Finding a Place to Stay While on the Road

So, you’ve decided you’re going to hit the road, but now you’re tasking with finding a place to park yourself and rest. There are really quite a number of options for folks who are looking to get away for a weekend or a season (or longer) and sometimes making your way through them can be overwhelming.

Personally, I find the idea of finding a place on a whim very daunting. Luckily, planning is your best friend when it comes to finding a spot to stay. Here are some tried and true options to help you decide what’s best for you.

Campgrounds

Campgrounds are a really easy option for those first getting their feet wet or anyone who likes having access to a variety of amenities. Depending on the campground you’re at, you may have access to electricity, indoor plumbing, and showering. Living a nomadic lifestyle doesn’t have to mean roughing it! Many even offer wi-fi so you can avoid using your own precious data. Unfortunately, the more developed the campground, the more expensive it (usually) is. Also be aware that when you’re traveling in National Parks, campgrounds may have an additional cost to the entrance fee. I highly recommend a National Parks Pass if you plan to visit them regularly.

Campsites

Similar to campgrounds, campsites are a pretty easy option to find a place to stay. I find that they are often cheaper because they have less amenities and sometimes they are completely free. Usually a vault toilet is all you get and for many of us, that’s plenty. For both campgrounds and campsites, its in your best interest to see what sites may be available ahead of time. Some fill up very quickly and you don’t want to find yourself without a place to stay!

Boondocking

Boondocking or dispersed camping refers to typicaly off-grid camping. These sites may be established but you may also be able to find a place that you can just pull off and park. Usually, boondocking sites are free and are most often found on public lands. These are places designated for public recreation such as National Forests and State Wildlife Areas. More often than not, these do not have any amenities (that’s kind of the point) and depending how remote they are, may or may not have access to cell service. Its always good to check what is allowed in these areas prior to staying. For example, in Colorado, not all State Wildlife Areas support camping.

WWOOFing

If you haven’t heard of WWOOFing, its really, really cool. The basic premise is that you exchange labor for cultural exchange and a place to stay. The sites you’re staying at are organic farms and the type of labor you do runs the gamut. There’s opportunities for beekeeping, harvesting, building, taking care of animals and so much more. Its a really cool way to build community on the road and also keep living costs low. If this is something you’re interested in, definitely read some of the reviews on their website. If you didn’t want to pack up and run already, you absolutely will after reading the reviews.

Trusted Housesitters

This is another really cool opportunity similar to WWOOFing, but it doesn’t involve the same level of cultural exchange. With Trusted Housesitters, you’re staying at someone’s home while they are away in return for watching their house or pet. That’s it! You still need a subscription and to be vetted for safety, but then you can snuggle all the pets you want!

Workaway

Workaway is very similar to WWOOFing and Trusted Housesitters in that you’re exchange service for a place to stay. Its less focused on an individual type of service, though. Maybe farming isn’t necessarily your thing, so you might find Workaway useful to find other opportunities. Because of the varied tasks you may be exchanging, this might be a good option if you need disability accommodations and are nervous about jumping into farming.

Overnight Parking/Stealthing

This is an option that a lot of folks utilize when they are in or near cities. Most van lifers will tell you that you aren’t always going to be parked somewhere beautiful and picturesque. Finding a place to park often only means finding somewhere safe. Sometimes, its a parking lot. There are apps to help you find places to stay. Many parking lots allow (or don’t have ordinances against) overnight parking, so that is an easy option. Urban camping or stealthing is the practice of finding a place to park overnight and that’s where you live. Its easier to do in vans that don’t look obviously lived in, so you’ll need window covers or things like that to blend in with all the other cars parked on the streets.

Regardless of which option speaks to you, we can see the breadth of what living a nomadic lifestyle can mean. There is really something for everyone. I know for me, boondocking is my goal, but there are so many things I worry about that utilizing campgrounds is a great way to help ease my fears. Of course, WWOOFing is great because you can even do it just in your own local area!

For more information on what apps to use to help you see campsite availability or give you an idea of where to stay on your way to your next destination, check out my post on helpful van life apps.