When motorcycle touring, finding a place to spend the night is a big part of the trip. Trips like the TAT and BDR can be really difficult if the rider wants to spend every night in a hotel. Being able to ride till nearly dark and pull off to go to sleep, really helps to cover more miles per day. I have found that I can find a place to camp anywhere I have traveled. Stealth is not invisible in the traditional sense, it is stealth is the sense that we can spend the night in a place and leave in the morning, without anyone asking us to leave. We have successfully stealth camped in almost every state in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Some of the key points of stealth camping are:
-arrive shortly before sundown
-no camp fire
-try to eat dinner before arriving at the camp spot
-pack up camp at sunrise
-leave no trace of the camp spot
-try to cover reflective materials on the bike and clothing
In the early evening, we usually stop for gas and dinner. While eating dinner, I will consult my gps and phone to see if I can find some spots to investigate. Some apps and web sites that I use are:
-FreeCampSites.net
-the AllStays app
-Google maps (satellite view)
If there are any other apps or web sites, please let me know, I will update this list.
Google maps is probably the most valuable tool I use but the GPS can work for this too. I just look at Google and find a river/stream, even better if there is a bridge in the area. A bridge indicates an elevation change and an opportunity to find an out of sight place to sleep. Rivers and streams tend to have a wooded area along them, there are usually pull offs where fishermen will drive down to the edge of the water.
During my evening stop for gas and food, I ask the locals if they know of a good place to spend the night. Many times, they have no idea but it has worked out really well a few times. One memorable time was they told us that we were allowed to spend the night in the city park, in the middle of town. Another time, there was an empty house next to the store and they said to just camp in the yard. Locals having a good spot are rare, maybe 1 out of 20 times.
Many people say they have had good luck just asking a farmer/property owner for a place to spend the night. Wording is key here, we are just looking for a place to spend the night, not a place to camp. People think of camping as an activity where there is a 6’ tall bonfire and a case of beer. Where people party into the early morning hours. It needs to be made clear to the person you are talking to, we are just looking for a place to rest our heads for the night.
I have never used a highway rest stop for a Moto camp spot but people have reported good success with them. I have used rural highway rest stops. They usually have a picnic shelter, with tables. Just pull the bike up to the shelter. I lay the sleeping pad and bag right on top of the table. I know people have used bus stop shelters in more urban areas.
Tell us about some of your more unique spots. Share some apps and web sites you use. What are some tips and tricks that I did not mention above?
Some of the key points of stealth camping are:
-arrive shortly before sundown
-no camp fire
-try to eat dinner before arriving at the camp spot
-pack up camp at sunrise
-leave no trace of the camp spot
-try to cover reflective materials on the bike and clothing
In the early evening, we usually stop for gas and dinner. While eating dinner, I will consult my gps and phone to see if I can find some spots to investigate. Some apps and web sites that I use are:
-FreeCampSites.net
-the AllStays app
-Google maps (satellite view)
If there are any other apps or web sites, please let me know, I will update this list.
Google maps is probably the most valuable tool I use but the GPS can work for this too. I just look at Google and find a river/stream, even better if there is a bridge in the area. A bridge indicates an elevation change and an opportunity to find an out of sight place to sleep. Rivers and streams tend to have a wooded area along them, there are usually pull offs where fishermen will drive down to the edge of the water.
During my evening stop for gas and food, I ask the locals if they know of a good place to spend the night. Many times, they have no idea but it has worked out really well a few times. One memorable time was they told us that we were allowed to spend the night in the city park, in the middle of town. Another time, there was an empty house next to the store and they said to just camp in the yard. Locals having a good spot are rare, maybe 1 out of 20 times.
Many people say they have had good luck just asking a farmer/property owner for a place to spend the night. Wording is key here, we are just looking for a place to spend the night, not a place to camp. People think of camping as an activity where there is a 6’ tall bonfire and a case of beer. Where people party into the early morning hours. It needs to be made clear to the person you are talking to, we are just looking for a place to rest our heads for the night.
I have never used a highway rest stop for a Moto camp spot but people have reported good success with them. I have used rural highway rest stops. They usually have a picnic shelter, with tables. Just pull the bike up to the shelter. I lay the sleeping pad and bag right on top of the table. I know people have used bus stop shelters in more urban areas.
Tell us about some of your more unique spots. Share some apps and web sites you use. What are some tips and tricks that I did not mention above?