Spontaneous camping?
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 5
From: PacNW (Olympic Pennsula)
By unplanned you mean for like a week or two?? Used to just go till about 5 or 6 PM, but discovered if I start look at around 3PM alot more likely to find a place. And yes I have been caught out late and used Picinic tables at rest stops as beds (not a good idea) but ya got to catch a few Z's.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: s.w. wisconsin
yep all the time
look at the end of day
yep all the time
how long?
depends on the trip. if i really want to stop and eat, get cleaned up. i will start looking an hour or two before sunset. but out of consideraton i will almost always check in by 9:30 because most places want quiet by 10
ever been caught
oh yeah. camped many times at truck stops and never have been bothered or asked to pay. spent many nights on a picnic table or on the ground at waysides and rarely been hasseled. just do not try to put up a tent. have spent many a night with a tarp leaned up against a tree in many places during a rain and never been bothered. used to sleep under bridges too. still do in bad weather.
most times now i would just find a motel. funny how age and a steady income can change things. lol
be safe
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,838
Likes: 500
From: Northern WV
For me sometimes motorcycle camping is a destination, as in some of the motorcycle only campgrounds. Other times it's just a different way to travel and saves money. When traveling I like to have a good idea where I'll be camping that night. I try to stay in State, or National Park campgrounds if possible. I may stop early evening for gas and to fill my small cooler with something to eat and drink, then head into a National Forest. Great place to stay and costs nothing. (No facilities though)
Naturally major populated campgrounds like Yellowstone, especially on weekends, can be iffy unless you arrive early. I've found primitive campgrounds to be less crowded, sometimes almost empty.
Riding in North Dakota there was a campground marked at a small town, on the map. It was getting late and I rode all over looking for it. Finally stopped and asked someone. They said "oh yeah, just set up over there". It was between some large grain silos and a softball field. Other than a couple picnic tables I was the only one there. So I set up and watched the local girls play softball. I took this picture early the next morning.
Naturally major populated campgrounds like Yellowstone, especially on weekends, can be iffy unless you arrive early. I've found primitive campgrounds to be less crowded, sometimes almost empty.
Riding in North Dakota there was a campground marked at a small town, on the map. It was getting late and I rode all over looking for it. Finally stopped and asked someone. They said "oh yeah, just set up over there". It was between some large grain silos and a softball field. Other than a couple picnic tables I was the only one there. So I set up and watched the local girls play softball. I took this picture early the next morning.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 918
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
I was on a head-clearing run, stopped at the 24 hour Walmart for supplies and found this spot when riding tired in the middle of the night. Woke up the next morning expecting PO'd person to be wondering what the heck I was doing there, but all was fine. It was a sweet spot, out of sight of the highway (in the background) hidden by the berm.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
One of my best experiences was a couple years ago while riding east on Highway 12 in Utah. I had planned to camp at a designated state park outside of Boulder, but about 4 in the afternoon I found a great little dirt road that led to a beautiful creek in the woods. A group of deer had come across the road so I had slowed to avoid them, and right after I got past them I saw the dirt road. I was going just slow enough that I could see down it as I rode past.
I could see the stream about 40 yards off the road, so I pulled down to take a look. It was marvelous. The stream was shallow enough I could go across and there was a wonderful clearing on the other bank. I set up my solo tent, bag, and camp chair and then enjoyed the peace and quiet. One of the best camping nites I've had on the road.
Most of the time, though, I try to have a couple camping spots picked out before I get too far into the day. From time to time they will be full when you get there, so having an alternate site is a good way to avoid sleeping on picnic tables at rest stops (never done that, and I don't have to).
I could see the stream about 40 yards off the road, so I pulled down to take a look. It was marvelous. The stream was shallow enough I could go across and there was a wonderful clearing on the other bank. I set up my solo tent, bag, and camp chair and then enjoyed the peace and quiet. One of the best camping nites I've had on the road.
Most of the time, though, I try to have a couple camping spots picked out before I get too far into the day. From time to time they will be full when you get there, so having an alternate site is a good way to avoid sleeping on picnic tables at rest stops (never done that, and I don't have to).
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,112
Likes: 20
Many many times,gas stations,truck stops,rest area's,farmer's fields,once in the fog ended up in a man's front yard.Been woke up by cowboy's,farmer's,truck driver's,COP's,other biker's.Only one's ever seemed the least bit upset were cop's.In the 70's when there was a gas shortage,used to sleep in closed gas station's by the pump's,people who run the station's were alway's real decent and usually did'nt wake me up till the coffee was done.Just one tip,ALWAY'S check where the pet walking area is.[yep been there done that]
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From:
Heh, good stories. I usually look at a map at home then wing it from there, but it doesen't always work out. I haven't slept anyplace crazy yet, but have eyed up a few spots.
Bluetoys, how'd you find your way that far off the road at night? Seems like a helluva plunge to take in the dark.
Bluetoys, how'd you find your way that far off the road at night? Seems like a helluva plunge to take in the dark.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
One thing nice about the West is BLM land. You can pretty much camp anywhere, and I've tried my best to take advantage of that. National Forests are good, too (as someone else mentioned).
I got stuck out in the dark years ago in Montrose, CO. The KOA was full, so I started pulling into closed (for the night) businesses and checking out the hours of operation posted in their front windows. I found some kind of plumbing supply store that didn't open until 9:00am, so I set up camp between two of their service vans in the parking lot. I was out of there at sunrise with no problems. That has to be my sneakiest urban camping spot ever!
I got stuck out in the dark years ago in Montrose, CO. The KOA was full, so I started pulling into closed (for the night) businesses and checking out the hours of operation posted in their front windows. I found some kind of plumbing supply store that didn't open until 9:00am, so I set up camp between two of their service vans in the parking lot. I was out of there at sunrise with no problems. That has to be my sneakiest urban camping spot ever!