RV migratory patterns

[John Galt]

I was thinking about migratory RV living; staying north in warm season, south in cold, and found the BLM’s LTVA (long term visitor area) map online. Apparently the only LTVA’s are along the south portion of the Colorado river. This is fine in the cold months, but where do RV’ers go in the summer. The idea is to avoid those 100 degree temps and air conditioning responsibilities. If anybody has ideas for the summer months they could share it would be a great help. Otherwise, the reasons for stealth camping become necessary. This would, to some extent, explain the white vans and occupied vehicles in the culture.

 

[bullfrog]

There are many other ways and places to stay on the road, nothing stealthy about it. If you read some of the older posts you will see several examples of even larger RVs being able to move about to free camping sites never using an LTVA. The problem for anyone no matter what they travel in is when they wish to stay parked in one spot for excessive periods of time. Many change spots twice a day with no problems staying in the same areas, them move to another area before using those spots a second time. Many take summer jobs that supply air conditioned housing or full hook up sites allowing them to stay in higher elevations for longer periods of time.

 

[highdesertranger]

There are summer LTVA's in the Eastern Sierra of California. There are old threads on the subject. Here's the BLM link,

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/long-term-camping-opportunities-available-eastern-sierra

Highdesertranger

 

[John Galt]

There are many other ways and places to stay on the road, nothing stealthy about it. If you read some of the older posts you will see several examples of even larger RVs being able to move about to free camping sites never using an LTVA. The problem for anyone no matter what they travel in is when they wish to stay parked in one spot for excessive periods of time. Many change spots twice a day with no problems staying in the same areas, them move to another area before using those spots a second time. Many take summer jobs that supply air conditioned housing or full hook up sites allowing them to stay in higher elevations for longer periods of time.

"Excessive periods of time?" "Many change spots twice a day?" "Many take summer jobs that supply air conditioning?" How many of these short term excessively mobile campers are there? I sense a political agenda rife with the obvious. Are you a consumer trend setter?

 

[John Galt]

There are summer LTVA's in the Eastern Sierra of California.  There are old threads on the subject.  Here's the BLM link,

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/long-term-camping-opportunities-available-eastern-sierra

Highdesertranger

Just west of Death Valley, swell. Your not working with the guy above are you. Anybody have ideas not supported by the exclusive middle class.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have no idea what that means. Highdesertranger

 

[maki2]

You could  try the Pacific coast side of the Olympic Peninsula. It will be cool but likely cloudy at times. Pretty remote, not a lot of towns out there so stock up on supplies. Look out for bigfoot and the logging trucks, they will run right over you on those remote forest service roads.

 

[bullfrog]

Check out "George and Tioga" and his daily logs, there are years of camping for free there or go to Aramark's Facebook employee page you will see many examples of people working seasonal jobs many of them older living in vans and RV's. Many beginners think they can park anywhere they want for as long as they want illegally without being noticed. This practice has caused many more laws and regulations to be created. Stealth is not possible to anyone who knows what to look for. Most places limit the amount of time you may stay parked legally, many over stay and cause those places to be even more restricted. There are lots of legal places to park and locals including most law enforcement will be more than willing to help you find them. Too often the term squatter applies to people seeking to live cheaply in a van or RV if they stay beyond the legal limit. Really they just need to learn the laws and how to make life better for everyone. Vagrant is another term than is hard to apply to some one who volunteers or works with a community to make it a better place. Most of the community that is here is here to help people not suggest they do something illegal that in the long run hurts our cause. Stealth on this forum tends to indicate illegal activity that is a poor choice when there are so many better options in my opinion. If you ever attempt to live on the road or stealth camp you will soon learn and hopefully find cool places where you will be welcomed in the summer.

 

[wayne49]

How did all of the Eastern Sierras get positioned west of Death Valley?

Mostly north, a little bit west, and at much higher elevations.

The Summer LTVA sites mentioned at the link are located from Bishop and northwards on US-395. They also cost money, and not pocket change.

US-395 has a mix of BLM and USFS dispersed sites in somewhat close proximity. Some USFS locations have 28 night limits.

Idaho has dispersed sites and cool nights. Colorado has elevation.

Migratory means moving around. A cycle of driving and staying, repeat as needed.

 

[nature lover]

“Peace…please”

And by the way over a decade part timing and now over one year full-timing in the east (where they say it can’t be done) and I have never ever paid for a campsite.

 

[LERCA]

For me it’s the humidity that I can’t take. I don’t mind 120 in the desert. I’m used to it but it’s gotten humid here due to lawns and pools. It was 84% humidity with temps around 82 last week and it hurts my joints and makes me tired. The dry heat I can take. Gotta move around and find some high elevation

 

[John Galt]

Ok, ok, not meaning to hate, but it took some prodding to get info. Thanks bullfrog. Never intended to suggest anything illegal, but stealth exists and some people get into circumstances they'd rather avoid. There are free sites in the NW, but you only have 14 days. Wouldn't it be nice if cheap RV'ers had a friend in Washington that could get us a summer LTVA above, say, northern border of NV? And while I just went through the Sierras, and yes there is expensive camping there, it shouldn't be the only choice we have. There seems to be some restriction regarding migratory habits. I will keep researching.

 

[John Galt]

Checked out the postings under heading "Parking: stealth in towns, boondocking in country". A user named "almost there" posted that he researched cities using a site called Allstays.com . I looked at it and found it helpful. While not the best place to stay, it has maps of each state's Walmarts and whether or not they allow overnight parking. Yellow W's yes, red W's no. The site has other info too. I'll keep looking.

 

[bullfrog]

I believe we have had a member that bought an old RV park or improved a piece of land way up north in Idaho or Montana that offered summer camping. You might search some of the old posts. I believe it was called "Honey's Place" but it has been awhile since those posts.

 

[highdesertranger]

Search Honey's Park Arco Idaho. Scar is the owner. Is that who you are talking about bullfrog? New website,

https://honeyspark.weebly.com/

I see he only wants short stays.

Highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Yep, I think that was it, but getting old I didn't remember the details. All my stays would be short in Idaho! I stayed in a motel once in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that had an outdoor pool that only was open one day a year (4th of July) way too cold for this old boy! Lol!!!