How To Road Trip And Camp For Free In The West

Are you planning on taking a road trip out West this summer and camping out of your car? Just to be clear here, I’m specifically talking about a road trip out West, during which you’ll be primarily practicing dispersed camping. That’s mostly primitive camping on free public campsites with little or no facilities, primarily available in the Western United States.

Do you want to know how to plan and prepare for this type of trip? How to do it on the cheap? To date, I’ve been on two long Western road trips, primarily to Idaho. The first trip lasted about a month and half. The second about two and half months. Thus, I have some experience in executing a successful Western road trip. So, having established this, let’s get you started on the right path to preparing for your Western adventure. Cause I’m going to share with you the most important tips and tricks I learned about planning, preparing, and completing a successful road trip of West.

Rewards Credit Card

The first thing that I’d recommend doing prior to embarking on a Western road trip is to get yourself a good rewards credit card. The best ones should have a good introductory bonus for spending a set amount of money in the first two or three months.

For instance, prior to going out West on my second road trip, I applied for and received a certain credit union rewards card that rewarded me with $250 for spending $2500 in the first three months. And since I already knew that I’d spend this money on gear, gas, and food, well it was a no-brainer to get the card. Believe me, you’ll use it. Thus, I got a 10% discount for the bulk of my spending on my second road trip.

Buy an Oil Company Stock

Actually, I did this before my second Western road trip because I suspected that oil prices might spike due to some Middle Eastern tensions. However, I really got killed on this particular stock, as the price of a barrel of oil collapsed shortly after the cerveza sickness began… Thus, I’m still sitting on some losses on at least one of those investments. Just so you know now that I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about.

That said, the price of gas can be very expensive in some small Western towns, and even in ENTIRE states. You might want to check out this map, which shows the average price of gas where you’re headed. But a hedge against gasoline price increases might help you to profit, finance, and enjoy your Western road trip even more. Because I can assure you that gas will be your biggest expense, if you’re doing a lot of driving on your trip and you’re camping for free.

Bring Lots of Music for Your Drive out West

I believe the drive from the Tri-Cities area in Tennessee to the river in Idaho where I like to start my camping and fly fishing adventure is 34 hours. Also, I have an older truck, so you can’t just plug in your favorite music playing device. That’s why I pack lots of classical music CDs, etc. But all I’m saying is to just be prepared for a long monotonous drive across the plains states, during which time you’re going to want some music, audio books, or podcasts playing in the background. However, if you bring your girlfriend or significant other; well then, you better make darn sure that you didn’t forget the tunes.

Fatigue and Driving Don’t Mix

If you feel tired or sleepy on the long drive to your destination, I’d recommend pulling over in a safe place and resting or napping. Particularly, if you’re nodding off. Now I don’t drink much caffeine at all, so I can usually use sodas to keep me alert for the long drive out West. But it also helps to keep the car cool with the AC blasting on your chest. Sun and heat, especially in the afternoons, seem to make me tired. Also, eating light, non-greasy meals helps. I pack most of my meals for the road. Stopping at rest stops, taking care of business, and stretching a bit also helps.

But here is the truth. If you find yourself nodding off at all behind the wheel, the passenger beside you is Death.

And I can tell you that on many a road trip that I’ve had to pull over at a church, park, or rest stop to nap and restore my energy for the road. So don’t hesitate to take a break, if you feel drowsy at all.

Also, I wouldn’t recommend a night of partying at all the night before you’re departing on your trip. If you do that, you won’t be driving very far the next day.

Master Camping Road Trip List

Start preparing a master list of all the gear and food that you’ll need for your road trip. You’re definitely going to need this list. Because, in essence, you’re going to convert your vehicle into a storage space containing everything that you’re going to need to survive and thrive for the next few weeks.

And since you’re primarily going to be car or wilderness camping. This means that you’re going to need to outfit your vehicle with everything that you’ll need from sleeping, waking, eating, cooking, bathing, fishing, hiking, and so on. And if you forget something, remember that it isn’t always going to be so easy to just go to the local Walmart and buy a forgotten spatula or sleeping bag.

