I have found that research and preparation are the most significant factors in a successful, long-term nomadic journey. Of course- after the first step of saying “Yes” to a new way of living!
It would be great to live this style of life carefree and completely spontaneous, however, it’s just not realistic! Maybe for very short term? In today’s world, depending on where you camp, you have to book many campsites (free and paid) well in advance – some even up to a year or more! It takes a lot of time behind the scenes to prepare for all aspects of nomad life. Trust me, I have witnessed this firsthand.
Eben, my boyfriend is a camping guru! He has spent countless hours not only researching free and low-cost camping online but also has physically driven to and camped in most of the areas he has researched throughout the country. He is passionate about travel and sharing his knowledge with others. Bonus for me!
When we camp at non-reservable sites, I have learned the importance of arriving early in the afternoon and having 2 to 3 different camping areas in mind. You never know what conditions you’ll find. Sometimes the roads are undrivable. The sites might not be right for our style of set-up. Or, like I said in my previous post, if we have an unsettling feeling, we follow our intuition and move on to somewhere else. Safety is #1.
Other things we are constantly researching are; the weather, driving directions, the nearest and cheapest gas stations, and where to find free drinking water and pump-out stations to empty our porta potti. Occasionally we look into hotel stays when we need a break from camping.
Although we are not big news people, it is important to keep informed of current happenings in the world. Last year we were in Virginia right when the gas pipeline got hacked and gas stations ran out of gas. That was crazy! Luckily, we had plenty of gas in our tanks (another safety tip I learned.) To be on the safe side, we ended up staying put until things got better and gas stations started resupplying. Never a dull moment, that’s for sure!
I love learning new things and staying in the creative flow. This lifestyle is perfect for that! Google and YouTube are my favorite online helpers, whereas, Eben does most of the camping research on sites like; Campendium, Freecampsites.net, iOverlander, The Dyrt, and other revelant apps.
Meeting new people and exchanging travel tips is also a great source of information. I enjoy studying potential areas of travel and reading up on the history and heritage of places we visit, including significant landmarks, attractions, and popular dining establishments. Having a beer with the locals is always fun stuff!
To learn more about free camping and other great travel information, check out Eben’s website and YouTube channel!