You won’t need to dig too deeply into the trailer/RVing world until you encounter the term boondocking. It refers to dispersed camping, where there are no facilities or hookups, on public lands—what here in Canada we often refer to as “Crown land”.

More broadly, boondocking seems to have evolved (devolved?) to describe basically anywhere you might pitch your trailer or RV overnight for free… either being allowed (by explicit permission or by lack of prohibition) or in hopes of being stealthy enough not to be caught… whether that be an off-the-beaten-path bush area or a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Suburban Boondocking

Yes, I’m serious about the Wal-Mart parking lots. Apparently it is quite popular with some RV folks when it’s just a matter of having a safe spot to park for an overnight. I haven’t observed it myself but maybe it’s more a U.S. thing. Personally, I don’t see the appeal but I can imagine that in one of those super-sized RVs it may not make much of a difference where you are. In a little Teardrop travel trailer, it sure seems like a last resort.

Woodland Boondocking

But even the less suburban version of boondocking doesn’t really call to me. In terms of Crown land locations accessible to a car & trailer, those I have seen on my travels around Northern Ontario have been “full” of what look to be fairly established trailers (I had understood you could only stay camped on Crown land for 21 days but apparently a move of 100+ metres is all that’s needed to start the clock ticking again.)

In terms of just trying to find a surreptitious spot in the bush off the road, that doesn’t do much for me either. For one thing, I wouldn’t sleep well wondering if someone is going to come knocking in the middle of the night and tell me to move along. And for another thing, my everyday life is living in the middle of 50 acres of woodlands so just pitching camp nestled into a patch of trees is no big novelty.

Provincial & National Park Campgrounds

Personally, I would rather just stop at a public park campground. Many of the sites are no less private that the Crown land encampments I have seen and as a bonus there are facilities, which makes the experience more pleasant considering the limited amenities of a Teardrop. And in general Provincial and National Parks are a lot more scenic than hiding out in a forest somewhere.

That all said, my favoured option is Teardrop camping on private properties—either using HipCamp (like an airbnb platform but for camping sites on private land) or through making direct connections with landowners. A self-sufficient, small-footprint trailer like a Teardrop camper is an unobtrusive and gentle visitor to wherever it stays the night.

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So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.