Car bivy…where?

[Jennifer Mitol]

CharlieDog and I are driving up from Austin to Pagosa Springs-ish CO for a short section of CDT hiking in a couple of weeks.  Instead of spending $100 for a hotel room on the way up just to crash, I want to just make a bed in the back of my Rav4.  Lots of room and plenty comfy for me and the pup.

The question is where should we park?

As a single female with a dog…rest stops are obviously out of the question.

Gas station/truck stop parking lot?  Do I try to find a campground and just park?

I’m particularly interested in the female perspective.  Charlie can bark like a mad dog, so that’s helpful – he can sound and look ferocious.  But I’d rather not need an alarm to just wake me up to my killer rapist…..

[Ken Thompson]

Larger truck stops are set up for that need. Like Pilot J

[Steofan M]

How about the Holy Ghost Campground ($8.00 per night) in the Santa Fe National Forest, about 13 miles north of Pecos, NM? Forest Service campgrounds are usually quiet, never full, no reservations needed. Charlie might get a workout chasing away the ghost.

[Valerie E]

I understand that Walmart allows people to camp like that in their parking lots.  Not the classiest bivy, sure; and you’d have tie your bandana over your eyes because of the lights, but you’d be safe (well lit, and possibly patrolled by private security contractor).

Otherwise, I’d go off the highway onto a dirt road in a national forest, and try to get behind some bushes/trees so you wouldn’t be visible from the road.

[Jennifer Mitol]

Not sure I’m even going to get out of texas on day 1.  I’m going to leave after work on Friday, which means I’ll only drive until about 9 or so (i’m an early-to-bed kinda gal…as some folks here can attest ;) so I’m not going to make it to Santa Fe, unfortunately.

I was thinking of places like Pilot and Flying J and – here in Texas – we have the Buckee Beaver!  Just wasn’t sure how some of the more adventurous ladies felt about crashing in one of those places overnight by themselves.  I hadn’t thought of the walmart…good idea.  Ideally I’ll find a nice campground, but alas – NO PUBLIC LAND IN TEXAS.

(shall I start the Chaff stuff now?)

 

[Valerie E]

Maybe this will help?

http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/Texas-public-campgrounds-map.htm

[Paul Magnanti]

This is a great site.

https://freecampsites.net/#!Texas&query=region

(Despite its name, lists pay sites and permit sites, too. Not always one in the same..)

At a quick glance, lots of city parks to camp in. Not exactly sure where you’ll make it by 9PM, but may give some ideas.

One thing I’ve noticed about more rural areas is that while there may not be public lands per se, the small towns often have places that welcome people doing the type of camping you mention.

I think the small towns see it as win since even many budget travelers will get gas, perhaps breakfast or dinner, other supplies, etc.

[Matt Orr]

I’m thinking the same way, but on a 3-4 day road trip from Los Angeles to Colorado. I was planning on staying at rest stops along the highway.

[Matt Orr]

I stumbled upon Furkot.com and am planning out my trip on this website. It is quite detailed, but once you get to understand it, it really is a great tool for planning a road trip.

[DAN-Y]

Stay at a US Army Corps Of engineers Campground. They open the gates at 6AM and lock them at 10PM Very secure. Pay for a “primitive” site and bivy in the parking area. Talk to the campground hosts, they may have a parking area at the front near their RV’s where you can bivy. Hosts are good people ;)

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