In the last installment, my wife and I headed to an RV park in Pahrump, Nevada after a couple weeks of camping in the boondocks to recharge. Our batteries were having issues and required a full nights charge via shore power in order to properly diagnose the problem.
The park was rated 10/10/10 by Good Sam, was very clean, had well-kept grounds, a heated pool, friendly staff, was reasonably priced, had usable WiFi, and a concrete pad for a porch. Our neighbor was even from our home state of Washington.
RV park in Pahrump
However, I just didn’t feel at home in the park. As I was sitting in my trailer during our stay in the park, I began to reflect on some of the incredible boondocking sites we had visited on our way to the RV park in Pahrump.
We stayed along the Columbia River watching tugs pushing cargo as the sunset over Mount Hood, camped overlooking Alkali Lake in California’s Surprise Valley as the harvest moon rose over the lake, and enjoyed a peaceful nights sleep along the beautiful Pyramid Lake.
Boondocking along the Columbia River
Not to mention we took in the gorgeous view across Antelope Valley to the eastern Sierras complete with a view of Topaz Lake, camped creekside in Wilson Canyon watching the Big Dipper reflect in the Walker River, stayed a night just off Highway 120 overlooking spectacular Mono Lake, and gazed for miles down the length of Nevada’s Fish Lake Valley north of Dyer.
The Big Dipper over the Walker River at Wilson Canyon
Now here I was surrounded by other RVs with no views, and even if there were, we needed to leave the window blinds down for privacy.
Overlooking Antelope Valley
That’s when it dawned on me that while the park was nice, it wasn’t memorable like the boondocking locations we had stayed at and the incredible views and solitude I will cherish for years to come.
For me, home sweet home is in the boondocks, where lasting RV memories are made.
If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to stay one night in the boondocks and see what memories await you on your next RV journey.
Finding memorable campsites in the boondocks… one of the best adventures in RVing!
See also: 15 Reasons Why I Like My RV Better Than A Hotel
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
How recognizable! (Even here in Europe.)
Boondocking with a group of good friends is every bit as much fun! Years ago we would stop for a night in gravel pits, but now my wife likes the security of having others around. Me, not so much, but I do enjoy our friends.
Invite your friends to come boondocking with you!
Or bring a gun. Legally. In a safe. 🙂
… and be properly trained on how to use it!
I appreciate the beauty of being on your own . I want power. We don’t have solar panels. I don’t want to worry about water usage. We’re OK in a funky park or a semi-luxe park as long as the bathrooms are clean and there is a pool and hot tub. Boondocking in Quartzite…no thanks!
…and NEVER tell or show anyone you are so equipped.
The only folks who should learn of your preparation are those who have demonstrated threatening intent and thus are entitled to learn of your ability to protect yourself.
Surprise is an essential element of proper preparation. Advertising possession, or even association with various 2A groups only give an actor of ill-intent advance warning useful to their mindset.
Of course, it goes without saying, you MUST know when it’s proper to take action and you MUST be proficient, not merely in possession of a means of defense but also having training and practice.
I have never been boondocking but would like to. Can you tell me how to find Boondocking places. I drive a 35 foot Newmar Ventana and some may be hard to visit but I sure would like to know about them,
Hamp,
Following are the links to a three part series I did: what is boondocking, how to locate public land to boondock on and how to use Google Earth to find the boondocking campsites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_QYa0PYUsk Boondocking – What and Why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ST9aJFGnxg Boondocking – Finding Public Lands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCkLWhCxHOA Using Google Earth to locate boondocking sites
Thanks Dave !!
Wow! Great information. Thanks so much for taking the time to make these 3 presentations and sharing your valuable knowledge and experience. A lot I already knew from living in Utah but much I didn’t. Can’t wait for warmer weather and time off to venture out for free in places I haven’t been to yet. Steve
Thanks for the links! We boondocked in some beautiful areas years ago in the CA desert and especially Alaska and it is a totally different experience.
I sometimes feel a bit vulnerable as we both age & without our beloved big pups who’ve passed and prefer not to carry a gun. Honestly what are the odds of a problem though I don’t hear tales. So guess we’ll just need to be careful, not stay too isolated and go with our gut on safety. We’re in a 38 ft MH w toad so can’t get far off the beaten path. Thanks again.
Valley of the Gods and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon are two boondocking locations that will be very hard to top by any campground.
Agreed.
Thanks Jmeas, I will look forward to visiting !! Hamp
Virtually all of our camping is boon docking. We enjoy getting away from the pack, going out in our tin boat, gathering firewood, and having campfires. It is fun to have a few people around, but if there is a pack of people I just don’t care for it. Where we camp there are usually hiking trails, and being cared for by the forest companies, many of the sites are free. We live in the Powell River area of British Columbia, Canada.
