Homeless diaries — Car camping
Are you an ungrateful son of a bitch like me? Read along…
I have a home, I have good friends, I have a car, I have a job, I get paid well enough, I have my sanity (still) and for some reason, instead of appreciating what I have, I sometimes wished I lived like a nomadic Bedouin. People might think that makes me ungrateful for what I have, but allow me to explain. There is something in our blood that pushes us to never settle, to prepare for the worst, to test our limits, to be uncomfortable. Comfort zone is like a drug. It can be pleasurable in the beginning, but can kill us within if left unchecked.
This is where my journey to dip my toes in the nomadic life begins. Allow me to introduce what I learned about sleeping in my car, driving around the public lands of the United States! By the end of this article, I hope you can set aside any mental barriers regarding nomadic life and would at the very least, give it a shot once!
Enough of motivation, let’s dive into what I have learned so far, some common concerns that exist around such a lifestyle and how I plan to take it a notch higher in the future.
What you need to plan for?
Sleep
In the United States, it is illegal or fairly unsafe or both to park your car overnight at many places. Not respecting either of these factors can mess up mental peace. So, finding something that is safe and legal is the goal. I will list a few legal options and comment on safety and a few other factors.
Rest Areas: These are typically places next to a freeway/highway where you are allowed to park your cars overnight and sleep. These tend to be pretty safe because there are a lot of people around. These places typically are next to a freeway, so do not expect absolute silence and darkness, but with some minimal preparation, these can be overcome. They usually have a pretty clean bathrooms, but I have never seen showers in these rest stops.
National Forest: Unless stated otherwise, national forests let people camp anywhere (roadside to deep in the woods). Imagine starry nights and absolute silence! But, expect nothing here. National forests, unlike National Parks are kinda a different deal, I guess? Want to pee? Pee by a tree. Wanna shower? Find a damn creek! Ran out of food? You better know how to hunt or forage. Want internet? Fuck you! On the bright side, these are some of the most silent, pristine places to chill out if you prepare well. Be sure to keep it that way by leaving no trace when camping out here. (We will talk more about preparation and gear soon).
Campgrounds: If you have some money to spare, a paid campground is a good mix between the facilities of a rest stop and the beauty of a natural area. These usually tend to be around 10–20$/night of stay and that might quickly add up if you are on a tight budget. But on the bright side, you deserve a shower once in a while!
Other free options: Walmart, casinos parking lots.
More detailed information on car camping can be found here.
Food and Water
Based on how close you are to civilization, be prepared with enough food along with some surplus just in case. I usually carry a backpacking stove set and some dehydrated foods as a backup. And, in the day time, I visit a grocery store to stock up on some fruits, snacks and packed meals for the night. Learning what to forage in the time and place can come in handy if you need some extra calories. But, you won’t die if you starve a night, so fret not!
Carry at least 2 liters of water for drinking and a liter or two extra in case you want to do some heavy cooking.
Safety
While you are living a little on the edge while doing this, be sure to know your limits when it comes to safety. I always carry a bear spray when I am venturing in natural areas. Although Homo Sapiens are generally tame, they occasionally can be erratic too. So, I keep a taser next to me when I sleep. But, I hope life is kind enough to you that you never need to use these.
Gear list
Here is a list of things I usually carry. In this list, I skip mentioning common stuff and only list some items I tend to forget. This list may look very similar to a backpacking list, except, you can carry more stuff because you have a car. I put a * on this item if it is only needed when you are in areas with no facilities.
Car stuff: A car (My car has the back seats that can fold down and so I lay my bed on the back). Car windshield shade. Some pillows and a comforter.
Camping stuff: A camp table*. A camp shower*. Camping chair(s). A stove and fuel for cooking (I carry a 16oz fuel canister which could be an overkill). A cookset. Cutlery. Pair of slippers. A camp lantern and a bright headlamp. First-aid kit. Trash bags. Wag bags* (for pooping into these and carrying your poop out! Remember: Leave no trace). Eye-patch. Earplugs (rest areas can get noisy before you wake up). Wilderness wipes. Sleeping bag. Sleeping pad. A tent (if you want to camp outside your car). A bunch of quarters (trust me on this!)
Electronics: A kindle with books loaded. A portable battery pack. Earphones/Headphones. A taser for safety.
Toiletries: Bio-degradable soap, portable toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, any medicines you may need.
Clothing: Rain jacket and rain pants. A rain poncho. Bunch of warm layers. Swim shorts. A hat to protect from UV. Sunglasses. Sunscreen. A couple of towels.
Miscellaneous Info
Want a bath? Find a creek. This is the only place where I do not recommend going with the flow! Love’s truck stops have paid showers. Campgrounds usually have showers for paid campers. Buy a portable shower.
Find a coffee shop with good internet and a quiet environment if you are working the next day. I carry a good noise cancelling headphones/earphones if I am working. My personal choice: Apple AirPods, it’s like they are a part of my body now!
If you are hardcore and want to avoid coffee shops, get a good mobile data plan with hotspot enabled. Check for signal coverage before you commit to a place. I use freeroam.app for this.
What’s next for me?
My favorite pastime these days is to learn all kinds of unconventional ways to live. #vanlife on internet has some great people and resources talking about the ingenious ways they found to live a nomadic lifestyle. With time, I would like to increase the amount of time I live outdoors continuously and would be sure to share what I learn.
