Car camping is not something that we have always done, but it is something we have found that we really love! One of the big challenges that comes with it is “how to find the ideal car camping spot?” Here we will walk you through our process of finding spots to car camp and how you can do it as well!
If you want to get an idea of how we car camp, or want to get started on your own, check out Our Guide to Car Camping. Also, follow us on Instagram @acoupleoftravelingpts for more car camping, hiking, and traveling adventures!
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Where to start?
First off, you need to figure out where you are wanting to go explore and camp. Once you have that down, you can start to look at the area and get an idea of what your options will be.
Google Maps/Apple Maps
I know this is pretty obvious and basic, but we typically start with a very broad search on Google Maps to get an idea of the lay of the land. Things we will look for: how close is the nearest town? how built up is it? are there resources if needed? campgrounds in the area? what does the terrain look like? how far are the places you want to go?
We have found that this is a good starting point, and can give a solid foundation for what to expect. This is especially true if you are not familiar to the area.
Established Campgrounds
This is probably the easiest option, if you can find one and there are reservations available. Depending on where you are trying to camp, you may need to plan 6 months in advance to score a spot. Think national parks, beach/coastal spots, etc… We have stayed at plenty of established campgrounds, and typically have great experiences.
There are definitely some pros and cons to established campgrounds. Here are a few that we have noticed.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Designated spot/camp site – Amenities (fire pit, bathroom, showers, etc…) – Campground host (usually) – Typically near resources (food, gas, water) – Nearest to some of the main attractions (hikes, lakes, Nat’l Parks, etc…) | – Cost (it can add up quick for a few days) – Noise (generators, people talking/partying late)\ – People (most camp sites are pretty close to your neighbors) – Reservations often required (and fill up well in advance) |
Overall, this is a great option (if available) for someone who is new to the area, and is looking for a spot that is not too far out there, or does not want to venture too far off the beaten path. Many of the campgrounds use recreation.gov for the reservations.
Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping is something we needed to learn more about, but as we have been able to figure it out, we have really come to enjoy it. Basically this is camping outside of established campgrounds.
Most often the places where people dispersed camp are in the National Forests (NF) and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. These two options allow for camping up to 14 days in the same spot for free. There are many campsites that are already established, and it is encouraged to try to use one that is already established vs making a new one.
With these campsites, there are no services. Many of the sites will have fire rings, but not all do. You MUST pack everything out that you brought in. We always try to leave the site cleaner than when we got there. Please do not be like some of the people who leave a ton of trash or toilet paper in the sites, it ruins it for all of us and impacts the wildlife/nature in a negative way.
This is an awesome way to explore new areas and camp in a more adventurous type of way. Another great advantage is that there are endless possibilities on where you can go, and how far away from other people you can go. Just try to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into in terms of what is required of your vehicle on the road to get there.
Top Left: Trailhead camping at Grays & Torreys Peaks, CO; Top Right: camping on the Million Dollar Highway, CO; Bottom: camping near Grand Junction, CO
iOverlander
iOverlander has been our go-to app/website to find places to camp. It is a really neat idea, and super helpful. Other people will “check-in” and provide coordinates one where they were able to camp and give some information about the spot.
It is so helpful because it provides the dates of when people visited the area, which is important for when we are heading into the mountains to know whether the roads are actually open/passable. There is also information to show you if this place is available to camp or if it has been shut down or deemed a “no-go” for whatever reason.
Sometimes the reviews will provide pictures of the area, which is helpful to know if it is wooded or clear (especially those with Starlink). As well as knowing whether these are places for multiples vehicles, or just a solo adventure.
Even if we are not able to find one of the exact spots that are marked on the website, it gives us an idea of areas that are open to camp at. There have been plenty of times that we have a place marked, and there is someone else in the spot already. So, we just keep driving on that road and find another spot. Luckily, we have been able to find a spot every time.
Other options…
There are many options to find places that you can camp. Here is a incomplete list of some other ones:
- The Dyrt
- Campendium
- ParkAdvisor
- Garmin Tread
- CalTopo
- Gaia GPS
- OverlandBound
Local Ranger Station
This is potentially the best option. We have never actually used this option because we are usually far from them and want to have an idea of where we are going to camp instead of going in blind. But, I would imagine they know the area better than anyone and would have some great advice for you. Perhaps we will use this one in the future and see how it works.
Reach out to us if you have any questions, and follow us on Instagram @acoupleoftravelingpts.
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
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