cheapskate traveller
 

Hi all,

I'll be whizzing round the US on a friend's 1981 Suzuki GS250, starting around April/May time from New Jersey. I'll initially be heading south and hope to do a loop around the states via Florida, Texas, Washington and back to NJ.

You've probably already guessed that I'm not a wealthy person (was the "1981 GS250" bit a clue?!) so I'll be doing the trip on a tight budget. Can anyone recommend any books and/or websites listing free/cheap campsites across the US? Last time I was in the US I used State Park campsites but getting a pitch at weekends could be a problem, plus some were very expensive.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Rich

If you stay in a National Forest it is usually free and you can usually camp anywhere in them without a permit etc. Many people in the US don't realize that. Also BLM many times has free camping anywhere, but not always. These are two compleatly diffrent parts of the Govt. Don't get these mixed up with the National Park service, yet another part, that tends to be more restrictive and more likly to charge a fee. Here are some links to get more info inclusing maps, rules etc

US Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/

BLM http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/

Also each state has state and county parks that charge various, and sometime outragious fees. The biggest thing to watch out for is campfires. Sometimes they are not permitted in the summer, or you need a fire permit(usually free) due to possable forest fires. Hope this helps.

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John

Have you considered stealth camping.

john

Is that using a tent that doesn't show up on radar?

Straggler,
Visitor centers are usually located on major interstates, if you were on backroads when you entered states before then that explains why you would have missed them. "Stealth camping" works well in the U.S., it means simply camping on private property, or restricted access government property without asking permission or paying a fee. This is almost always easily done, unless you decide to camp on some over-zealous person's land. Hint: if you do decide to stealth camp try and cover the reflectors on your bike, they can give you away when you would otherwise remain undetected.
Good Luck,
Nate Pollock

This is all good stuff, thanks. I'll have to get back onto the interstates before crossing the state lines.

By the way, think I passed through your town in the summer.

Many states will also mail you maps. Do a search for their tourist or visitor website. They all have them.

John


[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 13 December 2004).]

While riding back from Mexico I was very low on funds so I "stealth camped" often. I had a jungle hammock with bug screen so could keep a very low profile and not unpack the bike every night.
Having said that, I would encourage you to remember that most folks can be generous if approached openly and honestly.
Sharing stories of my travels often got me a place to stay.

If you are in the San Francisoc / Sacramento Ca. area drop me a line. I can put you up for a night and provide garage space and tools for any maintenance.
Glad to help,
Kevin


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If you’ve never stared off into the distance, then your life is a shame

My brother and I did a loop from boston to vancouver to LA to new orleans back to boston this summer... stealth camping almost every night.. only paid for 2 motels and 1 hostel. We had good luck with public beaches and rest stops where there were 'day use' picnic areas. Pretty universally, nobody patrols these areas... and you sometimes have a table, fireplace etc (if you are brave enough to light one). you can also go into pay campsites after the close say at 11pm and leave at the crack of dawn with no one the wiser.

Wish I had known somebody in SanFran, we slept in buena vista park for 3 nights! But at least we got to meet some bums.

Thanks for that. I had thought about nipping into the state park campsites just to use the showers. Most of them I think I'd get away with it. I can always plead the stupid foreign tourist defence!

I'm not sure about camping in rest areas as I'll be travelling on my own but thanks for the advice anyway. I'll certainly be pleased if I can camp for free as often as you did!

I've been camping on the side of the road all through Australia. A couple nights ago, my bike had problems (as it's prone to do) and I slept on the sidewalk at a small town.

Rest stops are good. I should've added the gay pick up spot warning. That happens in lots of places. I'm not picking on gays, it's just that public sex is frowned upon in most areas, and gay public sex attracts lots of weirdos and cops.

Since you're on a small bike, you can pull off the road and you'll be out of site in no time. But it's hard looking for a good spot when it's getting dark.

I'd also offer you a spot in Sacramento, but that's been taken care of.

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

[This message has been edited by chimpo13 (edited 06 January 2005).]

A lot of small towns out west allow you to camp in thier town parks. Just ask when you get there. BLM land is a good choice too if free is what you want. If you have a hankering to stop in Chicago, drop me a line. I'm the 'community rep' here.

Kurt

Cheapskate,
If you will be in the Washington DC area, give me a shout. We always have a spare bed and garage space ofr the weary MC tourer.
Also be sure to check out the communities section of this sight. Lots of folks willing to share.

Bob

FREE CAMPING four stops spread out on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This was all I found free in 8000 miles LA to NC and back in 2003.

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Good info...

If you're bringing up an old thread like this, I'd like to point out CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time. It's a good spot to find places to stay. I'm at CouchSurfing - Dave Smith but there isn't much of a reason to go through Sacramento since the roads on the Pacific Coast or the Sierras are funner.

ADV Rider also does the same thing. Advrider map! - ADVrider

I'm on there, too.

-Dave

ADVrider - Powered by vBulletin Under trip planning there is an accommodation list / tent list and campsites. Start posting your planning as a Ride report and once people get to know you they will help.

I live in northeastern part on Pennsylvania if you need a crash pad, garage, tools , food, and laundry just PM me.

Sounds like a good trip and doable. :scooter:

Join Couchsurfers.com or Hospitality Club.

Steve

Have a look at the website couchsurfing.com, people offering free acomodation. Unfortunately using these folks will take away a lot of your flexability. We free-camped a lot in the North Central (South Dakota etc) part of the States with no problem.

