what stops me from Boondocking

[rastapoodle]

Seems like someone beat me to it but I love Harvest Hosts for a lot of reasons. I have planned travel using as many as 5 HH sites in a row, going our preferred routes and short distances and knowing that we would not have any hookups for those days.

What is really nice about HH is that unlike stopping at Cracker Barrel or Walmart, no Interstate traffic noise and most always, once the winery, museum, brewery etc closes, you will likely be there alone.

We have had nothing but wonderful experiences at HH locations.

We make sure we have full water tanks, empty black/gray tanks and plan to use our portable solar panels, when needed.

Also, I consider anyplace that I sleep in my trailer when not hooked up to w/s/e as boondocking. For me, that includes NASCAR track camping, music festivals or backyard celebrations where I get to sleep in my bed, use my toilet, take a hot shower.....I think my biggest concern is how hot it may get during the day, access to shade for the dogs and if the battery fans we sometimes must use at night will be adequate for comfortable sleeping in the hotter climes/months.

Jump in with just a night, in a place where you feel there is a ‘plan B', an escape route and enjoy the freedom.

[Aluminaut]

i want to thank you all for the thoughtful, wise and informed replies to this thread. usually, when i start a thread, i make sure to reply to anyone considerate enough to respond..... unfortunately i've been out sick the last week and the holidays just don't make the recovery time easy at all. but, please know that i'm starting to follow along and read through this thread. I'll be back with responses and probably some questions as this week goes on.

again, thanks for looking in on this thread.

[MaineStreamer]

I recently learned that joining the Elks Club is worthwhile for the opportunity to boondock at their places.

[dwhiatt]

My wife and I are fairly new to Airstreaming and working toward more boondocking.....less "planned" campground stops. We joined Harvest Host and on a recent trip from Tampa to Asheville we took our time and stopped at 3 Harvest Host wineries on the way to our Asheville campground. We found it to be a great way to get the hang of boondocking because we knew a space was being held for us and when we got their the setting was safe and secure. It was excellent practice and taught us a lot without any really "hard" lessons that might sour our intro experiences. Our next trip is coming up and we have targeted a final destination but we will find more Harvest Host sites to enjoy on the way.....and eventually we will take advantage of the great AS community to help us find other off-grid adventures. Sometimes it does take a village, and we love that the AS village offers such great advice and support that helps us face our fears one trip at a time!

[2000 Excella]

Some of us can relate on some level to the unknown of boondocking. I am a planner as well and if I take the RV out, I want to know in advance where I will be and what to expect. California is much like Colorado in that the population has grown so much that we have lots of company anywhere we go. I believe to truly enjoy boondocking, we must be retired without a schedule so we can better accept the unexpected. Some of my fondest memories have been around meeting other camping friends in remote locations when we could still find open campsites and set up our camp. There are still many places on BLM land where we can find a place and set up camp. Once retired, I plan to check some of these places out and avoid the crowded campgrounds around the country.

[Halford1]

Wife and I boondocked for first time at Costco on 20th and it was a neat experience. (The costco at Palm Springs, CA) I gassed up at Costco after waking up.

[rmkrum]

Last epic trip was a full month of travel. From California to Alabama and up and down the East coast plus a Disneyworld visit. On the way out and back, we boondocked at a Walmart once, in a friend’s front yard, and several Cracker Barrel and other restaurants as well as with family. No issues whatever other than rain and hot weather. Two stops on the way back at a KOA to dump tanks and run air conditioning in Arizona. Over 8,000 miles on the rig, towing a 22 International with the Tacoma. No issues whatever.

As always, ask first to get the lay of the land especially in shopping centers. Get a meal or supplies as appropriate and leave no trace.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Last epic trip was a full month of travel. From California to Alabama and up and down the East coast plus a Disneyworld visit. On the way out and back, we boondocked at a Walmart once, in a friend’s front yard, and several Cracker Barrel and other restaurants as well as with family. No issues whatever other than rain and hot weather. Two stops on the way back at a KOA to dump tanks and run air conditioning in Arizona. Over 8,000 miles on the rig, towing a 22 International with the Tacoma. No issues whatever.

As always, ask first to get the lay of the land especially in shopping centers. Get a meal or supplies as appropriate and leave no trace.

how did you find a spot in a Cracker Barrel? Last few CBs I ate, I also scouted to see if there is any spot for a potential camper but did not see any big parking sites to allow TV with camper or RV. Maybe its different in the South than in California and Arizona.

[rmkrum]

Any Cracker Barrel that has their own private parking lot and RV spots marked will let you camp overnight. Company policy.

The CB in Rialto, CA allows it, but Victorville, CA can’t because it’s a shared parking lot and against local ordinances. We’re just darn glad to have a CB to eat at. Breakfast today at Rialto, in fact. (Without the AS)

I have a 22 footer and if the space is tight I put out traffic cones on the corners. Usually had the lot to ourselves after the store closed. I always ask first.

Camping World is also a possibility. One time on our epic trip we stayed at one on the way home. No problem finding space in September.

The ‘Allstays’ app or Google also helps us find places.

[Moodywelman]

Originally Posted by Hans627

DW stops us from boondocking!

Our finest RV trip was from our home in Washington (state) to upper Maine, then down the East coast, spending one or two weeks at each stop. To Key West, FL, then across the southern tier of states and back to home. We spent one full year on that trip. My only regret is that we didn’t spend two years. We have travelled much of the world by cruise ship, air, bus, and train - in addition to travel by car and various RVs and that was the most rewarding of all. At 85, I am still RVing but much more limited.

[dustin]

That’s an awesome story. Now I really want to retire early and start traveling with my 2017 Airstream International Serenity. I guess I can just get up and go with my 2017 Toyota Tundra! Heading East from San Francisco California to Florida Key West!