BEST Van Life Camping: HOW TO FIND PUBLIC LANDS While Living in a Van

How to find public lands on the app! The best way to live rent free is to camp out on public lands! But how do you find this public land? You can't live on public land, but you can boondock and recreate on public land! So here is a wonderful app to help you find the next campsite! I hope you find this video helpful and that you can now easily find your next campsite!

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Thanks for watching!

[Technomadia]

We just noticed a HUGE spike in app sales for US Public Lands and tracked down this video. Bob, you absolutely humble us with your review and detailed tutorial on how to use the app to find amazing lesser known boondocking spots. Exactly why we created it so many years ago. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[catinahottinvan]

AWESOME Bob. I think almost everyone beginning this life has been baffled by this subject at first. Thanks so much for such DETAIL in your instructions, rather than leaving it for others to try to figure out by themselves.🤔 You are such a kind man.

[AdventureVanMan]

I love this app. Been using it for years. Just be aware there is often privately owned land within public lands. I have found this app doesn’t always show the separation of private land. In short, the app will show you are on public land when in fact you are on private land. ✌🏼

[Gimo]

Thanks for this video. I finally took my first trip age 71 not fully recovered from major surgery. My first night I stayed in a campground as I wanted to rearrange my stuff to where I will actually use it. I felt totally wore out so actually dis nothing. 3 days later I was at my dearest friends home and stayed for a week and saw my son also. Then instead of going home I decided to cut over to the coast. I have this tall water bottle with push button spout works great except for if you don’t secure it well. I didn’t realize the road was so EXTREMELY winding to the coast. The bungee cord I had on the bottle would allow it to go so far and spill water on every turn unbeknown to me. Shortening story here because it was pouring rain and everything was wet. Then I decided to stay at a KOA because they have a little store to get bread n milk etc. not much choice but I was exhausted. Anyway to sum this all up on day three I was at a rest stop an some gal was rearranging her gear in her car. I asked her if she wanted a Van. She looked scared and got in her car. So back home trying to recover and won’t sell it yet but if I find a bigger Van it will be a possibility. I have never had a mini van before and with my mobility issues it is a bit tough to get into. But the gas mileage blew my mind. 6 hrs driving and I still had half a tank. Maybe when I get over this exhausted feeling from three surgeries at once I might find it a lot easier. Oh n I traveled with my cat. She has more stuff than me. Again thanks for video. I am close to Bend OR so will have to check out this app.

[HerSoulVacation]

I just left that area. What a beauty it is! Don’t forget to pack in/pack out. We had to remove a canopy structure somebody had left on a site! (Along with a lot more trash)🤦🏽‍♀️

[morphergaming]

As someone who lived in Arizona for 20 years and ran around country roads I never thought about checking for tire sink. I always eyeballed it but this is a much smarter and cautious way especially traveling alone.

[FeralCatSanctuary]

What a tremendous help! I am a little over a month from going full-time on the road. I have worried I would take off, get lost, and never be found again! Thank you so much for this wonderful information. Some of my fright has subsided. You have helped so many, Bob, thank you so much.

[dandydan]

We are always quick to criticize but slow to give praise. So for what it's worth, I find this to be one of the best in depth, detailed instruction on how to use an APP I've seen and it is most appreciated. Thank you!! I think the intro is great too!

[raybrensike]

If you are ever in WA after the 4th of July, try going south of Randle, WA and take the fork to the left and you will be in the Gifford Pinchot national forest, and there are so many nice places to camp just off the roads or off of the smaller roads that resemble jeep trails. You will be in deep forest of tall Douglass fir, where there is plenty of shade.

The mornings in summer are usually cool, the sky usually overcast, and then the sun comes out before noon and you usually have blue sky. It's quiet and peaceful with wildlife. There are smaller roads to explore and more places to camp. I used to have a favorite place to camp during the spring, summer, and fall, and there was never anyone there. You can be the only camper there. I believe you can stay there for 30 days before you have to move, but from my experience, you likely won't even be bothered by a forest service ranger. Mosquitos are rarely if ever a problem. It's just wonderful.

[danceswithbears]

The problem is that sites are being closed and restricted for camping. I used to camp for two weeks at a year-round ACOE campground right next to the Columbia River. Now it's closed for half the year and camping is restricted to one week. The reason? The ranger told me campers are trashing the environment. Other sites are now only open for day use.

[ChrisW]

The advice about parking in a sandy area… “Your back wheels will pull you out.” Isn’t that only if you have four wheel drive? If you have front wheel drive, shouldn’t you back in?

[anitasimmons]

Thank you for another great video. One caution, you want to keep your drive wheels on the road. If you have front wheel drive this means you will to back onto the spot you want to check. I know I am being picky but not everyone knows how to keep from getting stuck. Thank you again for the video. Safe travels.

[GreatGrannyFreeBird]

what an incredibly helpful and potentially life-saving video! Thank you Bob and your staff for all you're doing to help so many people. Homeless, helpless, all the way to us old retired ones just looking to go out to some of these spectacular places of natural beauty. Again, such vivid beauty in the background of your great video! Thanks to you and your amazing team.

[edwardbeck]

by dropping a pin on google maps at the location you want to go will show you the off ramp you need to take

[budgetbudz]

Well Yoda, thank you again for teaching us the ways of nomad! I love your channel stay safe

[wrylife]

Bob and team, this may be the best video you have ever produced. A detailed tutorial, great camera work for the useful screen images and showing your movement in the app while driving--just outstanding. I am currently east of the Mississippi so no BLM land for me but now I know how and can use this app with confidence to find national park camping. Great work! TY

[kelliwainscoat]

I have tried to identify BLM land AND how to get to it from older videos on this channel: bewildering. THIS video did the trick. Thank you!!

[karlflohrschutz]

Hi Bob,
my name is Karl watching your videos on YouTube for a long time I'm about to step into a 26 foot motorhome and attempt to do what most of these people are doing in a much smaller one nevertheless I want to thank you for all the information you provided you truly are resource to the country. We plan to spend the next two years, working on my masters in American military history, on the road. I've lived in phoenix most of my life and just downloaded your public lands at suggestion it works beautifully. Hope to see you out there somewhere.

[michellestratford]

Great video! I'm in British Columbia and our public lands are usually leased out to timber companies, so the only access to the back country is via private forestry roads that are frequently gated. I'm jealous of your access, and desperately jealous of your data access! Thank you for this! 🚙🇨🇦

[MaryAmesMitchell]

Thanks. Great, useful video. A few things to add. AAA puts out Public Land maps that show all the public lands including State Parks. They include amenities, elevation, and all sorts of useful information. For California, there is one for Northern California and one for Southern California. Also, if you have the premium AAA membership to cover your RV, be sure that it covers you if you go deep into backroad country. Sometimes it doesn't.