[sendler]

Does anyone know of a guide book or web site that talks about ways to pitch a tent over night for free during a USA cross country road trip? Does AMA or AAA offer a guide?

 

[the_lucky_owl]

Free Camping | RV Camping, Car Camping, Tent Camping | Campsites, Campgrounds


Have at it friend

 

[CBR-STL]

Very cool. Thanks for the idea sendler and the info. owl!

 

[sendler]

Sparse

It looks like a cool web site and is a great concept but the available free boondocking locations listed are pretty sparse. Quite a few of the free places are actually truck stops suitable only for RVs. If you have a car or RV, any Walmart will do but a tent is obviously not welcome in any of these busy parking lots.

 

[CBR250R]

It looks like a cool web site and is a great concept but the available free boondocking locations listed are pretty sparse. Quite a few of the free places are actually truck stops suitable only for RVs. If you have a car or RV, any Walmart will do but a tent is obviously not welcome in any of these busy parking lots.

Hi Sendler,

I considered boondocking on my last trip across Ontario. There are so many little gravel roads/cart-tracks off of any stretch of highway that lead to many lakes (many seen right from the highway) that this approach to camping is really tempting. One suggestion would be to post this question on some adventure forums (e.g., www.advrider.com) so members can suggest suitable sites in their area - that they know aren't used often, and aren't on private lands - so you have some privacy and won't be bothered. I took a look at Google Earth and found some sites not far off the highways I intended to ride on that looked really good. On my trip last year I rode by a river and then took a cart-track leading towards it off the highway - hoping to find a nice little spot to eat lunch. It turned out to be a beautiful spot. It didn't look like it had been used that much. But it had a fire-pit, and a wonderful view of the river. These are the spots I'd like to find if I was boondocking. Using Google Earth, you could find some spots that look like contenders relatively close to where you intend to stay for the evening (as you are planning out your route) - and then sample them (before it gets too dark) and pick the spot that best suits your needs while traveling.

Mike

 

[bungie4]

Many of those little access roads you see in Ontario are on crown land which legal to camp on. Same thing out on the West coast.

The trick of course is to find one far enough off the road thats both suitable and invisible to ppl from the hwy.

I've been known to go 'Commando' camping a few times. I've never had a problem. Thats not to say it isn't. I've also found a nice spot that is most definitely private property but asked the owners and am rarely turned down. Most of issues are with you lighting a fire. So if you can, mention that you aren't planning on it (I travel with a small cookstove and use it mostly for boiling water - morning coffee and instant oatmeal).

If you go the private property route, make SURE you clean up after yourself! If you can, leave it better than when you arrived.

 

[sendler]

Google

Surveying freestyle with Google earth sounds interesting.