Graveside Boondocking?

[Joe_Glidewell]

I'd like to know the opinion of others on this subject, as my co-workers and family have varying viewpoints. I see many post about boondocking. Some in very public parking areas such as Wal-Mart parking lots and some on the side of mountain road. Has anyone ever rested in the parking area of a rural cemetery or graveyard? I've seen several back country graveyards in my travels and some of them seem like a quiet out-of-sight place to rest for a night. Most have signs posted indicating hours are from daylight to dark. But does that apply only to the fenced in grave sites or to the parking area as well? Now I'm not talking about setting up shop with generators and tiki torches. Just a brief stop and rest.
So if a person isn't spooked by the idea of the location, would it be considered disrespectful to the deceased or frowned on to occupy a parking spot for a night? In my neck of the woods lots of back roads country churches also have adjacent burial plots. When I ask, people seem fine with staying at that type of church parking lot. But for some reason people cringe when I say "now what if the church wasn't there?" Thoughts??

[Truckinguy]

Respect is key. As we know campers will take out their lawn chairs maybe have a campfire play music, drop trash,let the dogs **** on graves, etc. Just like the ones at walmart and other places who ruin it for us who keep low and quiet. people have nerve to do that and seem so numb to themselves and the harm they are doing.

[ajriding]

It comes down to an issue of respect for the living family members.

An old one from the cowboy days that who-knows whos buried there, or one in a community with husbands, children, wives living close by who may pay visits to the grave still???
Respect when respect is needed.

[Freep]

Hodag1 wrote:
"Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission." is a comment from irresponsible people who make it bad for responsible people. Long before I had a TC, I back packed and was never turned down when I asked to camp at a church.

I don't ask. Asking puts the responsibility on the person you're asking and they will then say no. I say something like, "I really need to get some sleep. I'm going to park here for the night and I'll be gone early. Do you think anyone will bother me?"

It gives them the opportunity to wave you off if it's a problem and doesn't place unwanted responsibility on them if they say "no one will bother you."

[Hodag1]

"Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission." is a comment from irresponsible people who make it bad for responsible people. Long before I had a TC, I back packed and was never turned down when I asked to camp at a church.

[trail-explorer]

Joe Glidewell wrote:
I see many post about boondocking. Some in very public parking areas such as Wal-Mart parking lots and some on the side of mountain road.

I don't consider parking overnight in a Wal-Mart parking lot to be "boondocking"

The official definition of Boondocks is:

1 US, informal : a remote, thinly settled rural area

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boondocks

Side of a mountain road definitely IS boondocking.

[ppine]

Living in a place with public land everywhere I cannot even imagine sleeping in a parking lot or a cemetary.

[wanderingbob]

I must say that we always dry camp , Wal-Mart , big box stores , super markets , rest areas and yes several times in cemetery parking . In thirty five years of this I have only been asked to move once and that was so they could stripe the lot . Car lots , churches , restaurants , hospitals , police stations ,cattle auctions , If somebody does not like what you are doing they will tell ya to move.

[qtla9111]

I was transferred to San Francisco for a year and we would spend Sunday morning in the Colma cemetery reading the paper and having a picnic breakfast. Very peaceful and quiet. We'd walk around and read the tombstones. Weird but it was fun and interesting.

[RobG]

It depends so much on the area. Here in Phoenix, you can't camp ANYWHERE except at a campground or well outside of town on BLM land. There are ordinances prohibiting any and all kinds of overnight parking anywhere. Same thing up in Reno from what I've heard. Maybe it's to prevent Walmarts from turning into transient camps, I dunno, but it's annoying.

I suggest carrying a Ouiji Board if you're going to camp at a cemetery. That way if cops or anybody else asks why you're there, you can whip out the board (slowly, so you don't get shot) and tell them you plan to use it around midnight. 🙂

[K_Mac]

I asked a local LEO after watching the first college football championship game in 2014, at a wild wings in W VA, for closest place to stay the night safely, and he said right where I was, or follow him to his station, Went to the station. I've asked and stayed in rural hospitals also.

[jaycocreek]

I had to look up Boondocking because the way it was, isn't that way anymore...

Boondocking is a term used by RVers to describe RVing without being connected to water, electric, or sewer. Because you're not connected to any services it's also called dry camping. Other terms you might see that all refer to boondocking are free camping and wild camping

So if your not hooked up to water/sewer and electricity..Your boondocking by the new RV terms?

So I guess by these new RV terms,I am a Wild Camper..Laffin

Graveside Boondocking just seems wrong..

[covered_wagon]

I find the safest places are the ones with lots of warning signs about big bears around. They're perfect spots uncrowded etc. Like to carry extra bear warning signs since they work so well.

[wanderingaimles]

Do you like quiet neighbors?
Then this place works.

[jaycocreek]

It's the city ordanances that will jump up and bite you when trying to save a dime camping in the city limits...Never understood this city boondocking...but that's just me..