A little situation....
 

I am planning a four day RT tour at the beginning of July since I have a few days off but this is at the beginning of July from the 3rd to the 6th. The situation is that the place I want to go is a very high populated area for tourists, which I do not mind but camping is going to be tough. I called campgrounds and due to the nature of the tourist area, the fees are high, around $50 for one night in a primitive tent area. Thats seems a bit high for me. I have contacted folks in the area from Warm Showers and waiting for their response. My next option is to stealth camp but a bit of me is nervous about this because it is high peak season for tourists. I do not want to pay the $50 plus at a camp ground either. The reason I am going there is because I've always wanted to tour to the coast from my front door and I have a friend who runs a restaurant there that I would like to visit (which I might be able to camp behind their place... we will see).

Seems like my options are grim.

With the number of places you could feasibly 'stealth' camp at almost anywhere, including in the heart of business district...I'm not sure what you should be worried about. Don't try to setup camp until after dark. Search out the location beforehand and make sure to look for cameras that could spot you and get you visited by the police. Otherwise setup after dark and enjoy the night stealth camped out right in the middle of town. Learn to look for places where people won't see you going in. If no one sees you as you go in you don't have much to worry about anyone finding you and reporting you. I never had any trouble last year camping out behind Wal-Mart, beside Lowe's, in cemeteries, between McDonalds and Wal-Mart(both within 200 yards of my campsite), behind truck stops, in ball parks, etc. Look for places that aren't all that visible to the bulk majority of people and where people more often than not wouldn't go and you have found a good campsite. You will need a tent that doesn't have to be staked down. Start your search for campsites before dark or even before you leave home...use Google Earth. Find spots where their isn't any houses right around where you have to go to get access to the campsite...again if no one sees you go in the chances are great you won't be chased off after you go to bed.

4th of july weekend = busy roads = not the optimal time to tour. i totally get it that this is when you have time off, but be careful, lots of drunk driving & too many cars, can be not that fun if not downright dangerous.

Why not pick a area where you know there will be plenty of free safe camping? You are not all that far from the C&O and GAP. Plenty of free free or iexpensive camping along the way and you don't need to worry about holiday traffic. The Erie Canal Trail is not far away either. Not sure about the camping there.

Of course this might require a change of your travel plans.




Stealth camping in populated areas is foolish advice IMHO. Just because others get away with it does not mean you will. You could be arrested, robbed or worse. Just not worth the risk..

If you really want to do your R/T tour from your home on the cheap, then it sounds like warmshowers is going to be your best bet. You also have couchsurfing, but it is a much more social, you mght be expected to do your homework on your host's profile.

Sounds like a good time to stay home. I've noticed local riding during holidays is kinda nice since a small fraction of people leave town for beaches and $200/night lodging.

I try to go to popular destinations in low season, as much to save money as to avoid crowds. For me, nothing ruins a National Park experience as much as the hordes of people jamming into them carrying every damn thing you're trying to leave behind.

Not sure if I'm missing something in your post but depending on just where you're going you may be able to do primitive camping without worrying about attention from the law. IIRC the law in PA state forests is that primitive camping without a permit is allowed as long as you only stay one night in any spot (I don't recall the rules specifying how far you have to move to count as a "different spot", so I guess in theory you could break camp and then make camp again the following evening but with your tent moved a couple of feet), if the rules in NJ are similar you might be able to find a place a little off the beaten tracks where you can camp easily enough away from all the tourists.

Haven't done it myself but this sounds like a brilliant idea.

Are you're talking about riding through NJ to the coast? If so, I recall much of NJ being decidedly rural. Seems that wild/stealth camping oughta be easily doable outside urban areas on your way to and from the coast. OTOH, as this is a short holiday ride, $50 for piece of mind might not be a bad investment. Maybe WS will come through for you.

bikenh's post really is spot on for cities. With scouting, definantly doable, but for most, a last resort. I once lucked up on an out-of- business restuarant with an enclosed, privacy fenced patio, gate unlocked. Good night for Cyclebum. Never done a Wal Mart, but might happen one day.