Gerry,
Thanks for sharing. I hope to be heading to BC in the summer after next and I am interested on how you locate your boondocking locations in Canada.
Hi Dave
There used to be a book available called “Camp free in BC”. I don’t know if it is still available, but it gives locations and directions for many of the forestry campgrounds in BC. Some of these sites are no longer free, as they have been”improved”, or are in choice and popular locations. However, many of the out of the way locations are still free. In our area we have a number of lakes with forestry maintained campgrounds, that are still free. These are the sites we generally go to. As they are located adjacent to logging roads, and you travel over these roads to get to them you have to be aware of the logging truck traffic. You can do this with a two way radio, or restrict your travel on these roads to after 6:00 PM or before 6:00 AM, or travel on the weekend.
You can also Google forestry service BC, and see what you can get from their site.
Gerry
Thanks!
https://freecampsites.net/
I agree 100%, We love Boondocking with just one or two friends. The Alabama Hills on the Eastern slope of the Sierras are great, and we have stayed in a few of the places you mentioned, I love the peace and quiet. 20 miles West of Yuma at Winterhaven is also a nice area. I have the RV set up for Boondocking with lots of solar power and large inverter, as well as large fresh water tanks.
Jesse,
I have been to the Alabama Hills, but have yet to boondock there – it’s on the list. Thanks for sharing.
GREAT post!!! I love reading these articles. This one reminds me when I “boondocked” every night for 6 months while re-walking Colin Fletcher’s 1000 Mile Summer in 2000. Yes I know I was backpacking and not RVing… BUT… I went back and couple of years later and did boondock RVing while showing my new wife some of the places I did stay near.
It was life changing… pack on my back, bible in one hand, camera in the other and a LOT to think about… and now a lot more to be thankful for!!!
Hersh
Boondocking in National Forests has increased over the past five years. There are designated areas that are marked on special travel management maps available at many USFS offices in the west. However, in one NF in Colorado, many of these areas have been closed due to trash and high usage that has damaged the plant life. Yes, I know that everyone reading this post leaves the area cleaner than they found it….it’s always the other guy.
You only need the gun when you have people around, as far as training goes my dad started that with me when I was 10 and I took the required hunter training course when I was 12. I live in a rural location in a county that doesn’t have any cities and the total population is 17000. I have a concealed weapon permit but only need it when I go to town or a city in another county. I can’t imagine staying in an RV park that’s packed like sardines. Boondocking is the only thing that is even close to camping especially since we are using a truck or trailer in the first place.
I am afraid Dennis is right. I’ve been bombing around all over the U.S. and Canada since I got my off grid Sprinter all decked out last year. Those nice quiet boondocking places are out there but I have found many of them to be quite messy after others have left. I don’t blame the Forestry people for shutting us out as disrespect is obvious in many ways. As A Girl Guide ( Scout ) lady for 48 years I find myself filling garbage bags of junk before I can settle down and be comfortable for a beautiful night by a lake or mountain.. We must remember to ” leave nothing but footprints.” Don’t be lazy and toss the trash and drive away. If you can bring in a full case of beer you can take out 2 ounces of emties. ! These places will disappear if we don’t show the respect nature deserves.
We have not done a lot of boondocking but prefer it to RV parks and intend to do a lot more of it. I have tried two of the small, and quiet, Honda generators that hooked together will power one A/C. I have now switched to the Honda EU7000IS that is so quiet you can stand next to it and carry on a conversation at normal voice levels. As for as a “gun”, with 34 years combined military service, state & federal law enforcement, I would not go anywhere without one. It is no different that auto/home/medical insurance, but of course you should have training and be competent in not only using it but when to use it. Even if justified, you will always be 2nd guessed and harrassed by those who think it better to be robbed, raped or killed than to be able to defend yourself against such.
Jill McDowell,
thank you. well said.
from a former girl scout of 29 years.
For those of us in the southeast, boondocking is very limited. When we were out west, it was amazing how much empty land was just waiting!
I am a solo female traveller in a VW camper van. Is boondocking safe for solo travellers?
We boondock almost exclusively and wouldn’t want to stay in any RV park unless we have to recharge, and that is pretty rare. One thing you forgot to mention is the cost of RV parks. They are expensive!…..just think about how many rechargeable batteries you can buy with what you spend on park fees.
Mary,
Here is a link to an earlier post on Boondocking Safety
http://rvlife.com/dispersed-camping-boondocks-safe/
Unfortunately, RV Parks are no longer privately owned parks; they are parking lots with amenities you had at home.
Boon docking is great if you live where cooler temps allow it. Most of the season in the south makes it too hot to enjoy boondocking w/o some AC. Avg temps are 90 to 100 and it cools off at night to 80+ degrees.