Machka 

I'm not entirely sure this belongs here. I'm sure we're all capable of going to the Touring Forum. However, since the discussion of cycletouring does come up here from time to time ...


Tell us about the existing free or low cost camping options in your area. And if you have been to some of those places, tell us about your experience. Post pics if you've got them.



This thread is NOT about stealth camping ... we all know about that option. I'm talking about actual designated campgrounds/places.

This thread is NOT about what you think should exist, but currently doesn't in your area. This is for actual existing options.

Machka 

For example many (all?) states in Australia have designated state forests as places where people can camp for free (mostly, there are a few exceptions) ...

This is the information regarding camping in Victorian state forests ...
DEPI - Visiting State forests
DEPI - Activities
https://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/as...ate_forest.pdf
https://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/as...mping_Code.pdf

Following the code of practice for camping of course ...
DEPI - Looking after forests


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Rest areas have also been designated as places people can stay overnight for free. Not all of them ... but you can find information about which ones do.

Rest areas, Stay - Explore Australia
Rest areas for grey nomads in Australia | The Grey Nomads | Travel & Holiday Information Australia : Road Trips, Caravans & Motorhomes

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Plus several other places have been designates as free camping locations.

Some examples: Free Camping Sites in Victoria - Camps Australia Wide
Free Camping and Low Cost Sites in Victoria | Caravan On Tour


Between State Forests and Rest Areas and Free Camping areas, a person could have quite a decent tour in Australia and hardly spend a cent on camping.

Machka 

I have also come across this site ... Map of Free Camping Areas | Go Camping for Free! ... which looks like a useful resource for finding free camping options in North America.

Roody

Didn't we just have a thread about this topic? You bump a hundred years-old threads and then duplicate a brand-new one..what gives?

Machka 

Per your instructions ...

Voila!! I have started the thread you requested.


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Right-o. Now that's settled, let's carry on! Free camping options ... tell us all about them.

Roody

Thanks Machka.

chewybrian 

I think the Corps of Engineers offers some free camping spots, though of course they are 'primitive' They have spots at Lake Okeechobee at the bike trail that circles the lake (100ish miles long).

Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail

tandempower

I don't want to discuss existing options that currently exist in my area publicly because that invites changes to them. I have to trust someone a lot before talking about this with them b/c word can get around to land managers who take it upon themselves to alter regulations to make camping more difficult if people are successfully camping free. There is hate and oppression and a strong disrespect for freedom where it involves saving money instead of spending it to provide someone else with income. Until this mentality subsides among the public, it is suicide to broadcast money-saving options.

I started the other thread to have a discussion about the unreasonability of current camping-restrictive policies and practices. That got bumped to P&R even though it's a relevant obstacle to car free living.

You want to pretend, for some reason, that there are sufficient options available and so no one should discuss expanding the options, but that is a negative tactic and relegating threads discussing it to P&R to avoid thinking about it as a car free living issue is divisive.

Roody

+1. The moderation here is either totally absent or swiftly, with no warning, oppressive and heavy handed. The website administration has very little understanding of issues related to living carfree.

Machka 

Then don't respond to this thread. Easy-peasy!

Machka 

Thanks for that!

Machka 

If you are coming to Tasmania, this site provides some information about free camping options ...

Free Camping Accommodation Directory Tasmania Guide Free Campsites Campgrounds Across Tasmania


Most of those are, of course, quite primitive. Several of them are also rather remote. A popular sport in Tasmania is bushwalking, and there are several lengthy bushwalking tracks throughout Tassie.

The Walls of Jerusalem camping area, for example, is along that track.
Walls Of Jerusalem Camping National Park Tasmania Accommodation Mole Creek Mersey Forest Road


But Oatlands is a little dot-on-the-map town sort of in the middle of Tasmania on a main road, and it has free camping as well.
Camping Oatlands Accommodation Between Hobart & Launceston Maximum Stay 3 Nights Suit Tents Caravans Motorhomes

B. Carfree

My city is surrounded by National Forest (once you get thirty miles out of town, that is) and Bureau of Land Management land. One can camp anywhere in that land, with the usual restrictions regarding roads, rubbish and distance from water (although in practice few people follow the restrictions). Last year the Forest Service started closing some areas to camping that were close to roads. It turns out that homeless people were moving in and leaving a mess for the staff to clean up (feces, rubbish, clothes, everything). The staff figured that if people had to walk even one kilometer, it would discourage them from moving in for the summer. (Yes, we have bus service to the forest, two buses per day even.)

