Boondocking Buddies: Essential Gear & Apps We Love
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Since 2012, we've boondocked in hundreds of places all over the country. At some places we stay a night or two, and a few times we've stayed up to 2 weeks. As a matter of fact, during the COVID lockdown in March-April 2020, we decided that the middle of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia was about the safest place we could be...and we had it completely to ourselves.
Our Favorite Gear
Our Favorite Gear
We've met quite a few "newbies" on the road lately, and some of our good friends have recently jumped into the RV/van life (part-time at least). Many have asked about our favorite boondocking gadgets, apps, and recommendations so we put together this list for them and thought we'd share it with y'all as well. We can extend many of our affiliate discounts, too! See below for details. These 4 key pieces of gear help us live our mobile lifestyle and extend our time in the remote places we love:
Renogy Solar Powered System – New to solar? We have a small 200W system, with the option of adding a 100W solar suitcase into the mix. Watch this video to see our small, yet effective, system review/install. Use the guidance on our website, along with our downloadable Solar System Sizing Worksheet, to determine your energy needs and build your own system. Get 10% off with Renogy using this link and promo code "canlife."
OTZI Flat Pack Grill – We’ve recently added this Leave No Trace grill to our bag of tricks, and love it. Fueled by wood or charcoal makes it versatile, the flat pack design helps it fit into our tiny life, and the multiple surfaces makes cooking amazing meals outside delicious! See our review video here and get 10% off with OTZI Gear with this link and promo code "canlife."
Nemo Helio Pressure Shower & Bathroom Tent - We’ve tried many solutions and this has been our favorite as we can both get a pleasant shower on one 11-liter tank. You can see this set up in action through this link that takes you right to a hilarious moment in our “Virtual Open House” video.
Other than these items, just having the ability to store enough food and a good amount of water (or filter it from a nearby stream, river, or lake with our gravity filter) is all we need!
Helpful Apps & Websites for Getting Out There
Where do you find all these cool places to camp? We have a variety of resources in our back pockets depending on where we are and what we want to get up to. Whether you want to camp, glamp, or rough it in the wilderness, these apps or websites offer information about free/dispersed camping, unique annual fee-based memberships, and inexpensive fee-based campgrounds. Most locations have stay limits, so pay close attention to those so you don’t put a strain on resources, or get a ticket… and please, PLEASE leave every place you visit better than you found it, by following Leave No Trace guidelines. If we want these resources to remain open to the public, we MUST respect them!
Harvest Hosts App - Get 15% OFF Annual Membership (App Store, Google Play Store, & Website)
This resource is a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite self-contained RVers and vans to stay in over 2500 sites across the US. The membership fee provides members unlimited access to stay overnight at any one of the hosts’ locations. While not required, they encourage users to purchase products made by the host, which is a great way to support small businesses and get connected to interesting local products. The hosts do not offer hook-ups, so being self-contained is key. Stays are usually limited to one or possibly two nights. Learn more here!
Overnight Parking Finder App (Google Play Store)
This app comes in handy when you are seeking a free place to stop just for a night or two. The search function focuses on truck stops, rest stops, BLM/NFS land, casinos, Walmart, and a few other common overnight parking areas. You can search by state or by “near me,” both of which allow you to navigate via GPS if you have a cell signal. There are a few user reviews of popular spots, but most are not yet reviewed as it appears to be a newer app. The downside is that while it is free, it is filled with somewhat annoying ads.
Free Campsites App (Google Play Store & Website)
This app has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll help you find a significant number of free places to spend the night or even a few days. It’s been around for a while and is probably in need of an update, but it is loaded with user-reviewed free spots (as well as a few fee-based areas and/or those that require a permit). The downside is that the GPS function is a little wonky, and has a hard time pinpointing your exact location at times. We include this resource because of how much good information is available in the database. So, just be patient…it’s free after all!
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (Website Only)
BLM managed lands offer numerous opportunities for camping under the stars ranging from developed campgrounds with some amenities (for a small fee) to dispersed camping with nothing but open land for your gentle use (usually free). Most do not offer electrical hookups, so those who are ready to boondock are all set. All BLM land is found out west, and stay limits are typically 14 days but can vary by area so be sure to check the local rules and regulations. If you love good ol’ paper maps to get the bigger picture of an area, check with the state’s BLM office for a free map that is typically filled with all sorts of info about amenities in each area.
National Forest Service (Website Only)
National Forest Service campgrounds are typically remote, quiet, and nicely maintained by both rangers and volunteers. While most aren’t free, they are often inexpensive and have extra amenities, such as potable water and pit toilets, and gorgeous views. Most do not offer hookups of any kind, so are perfect for those who are set up to boondock. The website (developed by Fred and Suzi Dow who have been visiting, researching, and providing a wealth of information about National Forest campgrounds since 1994) offers more information about 157 national forest and grassland campgrounds than any other single website. You can search by state, or by a specific forest/grassland area. The only downside is that there is no integrated map function, so you have to triangulate the data with either an atlas or phone navigation app.
