Boondocking is a great way to enjoy some of the most breathtaking views and pristine vistas you can find while camping in an RV. But boondockers tend to hold their favorite spots close to the vest. So how can you find amazing drydocking sites every time?
Here’s a simple way to discover some of the most amazing boondocking sites in the country.
Use Boondocking Apps
There are several mobile apps and websites you can use to find public lands. You can search by state or region, or by specific location. A couple of places to start:
- U.S. Public Lands app—Easily find the boundaries of public lands without physical maps, books or digging deep online.
- Free Campsites—Community-curated website that lets you search the entire U.S. to find free campsites, including boondocking sites.
- Campendium—Search by state to find thousands of free camping locations, including BLM, national forest, and managed lands. Also includes blacktop boondocking sites.
- Ultimate Campgrounds—This website claims to provide the most comprehensive and most accurate information about public campgrounds of all types. With over 29,000 entries, it’s a terrific resource.
Go to Google Maps
Once you’ve found a few sites you’re interested in, narrow the list down to the ones that suit your interests most. Take to Google Maps and check each one of them out. Use the satellite view to see what the area looks like and what kinds of features are there—lakes, rivers, forests, etc. Find the site itself, if you can, and confirm that it’s a legitimate spot to boondock.
You’ll also want to check for RV-accessible roads, or signs that RV campers can get to the sites. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck halfway into a dispersed site, with no one for miles to lend a hand!
Get Directions…But Don’t Trust ‘em
Make sure you plot out your route, using a trusted RV GPS device. But because dispersed sites are so far off the beaten path, you can get inaccurate directions. And directions from humans who’ve been there are sometimes just as hard to decipher!
So grab directions, but be prepared to improvise if necessary. Follow your gut, allow yourself time to roam, and enjoy the exploration!
Bonus: Favorite Boondocking Sites
To get you started, here’s a few favorite boondocking sites of some of our favorite RV bloggers. Check them out!
- Ten Most Breathtaking Boondock RV Spots
- How to find FREE (or almost free) Camping
- Best Long Term Boondocking Sites in the West
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