What is Car Camping?

Car camping is camping in or near your car, and bringing all gear in your car. Now, the clear distinction is you are still setting up all your own camping gear. It’s just that your car was a convenient vessel to bring all your gear, food, and supplies. This is a great way to access developed campgrounds, primitive campgrounds, or get into some dispersed camping.

Now, just because your car is present does not necessarily mean it is “car camping.” For example, RV camping might involve your car, but all your equipment is inside the RV (not car camping). Likewise, you might arrive at a glamping site in your car, but they provide all the amenities, gear, and set up for you (not car camping).

Why Try Car Camping?

• Accessibility: Many campgrounds and dispersed camping areas are easily accessible by car
• Affordability: Car camping is a much cheaper way to access our beautiful public lands without spending money on lodges or hotels
• Comfort: You can bring more gear, food, and creature comforts
• Flexibility: Easy to do on a whim and
• Ease: Connect to nature without going ultra-remote

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Who Should Car Camp?

• First time campers
• Families with kids
• Larger groups
• People looking for a more leisurely camp experience
• Anyone at all who enjoys camping

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Where You Can Car Camp

Where Car Camping is allowed

National Parks

• National Parks are well equipped for car campers visiting from near and far, and car camping is one of the best ways to spend a night in a National Park.
• All car camping on National Parks will require a reservation and fee.

National Forests And Grasslands

• With one of the largest networks of public access roads in the country, National Forests are some of the premier destinations for car camping.
• Depending on where you car camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

BLM Land

• Rivaling the motor vehicle access in National Forests, car camping is abundant on BLM land through their large network of recreational roads.
• Depending on where you car camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

National Wildlife Refuges (USFWS)

• Access roads can bring you to some of the more remote areas in National Wild Refuges which are great places to go car camping.
• Depending on where you car camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

Restrictions

• Wilderness Areas: No car camping is allowed on Wilderness Areas. Foot travel only.

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Where You Camp While Car Camping

Dispersed camping

Also known as backcountry camping or wild camping, this is camping on any public land without any developed campgrounds, facilities, or amenities. You establish your own campsite, or find one already established by previous campers. Depending on where you go, dispersed camping may not be allowed like in certain National Parks. This is one of the more risky but rewarding ways to go car camping.

Primitive Campgrounds

A designated camping area with little to no amenities or facilities, usually just a place to set up your tent. You may get lucky with a fire ring, but these campgrounds are mainly to provide safe areas for people to camp in more remote places and to help protect the landscape and wildlife by preventing excessive dispersed camping. Many car camping trips have destinations to primitive campgrounds down forest service or access roads.

Developed Campgrounds

A designated camping area with basic amenities and facilities usually including fire rings, vault toilets (no water or flushing), tent platforms, potable water spigots, firewood for sale, and picnic tables. Oftentimes a campground host will be present to answer questions and collect fees. Amenities and facilities will vary depending on the campground. Many car camping trips have destinations to developed campgrounds, often down forest service or access roads.

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Basic Car Camping Gear

Essentials for car camping (not a comprehensive list):

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Skills & Safety for car camping

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Stewardship & Etiquette for car camping

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What To Expect When Car Camping

Camping is not always as glamorous as instagram makes it out to be. And it shouldn’t be. A couple of key things to understand when you’re camping:

• It always requires some hard work.
• There will be bugs.
• There will be bad weather.
• There will be spooky sounds.
• You will get dirty and smell.
• You will forget something.
• It can feel a little scary at first.
• Weather exposure and falling tree branches are way more of a threat than animal encounters.
• You will have a lot of fun.

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How to Plan a Car Camping Trip

General step-by-step plan:

1. Pick a destination (NPS, NFS, BLM, etc.)
2. Check local fire restrictions
3. Check local road and access restrictions
4. Check the weather (snow, rain, wildfire watch)
5. Confirm how and where you want to car camp
   • Developed campground
   • Primitive campground
   • Dispersed camping
6. Complete any permits or reservations needed
7. Plan out your meals
8. Test out your gear
9. Pack your car
10. Learn rules/etiquette of where you are camping
11. Make sure your car is ready (oil, gas, fluids)
12. Let people know where you’re going
13. Enjoy the journey

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car camping tips for Beginners

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Resources

Glossary

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• Car camping – Driving up to a camping area and packing your gear in a car. This can be at a designated campground, primitive campground, or on your own as “dispersed camping” (see below). Ultimately, anywhere you camp with your car is “car camping.”
• Developed campgrounds – A designated campground with basic amenities and facilities including fire rings, vault toilets, tent platforms, potable water spigots, firewood for sale, and picnic tables. Oftentimes a campground host will be present to answer questions and collect fees. Amenities and facilities will vary depending on the campground. Many times these campgrounds will have electric sites and hookups for RV’s and trailers.
• Primitive campgrounds – A designated camping area with little to no amenities or facilities, usually just a place to set up your tent. You may get lucky with a fire ring, but these campgrounds are mainly to provide safe areas for people to camp in less accessible areas, and to help protect the landscape by preventing excessive dispersed camping.
• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The BLM oversees the largest portion of public land with about 250 million access. BLM lands are very accessible, and typically have fewer restrictions than you’d find on other public lands, which attracts a large variety of adventure seekers and campers. This includes (but is not limited) to places like Wilderness Areas and National Conservation Lands.
• The U.S. Forest Service: The USFS manages almost 200 million acres of land and provides some of the best places to camp among majestic forests, mountains, and a great way to escape the crowds. This includes (but is not limited) to places like National Forests and National Grasslands.
• The National Park Service: The NPS manages 85 million acres and over 425+ units, including some of the most scenic parts of the country like Olympic National Park and Zion National Park, as well as National Monuments and other gems. Everything from designated camping, backpacking, and car camping can be had in public lands managed by the National Park Service. This includes (but is not limited) to places like National Parks, National Rivers, and Wilderness Areas.
• Wilderness Areas: Each agency manages Federal Wilderness Areas with over 111 million acres and 806+ units, Wilderness Areas are the highest level of protection and designation public land can receive. Only accessible by foot traffic (no cars, bikes, or pets) it certainly offers the chance to see some of the most remote and pristine wilderness in the country, and is excellent for wildlife and natural ecosystems. However, the subject of management and the notion of “untouched” wilderness has received some criticism over the years as potentially not the healthiest way to manage wild lands.
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service: The US Fish and Wildlife Service manages 95 million acres on land, and over 755 million acres on water across all 50 US States, which is mostly composed of units called National Wildlife Refuges. The agency’s main goal is to protect and restore wildlife species and ecosystems. Everything from developed campgrounds, backpacking, and car camping can be found in National Wildlife Refuge Units and Wilderness Areas managed by the USFWS.