If one heads to the coast, an eighty mile ride by the best route (along a river where there is abundant free camping since it is National Forest and/or BLM land over much of the route; heck the BLM even created a few actual campgrounds with potable water supplies), then one can utilize the State Campgrounds. At the State campgrounds, $5 gets you a place to set up your tent, bath rooms and a warm shower, not to mention pretty good company (and raccoons, of course). The camp hosts will even sell you wood for a camp fire, if you're into that sort of thing (I'm not).

I know this thread isn't about stealth camping, but much of the land in Oregon is owned by lumber companies. State law says that in the absence of a "No Trespassing" sign, one can camp on private property unless and until the owner or an authorized agent of the owner tells you to leave. None of the lumber company employees is going to hassle a bike camper unless it's a high risk fire season, like we are having this year. Under these very dry conditions, they close their lands to everyone. Well, sort of. A week ago my wife and I ignored the signs and rode on some of the logging roads. When the lumber company guys drove by, they just smiled and waved. I guess they realized two old people on a tandem weren't much of a fire risk. Camping might get a different response.

auldgeunquers

One of the local bike shops here (Velorution) has a free camp ground in back of the shop. We are the on the Trans Canada highway, and if you are arriving here in Sault Ste. Marie, particularly from the west, it has been some days since you have seen a city - it is 700km to Thunder Bay and 300km to Sudbury the other way. It is a quiet little corner of bush with room for about 4 campsites comfortably. The bike shop is well stocked, is staffed with good mechanics and WalMart is next door for other supplies.

Machka 

Cool! That's a great idea ... a free campground behind a bike shop.

Artkansas 

I have a campground that is less than 7 miles away, right on the Arkansas River. Now if I only had camping gear.

enigmaT120

The time I got stopped for being on Weyerhauser land during fire season, I was out running with my dog and it was a state cop that stopped me and told me I wasn't supposed to be there. I had a good excuse for not seeing the sign, I run right from my land onto theirs. I bet you are right that the timber workers wouldn't give any problem.

Like B.Carfree I have a lot of BLM land in the coast range west of me, but the roads to it are controlled by the industrial forest land owners who close their land to all public entry.

jfowler85

My neighbor's property...anywhere is fine.

ironwood

When I crossed North America a number of years ago, I didn't find any free camping sites in the East, but once in the Midwest I found that a number of small towns had free campgrounds . Once I got to the West I found a lot of free Forest Service and BLM sites.

Since then many small towns have lost population, and I wonder if they can afford to provide free camping.

wolfchild

You can buy a cheap tarp and wool blanket at any army surplus store for very cheap and that's all that's really necessary. There is no need for fancy expensive camping gear.

Artkansas 

A little mosquito netting would be nice too.

Machka 

Not in our immediate area, but ... Scotland has an interesting free/wild camping policy:

Wild camping - Scotland | VisitScotland

Also have a read over the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Scottish Outdoor Access Code | VisitScotland
Scottish Outdoor Access Code



I think there are some other countries with similar policies ... I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who can give some examples.

cooker

So we can camp for free by Walmart!

I'm visiting the Sault this week but have a sore knee, so I didn't sign for the triathlon - how about you?

StephenH

Up in Colorado, you can camp in a lot of the National Forests and BLM lands if you care to- should be information and rules online.

Here in the Dallas area, the only thing that comes to mind is up by Decatur, there are camping areas in the National Grasslands. It's been a good while since I was up there, though. I'm thinking the roads are gravel, and the camping areas commonly used for car-camping, so not so ideal for cycling tourists.

There are a lot of "National Grassland" areas that are actually leased out, so you go by, and there's a pasture with cows and a barbwire fence around it. So the "National Grasslands" aren't operated like the "National Forests".

Walter S

There are two places close to me where you can camp for free openly. https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/96...lain-site.html