Boondockng, dry camping a definitiion of both and more information

This is the HOW-TO-CAMP guide
Information for tent and RV camping

BOONDOCKING - DRY CAMPING

What is RV boondocking? It
is simply camping in your
recreational vehicle in an
area with limited or no
facilities.

RV Boondocking is a bit of RVer slang.
It refers to the lifestyle choice of taking
your motorhome, fifth wheel or pull type
trailer, and parking / camping without
hookups or "dry camping". RV
Boondocking is taking advantage of the
built in capabilities of your RV, to find a
joy that RV Park bound RVers can only

dream of. The only caveat of RV Boondocking is that your must be
sure to have all your camping supplies with you.

Boondocking in Bent National Park

Another term for dry
camping or boondocking
is dispersed camping.
Dispersed camping is the
term that the National
Forest Service uses to
describe the act of camping
where a campsite is not
developed. What this

means to you is, that where dispersed camping is permitted, you
can camp or park your RV pretty much anywhere you want to! You
can choose from developed National Forest Campgrounds to

"dispersed camping" in virtually every National Forest in the country, as well as BLM
sites and Corp. of Engineers locations.

In many areas of the west, you can just drive into the desert, and stay free for up to two
weeks. This is the case on most BLM (Bureau Of Land Management) and national forest
lands. How far you have to move to stay another two weeks is open to interpretation, but
is probably isn't far.

How To Find The Best Free Scenic Campsite

Go to National and State parks, mountains, seashores, canyons, forests, lakes, deserts
and grasslands.

Remember that nature didn't draw the park boundaries and that some of the most
scenic areas in the American southwest and Canadian north are not included in the
parks. Public lands such as National Forests and Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) lands often border the parks. Who owns public land? Are you a member of the
public? Then YOU do!!! Why not camp on the land that has been set aside for you
through your tax dollars? There are many useful maps that will help you find that
special bodocking area.

Learn to identify and watch for small road signs that indicate you are entering public
lands. Never drive by a National Forest office, BLM office, or area Visitor Center without
stopping. While there, ask for free maps of the area, points of interest, directions, rules
and road conditions. Most forests and BLM lands have inexpensive campgrounds with
minimal facilities. However, they also have free dispersed camping and this is usually
where the best scenic view camping is found

With the growing popularity of boondocking, the BLM has begun to establish areas for
longer stays, particularly in Arizona. The permit fee is around $140 now, but this allows
you to stay up to six months, and you'll have pump stations, dumpsters and water
available. That's cheaper than paying property taxes or rent for a lot to park on.

Look, and you'll find "hidden" places where you can park your RV for a week or a month
in the desert southwest. Some are free, and others just inexpensive. For example, the
Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, north of Bowie, Arizona, costs $3 per night, but has
nice hotsprings and plenty of wildlife. You can get an annual permit for $30, but you're
limited to two weeks per month (permits are sold at the BLM office in Safford). Outside
of the fenced area you can stay free, but then you don't get the hotsprings and shaded
picnic tables.

Perhaps the largest gathering of RV boondockers is in Quartzite, Arizona. Up to several
hundred thousand people spend at least part of the year boondocking here. Quartzite is
near the California border, on Interstate 10, only 20 miles from the Colorado River. It's
surrounded by BLM lands, and it's famous for gem shows and swap meets, and the
multiplying of its population each winter. Surprisingly, in February, Quartzite is the host
of the world's largest sports vacation and travel show.