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Free Camping Options for the Frugal Car-Free/Light Cycletourist

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Free Camping Options for the Frugal Car-Free/Light Cycletourist

Old 02-18-17, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by tandempower
but since people don't want to advertise free camping options
But people do advertise free camping options:

Free Camping Accommodation Directory Tasmania Guide Free Campsites Campgrounds Across Tasmania
Free Camping Sites in Tasmania - Camps Australia Wide

And other links I posted earlier in the thread.
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Old 02-20-17, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
What I mean by "unadvertised free camping options" are out-of-the-way spots where land is either public or not policed for trespassing. These spots are not advertised because the owners reserve the right to police them for trespassing and/or avoid liability for anything that may happen to people camping there. The moment you agree to allow someone to camp on your land, you bear a certain liability for what happens to them due to fixtures of the property. So you can't advertise or otherwise imply trespassing is allowed, but you may have no interest in policing people against camping unless they misbehave or harm the property.

This is a complex issue, because some people don't mind while others do. Some people post 'no trespassing signs as owners,' and some do it who aren't owners or tenants, but just want to prevent others from discovering their campsite. Some people argue against free camping because they want people to go to paid campsites, to force them to support business instead of 'freeloading.'

Personally, I just don't see anything wrong with lying down and taking a nap or sleeping for the night wherever you are. This is different from setting up a semi-permanent camp where you plan to live for multiple days/weeks/months.
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Old 02-20-17, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by tandempower
What I mean by "unadvertised free camping options" are out-of-the-way spots where land is either public or not policed for trespassing. These spots are not advertised because the owners reserve the right to police them for trespassing and/or avoid liability for anything that may happen to people camping there. The moment you agree to allow someone to camp on your land, you bear a certain liability for what happens to them due to fixtures of the property. So you can't advertise or otherwise imply trespassing is allowed, but you may have no interest in policing people against camping unless they misbehave or harm the property.

This is a complex issue, because some people don't mind while others do. Some people post 'no trespassing signs as owners,' and some do it who aren't owners or tenants, but just want to prevent others from discovering their campsite. Some people argue against free camping because they want people to go to paid campsites, to force them to support business instead of 'freeloading.'

Personally, I just don't see anything wrong with lying down and taking a nap or sleeping for the night wherever you are. This is different from setting up a semi-permanent camp where you plan to live for multiple days/weeks/months.
This thread, however, is for free official campgrounds ... not stealth camping. See original post.
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Old 02-23-17, 05:30 AM
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Thread moved to Touring per OP's request.
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Old 02-23-17, 05:33 AM
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Originally Posted by cb400bill
Thread moved to Touring per OP's request.
Thanks!
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Old 02-23-17, 10:17 AM
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I found a campground on the Polish Pomeranian Coast in 1991,

turns out it was a worker's Holiday camp..

operated for the people who worked in a Steel Mill located in Central Poland..

Another case of not Planning but Improvising as I went Along..


Now, In My Area, There is the Fort Stevens State park,

, in Astoria Proper 1 Hostel, but its More for Maritime visitors,

since its on the 2nd floor and there is No Bike Shed.



Street people stay in a church 'Warming Center,' till spring, then hang out in Doorways of derelict shops ..

during the days..







...







....

Last edited by fietsbob; 02-23-17 at 10:26 AM.
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Old 02-23-17, 01:47 PM
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Not a "campground", per se, but camping is free on any State owned forest in Michigan that is at least a mile from an actual campground, not designated as a park or rec area, and not expressly closed to camping, and that you label with your name with a free downloadable form: DNR - State Forest Campgrounds & Dispersed Camping

Never actually used the form, though, and never been bothered about it.

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Old 02-23-17, 03:37 PM
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Not sure what constitutes "low cost." Free is nice. I think anything $20 or higher I would consider out of the "low-cost" bracket. Anything under $10 I would definitely consider low-cost. It's that $10-$20 range that's questionable.

