon docker with long stays in one place.So here is the story, I have somehow developed a small fear of the USA, and travelling. To make it worse I have been travelling the past 2 months with my partner, from USA, who did not do this lifestyle in the USA and her herself has no idea what to expect.I see so many people who travel for years and have no issues, and it seems that these reports are over blown, and considering the 300 million people, are well in check with even the things here. I mean actually we have had a number of issues here, where a couple had a person kill them and burn their RV while in a remote camp ground in British Columbia.So I am sure this is over blown, but to tell yourself this is on thing, but to really live it and to know it is another.So I am curious about how many people here travelling the USA really have had a problem with this, and what are you strategies to keep yourself safe. It it just your attitude, do you worry about it, do you find that in reality that most people are just hard working and honest that we will meet in the USA?Also what do you tell the border services. It seems that they think I want to go work in the USA or something, and that sure is not the case, what do you give to them if you are a Canadian to bypass or to minimize the chances of being rejected and them thinking you are working. I know of Canadians who boon dock in Nevada etc for month, so I know this should not be hard to get in to travel around, I am cusious what people say and do you find any certain areas that raises concern for US border security?Thanks any help or assurances appreciated in advance.

jeff, we've been doing the RV thing since 1986 and while we've experienced a few rowdy neighbors (alcohol + holiday weekends = moronic behavior in some) and a theft of a few minor items left out at our unattended campsite (also on a holiday weekend) we've never ever been in a position where we feared for our personal security. well, there was that bear warning in Yellowstone... ;o)seriously, the vast majority of the gun violence occurs in certain neighborhoods in our large-to-medium cities and the vast majority is committed by street/drug gangs against other street/drug gangs. innocents are sometimes caught in the middle but tragic as it may be it's not a common situation. when that does happen it makes the headlines for several days as the media will milk it for all it is worth. trust your inner voice to tell you if a situation or ONP spot is sketchy and just move on. and while there is no such thing as absolute safety if you stay out of the affected neighborhoods and don't involve yourselves in illegal activity such as buying or selling narcotics, trafficking in weapons, smuggling and so on you should have no issues whatsoever. as you wrote, the overwhelming majority of folks you'll meet will be good, decent, honest folks. we haven't had an occasion to cross the northern border in a long time but I imagine when asked what your intentions are simply tell them you're a tourist.enjoy your travels and be happy.

I was born in the US and have been camping in the US since the 1960s I am urban camped right now while I am writing this.I have NEVER had a scary or dangerous encounter when camping.I live in an area where a lot of people have guns, for hunting or sports orfor (possibly misguided) protection, and I have never had a scary incident involving a gun.Yes, we have a lot of shootings in the US. But you are approximately one zillion times more likely to get hurt in a car crash than a shooting. People mostly shoot people they know -- fellow criminals, ex wives, etc. Just don't befriend psychos and you will be ok.Urban camping, you will be fine if you stay out of the few big city neighborhoods with bars on the windows. If everyone you see is a different race from you and looks at you like 'what the heck are you doing here', then move on. Again, there are not a lot of places like that.Also, do not try to get an abortion or go to a mosque in the US until after the election :/.

I know nothing about Canadians time limits etc for coming to the USA. You probably want to look more like a vacationer or snowbird rather than just a person crossing in a vehicle with no plan. Just my guess. It's not like there are crazy people running around killing people everywhere in the USA. To me it's all about where you are at. There are areas of most any city that I wouldn't go. I wont go to areas of Yuma at night yet it seems like a pretty decent place in the day time and same for Lake City Florida. It's all about risk and people. You could stop in a rest area along I75 headed south and have a higher chance of getting robbed or having your vehicle broke into because you have a more mixed crowd traveling that route. On I75 north through northern Mich you are more likely to run into people like you or I who live up there or vacationing. At the same time we also had locals in northern Mich who were following older folks home from the drug store and mugging them. Rare but stuff happens anywhere. They are just far more likely to get shot in the USA. On one hand if someone plopped you down in the middle of Detroit in my opinion if you were walking you would be lucky to make it out alive and certainly just about absolutely be mugged. If you weren't at least mugged then it would probably be because they think you are crazy and something was up. Now if they plopped you down in the state forest off the side of M72 near Grayling it's going to be a very long walk to Mc Donalds. You may have someone pull up and ask if you are ok or need a ride and the state police would probably pull up and ask you what's up.Speaking of Michigan and probably may cities I can tell you that if you plan on stealth parking on the street or in city park parking lots etc it may not work out well. There are ordinances in most areas as far as sleeping in your vehicle. Some people do become good at it and make it work. If you are planning on camping and traveling the USA you can do it and pretty cheaply. It obviously works better in some states than others with most of it being more to the west. As you go north in Mich and the state lands and national forests start you can disperse camp on thousands of acres. The Michigan DNR website has a one page permit that you fill out and you can disperse camp after following their guidelines. I suppose someone could rip you if they saw your stuff out there but it's unlikely. The most vulnerable areas are closer to the populations. The areas where a couple local yokals randomly hit you. I have been to hiking trail heads in a few areas and noticed crushed glass in the parking area. Well....to me that's from the locals seeing you go in there knowing that you will be out on that trail for a while and they smash a window for your valuables and split. It's situational in that respect and probably happens in Canada too. There are even places out in the sticks that we size up and dont feel comfortable in so we move on.Yes, most people are ok so you need to position yourself with those people. Where I'm camped we dont have a problem with anyone stealing anything. I have a problem with people leaving gifts at our steps when we are gone and I rack my brain trying to figure out who it was. I have worked on peoples rv's that we met along the way and would stop in a heart beat to help one out. I consider everyone from the tent dweller to the big MH people to all be in the same group. Yes, even those truck campers ;). Many of us who boondock will sort of touch base with each other and have some continuity and watch out for each other. If you have the financial means it's a great place to follow the seasons and live pretty cheap. You can develop friends and I will tell you that there are fantastic people who will teach you the tricks. Free camping, free water, free dump sites and all the best deals. You are here so you are already among friends.

