What Is Dry Camping?

One of the best things which will happen if you switch from using a tent and instead using an RV or a similar camper van, is that wherever you are traveling, you will have your home and everything you need with you.

These self-contained units are often equipped with all of the amenities which you would instead expect from a permanent house.

For example, having a proper kitchen, a full sized bed with a proper mattress, and some even have a proper bathroom as well.

Because of having all of the amenities on hand and not needing to go to a specific place to get them, you will not need to go to a campground to get these benefits as they are all stored on board.

This is where dry camping comes in.

If you have heard of dry camping but you do not know the exact definition and you want to see if it is something you could be interested in, keep reading!

The Definition Of Dry Camping

You will sometimes also hear dry camping being referred to as boondocking, and this is where you are camping in either an RV or a camper can, or sometimes a motor home, and you are not using any hookups like electricity or water that are outside a standard campground.

These dry campers will instead set up on a public land or a private spot if they have permission or have paid the landowner.

You will also find this activity being called dispersed camping when it takes place in forests or in national parks

The concept of boondocking specifically is more closely related to camping on private land, with the most popular example of this being camping in the parking space of bigger stores which have big parking lots.

This is especially popular in parking lots for stores like Cabela or Walmart. This is where dry camping and boondocking tend to split, with dry camping more focused on getting more involved in natural landscapes instead of more built-up areas.

The difference between boondocking and dry camping tends to depend on how close you are to the rest of civilization.

Dry camping or boondocking is also something which is occasionally done as a last resort instead of a conscious choice.

So, while some people like dry camping for the specific style of camping you will be able to indulge in, some people have to dry camp, for example, if the campsites are all full.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Dry Camping

It is a common rift that standard campers will not understand the appeal of camping in this way and would question exactly why people want to camp this way.

This is understandable, in a normal campsite you will have access to amenities like proper toilets, proper showers, tables for eating on, usually a camp store, and if you are really lucky, good wi-fi coverage.

But, if you are dry camping, depending on the type of RV or camper van you are using, access to these features is limited.

So, what are the main reasons people choose to dry camp, and what are the main reasons why this is something some people avoid?

Advantages

• To dry camp is completely free and you do not need to pay the standard cost of staying on a camp ground which can sometimes be quite expensive depending on where you want to stay
• Dry camping is generally less restricted with no specific requirements for where you can and cannot park, so you can get the best views possible and do not need to worry about getting reservations
• Dry camping tends to be more private and you do not have to worry about noisy neighbors or having to deal with any staff

Disadvantages

• You are not free to just park and camp wherever you want so you need to know the laws of where you are staying before choosing where to stop
• Dry camping tends to take a lot more work since you will not have nay running water, or electricity which means you will need to use a lot more camping equipment than you usually would using an RV
• You will tend to need to carry more equipment and cargo since you do not have the amenities you will get from being at a campsite.

Is Dry Camping Legal?

Dry camping is completely legal if you have gotten permission from the manager or owner of the land you are staying on, if you need permission it is best to get some proof of this.

If you are dry camping in a public space it is also recommended to get permission from the national or the state park service. You will always want to clean up after yourself and follow any rules set by the owners of the land you are staying on.

The Basics Of Dry Camping

If you are willing to try dry camping, there are a few things you will need to ensure you are not missing anything:

• You will of course need an RV or van to serve as both transportation and shelter
• You will of course need food to live off, if you are off the grid you will need to learn how to use a hard cooler to keep your food cold for as long as possible
• You will need to have access to fresh water, so learn which way of water filtration you prefer so you can always have access
• You will often want access to power, whether this is solar powered chargers, or radios depending on what you need power for
• You will need all the standard emergency supplies for camping as well.

Summary

While you can get some amazing experiences dry camping, we would not recommend this style of camping to anyone who is inexperienced since there is lots of experience you need to be able to deal with any issues which could come up while dry camping.

So do not start off with the intention of dry camping, and work your way up to learning the skills to be able to pull this off!