{"id":30779,"date":"2017-08-07T16:46:55","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T16:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/camping-tips\/"},"modified":"2021-06-15T13:36:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T13:36:52","slug":"camping-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/en-gb\/blog\/camping-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"New to Vanlife? Our Top Camping Tips for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Camping options in the United States are as diverse as our own campervans. Read our van camping tips for beginners to make the most of your road trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":30780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11732],"tags":[],"blog_locations":[],"class_list":["post-30779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-resources-en-gb"],"acf":{"title":"","title_color":"dark","add_overlay":[],"content_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

Camping options in the United States are as varied as the paint jobs on our\u00a0campervans<\/a>. Our van camping tips can help you choose from several camping options when you decide to park it for the night. Most RV Parks, National & State Parks, and privately-owned campgrounds are well-documented and available for you to reserve online.\u00a0Reserveamerica.com<\/a>\u00a0is one of the best sources to book these sites in advance. A couple of things to remember for all sites:<\/p>\n

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  1. You don\u2019t need electrical hook-ups while booking a site for your Escape campervan unless you plan on using the heater or any of your own major appliance devices that require power.<\/li>\n
  2. There is always somewhere to stay. Even in the peak periods of the busiest places, you will find a place to stay. The National and State Parks fill up early, but the privately-owned campgrounds surrounding the State Parks seem to always have something available.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":false,"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
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    National & State Park Camping Tips<\/h3>\n

    One thing you\u2019ll find is that the National Parks system in the United States is exceptionally well-run. Both National and State Park campsites provide you with the best real estate in America in your backyard. And they\u2019re pretty cheap considering, typically running you $20-40 a night for a photo-worthy spot. They\u2019re also crowded during the summer months\u2014June through August\u2014so try to book in advance.<\/p>\n

    RV Park Camping Tips<\/h3>\n

    As a throwback to the glory days of post-WWII America, RV Parks are located in and around just about every tourist attraction you\u2019d want to visit. They\u2019re also expensive, seemingly, for what\u2019s available to you upon arrival. With over 500 locations, KOA (Kampgrounds Of America) is by far the largest chain of privately-held parks in the US and Canada. You\u2019ll also most likely be paying that extra coin for electrical and sewage hook-ups that aren\u2019t needed for our campervans. They do have showers, though, which is a bonus.<\/p>\n

    Private Campground Camping Tips<\/h3>\n

    Surrounding heavily-traveled areas, such as National Parks, you\u2019ll find some really well-run private campgrounds. Websites like\u00a0Hipcamp<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Campground Views<\/a>\u00a0have made serious inroads into booking and describing these off-the-grid gems. Prices vary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Free Van Camping<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":false,"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

    Dispersed camping, pirate camping, boondocking, roughing it\u2026 whatever you call it, there are many great options for free camping in the US for any budget-minded traveler. We recommend reading our full Dispersed Camping 101<\/a> guide, but here are the basics.<\/p>\n

    Look in the Road Atlas supplied with each Escape campervan and you\u2019ll see a light green shaded area within each state designating National Forests.\u00a0It is legal to car-camp for FREE in these areas!<\/strong>\u00a0With over 191,000,000 acres of National Forest land available, you\u2019re bound to pass through several of them as you head into the many scenic regions on your adventure. Look for the brown and yellow (usually) signs announcing your entrance to a public land and consider yourself good to go.<\/p>\n

    Unlike the paid campsites at National, State, and RV Parks, free dispersed campsites offer none of the amenities you\u2019d typically expect like toilets, showers, supply shops, etc. What you do get in lieu of amenities are very few neighbors, a canopy of stars, the wind in the trees, and the satisfaction of knowing you\u2019ve finally made it off the beaten track.<\/p>\n

    Unless stated otherwise, it\u2019s LEGAL to sleep in your caravan within any federally designated lands. These include:<\/p>\n