In fact, when I was out West both times, I mostly resupplied in small towns, where food and gear was WAY more expensive than the East Tennessee prices that I’m used to. So get that master list of gear, equipment, and food complete and make sure it includes everything you’ll need. More on that later. Also, you’ll need that master camping road trip list, especially if you want to do a second epic road trip.

Pack These Items for Your Road Trip: The Essentials

So what exactly do you need to have a great road trip out West? That’s funny. I can’t tell you because I think my master road trip list is over 20 pages. And it takes me days to pack. Maybe an entire week. No lie. But the way that I go about planning a road trip is this. I think about exactly what I’m going to be doing on my road trip. And throughout each day.

For example, I say I’m going out West. And I’m going to be primarily camping out of my truck, then fly fishing. Hence, I’d need ALL my gear for car camping and fly fishing. Toiletries, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, wool thermals, hat, gloves, camp stove, pots, pans, food, fly fishing rods, reels, extra tippet, fly vest, waders, wading boots, wade staff (Hammers Collapsible Wading Staff), net… Believe me, the list goes on and on. Also, in my case, I have in the past packed for all these additional activities:

1. Tent camping along Forest Service roads and in USFS campgrounds. State parks, BLM lands, etc.
2. Hotel stays (I only do this when absolutely necessary)
3. Electronic gear (smartphone, laptop (Acer Aspire 5 15.6″ FHD 1080P Laptop), camera, watches (Casio Men’s G-Shock), small clock)
4. Toiletries
5. Food preparation: utensils (Totally Bamboo Take Along Reusable Utensil Set), pots, pans, cook stove with lots gas canisters. (I use a Coleman stove, Coleman Fold N Go™ InstaStart™ 2-Burner Propane Stove, Red.)
6. Food supplies
7. Fly fishing gear
8. Rafting gear (I actually ended up using my inflatable drift boat on both trips out West. Glad I brought it!)
9. Hiking gear
10. Backpacking gear (In case I want to do a hike-in at a trailhead.)
11. Swim trunks, quick dry towel, lightweight robe (U2SKIIN Mens Cotton Lightweight Bathrobe), etc. (There’s lots of free natural hot springs in Idaho. Some in Colorado, too.)
12. Binoculars (These come in particularly handy if you’re visiting Yellowstone and the wolves and bears are fighting it out over a bison carcass.)
13. Mosquito repellent (The mosquitos are so big in Montana that they could drain a moose’s blood and carry off small children.)
14. Bear spray (Use only in emergency, just in case the DEET, mentioned above, doesn’t do the job on them), SABRE Frontiersman 7.9 oz. Bear Spray
15. Lighters
16. Wind shield for your cook stove (It will get windy out West. This saves your time, money, and sanity when cooking.) REDCAMP Folding Outdoor Stove Windscreen
17. Cash, credit cards.
18. Headlamp(s)
19. Raincoat(s), MARMOT Men’s Precip Eco Jacket
20. A nice sleeping pad (Don’t go cheap on this. I bought a super thick one. And it was almost as comfortable as my bed at home. The sleeping pad I own is the Aire Landing Pad.) I also use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress for my backpacking trips.
21. Food seasonings
22. Food bag clips
23. Paper towels (You can never have enough.)
24. Zip locks bags of various sizes (Can’t have enough.)
25. Whiskey (Just for barter with the mountain men.)
26. Whiskey flask(s), SILVERANT Titanium Ultralight 248ml/8.38 fl oz Hip Flask with Screw Cap
27. Locks and security cables

A couple more items that I’ll throw in there as essentials for a successful car camping road trip out West, particularly if you’re headed into wilderness areas are:

3-4 man base camp tent (link provided below)
ultralight tent for backpacking,
   Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL
Kelty Coyote 60-105 Liter (expedition) Backpack
Osprey Ultralight Collapsible Stuff Pack (ultralight daypack)
Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Compact Camping Chair(s)
Trekology Portable Camping Side Tables
hammock and hammock straps (links provided below)
7 Gallon Rigid Water Container (filled with spring water)
gas can, filled with gas (You never know when you’ll need it.),
   Mr. Gasket 36950G Utility Jug
multi-day cooler (links provided below)
lightweight hat (Keeps the sun off you)
Costa Del Mar Men’s Harpoon Oval Sunglasses
down or synthetic jacket, I use the Men’s Patagonia Nano Puff
and a similar version to this jacket,
   Columbia Men’s Powder Lite Jacket
synthetic underwear,
   New Balance Men’s 3″ No Fly Boxer Brief with Built in Pouch Support, No Fly Boxer Trunks (3-Pack of Trunk Briefs)
merino wool long johns,
   Smartwool Merino 250 Baselayer Crew – Men’s
   Smartwool Merino 150 Baselayer Bottom – Men’s
2 to 4 pairs of quick dry pants (More are better)
2 to 3 pairs of quick dry shorts
3 to 4 pairs of quick dry short-sleeve shirts,
   Columbia Men’s Thistletown Park Crew
4 to 5 quick dry long-sleeve shirts,
   Simms Stone Cold Shirt, UPF 30 Quick Dry Long Sleeve
Chaco Men’s Z1 Classic Sandal
Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoes
Darn Tough Boot Cushion Socks – Men’s

warm clothes, wool socks (Smartwool Classic Hike Extra Cushion Crew Sock), fleece pants and fleece pullover, hat, neck warmer (BUFF Adult Lightweight Merino Wool), gloves
camping pillow, Klymit Drift Camping Pillow – Large
at least a 25-degree sleeping bag (Chilly nights and the arrival of Fall will prematurely end your road trip before anything else. Cold nights will make you miserable quick. In fact, I was using 2 sleeping bags and all my warm sleeping clothes toward the end of my second road trip.)

camping shower (Set it out in the sun in the heat of the afternoon, filled with water. Then you can shower after the water warms.)
sun shade (Why? Cause sometimes you’ve gotta take whatever campsite is available and if you’re baking in the sun all afternoon, that’s no fun.) Incidentally, you will need some 8′ to 10′ poles to go with this. I bought mine from Cabela’s.
mouse traps (more on that later)
portable camp toilet (Better have it with you. Yes, in some places, you’ll get fined without it.)
Ultralight Backpacking Trowel, 0.48 oz (13.5g) Orange (same as above)

Your biggest money saver on any Western road trip is to use FREE campsites.

So before you leave you should download a few apps that can show you where to find free campsites. So, for example, go to your apps store and type in “free camping apps”.
Now, I’ve heard that some people like the following apps:
Campendium
The Dryt (But only the pro version shows the free sites, I believe.)
Freecampsites

But sometimes, the best way to find free campsites is to just drive around on the gravel Forest Service roads and check out the terrain. This works particularly well in the vicinity of fee-based Forest Service camping areas. At other times, I’d just ask a local or fellow fisherman where I might find some free camping.

Meanwhile, lots of experienced RVers and road trippers also swear by using the satellite feature of google maps. That’s AFTER they’ve located a potential camping area in a National Forest. Incidentally, when you want to camp for free. You can usually do it in EXISTING campsites in the following areas:
National Forests
BLM lands
National Grasslands

In fact, my understanding is that ALL of the above areas are open to primitive dispersed camping unless it’s posted otherwise. And I almost always use EXISTING campsites. Can’t think of a time I didn’t.

And then, of course, you will pack out everything you packed in. Leaving whatever FREE campsite you used in better shape than when you got there in the first place.

You should also be aware that there is a time limit to your stay, which is typically two to three weeks. But by that time, especially since you’re on a road trip exploring the great American West, you’ll surely want to pack up and find a better camping spot anyway.

More Advice on Finding Free Camping

Sometimes you can also camp for free in these areas:
WMA areas (Wildlife Management Areas)
City Parks (Yes, there are a few small towns with city parks that allow road trippers to camp, usually only for one to three nights. I have personally camped in a few of them.)
Remote trailheads in National Forests.

Buy a High Quality Multi-day Cooler

Another big money saver for me on my second Western road trip was a multi-day cooler. Why? Ice runs out fast with any other kind of cooler. And when your campsite is a 50-mile drive to the closest town, well then, you’re going to be driving a long way for ice. In my case, I bought a 35 QT Canyon Cooler prior to my road trip, which fits in my truck better than the Yeti, due to its block-shape design. That said, a lot of people like the Yeti, as well. No, your Coleman Xtreme probably isn’t going to cut it.