I'll layout my different campsite for my trip last year.

1st night: AT trailhead 5 miles east of Bennington, VT. I camped out right beside the privy under part of the overhang. It did, and was suppose to rain overnight.

2nd night: A strange location. Right beside US20 in NY. I'm not sure who owned the property as it was a pulloff not really a driveway. It had limbs and tree stumps around the area the top of the pulloff. When I looked at it later on Google Earth there wasn't any house within at least 1/2 mile of the pulloff. It was in farm country but the place looked very strange. I still wander if it might be state owned land.

3rd night: Behind a church. Didn't ask as there was no one around.

4th night: Behind a truck stop.

5th night: At the entrance to a gravel pit. This happened to be a Saturday night so I knew I didn't have to worry about anyone coming in early in the morning and seeing me. Turns out I missed the No Trespassing sign as I went in. I saw the sign as I walked out in the morning.

All of these sites were within easy earshot of the highway. I was generally only 50-100 feet max off the highway where I camped each night for the first leg of the trip.

After spending a week at my mom's place I continued on west and headed off for St. Louis. This is when things started to change and my idea of potential campsites really started to change.

6th night: Across the street from Wal-Mart in Logansport, IN. As I got into town I started looking for spots. I saw a vacant shopping store and decided to check out behind it. Turned out not usable due to rental/condo area right behind that. Didn't like the feel of it. Toward the far end of the parking lot was a storage unit facility. I rode down there and continued looking. It was getting late. Nothing. I saw a path that led into the trees. I walked back the path and it came out into what appeared to a auto dealers parking lot. When looking at the entrances the next morning I saw it was part of the auto dealers lot. It had several vehicles sitting in the parking lot and one of them happened to be a Budget rental truck sitting right by the overhead light. I saw it and loved it instantly. It was remote enough I decided I to give it a shot. When I woke up in the AM and went to head out to find food for the day I found I was right across the street from Wal-Mart.

7th night: Chickened out thanks to getting into town after dark and drenching wet...I went for the hotel room.

8th night: Questioned how far I would make before running out of daylight and I saw I should be able to make into Auburn, IL. I did and their was a ballpark on the east side of town I saw on Google Earth(GE) that looked like it should be a nice spot. I got there and found it better than I expected. Probably the second best night of the trip.

9th night: Saw a few potential sights on GE but when trying to find them in person everything was running dry. Nothing I really liked the look of in person. I hopped back online after getting into town and saw potential cemetery. I waited until after dark and as I pulled up by the cemetery I had the clean/no traffic coming down the road and no signs saying the cemetery was closed after dark...I went in and spent the night.

10th night: The most interesting/balsy I would have to say of the entire trip. Got into town late, not much before sunset. I saw a couple of vacant buildings that I was thinking of investigating further after it got dark. I went into McDonalds, right beside the interstate and grabbed supper. I couldn't get online so I was pretty much winging it. As I walked out of the McDonalds I was ready to collapse right where I was. I wasn't looking forward to finding a campsite. I had ridden my second 130+ mile day in a row. I looked and saw the semis parked behind the McDonalds and 'beside' as well. It was pretty obvious this was a bit of a truck stop. Like I said the on ramp for the interstate was 100 feet behind the end of the McDonalds parking lot. There was at least on hotel right in the same group of buildings. I looked and saw right behind the gas station was a spot about 4-5 feet wide. 200 yards behind it was a Wal-Mart. The two spots were separated by a corn field. I looked at it and I knew I was crazy. I took it and spent the night there.

11th night: Another trailhead I had seen a few days in advanced on GE.

After another week or so off at my moms place I headed on home.

12th night: Best night of the trip. I found online a nice city park, less than an hours ride from downtown Columbus, OH. I didn't realize the spot was going to end up being as nice as it was. It wasn't far from the US40. I missed the main turn in off the highway so I instead ended up getting in at the bike trail crossing down a side road with the same name as the park.