We full-timed for 16 years traveling constantly. We've stayed in all kinds of campgrounds, public areas and boondocking spots. We've never felt uncomfortable during any of our stays. We left the RV during the day and went off siteseeing and never any problems.We don't live in fear. If that would be the case we wouldn't have owned a RV. We just used common sense. We felt as comfortable in the lower 48 as we did traveling through Canada and the Yukon. :)

Thanks everyone, this is very concise, and it is great to hear such great experiences, and look forward to travelling the USA. I figured that I was not seeing things in their true perspective.And it is true there is risks everywhere, recently stuck at an accident site a truck did not see the flaggers stop sign and could have take us all out in that stop as his truck bed went sideways, so there is probably higher risks to these things than any sort of gun violence in reality as you have all suggested.Is there any indexes published, here or elsewhere that you can use as a site locator and to share feedback as to the laws and things?

USA Urban Stays Versus Canada | Good Sam Community

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 11, 2016
So glad you returned and gave us an update! Come back for a longer time!!
jefferyofsky
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Crowe wrote:
Glad you enjoyed your trip! I can't imagine what climate change in Virginia would cause that because many of the states switch weather very quickly. So sorry you had to "sample" our health care system but very happy all turned out well.

The attending RN and the Doctor, said they have a HIGH INCIDENCE of blood pressure related issues and nose bleeds that will not stop, and they do not know why, but that area, RICHMOND in particular, is apparently in some kind of bowl of weather, their term. I had came from a winter climate, directly to the area, and stresses and diet, and this effect, seemed to cause it. I lived for 8 years at over 3500 feet elevation, until 2 months prior to this visit, at 60 feet elevation, so this probably was a perfect storm for this, and they said it is quite commen there.
Crowe
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Glad you enjoyed your trip! I can't imagine what climate change in Virginia would cause that because many of the states switch weather very quickly. So sorry you had to "sample" our health care system but very happy all turned out well.
jefferyofsky
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Hello everyone, wanted to update my travels from the thread here I started.

I entered the USA March 4th, 2016, and went in through Buffalo. Stayed all down through Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York State, Washington, Norfolk, Suffolk, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklohoma, Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Basically I had a great time, no problems at all. I was in Sand Diego, Oceanside, Los Angeles, and the only time I felt a little insecure was arriving in Clinton, Arkansas, the wrong side of town.

I used a website that tracks urban sites, and mostly stayed at Cracker Barrels. However next time I hope to do the Land Management Bureau, since I got a federal pass.

And ironically, not only did no troopers pull me over, in about the 6,500 miles I drove, but really I found people really well behaved and felt more comfortable than Canada in many cities.

The only real time I even saw a gun, was when I decided to visit a pawn shop, and get a metal detector there, and a guy pawning his chainsaw had one strapped on, and he seemed like more a prepper than anything, but he did not seem to be having a good day.

So vastly my fears were out of place, and I can hardly wait to go back.

I originally wanted to go for 3 months, but I took a episode with my blood pressure, and had a nose bleed in a restaurant, gushing, as in a nightmare movie gushing and ems had to come, I was spiked at 258, over 193, so god knows what I was origianlly. Apparently this can happen in Virginia due to climate change if you are prone to this and not medicated,

However the EMS was quick, and the hospital was great, and kept me in intensive care, and I am sure it cost alot, but wow, if you have insurance your hospital system beats us in Canada hands down.