Helpful Apps & Websites for Getting Out There
Where do you find all these cool places to camp? We have a variety of resources in our back pockets depending on where we are and what we want to get up to. Whether you want to camp, glamp, or rough it in the wilderness, these apps or websites offer information about free/dispersed camping, unique annual fee-based memberships, and inexpensive fee-based campgrounds. Most locations have stay limits, so pay close attention to those so you don’t put a strain on resources, or get a ticket… and please, PLEASE leave every place you visit better than you found it, by following Leave No Trace guidelines. If we want these resources to remain open to the public, we MUST respect them!
Boondockers Welcome App - Get 15% Off Annual Membership (App Store, Google Play Store, & Website)
This service is a nationwide collection of 3000+ hosts who love to travel and meet new people. They offer their own driveway, land, farm, etc. to other self-contained RVers. While the title refers to camping off-grid, many hosts do offer hook-ups (a great place to recharge some batteries), water, local knowledge, and new friendships. Just use the app to see if they have a space for you, and you are all set. Most are following strict COVID regulations these days as well. Learn more here and get 15% off with this link and promo code "BWFRIENDS15"!
The Dyrt PRO App - Try 30 Days for FREE! (App Store, Google Play Store, & Website)
In addition to helping you find an array of different types of campgrounds using the various filters, the PRO version has a Public Land Locator, Trip Planner, Campground Discounts, Cell Signal Maps (for Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T), Gear Discounts, and Offline Maps which are handy when you are nowhere near a cell signal and trying to find campgrounds. It’s an all-in-one app for tent campers, vanlifers, and RVers alike. The fee is small enough that if you use a few of these discount features the first couple of weeks, it quickly pays for itself. Learn more here!
This service is a nationwide collection of 3000+ hosts who love to travel and meet new people. They offer their own driveway, land, farm, etc. to other self-contained RVers. While the title refers to camping off-grid, many hosts do offer hook-ups (a great place to recharge some batteries), water, local knowledge, and new friendships. Just use the app to see if they have a space for you, and you are all set. Most are following strict COVID regulations these days as well. Learn more here and get 15% off with this link and promo code "BWFRIENDS15"!
The Dyrt PRO App - Try 30 Days for FREE! (App Store, Google Play Store, & Website)
In addition to helping you find an array of different types of campgrounds using the various filters, the PRO version has a Public Land Locator, Trip Planner, Campground Discounts, Cell Signal Maps (for Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T), Gear Discounts, and Offline Maps which are handy when you are nowhere near a cell signal and trying to find campgrounds. It’s an all-in-one app for tent campers, vanlifers, and RVers alike. The fee is small enough that if you use a few of these discount features the first couple of weeks, it quickly pays for itself. Learn more here!
Harvest Hosts App - Get 15% OFF Annual Membership (App Store, Google Play Store, & Website)
This resource is a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite self-contained RVers and vans to stay in over 2500 sites across the US. The membership fee provides members unlimited access to stay overnight at any one of the hosts’ locations. While not required, they encourage users to purchase products made by the host, which is a great way to support small businesses and get connected to interesting local products. The hosts do not offer hook-ups, so being self-contained is key. Stays are usually limited to one or possibly two nights. Learn more here!
Overnight Parking Finder App (Google Play Store)
This app comes in handy when you are seeking a free place to stop just for a night or two. The search function focuses on truck stops, rest stops, BLM/NFS land, casinos, Walmart, and a few other common overnight parking areas. You can search by state or by “near me,” both of which allow you to navigate via GPS if you have a cell signal. There are a few user reviews of popular spots, but most are not yet reviewed as it appears to be a newer app. The downside is that while it is free, it is filled with somewhat annoying ads.
This app has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll help you find a significant number of free places to spend the night or even a few days. It’s been around for a while and is probably in need of an update, but it is loaded with user-reviewed free spots (as well as a few fee-based areas and/or those that require a permit). The downside is that the GPS function is a little wonky, and has a hard time pinpointing your exact location at times. We include this resource because of how much good information is available in the database. So, just be patient…it’s free after all!
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (Website Only)
BLM managed lands offer numerous opportunities for camping under the stars ranging from developed campgrounds with some amenities (for a small fee) to dispersed camping with nothing but open land for your gentle use (usually free). Most do not offer electrical hookups, so those who are ready to boondock are all set. All BLM land is found out west, and stay limits are typically 14 days but can vary by area so be sure to check the local rules and regulations. If you love good ol’ paper maps to get the bigger picture of an area, check with the state’s BLM office for a free map that is typically filled with all sorts of info about amenities in each area.
National Forest Service (Website Only)
National Forest Service campgrounds are typically remote, quiet, and nicely maintained by both rangers and volunteers. While most aren’t free, they are often inexpensive and have extra amenities, such as potable water and pit toilets, and gorgeous views. Most do not offer hookups of any kind, so are perfect for those who are set up to boondock. The website (developed by Fred and Suzi Dow who have been visiting, researching, and providing a wealth of information about National Forest campgrounds since 1994) offers more information about 157 national forest and grassland campgrounds than any other single website. You can search by state, or by a specific forest/grassland area. The only downside is that there is no integrated map function, so you have to triangulate the data with either an atlas or phone navigation app.
These helpful resources have help us live more sustainably, with more freedom, and have allowed us to travel 98% reservation-less since 2012! Let us know if you have any questions, we are always happy to help. Be sure to check out our website for more resources!
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