13th night: I wasn't carrying the best camping equipment and I knew it wouldn't be comfortable much below 50 degrees. The forecast was calling for mid 40s. I bailed and went for a hotel room so I wouldn't have to worry about the crummy equipment.

14th night: As I pulled into town I searched up and down business row. I found the local Wal-Mart had box cars sitting behind the building that were used for extra/overflow storage. Their wasn't much room there on the opposite side of the guardrail but it was enough thanks to having a free standing tent that I could set up camp right behind the box cars. Like had become the norm, I waited until after dark and snuck in and I knew if they wanted to complain I could complain as well. They let people camp out in the parking lot with RVs so why can't I sleep in their parking lot as well.

15th night: Goofed getting into town. I missed my plan turn and had to head back out to the business district using an alternate route. I saw the Lowe's store way up on a hill. I like the look of it. I was still going to try to find my original spot which I never did find. GE made it look like their a was road behind the Wal-Mart that went up to potentially a water tower. It looked like that at least. The entrance to the road looked quite nice. I never did find the road. Instead I went back and camped out up on the hill behind one of the delivery trucks at Lowe's. There was some town owned property up on the hill as well that had a water tower on it. It wasn't the same spot as I wasn't looking at originally though. One of the workers/drivers tried briefly to make some noise in the morning to get me to 'stir' but I didn't.

16th night: Definitely not the intended location by a WIDE margin. Got into town. Looking on GE I saw a nice ball park on the east side of town. I was planning for it. As I finishing off an email it hit me. I had the hot flash followed by the cold sweat. I knew I was in trouble. It was after 10PM already. I knew I was screwed. I didn't know how long it was going to be but I knew I was coming down the stomach flu. As I had initially arrived in town I stopped by the Sheetz gas station just two doors down from McDonalds. I grabbed a sub in there and ate it before heading off to McDonalds to get online. At the same time I saw what looked like a potential campsite right beside the gas station, on the gas station property. I also semi liked the looks of the property right behind the auto service shop between Sheetz and McDonalds. When the stomach flu hit I knew I wanted, for safety sake, to be around someplace that was open 24 hours...the Sheetz gas station. I finally said the heck with and didn't care if I got visited by the police. I knew if stayed at the gas station I would more than likely get paid a visit. I was going to be camping out right beside the back/side door to the gas station. Anytime an employee came out I was nailed. It took until 4AM before I heard the door open and 15 minutes later I saw the headlights and knew it was the cops. They had me move over to the auto service shop lot and didn't say anything more. This was a college town. I did get bothered by some of the college kids. It was a Thursday evening. I didn't know about Thursday evening/college towns until this experience.

17th night: Rode 24 miles into the next bigger town and spent the night in a hotel. Finally kept supper down this night. Hadn't kept anything down until supper.

18th night: Was thinking of going for a motel after riding 146 miles for the day. First one didn't take money after 9PM and the second one was smoking only and $80+. I said the heck with and I had seen Salvation Army had a big facility in town. I figured they would let me camp out on their property. This was a small housing unit property, the SA store was closer in toward town. I got there and walked inside and asked if I could camp out beside one of the buildings. They said NO. I walked out starting to question what my next move might be as it was after 10PM. A guy followed me out the door and yelled at me and I turned around and he ended up telling me right beside the SA housing unit was a walking path with a stream running beside it. He said if I didn't set up my tent I should be able to get away with spending the night there. I walked down and took a look. I walked back toward the trees up against the SA property and set up the tent and spent the night. I knew by setting up camp where I did it would make it even less likely that I would be spotted.

19th night: Another cold night forecasted so I bailed for a motel room again.

