Camping with a ground tent is a fun and memorable way to enjoy the outdoor environment. However, car camping in a rooftop tent takes the camping experience to another level, as it offers tons of advantages a ground tent doesn’t.
Rooftop tents are not only more comfortable and more convenient, but they also protect against harsh weather conditions.
In addition, a rooftop tent keeps you safe from wild animals and dangerous insects by keeping you above ground level. These tents are relatively quick and easy to set up.
Mounting a rooftop tent on the top of your vehicle naturally turns your car into a movable camping ground.
Setting up camp is as easy as finding a grand location, putting it in a park, and installing your tent. In this article, we will be looking at guidelines on how to find places to camp with a rooftop tent.
How to locate Places to Camp With a Roof Top Tent
There are 4 types of places in which you can camp with your vehicle on your rooftop tent, and they include:
- A public, designated camping spots and camping grounds
- A private camping spot and camping ground
- Public, dispersed camping on BLM land and in National Forests
- “Urban Boondocking” options include Walmart, rest areas, and more.
How to Find Public Designated Camp Spots
Thanks to the internet, we can easily locate thousands of publicly designated locations around us. Public designated areas include national parks, state parks, campgrounds/campsites, and national forest land.
These sites are the most suitable locations for tent and rooftop tent camping. Some of these public designated camp spots offer some amenities, which include: bathrooms, toilets, taps, cabins, and RV camper sections.
Also, these spots offer access to a backcountry campsite in which campers can engage in a variety of off-trail camping activities. Depending on your location, most state and national parks have designated camp spots.
National and state parks are designated lands owned and protected by the government because of their natural beauty or importance to national history.
Also, most of these campsites have their official website where you can find more information and make your reservations.
With the help of the internet, finding suitable locations in which you can enjoy camping with a vehicle is made easy.
Private Campsites
These are designated campsites privately owned by individuals to make a profit. There is not much difference between a private campsite and a public campsite. However, private campsites offer better privacy than most public campsites.
Furthermore, they are well maintained and filled with various amenities, accompanied by excellent customer service. These private campsites have to maintain a top-notch service because their primary aim is to attract more customers and make a profit.
Just like the public campsite, most private campgrounds have their official website on which you can find more information about them and also book reservations. Unlike public designated camp spots, private spots are not all managed by the same entity, making reservations more challenging.
However, there are websites such as Compendium and All stays that can help you locate private campsites around the area. Thanks to the internet, you can easily find a location most suited for camping with your vehicle.
Public, Dispersed Camping Areas
This involves camping in the wild, outside a designated campground. Dispersed camping involves detaching yourself totally from any sort of amenities. Public, dispersed camping areas are designated campsites with little or no facility, which includes: fire pits, bathrooms, trash cans, tables, and many more.
However, this campsite offers a higher level of freedom and privacy than what is available in other campsites. This type of camping is most common among national forests and the Bureau of Land Management land.
Before going on any park adventure, getting the necessary information from their official website is important.
Although dispersed camping usually takes place on public land, each managing agency has specific regulations for it, though they generally require campers to follow them.
At lander and Freecampsites.net, you would find different National Forest and BLM land around you.
Alternative Places to Car Camp: Urban Boondocking
Also known as dry camping, it can be defined as an overnight stay in a business parking lot or on public lands. Urban boondocking in an RV or vehicle involves camping in a public place without hookups to electricity, water, or sewage. If you intend to travel across the country, and you forgot or failed to make reservations, then urban boondocking is an alternative solution.
The most common places for boondocking include shopping malls, car parks, commercial parking lots, truck stops, and trailheads. Various establishments allow urban boondocking, and they include:
· Walmart
Most Walmart stores allow car camping on their property as long you do not vandalize their property.
· Truck Stops
There are a variety of public truck spots that permit overnight stays for RVs, campers, trailers, and vans.
· Rest Areas
These are public facilities usually located next to a large thoroughfare, such as a motorway, expressway, or highway, at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, and refuel.
However, some of these resting areas don’t allow overnight parking, while some do — as long as you don’t stay longer than a certain time limit.
· Casinos
Some casinos allow overnight camping in their parking lots for travelers. However, there are only a few casinos that may allow for overnight camping on their property.
Conclusion
Camping in a rooftop tent is perfect for anyone looking to get away and explore with their vehicle. With its convenience and affordability, it makes sense why more people are turning to car camping to connect with nature without the stress of other types of camping or the expense of an RV. Using the tips in this blog, you can find amazing places to car camp in roof top tents no matter your location.
If you need assistance finding the perfect rooftop tent for car camping, contact us at Rooftoptents.ca for your rooftop tents and other camping gear needs. We offer top-quality tents in different sizes, colors, materials, and price ranges to fit your lifestyle and budget. We also have knowledgeable staff eager to answer all of your questions about rooftop tent camping and help you plan for the most memorable trips ever! Get ready to start exploring the great outdoors easily – you can be on the road in a jiffy with a rooftop tent from Rooftoptents.ca!