And that is where a lot of the state parks in the area fall. Many non-electric sites in the area go for $15/night: Jordan Lake, Umpstead, Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, Medoc Mountain. I have not been to all of those, but the ones I have visited had a bath-house, toilets, and water. There are some more primitive sites at Jordan Lake with pit toilets and water, but no shower for $13. There are some hike or float in sites in the area that I'm not certain of the facilities at Raven Rock and Eno River. At Raven Rock I remember a toilet, but I can't remember the water situation. I do remember having to park the bikes at the office and walk a good ways carrying panniers. Haven't seen the campsites at Eno. I think they are "hike in" as well. Those sites are $10/night.
NC State Parks

The Uhwarrie National Forest is long day's ride (for me) from here, and it has established, paid sites, but I believe also allows free, dispersed camping.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsn...49832&actid=50

Neuseway Nature Park is also a good day's hike, but it's only $6/night for tent camping. It's also interesting for being right across the river from downtown Kinston, NC, so you have access to the amenities of a mid-sized town while also being able to camp.
Campground | Kinston, NC

The other one I know of in my area falls into that grey area. No amenities. Unofficial. But not exactly secret. I think it's the kind of thing tandempower was talking about. I camped there once, and some other campers showed up after I did. When you're there, it's clear that people have been camping there, and there are no signs forbidding it, currently, but I do believe it's private property. And someone woke me up in the wee hours who seemed to be "policing" the area, but whether or not they were actual police, I don't know. They didn't ask me to leave, just verified that I was camping for the night and went on their way. The other campers' tent was still there in the morning as well, so presumably they had not been kicked out either. I camped there because it was conveniently located for the trip I was on, but other people seek it out for more arcane reasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Tramping_Ground

That's everything I know of in my immediate area (i.e. a day's ride) in the 0-15$/night range. Only one is actually free, and it's the one I'd be the least surprised at being denied entry or asked to leave. Or chased out by evil spirits, if you're into that kind of thing.
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Old 02-23-17, 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob_E
Not sure what constitutes "low cost." Free is nice. I think anything $20 or higher I would consider out of the "low-cost" bracket. Anything under $10 I would definitely consider low-cost. It's that $10-$20 range that's questionable.
NC State Parks

The Uhwarrie National Forest is long day's ride (for me) from here, and it has established, paid sites, but I believe also allows dispersed camping.
Uwharrie has a designated camping site called Yates Campground with a vault toilet but no water supply. It is free, and dispersed camping is allowed except where explicitly marked private property. There is also Badin Lake Campground in the forest, with water, showers and electricity, even, at some campsites. I think the fee is around $15- $18, depending on plug-in or not.
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Old 03-09-17, 07:22 AM
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Used to be that there were some campgrounds just out of the Banff and Jasper National Parks which were quite low cost (no more than $15, which is low for that part of the world), but I've looked them up and it appears they've discovered they can charge more.
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Old 04-06-17, 01:30 PM
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I have never been run off of church property for camping. I try and not camp in the front yard and I leave no trace. Sometimes, here in the south, some of these small churches have a home right next door where the pastor lives. I just knock on the door and ask. But if it is a church all by itself, I camp. I have Ben been fed dinner and breakfast by a pastor's wife before.
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Old 04-06-17, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Piratebike
I have never been run off of church property for camping. I try and not camp in the front yard and I leave no trace. Sometimes, here in the south, some of these small churches have a home right next door where the pastor lives. I just knock on the door and ask. But if it is a church all by itself, I camp. I have Ben been fed dinner and breakfast by a pastor's wife before.
That wouldn't be for me. I am not a religious participant myself, and I dislike some church doctrines, so taking advantage of their charity, so to speak, would seem hypocritical on my part. However if you are a churchgoer yourself, perhaps you see it differently.
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Old 04-06-17, 08:21 PM
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Showgrounds and sports grounds here in Australia often offer inexpensive camping options. You won't get much in the way of services, but that's OK for a short-term stay.
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Old 04-06-17, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by cooker
That wouldn't be for me. I am not a religious participant myself, and I dislike some church doctrines, so taking advantage of their charity, so to speak, would seem hypocritical on my part. However if you are a churchgoer yourself, perhaps you see it differently.
I'm agnostic, but if I had the blessing of the Reverend/Father/Pastor/etc, I'd take full advantage. I can get along with most, without issue, and have no issue with beliefs that are not my own.

That said, I wouldn't setup without permission, hoping for their good graces. Bad juju.
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Old 04-06-17, 11:09 PM
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Nice to read that National Forests in Virginia allow dispersed (wild) camping. The Nat'l Forests lie along the Blue Ridge Mountains, one could ride all the way from Maryland to South Carolina & camp free. Quite a contrast to central/eastern VA where camping is expensive & sparse.
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Old 06-03-17, 07:59 PM
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Bump for the 2017 camping season.
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