20th and final night: After not following my planned route for the day, missed a turn that turned into missing quite a few other turns, I ended up back in Bennington, VT. I was going to grab a motel room for the final night but they wouldn't take a check. I left and headed back into town. I wasn't going to ride out to the trailhead. Instead I ended up finding what looked like a potential spot just down the road from McDonalds in town. It was right beside one of the shopping strips. I rode down there and found wetlands. Nope. I looked a little more and saw some dumpsters sitting right up next to the back door of the Shermin-Williams store. I knew I was going to be up and on the rode VERY early in the AM. I was trying to outrun the incoming rain. Other than night 7 it had been dry the entire trip. I wasn't worried about any employee catching me as I was going to be on the road before 6AM. I camped out 4-5 feet from the backdoor of the Shermin-Williams.

There are many places where you can crash for the night if you are willing to look around. Go with your gut feeling of worth or not the place feels safe. In major metropolitan areas I probably wouldn't try camping out in town. In smaller, under 10,000 population I probably would without batting an eye at it. The smaller the town the more likely I would do it. Learn to look for places and you will find them. If you never seek you'll never find.

I've only had to do this a couple times at full campgrounds, but almost any nice couple in an RV will share their site with you. I offered to split the campsite fee, but they wouldn't hear of it. I'm not very scary-looking, though.

There's no hiker-biker site programs in your area, I guess. It's really nice to have it available here in SoCal. This past Memorial Day weekend, climbed 4000 feet up into the Cuyamaca range east of San Diego and spent one night at Green Valley Falls (4000', 25 F low!!!!), then north 16 miles to Julian for the day, and back S 11 mi to Paso Picacho (5000', windy, 50 F low) The car campsites are reserved many months in advance, but hiker-bikers can stay overnight in the picnic area for $5 at both campgrounds. There's room for a hundred tents, but the ranger said she thinks I'm the only cyclist that ever takes advantage of the deal.

Maybe your local cycling organizations should agitate for the same type of program in state parks; it's great not to worry about a campsite, just about getting up those dang hills.

Yeah if this is the Jersey shore then the cops are ball busters and not lenient.

I would probably try it but I would research sites carefully on GE and street view. Can you use your friend to suggest spots or scout a little for you?

Interesting stuff bikenh. I was 'rousted' at a church once by deputized Texas fire ants that I stepped into with bare feet while taking care of some business. Checked out a cemetary in a medium size town, but ended up on an adjacent snowmobile trail, well hidden. Nothing like wild/stealth camping. Kinda like a treasure hunt.

Was recently thru Bennington on ride from Rochester to Portsmouth. Had 4 rainy days, most of any of my many tours.

Oops. I was thinking of fire ants down south, Florida and that area not around your area Cyclebum. Guess I better watch out this summer when I'm down that way. Yikes.

Do you want to deal with the problems associated with stealth camping in a heavily populated area? No fire/stove, no lights on after dark, spending the entire night worried that someone is going to roust you, etc? If camping fees are as high as you say, you might have better luck (and a better night's sleep) riding into a campground in the evening and trying to find someone who would share a campsite with you if you offer to split the fee. Telling them you're a professional chef and offering to cook dinner might also help :D

If you say so. Personally I think you'll find street punks, homeless people, drug addicts, dealers and graffiti artists share about that same objective when looking for discrete places to meet or bed down or do their thing. I'd rather put out the cash for someplace actually secure myself. Four legged critters might steal your food - two legged trash'll steal anything and everything.

Exactly. While the plan might be somewhat safe in a rural town, you are just asking for trouble in a larger city. Frankly, I would not get any sleep at all worrying if I were to be robbed or worse. And what would you do with your bike? So what if you heard someone taking it. So you are going to confront them in the middle of the night not knowing if they are armed or if their buddies are around? Maybe stash it somewhere? If you are smart enough to find a good hiding place then there is always someone else that is smart enough to find it to.


I say if you can't afford a secure place to stay for the night then think of somewhere else to stay other than a city.

I inquired about hiker / biker policy at a WV State Park. The attendant told me WV does not have one (or so he said). I said so you just turn people away? He said well, just be here after I am gone and before I get here in the morning and their won't be a problem. So I would imagine other campsites have such unwritten polices too.