KOA, dispersed camping, reservations, RV tips, and campground etiquette.
Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours (typically 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and restrict generator use to specific windows—usually late morning through early evening. Ignoring these rules can earn you a warning, a fine, or even an eviction. The good news: with the right equipment and a little planning, you can stay powered without disturbing other…
The best car camping sleeping setup balances comfort, vehicle fit, and setup time. Your choice comes down to three categories: ground tents with insulated pads, roof-top tents (RTTs), or in-car mattress platforms. Each works well for different vehicles, budgets, and trip styles. If you sleep in your vehicle most nights, a platform with a foam…
Camping with your dog takes planning around park rules, the right gear, and knowing your dog’s limits. The most common mistake people make is assuming every trail and campground allows dogs—and finding out too late. The first step: check the land agency’s pet policy before you book anything. Before You Go: Safety Checks and Paperwork…
Turning your daily driver into a camping base starts with one decision: where you sleep. That choice affects everything — how much gear fits, how comfortable you are, and how long you can stay out. Here’s a practical system for building a setup that works for your vehicle and style. Choose Your Sleep Setup First…
The most common failure mode in car camping is spending an hour setting up an elaborate kitchen while your sleeping pad leaks air. Detect that early by fully inflating and lying on your pad at home before you leave. That one test saves you from a miserable night. The rest of this checklist is a…
Truck bed camping works by turning your truck’s cargo area into a sleeping space off the ground, with your gear secured nearby. The three main approaches are a tent that sits in the bed, a hard camper shell that encloses the bed, or sleeping open-air on a mattress. Your choice depends on budget, weather conditions,…
The best SUV camping conversion ideas solve one core problem: creating a flat, comfortable sleeping surface out of a vehicle that wasn’t designed for it. Most SUVs have a rear seat that folds, leaving a gap, a slope, or an uneven cargo floor that makes sleeping miserable. The fix is usually simpler than you think—often…
The best free-camping app depends on where you’re going and what you drive. For most US public-land camping, iOverlander has the largest crowd-sourced database of free sites, while FreeRoam gives you the clearest land-ownership overlays. The Dyrt is useful for verified reviews but locks offline maps behind a subscription. Below we compare the top contenders…
Leaving a campsite clean isn’t just good manners—it’s a legal and environmental requirement on most public lands. The short answer: do a thorough walk-through before you start packing gear, then follow a sequence that covers trash, food, fire, and the spots most people miss. Your next useful action: grab a trash bag and gloves, and…
Dispersed camping means setting up camp anywhere outside a designated campground—no hookups, no reservations, no fees. You can do it on most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest land across the United States. The key requirement: follow land-specific rules and Leave No Trace principles. If you want to camp for free in a…
