A friend asked me how to find a camping spot. Questions like, are they on private lands?, what does it cost?, etc? I was tickled by the request to share my lifetime of camping experience and wrote an extensive return email. It occurred to me later that I should make a blog post out of that email. Although the information is quite basic, apparently not everyone knows the ins and outs of where to camp and what it costs. Maybe someone else will find this useful. However, I am most experienced in the west and refer to my experiences there.  Here is a more polished version of what I wrote in that email:

This really depends on the type of camping you do (snazzy RV or basic popup). Most places charge by the night, week, or month. Monthly rates are great for snowbirds or Jbirds who like to live in their RV.

Usually luxurious with all the bells and whistles: Private ownership, average $50/night or $700/month and up depending on location and season. Lots of activities, socializing, and raising of the little pinky during cocktail hour.

Private ownership, and these vary widely in the number of stars you would give them. They do not have all the bells and whistles or any scheduled activities. I live in a standard RV park and have a pool, hot tub, shower house, coin laundry and iffy WiFi. These sites average $40/night, or $450/mo rent, which usually includes sewer, water, WiFi, but electricity may be metered) Many long distance travelers needing a quick overnight often stay here (too stuffy or fearful of a Walmart overnight). Some stay a week, especially at prime outdoor destinations. A few tent campers have stayed for awhile here, as well.  You will share this type of park with full-timers, like me but you will be in the very best spots, maybe a row over.

 Membership RV Parks

Never, never, never, fight all temptation to do this. You will end up paying monthly maintenance fees for life and will have a difficult time if you ever want to sell your membership. Additionally, you will be stuck camping in RV resorts that are often crowded. Lots of amenities, though.

 

$25 entry fee (good for 7 days), $25-30/night for hookups, usually 14-day max. Bring you own Internet and be prepared for lots of people unless you go off season. One of my favorite trips was to Yellowstone in September. The campgrounds were deserted. The first night a light snow fell, which created a desire to see Yellowstone in its full winter glory. I returned in January and camped in 20-degree weather. At the time I had a Chevy S10 with a topper. Brrrrr.

If you are 62 years and have National Parks Pass ($10 one time fee), entry is free, and camping fees are half-price. This Pass is good on any federal lands, including historic sites. I get my pass July 15!!! Big day for me. Planning to revisit many National Parks off season in the years ahead.

If you are younger than 62 you can get annual parks passes good at just your favorite park or nationwide. They only cover entrance fees. When living in CO, I bought one at Great Sand Dunes NP and was able to use it at Rocky Mountain NP as well. That was a great year for NP camping in Colorado.

These campgrounds are sprinkled throughout National Forest lands. The more developed campgrounds are often run by a concessionaire (Priest Lake, ID), and those often have hookups (clever tenters often have a long extension cord slithering out from their tent to power electronics).Average cost $18-25, 14-day max.  Other campgrounds are undeveloped (picnic table and vault toilet at most) and lack hook-ups.  The farther out there, the cheaper, even as low as $5, or $2.50 for National Parks Pass Holders. 14-day max. These rustic campgrounds are some of my favorites. Two summers ago I stayed in a remote campground in the one of Montana’s “island” mountain ranges. I followed an auto-route birding trail in! If I had my pass, the fee would have been $2.50/night. I had the popup camper then.

Some NF campgrounds cater to horse-riders (with corrals for the horses)

Most, if not all National Forests have dispersed camping areas.  Generally, you can camp “anywhere”, with a few restrictions. The NFS prefers that you use a site where someone already built a fire ring. FREE. No amenities at all, not even a trash bin, just the way I like it. Ranger Stations at each National Forest will have maps, and some show dispersed camping. Ask the ranger! The forest websites sometimes show dispersed camping (often backpackers sites) but they are just the tip of the iceberg. Some areas have miles and miles of dispersed camping off dirt roads

My favorite so far is dispersed camping in the Big Horn Mountains, out of Buffalo, WY! Some of the roads become 4-wheel. I would not be able to take Blue Moon into my favorites places there. My new home state, Idaho, also has an amazing selection of dispersed camping areas.

Boondocking is the term used for camping without hookups, aka dry camping. A solar panel (or a gas generator boo hiss) keeps camper battery charged, holding tanks hold fresh water and waste. Your propane tanks keep the stove, hot water heater and frig going. Camper batteries will also charge as you drive to a new place, as long as you insert plug into outlet on tow vehicle, ho ho. Not that I ever forgot.

 

Like the National Forest Lands, BLM camping varies. Most are rustic and free, with no hook-ups. The parks pass will get you half-price camping if there is a charge. Check online or BLM field offices. I have not camped on BLM land yet. Quartzsite, AZ is the home of a large snow-bird BLM site.

 

These sites will be around water: lakes, rivers, dams, reservoirs. The developed COE campgrounds are usually awesome. Prices average  $18 (with hookups) or one-half with the National Parks Pass. I love one of these along the Missouri River in ND, where I stayed late last summer. Many COE sites are extremely rustic and free. In Idaho, I stayed at a  free COE site that was basically a boat launching area with room for camping. I love COE free sites, but they are nothing fancy.

Varies in quality and quantity, with each state. Most charge a daily entrance fee of around $5 and $20+ for a site with hookups. Usually a $14-day max. You have to check out each state online. Some states offer their residents a season pass. The best deals in the west are in Wyoming and New Mexico. Texas looks failry good for seniors. Colorado State Parks may be pretty but they have too many rules for my taste. I am eager to visit Utah State Parks. The least attractive I have seen are in Nebraska. Wyoming’s are so-so, but I went to some quite often. I loved the State Park in ND, where I spent a week in a yurt during a light snowfall. Also loved another near the ND/ Canadian border, where I watched painted turtles prance through my site each evening. You have to check out each state online.

 

City Parks

Some western states have these, like WY and MT, both of which are cheap. In ND they cost $20/night and have short stay limits. All city parks that I have seen have hookups and bathrooms. My favorite city park stay was in Choteau, Montana, outside a wonderful wilderness area near Glacier National Park. Cost me $3/night, with 3-night max.

Spearfish, SD city campground

Utility Companies

Some utility companies in some states offer camping on their lands.I do not know about prices or amenities.  ID has such a program and I plan to check it out soon.

Boondocker Network

You can find apps and websites where nice people offer a spot on their land or driveway for overnighters and short stays.

Free Overnight Parking

 Walmart parking lot, Sam’s Club, K-Mart,  Flying J Truck Stops, etc. Some communities banned overnight parking in Walmart; you can get a phone app that tells you all that information. I have a Flying J truck stop directory that I keep in the van and use often. Cabela’s have free spots reserved in their parking lots for RVs.  A week after buying Blue Moon, I over-nighted at a Walmart. What a strange feeling to be all snug in my home while parked at there! Lots of people use Walmart because they were one of the first to offer this. If you haven’t already, check out your local Walmart around dinner-time, and look for campers parked along the perimeter!

Friends and family

Don’t forget to mooch their water and electricity, but watch for city codes regarding RV guests in the driveway! You will have to use holding tanks for water and waste.

 

Other

You may want to check out club membership. These are low costs clubs that give camping discounts. I have Good Sam Club for $25/year. In addition to discounts at private RV parks, I get discounts on gas and propane.

That is everything I know and/or can remember. I probably left out some ideas so let me know!

I will be looking for you out there in the woods!