I've camped in 38 states. Some spots I visited once and moved on. Some I've returned to three or four times. These are the places that stuck — the ones I dream about when I'm stuck in traffic or parked somewhere uninspiring.
Alabama Hills, California. Free BLM camping among bizarre rock formations with the Sierra Nevada as your backdrop. The light here is unreal for photography. I've spent a combined month here across multiple visits.
Quartzsite, Arizona (January-February). The RV world capital in winter. Thousands of rigs scattered across the desert. Free camping, swap meets, and the most colorful community of misfits you'll ever meet. I come for the camping and stay for the people.
Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Temperate rainforests. Wild coastline. Some of the best free camping in the country along forest service roads. The Hoh Rainforest blew my mind the first time.
Highway 12, Utah. The most scenic drive in America. Fight me on this. I camped at dispersed sites along the Escalante area and photographed some of the best landscapes of my life.
Outer Banks, North Carolina (off-season). Visit in October or November when the tourists leave. The beaches are empty, the campgrounds are quiet, and the wild horses on the north end have the place to themselves.
Boundary Waters area, Minnesota. I didn't expect to love Minnesota this much. The lakes, the quiet, the stars. Camped at a national forest site for a week and saw maybe 10 other people total.
The pattern? I gravitate toward empty places with big landscapes and no schedules. The best solo camping spots are the ones where you can sit outside at dawn with coffee and hear absolutely nothing but nature.
Thats not loneliness. Thats freedom.
Comments (3)
Join the conversation!
Sign in to comment
Saved this for later. Planning a similar trip in the fall.
So true! The community is the best part.
Great article. Diane printed it out for our binder. Yes we still use binders.