Making Your Ice Last in Your Cooler

Also, store your cooler at your campsite in the shade of trees and under blankets and towels. It’d better be a bear-proof cooler as well. And if you’re lucky enough to have a spring close by, well, you know where to put that cooler as well.

Of course, you could just plan to camp with ALL non-refrigerated items, as well. That way, you’d skip the volume, cost, and HASSLE of a cooler. But this works best for wilderness camping trips, in which you’re actually backpacking into a roadless area to spend a few nights.

Make sure you come equipped with your guidebooks and maps.

You’ll definitely need those. Don’t think you won’t. Because guess what? You’re not always going to have internet signal in a lot of the wilderness areas out West. Thus, you’ll have to rely on a map or guidebook to take you to and from your destination. And anyway, there’s nothing better than lying on your hammock after lunch or dinner. And studying a guidebook or map, as you try to figure out your next camping and fly fishing destination. The only thing better than that is staring up at those stars at night, while you drift off to sleep.

Incidentally, there are lots of free natural hot springs, particularly in Idaho. So it wouldn’t hurt you to buy a guidebook showing you the locations of them. There are some in Colorado, as well.

Make sure your car or truck is in tip-top condition before you leave. Or stay at home.

I’m serious here. And just so you know, on both of my Western road trips, I ended up having to take maintenance breaks to fix my truck. The first time was to replace my front brakes, which I already knew were a bit worn before I left. But the second time was to replace a battery in my truck, which unfortunately died in Yellowstone National Park. Despite the fact that I’d tested this battery twice prior to leaving. Also stunk that they couldn’t tell me exactly what the problem was with my truck when I got to the service station in Yellowstone. Computer readout said the battery was just fine.

So I figured that I’d better leave and drive all the way to Idaho Falls, where a start
specialist promptly told me that I only needed a new battery for $100.00. Great guy. But it kind of hurt to leave Yellowstone so prematurely after only spending three days there. And yes, Yellowstone was AWESOME. Indeed, I saw huge herds of Buffalo, elk, geysers, and waterfalls, galore.

Always fill your gas tank up to full before you drive into a wilderness area. Always.

Does anyone really need to ask why? I think you already know the answer. Especially, when your destination campsite is an hour and half away from the nearest gas station. And guess what else? It brings peace of mind if you have the extra gas canister as well.

Be respectful and particularly nice to the locals.

Why? Common courtesy. AND cause you’re going to NEED THEIR ADVICE. And yes, I can’t tell you how many times the locals gave me great advice as to where to camp, fish, or hike. Or how to find the secret hot springs. Or where the closest groceries were. The cheapest gas. You get the point.

You’re also vacationing in their state. So I believe if you treat people with respect, it’s usually returned. But it often has to be earned. Heck, some kind locals even gave me free beers and invited me to dinner at their campsites. And this is no lie.

The kindness, courtesy, help, and advice that I received from the Idahoan locals truly inspired me. I’m grateful for all their friendliness and help I had along the way.

And only once did one single Idahoan local steer me wrong, sending me on a wild goose chase to a stinking, smelly campsite. But he was just trying to protect his fishing honey hole. Can you blame him, though? Anyway, I ended up catching a couple nice ones where he sent me. So when I caught up with him again the next day, I was quick to show him all the photos of the big Cutts I’d caught. He was so remorseful that he even told me the way to his special fishing hole. And this time, his advice was sincere. Man, it was a nice spot. One that he made me promise not to write about.

Hammock and Hammock Straps

The reason you want to bring a Kammok and Kammok Straps is that driving to, finding, and setting up a camp can be tiring. And sometimes, the sun and dust out West will beat you down after a day of fishing or hiking. So by late afternoon, you’re going to want a nice place to relax around camp, and not have to feel like you’re all cooped up in your tent.

Buy a tent with a rain fly you can roll back.

There is a very good reason for this. So you want to be able to fall asleep while you’re watching the stars at night. Out West, the stars can be insanely bright and inspiring, given the higher elevations and drier air. Believe me, when you’re lying snug and comfy, staring up at a meteor shower, you’re gonna be so glad you bought the tent with the rain fly and net mesh ceiling. And personally, I like using a Big Agnes tent (3-4 person) and footprint.

