Where to go???

[wanderin.pat]

I remember you telling me about that several years ago. Still never been there.  However, the point I was trying to make is that there's  just not a lot of BLM or FS land in TX.  Compared to AZ , CO and NM.  

Since I have family around Austin and San Antone, I would be coming W to E on I10.  Not any Fed land around there that I've found. 

Regards,

Pat

 

[VanFan]

In Texas, particularly the Panhandle, many small towns offer a night or two free at parks.  Often there are hookups, but not always restrooms.  Some accept donations.  Others charge for more than one night.  It can be a long way between places to stop, and local establishments benefit from the little bit of business that may come their way.

 

[RoamerRV428]

follow the weather.

we love to start where we are at in that I will put in a 4-5 hr drive radius.....then when I pick a spot in that radius as to north, south, east west, we then check weather. Cold and wet up north, check west and the storm doesn't head that way but a bit too cold, then check South, sunny and clear but cold but less than what the west said then go that way LOL

not a darn thing wrong with just going the way the weather permits at all times. mobile on wheels means you can go any way and the best one that suits you at any given time.

let it flow. don't have 'destinations' that have big impact when ya move like I love Maine but I want to go now in winter, are ya nuts? if ya love summer temps and need them and want NO snow driving

just do on the road and follow the best path for you

 

[maki2]

I remember you telling me about that several years ago. Still never been there.  However, the point I was trying to make is that there's  just not a lot of BLM or FS land in TX.  Compared to AZ , CO and NM.  

Since I have family around Austin and San Antone, I would be coming W to E on I10.  Not any Fed land around there that I've found. 

Regards,

Pat

Texas is a whole different country than a lot of the USA, thier attitude says that the natural Texas country lands are there for campers who are hunting various critters. So there are state parks for "civilians" and lots of boondocking lands for the hunters. But it is all tied up in fees that go to the state for recreational camping or hunting permits.  But lets not get too hasty, because "nation" of Texas is such a large area there is still some low cost and free camping but it is under the jurisdiction of the individual counties.

So when you go looking for boondocking that is legally sanctioned use your trip planning map, see what counties you are likely to stop in and research them.  Generalized keywords won't bring up those campsites, you need to get more specific with the county locations included in your keyword search.  Finding anything on the internet requires that you understand how to narrow down the field and get more specific and in this case that means location, location, location. So the first location is the USA, the second location is the state and to get even close to your target the county and of course you can go one further step if needed and add the closest town. Remember to use both the state and the county name because some county names are fairly common and get used in a lot of different states such as counties named after presidents...Washington, Jefferson, etc. Some city names are also common to more than one state.

Of course this does not just apply to Texas, most states have Counties (or Parishes or Burroughs, the names vary). Many of the counties has camp sites in them, some are free, some have fees ranging from paltry to expensive.

 

[sushidog]

For the last 6 months I've been boondocking in the desert southwest, spending the last couple months in southern Utah (the scenery is amazing!). My goal has been to move where the weather fits my clothes while enjoying as much of nature as possible. Now I am in Arizona, but at the end of this month I'm headed to the southernmost part of Texas, near Brownsville, to winter over at a nice, friendly (and warm) RV park close to the border. I plan on crossing the border for some dirt cheap drugs (ethical pharmaceuticals, lest anyone get the wrong idea), some affordable dental work and eyeglasses. If you search the area, great deals can be had, like the park I found that offers full hookups for only $180 a month plus electric on a 2 month stay (If you stay for 5 months it's $170/mo and for 6 months it's only $160/mo.). If you are a fisherman, I've found others in the area that are right on the water for $230/mo. so you can walk out on the pier and catch a mess of fish without leaving the park. I stayed at an RV park I liked in Deming, NM earlier this year, that I was thinking about returning to this winter. But Deming is a little colder (it gets a little snow there, which I am highly allergic to) but it's only $158/mo. for FHU, (with $1 a load laundry too) though I'd imagine you'd make up the difference in heating costs there.

For informational purposes:
THE AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURES IN BROWNSVILLE TEXAS:
OCTOBER - 86 degrees
NOVEMBER - 78 degrees
DECEMBER - 71 degrees
JANUARY - 69 degrees
FEBRUARY - 73 degrees
MARCH - 79 degrees
APRIL - 85 degrees

Not bad, eh?

Chip

 

[Kenwrite]

The East Coast is not the most welcoming to travelers and Rubber Tramps. I've lived in North Carolina all my life, and my family has been in this state for nearly 300 years. Much of the East Coast has been settled for almost 400 years. And I believe this explains why boondocking and urban camping are not very welcomed here.
All the land in the East has been granted, settled, inherited, split up, sold, split up again, divided and passed down until just about every square foot has been owned for generations. Out West this hasn't been the case, so much so that the Federal government has been the de facto owner of all those millions of acres. Thus, "private property" in the East and "public lands" out West.
Plus, since the East has been "settled" for so long, there's not been a culture of travelers passing through; so many have a mindset of "stranger vs. familiar neighbors." But in the West, the majority of identity is of the Movement West, homesteaders crossing the landscape, and the ever-wandering cowboy.
I'm not saying one is right and the other wrong. I'm not defending the difficulty of travelers to find a place in the crowded and highly structured East. I just hope to explain why there aren't many places East where a traveler can just pull over and park for the night. And from videos of some Rubber Tramps on YouTube, it seems like the NorthEast is even more difficult.
All this said, I can't wait to get a vehicle and hit the road.....Westward!

 

[Cammalu]

Plus, since the East has been "settled" for so long, there's not been a culture of travelers passing through; so many have a mindset of "stranger vs. familiar neighbors."

There is a giant culture of travelers passing thru in the east. We call them snowbirds. They have been migrating back and forth at least since the model T days probably way before. Florida now boasts about a million snowbirds a year - more than any other state - making that annual trek.

 

[bullfrog]

Most places like Kentucky used to discourage strangers passing through, now they encourage it and call it tourism!

 

[JeanInaBox]

I’ve traveled up and down the east coast for years. I’ve never had a problem pulling over anywhere to sleep for the night. Of course I try to pick a spot that doesn’t draw attention. Walmart’s, 24 hit fast food places.... I buy a sandwich and through the bag on the dash. Lol.

I’m from the north east but have lived in SC for a long time. I can’t wait to start vandwelling next year. I can tell you I won’t be doing it hear in the summer. But, fall/winter/ spring here IMO is fantastic. If your an outdoorsy person like myself, SC is a great. Lots of outdoor activities available.

I hope to meet some Carolina folks that want to caravan or have a gtg.

 

[LERCA]

Hadn’t realized so many new answers. So much interesting information. I so dream of escaping the Southwest and seeing the Northern Midwest and the East Coast. The cultural explanation made perfect sense. Don’t get me wrong I love the West, love the desert but even though I’m only 57 I have had health issues and I don’t know how long I have to travel and I want to see the country. Thank you also for how to go about researching and for suggestions. So much knowledge.