Other camp sites are between $15-$25 per night.

Johan

And are there likely issues camping on private land without permission in a country where privacy is closely guarded :nono: and private weapon ownership is the norm, i'd be really nervous but if it's not really a problem then :thumbup1: .

i've often just brought a tent and put it wherever i wanted. i mean, yeah there a lots of places you are not supposed to set a tent but when it's only for a night what's the big deal? other people may see me as abusing the laws and i don't always feel good about it but when it comes down to tight budgeting sometimes it's necessary. I once set my tent up in a downtown park and got kicked out at 7 am the next morning by the city maintenance. but no big deal i just packed it up jumped on the bike and continued on. like somebody else mentioned couch surfing.com is good

Hi Guys, what seems to have happened to the "Hiker/Biker" sections of state and national campsites? I used them a lot when I cycled from Vancouver down to Mexico and the most I paid was US$3.00, more usually US$1.00 with showers costing 25c. Ride safe.

Hey all:

:

That had me giggling all the way through this thread... nice one! :clap:

I'm planning a 3-4 month coast-2-coast trip of the US next summer 2010 and I've decided to stealth camp as much as possible. I've decided to definitely buy a bike in the US as well as buy as much kit in the US as I possibly can. Shipping from the UK is stupendously expensive, especially when you consider that this money can be better spent on extending my trip. Indeed, if I have an abundance of finances still available perhaps I'll have a jaunt around Mexico, Canada and/or Alaska too.

Of course there are downsides with this bike buying in the USA but with proper planning and preparation I shall avoid a piss poor performance. I've opted for a used Suzuki V-Strom DL650/1000 (size depends on prices at time of purchase). Why? Solid engine and dual purpose: favouring the pavements but able to handle some tracks to find suitable boon docking sites. I'll farkle it up with aluminium panniers & top box, extra spot lights, crash bars, a power socket and the auto chain luber thingy minimum - as minimum. There's a few other little farkles I'd like but that will depend on cost and the time to fit them. I'd like to have bought a bike and got it set-up within at least one week of arriving so I can hit the road. I don't want to be sat around wasting good time and money! I think this is do-able by utilising Craigs List, ebay and the ADV fleamarket.

Because this is my plan I am considering buying the same bike in the UK to acclimatise myself to it with a few preparation rides around our little island and then sell it before I leave Blighty and cross the little pond that divides us for my C2C ADV. When I'm not stealth camping I'll be hittting up the legendary Hubb community offers, couchsurfing, gladly accepting the kind a generous hospitality of the locals, trying my luck at fire-stations and the like and or the use of cheap and if possible independent hostels/motels. This is not just to keep the cost down but I reckon it's the ONLY way to REALLY experience the landscape and the people! Its just not cricket to pay for a patch of the earth to sleep for the night. I'll also try to spend as many of my bucks in mom 'n' pops as possible...

Any thought, tips suggestions are very welcome. :thumbup1:

Steve
xXx

"Any thought, tips suggestions are very welcome."

Find a way to give back to those who host you. Otherwise you're just a leach, to put it bluntly.

Normally, travelers give back by volunteering various services, by entertaining with their stories, by physical labor, by teaching skills to adults or children, by leaving gifts or doing cooking and dishes, etc. etc. etc.......and by paying for lodging, food, fuel, services. If you want to get around without paying for something in actual money, pay for it in some other way.

Of course, this point of view is not universally held.

Mark

I've never asked anyone crashing at my place for food, money, or to clean. On the occasions when it's offered, I turn it down. I tend to buy people drinks and food since they're traveling and probably don't have much money. Small gifts are nice, but not at all mandatory since they're traveling and won't have much space.

I also usually just give them a house key and sometimes the keys to my car or truck to get around. Point out my washer/dryer, and lend them a copy of Lonely Planet California.

I also know that people need a vacation from their vacation if they've been out for a long time. Most of the time, I let them know to feel free to take a break at my place. I've let people stay for a month. I'm still grateful for Nigel Marx for teaching me that lesson when I was in New Zealand. I really needed a period of time of just hanging out not doing anything and he gave it to me.

I know that I'm not average and I'm lucky in that I've only had one problem couchsurfer. He just spent one night and left before I could tell him he had to leave.

Just as Mark said, this point of view is not universally held.

-Dave

Leech
 

I couldn't agree more. Any decent, self respecting human being let alone ADVer will repay their hosts in some way. I plan to take small and inexpensive gifts with me to give to the folks I meet that are kind to me and help me on my travels. I really like the idea of a photo-postcards of me and the bike at the start of my trip with a message and contact details on the back to remind them of our meeting. I also like the idea of keyrings from my home town or country to give as keep sakes.

Steve
xXx

Couch Surfing
 

Another option is to Couch Surf.
Go to http://www.couchsurfing.org
There are thousands of people having a couch available for you to spend the night. You do loose some privacy, but if you don't have a problem with communal living, this is a great option.

camo
 

stealth camping ? in rural USA it would not be difficult to find a secluded spot ...I would think camo netting over the bike and tent with a little grass, brush, etc like a guilley suit and you would be invisible. I f anyone finds you, just say you want security, from the bad guys. Which would be the truth in many cases.

Free Campgrounds for RVs

This is pretty much for RVs, but you can usually find a tent site