Making Reservations

If you’re planning to stay at one of the more popular state or national parks during peak season, you’d better make your reservations for your campsite WAY ahead of time. Like 3 to 6 months ahead of time.

Wildlife Encounters

So throughout my life, I’ve had lots of wildlife encounters. Been charged by bears. Stepped over and even on two poisonous snakes. Had a large moose or elk grazing around me in my sleeping bag late at night, while I was cowboy camping. Had a bobcat just outside my tent scream at me in the middle of the night. Been bitten by poisonous spiders, bees, and yellow jackets. Even harassed by beavers.

But of all the wildlife encounters I’ve had, I think the mice in Idaho are the worst.

They are everywhere. A plague. A pestilence. Don’t think your food in the back of your truck is safe from them. It’s not. Your food NEEDS to be in your bear-proof cooler or stored inside the body of your vehicle. Not the bed, even if you have a cap. Otherwise, MICE WILL GET IT.

Leave the Hood Propped Up on Your Vehicle

Not only that, but mice also just love nesting all around the engine of your truck. So before you start your truck, you’ll hear them gnawing at the electrical wires. Then, you’ll pop the hood and mice will scurry off into the cracks and crevices on your engine block where you can’t bash them. So it’s best to leave the hood open on your vehicle, mainly at night. They seem to prefer the safety of a vehicle with a closed hood. Then, you might get lucky and not get a mouse infestation underneath the hood of your truck.

Also, out West I’ve had both marmots and chipmunks attempt to raid my food stocks behind my back. Both are of the same ilk. Incredibly clever, sneaky. Full of deceit, craftiness. So just be prepared, at times, for an all out war with these varmints. But chipmunks are the worst.

Dust Everywhere

That’s another thing. If you’re from the East, you’re not going to be ready for the dust of the West. But it’s pervasive and ubiquitous. I even went so far as to buy a tailgate seal kit for my second Western road trip. Yes, it did keep some of the dust out of the cap and bed of my truck. But no, if you’re in the wake of a logging truck as you head up the mountain pass, well, you can’t keep going. Impossible. So you’ll just have to pull over and wait awhile. Unless you get really lucky and can safely rocket past the logging truck.

Changing Camps

I’d typically pack up and leave my campsites on Sundays through Wednesdays. That way, it would usually be easier for me to find the choice campsites where I was headed. Under no circumstances would I ever expect to come waltzing into a popular camping area on a crowded holiday weekend and expect to find a good campsite. In fact, I hunkered down where ever I was during the busy Fourth of July and Labor day weekends. Same went for the total eclipse, which was awesome, by the way.

Get Organized!

So your vehicle is going to be chock full of gear, clothes, and food on a long road trip. And if you think for one minute that you’ll be able to live haphazardly out of your truck during your sojourn you’re sadly mistaken. So get that gear organized into boxes or bags.

Now some guys are box guys. While others, like myself, are decidedly bag guys. But whatever your system is for organizing all your stuff, you’ll need to be strict about keeping up with it. So for me, for example, I have a kitchen bag that contains all my pots, pans, cups, plates, and utensils. While, another bag contains my Coleman stove, gas canisters, charcoal, lighter, etc. While, still another bag will contain my base camp tent and sunshade, hatchet. Thus, I can always find anything I need, in theory, by searching the appropriate bag. I prefer bags over boxes because, well, bags store better in my opinion. However, to each his own.

And still, one more additional tip I have, concerning organization, is to buy a couple doormats prior to embarking on your trip. I think I have three in my truck. One for the opening of my tent. And two others, which I’ll pull out of my truck when I’m about to prepare a meal. That way, when I set my food and kitchen bags down, well they won’t get so dirty. So I often cook on the open tailgate of my truck. That’s why the bags have to go on the ground. And no, there’s usually not enough room on my camp tables, as that’s where I also prepare the food I’m about to cook.