Basically inside of 90 minutes they had these things blocking the burst vessels, xrays, and cat scan, they sure do not mess around there. So that cut my trip short until I get the BP thing worked out and a new insurance company.

So had a great tour, and thanks for all of your encouragement. I in fact feel pretty empowered after surviving the traffic in LA, down to San Diego, with my old truck and camper at 70 miles an hour, and 10 lanes of traffic.

The only challenge I had was the toll roads, and got caught in one off the I5 I think it was down to Oceanside California, and a complicated billing system.

Take care everyone in your travels this summer.
John___Angela
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
You are absolutely right my friend. But its because of that carry over that you are filing the for,. If you don't exceed those 120 days technically you don't have to file the form. Having said that my accountant gets cranky if I don't file it every year regardless of our time. :) Many who snowbird in Mexico or own houses there file anyway although technically they many only be in the US for a week or two as they pass through. The thing is, it is an unknown for the system when you leave the US through the southern border. We have friends who bought a place in the Yucatan who live there about 8 month of the year. They make sure there is a paper trail. :)
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 18, 2016
Hi John,

I like being wrong--and this is one of those times I'd love to be wrong.

I thought there was a carry forward of 60 days and another for 30 days

i.e.

2013 180 days but sixty get counted against 2014 and thirty get counted against 2015 and are subtracted from the 180?

John & Angela wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you stay longer than 31 days in USA you must fill out a 'closer connections to Canada' form from the US internal revenue service. The form has to be sent in in June of each year.

If you plan on visiting each year the maximum number of days works out to about 120 per calendar year.

Good afternoon Pianotuna. You are knowledgeable guy but you are wrong on this one. As long as you fill out the Form 8840 closer connection to form, you are good for 182 days in the USA before the IRS guys get upset. Your implied B1 Visa however runs out at 180 days. After that you need to drive into Mexico or return to Canada for 180 days. Make sure you are comfortable with the medical insurance implications of being out of your province for long periods, or arrange with your province for an extended stay out of the country.
icanon
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
jefferyofsky wrote:

Also what do you tell the border services. It seems that they think I want to go work in the USA or something, and that sure is not the case, what do you give to them if you are a Canadian to bypass or to minimize the chances of being rejected and them thinking you are working.

I have the same problems with border services, about working in the USA, upon entering whether driving and staying for a few weeks or flying and staying a week or two. They keep on asking for proof of where staying such as hotel name and address. If I'm missing a proof of where I will be staying (ex. no reservation a day or two due to travelling) they make a fuss over it, I don't think I will drive for 24hrs. straight, I'll drive until I'm tired find a hotel and continue to my destination the next day.
Anyway that's my beef with them.
pitch
Explorer II
Jan 18, 2016
I don't know how valuble that spotcrime page is. Apparently my county sheriff does not submit crime reports. In my small town (1600) residents there was one domestic violence murder in 2015 and a major vandalism incident at the school. Neither are listed. I am sure that there were probabably several thefts in the county also that are not listed.
The town of 50,000 thirty miles to my south is well represented.
John___Angela
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you stay longer than 31 days in USA you must fill out a 'closer connections to Canada' form from the US internal revenue service. The form has to be sent in in June of each year.

If you plan on visiting each year the maximum number of days works out to about 120 per calendar year.

Good afternoon Pianotuna. You are knowledgeable guy but you are wrong on this one. As long as you fill out the Form 8840 closer connection to form, you are good for 182 days in the USA before the IRS guys get upset. Your implied B1 Visa however runs out at 180 days. After that you need to drive into Mexico or return to Canada for 180 days. Make sure you are comfortable with the medical insurance implications of being out of your province for long periods, or arrange with your province for an extended stay out of the country.
Allworth
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2016
I'm sorry to have to point out that with the Canadian Dollar at 75 cents U.S. your money will not go anywhere near as far on this side of the border. It was great when we were in Quebec last summer and getting $1.26 CDN for our dollars. That, however, is something that can change at any time so just be aware of it.

You should check with your Provincial Insurance Department to see how long you can be continuously in the States without creating a gap in your health coverage. Also your vehicle insurance. It varies Province to Province.

Tell the agent at the border crossing (particularly on the U.S. side) that you are on holiday for a fixed time (less than three months?) and going to see the Grand Canyon or Texas or somewhere specific. No rule says you have to make it to that particular place, but you should have a destination when you enter.

It is a big, beautiful country. Enjoy it just as we enjoy our trips to Canada.