A friend called me for advice about a  road trip (on a motorcycle) to and through our public lands – National Parks, Forests, and Monuments. He is based in Deming, NM and wants to travel north, through the western states. He wanted to know some of my favorite back roads and also about how to take a budget-friendly trip. I will send him a map of my favorites roads, but here are the tips I sent him in an email:

• When looking at road maps, look for the green areas, which designate public lands. Travel between the green areas (but not between State Parks, which are expensive unless you are in NM).
• The best way to travel on a budget is to skip hotels and camp in National Parks and National Forests (with a Senior Pass if you have one). Stop at Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations for directions to campgrounds with a shower, primitive sites, or boondocking spots.
• National Park Campgrounds cost more than National Forest Campgrounds and fill up, even early and late in the season, so you may need advance reservations there. If you want to try staying in a National Park campground and don’t have a reservation, go early! Before 11 AM. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
• Almost all of the National Parks are surrounded by National Forest lands that have developed campgrounds and boondocking opps, in case you don’t get into a National Park or don’t want to pay more for camping in one.
• The more developed campgrounds in the National Forests can also be reserved. However, I have had considerable success in finding places to camp (parks, monuments, and forests) during the week, wherever I go. Even Denali NP in AK was empty during the week. Most also have “first-come-first-served” campsites and “walk-in” campsites that are perfect for a motorcycle to wiggle into.
• Some of the more primitive campgrounds don’t have water! Ask at the Ranger Station if this is an issue. You cannot carry much water on a motorcycle!!!
• Corps of Engineer Campgrounds are usually quite nice and cheap (Senior Pass accepted there, too). You can pick up a map of COE spots at any National Forest Ranger Station. I got a cheap Kindle book on COE campgrounds.
• BLM lands are good sometimes for boondocking. 

It may not look like much, but I came by all those tips after years of traveling! In 2018 I spent over 120 nights on our public lands, most of that was during the 4 months going to and from Alaska!

Happy travels in 2019. I won’t be driving nearly as much as last year since I am feeling the need to reduce my carbon footprint. I have allowed for one plane trip and will spend it this year going to Alaska for the summer solstice, which is also close to my 65th!!!