The Best of Times; The Worst of Times

Going on a long road trip out West is an unforgettable experience. I’ve been on dozens and dozens of road trips over the course of my life. But only two major epic Western road trips. And I’ll never forget those two trips. I can’t even tell you how many times on my drive out West that first time that I just stopped the truck and stared at the scenery, scarcely believing my eyes.

Truly, my experiences out West were mind blowing. Jaw-dropping. It’s really hard to convey what you’ll see. And how you’ll feel. I’ll just say that my Western road trips were among the most liberating and inspiring experiences of my life.

Not only that, but you get to meet so many amazing people from all around the country. And for me, of course, I got the added bonus of fly fishing some of the greatest rivers and streams in the country, like Henrys Fork, the St. Joe River, The Big Lost, the South Fork of the Snake, Selway, Clearwater, Kelly Creek, Middle Fork of the Salmon, and so on. And finally, I just love that I can find so many natural and free hot springs out West, particularly in Idaho.

However, the downside of a Western road trip is that almost anything that you normally do in the course of your life is often more difficult when you’re living out of your truck. For instance, preparing and cooking a meal is harder than cooking at home. Resupplying and buying new groceries can take up to 5 or 6 hours, or more.

You’re often paying a lot more for your food and groceries, as you’re shopping in small stores in small towns. The same goes for gas. Showering and shaving are often more work. Your pants get so dusty and dirty that they get stiff. Sure you can stop and do laundry, but that takes time and you don’t always have it when you’re traveling toward your next campsite. So bring lots of quick dry pants.

And then there’s this other aspect, when you’re far from home. You get stuck with whatever nature throws at you. On my first trip out West, there was smoke from forest fires for a week that blackened the sky and burned my lungs and eyes. I even checked into a hotel and studied the internet, trying to figure a way out of it. But alas, the smoke was almost everywhere and only a 12 to 14-hour drive would’ve gotten me to clear skies.

Meanwhile, on my second trip out West, I ended up dealing with a lot of mosquitos and much colder temperatures than average for Idaho summers. Sure, it was relatively warm in the afternoons, quite possibly getting up into the high 70s. But nights and mornings were cold. Not really a big deal, as long as you have warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. I did.

But still, the cold temperatures can slow down most people in the mornings. And you’re more inclined to cook something like eggs and hash browns instead of just eating cold cereal and heading out to fish in the early morning hours. And, for that matter, it does make showering more difficult as you need a sunny day with warm temperatures to spray down in an open area.

So I do admit that over time that a road trip can wear you out. In Idaho, I’d find and sometimes pay to visit certain natural hot springs. And that would always completely rejuvenate me. Still, I’ve talked with other guys, who’ve done long road trips, and they all agreed that you can get weary on a long road trip. Moreover, you can start to feel a bit lost and out of place to say the least, as I’ve written about here. So I’m not sure what’s the ideal amount of time to spend on the road, but you’ll know when it’s eventually time to go home…

And then, one day, when you wake up in the comfort and warmth of your home, you’ll find yourself dreaming about the smell of those pines as you descend into a pristine river valley in Idaho. Or the sight of those crystal clear trout streams of Northern Idaho or Southern Colorado. Or even the anxious wonder you felt in the stark and terrifying emptiness of the Southern Utah desert.

And then, you’ll inexorably start to plan out your next epic road trip to the West. And before you know it, you’ll be on the road and headed for another unforgettable adventure of a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Time to get planning, packing, and preparing for your next road trip out West.

Subscribe:

Thank you for reading my post about How To Road Trip And Camp For Free In The West. If you’ve enjoyed reading this, please subscribe so that I can send you notices about my future posts. Subscribing is FREE and I don’t spam or share your email. Also, please share this post with your friends, family members, and co-workers on the usual social networks. This will help support this blog and grow my audience.

By the way, many thanks to Drew LooknFishy for helping to inspire me to complete this post.

Disclaimer:

Please note, as well, that this post contains affiliate links, meaning, I recommended products and services I’ve used or know well and I may receive a commission if you purchase them too (at no additional cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Gary Alan

After a long career in the publishing industry, Gary Alan left his corporate job to pursue his next adventures in life as a blogger, writer, investor, fly fisherman, hiker, and traveler. He is the author of the adventure fiction book, 'Big Thunder-Hearted River'.