BLM/NF/State boondocking within 30 minutes of bigger city?

[vagari]

I am looking for some medium to large cities with access to BLM/NF/State boondocking within a 30-45 minute drive of the city. I'm trying to identify some cities where I might be able to get a 4-8 week consulting job but be able to camp on BLM/NF/State land. Any ideas? Do they exist? Phoenix? Vegas?

 

[cyndi]

Phoenix and Vegas have options.

Pahrump, outside of Vegas is boondockable (ha! That's a great word)

I know Bob shared a site, outside of Phoenix, on his blog, either last fall or last spring. I'd search for the post but I can't access Bob's blog.

 

[Reducto]

Will you have AC? What time of year were you planning on doing this? Vegas is very doable in winter but for half the year it's very hot. Phoenix might be even worse.

 

[akrvbob]

Here are the ones I know of and have done it personally:

Anchorage, AK
Bakersfield, CA (more like an hour)
Victorville, CA
Fresno, CA (more like an hour out)
Palm Springs, CA
San Bernardino, CA (about 1 1/2 hours from the whole East end of the LA Valley)
Flagstaff, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Tuscon, AZ
Yuma, AZ
Colorado Springs, CO (closer to an hour up a big mountain)
Daytona Beach, FL (more like an hour)
Ocalla, FL
Asheville, NC (more like an hour out)
St. George, UT
Las Vegas, NV
Reno, NV

Of course heat and cold will be an issue but if you are in an RV with a furnace and generator and AC that solves that. A bigger issue will be time limits. In some of these places the 14 days are strictly enforced and some they are not. For example the Ocalla NF near Ocalla and Daytona Beach is pretty strict.

Nearly any big town with a NF or BLM desert land withn an hours drive you can do it.

 

[offroad]

Charleston SC too but it is an hour out.

 

[LeeRevell]

The Apalachicola NF on the SW side of Tallahassee, Florida has boondocking, can stay in one location for 14 days, then move to another (it's a large NF!). You'd need to check the Ranger station, and get a map showing use areas. The various local hunt camps are open for boondocking, except during hunting season. A couple of our Lake Talquin boat ramp areas have camping - not sure of cost but it would be boondocking, as no facilities are provided - the same 14 day rule applies. All these (except the hunt camps) are an easy 30 to 45 minutes from town. Tallahassee is a moderate sized Southern city of about 300,000 people, with two major universities and lots of State government. Some local IT companies.

 

[vagari]

I am in a van so I don't have AC or heater when van engine off. I have a sleeping bag, thermals, etc. but I can get some type of propane heater. Hot temps are out. Currently I was thinking sometime between November and February. I would be looking for 1-2 month long contract. So approximately 4 stays of 14 days each in NF/BLM.

• Phoenix would have the most jobs in my field from those mentioned and seems to have mild winter temperatures.
• Tallahassee looks really close to NF but not nearly as many jobs. Might be worth a look closer to October/November.
• Vegas might work. Not as many jobs as Phoenix but more than Tallahassee. Close enough to Phoenix that I could job search both at same time.

Although now that I think about it I should try some city stealth camping rather than drive to/from NF now that I am in a van. Duh! That would open up more cities to me. Double Duh!

 

[offroad]

Heat and cold is a major issue with NF BLM locations near city areas. You can get a way to heat up easier than cool down.