RV Boondocking & Dry Camping Checklist — Go Off-Grid With Confidence
BeginnerEverything you need to prepare for boondocking or dry camping without hookups. Covers water management, power planning, waste strategy, and the gear that makes off-grid RV camping comfortable instead of stressful.
Checklist 36
Bring extra firewood — you can't buy it in the backcountry
Check local rules about collecting dead wood. Some areas allow gathering dead and down wood, others prohibit it. When in doubt, bring your own. Check fire restrictions before lighting anything.
Pack LED lanterns and solar-powered outdoor lights
There are no campground lights. It gets dark. Really dark. Solar lanterns charge during the day and run all evening without drawing battery power.
Bring bear-resistant food storage if in bear country
Bears can and do break into RVs. Store food in bear canisters or use your vehicle as a bear box. Never leave food, coolers, or trash outside overnight in bear territory.
Pack insect protection — bug spray, citronella, and head nets
Remote areas near water mean mosquitoes. A lot of mosquitoes. DEET, treated clothing, and a screened canopy make the difference between enjoyable and miserable.
Bring a fire extinguisher accessible from outside the RV
Campfires near dry brush and a generator running near grass — fire risk is higher boondocking than at a developed campground. Keep an extinguisher at the campfire area, not just inside the RV.
Know your RV's towing and weight specs before heading down rough roads
Rough access roads stress suspension, tires, and the frame. If your RV is loaded to the max, a rough forest road can cause damage that wouldn't happen on pavement. Verify your loaded weight is within safe limits at https://mintrv.com/tow-calculator before heading into the backcountry.
Bring extra leveling blocks — boondocking sites are never flat
Developed campgrounds have level pads. The wilderness does not. Bring twice as many blocks as you'd normally use. Stackable interlocking blocks give you the most flexibility.
Bring a ground board or plywood squares for soft terrain
Stabilizer jacks and tongue jacks sink into soft ground — dirt, mud, sand. A 12x12 inch piece of 3/4 inch plywood under each jack point distributes the weight.
Bring a shovel and a rake
Clear rocks and debris from your site. Level a small area if needed. Dig a fire ring if allowed. A folding camp shovel stores easily.
Bring ground stakes or screw-in anchors for awning tie-downs
Open terrain means more wind. Your awning needs to be tied down or left retracted. Standard campground tie-downs may not hold in loose soil — screw-in ground anchors grip better.
Download offline maps of your boondocking area before you leave cell coverage
Google Maps, Gaia GPS, and onX all support offline map downloads. Download a wide area — you may need to find alternate routes, water, or dump stations that aren't at your primary destination.
Check road conditions and access requirements for your site
Many dispersed camping areas require high clearance or 4WD access roads. A 40-foot fifth wheel can't go where a truck camper can. Verify road conditions on recent trip reports, not just the map.
Tell someone your exact location and expected return date
If you don't have cell service, nobody knows where you are. Leave your GPS coordinates, planned dates, and a check-in plan with a family member or friend.
Bring a satellite communicator or personal locator beacon (PLB) for remote areas
If you're more than an hour from cell coverage, a satellite communicator lets you send texts and SOS signals via satellite. A PLB is emergency-only but works anywhere on earth.
Bring a cell signal booster if you want to extend your connectivity range
A cell booster amplifies weak signals. It won't create signal where there is none, but it can turn one bar into usable data. The weBoost Drive Reach is the most common RV option.
Know the fire restrictions and dispersed camping rules for the area
BLM and National Forest land have specific rules about campfire rings, generator hours, stay limits (usually 14 days), and distance from water sources. Check the local ranger district website before you go. Fines for fire violations are steep.
Fully charge house batteries before leaving grid power
Start at 100%. Lead-acid batteries should not be discharged below 50%. Lithium batteries can safely go to 20%. Know your battery type and plan accordingly.
Know your battery bank capacity and daily power draw
A typical RV uses 50-100 amp-hours per day depending on usage. Lights, water pump, and phone charging are minimal. The furnace blower, TV, and residential fridge are heavy draws. A battery monitor shows exactly where you stand.
Clean solar panels before departure — dust and film reduce output significantly
A dirty panel can lose 20-30% of its output. Wipe with a damp cloth. Check that all connections are tight and the charge controller is functioning.
Bring a portable solar panel if your roof panels aren't enough
Portable panels can be positioned in direct sun while the RV is parked in shade — the best of both worlds. A 100-200W portable panel adds meaningful charge time.
Check generator fuel level and test-run for 10 minutes
Generators that sit for months can have stale fuel or clogged carburetors. Run it before the trip to confirm it starts and produces power. Top off the fuel.
Bring extra fuel for the generator
A typical RV generator burns 0.5-1 gallon per hour. Two hours of generator time per day for charging and A/C means you need 1-2 gallons per day. Plan for your entire stay.
Pack a portable power station for small device charging
A 500-1000Wh power station charges phones, laptops, cameras, and runs small fans without touching your house batteries or running the generator. Recharge it from solar during the day.
Switch to LED lighting throughout the RV if you haven't already
LED bulbs use 80% less power than incandescent. Replacing every bulb in the RV is one of the highest-impact upgrades for boondocking and it costs under $50.
Dump and rinse black and gray tanks before departure
Start with empty tanks to maximize your days off-grid. Add a dose of tank treatment to the black tank after dumping.
Bring a portable waste tank if staying more than 3-4 days
A portable waste tank (tote) lets you dump your black tank into it and drive the tote to a dump station without breaking camp. Essential for extended boondocking stays.
Know where the nearest dump station is to your boondocking spot
Sanidumps.com and the Allstays app show dump station locations. Many are at gas stations, rest areas, and campgrounds — some free, some charge $5-15.
Conserve gray tank capacity — use the dishpan method and limit shower water
The gray tank fills faster than the black tank for most people. Every drop of water that goes down a drain fills the gray tank. Dishpan washing saves significant gray capacity.
Bring extra trash bags and a plan for garbage disposal
There are no dumpsters in the wilderness. All trash comes with you. Double-bag anything with food residue to prevent attracting wildlife. Know the nearest town with a public dumpster or transfer station.
Use a composting toilet or WAG bags if you want to extend black tank life
WAG bags (human waste bags with gelling agent) are an option for short boondocking trips to avoid using the black tank entirely. They're the same system backpackers use. Dispose of them in regular trash.
Fill your fresh water tank to 100% before leaving the last water source
Know your tank size — check your RV's specs at https://mintrv.com to find your exact fresh water capacity. Budget 10-15 gallons per person per day for drinking, cooking, dishes, and short showers.
Bring extra drinking water separate from the fresh tank
A few cases of bottled water or a 5-gallon jug means your fresh tank lasts longer. Use the tank water for dishes and showers, bottled water for drinking and cooking.
Install a water-saving shower head if you don't have one
A low-flow RV shower head with a shut-off valve cuts water usage by 50% or more. Wet yourself, shut off, lather, turn on to rinse. A 5-gallon shower is realistic with the right head.
Use a dishpan for washing dishes instead of running water
Fill a small basin, wash everything in it, then rinse quickly. Running the faucet while scrubbing uses 3-4x more water.
Bring a collapsible water container for extra capacity
A 5-7 gallon collapsible jug stores flat when empty. Fill it at the last water source as backup. Also useful for hauling water from a spigot if you find one near your site.
Know where the nearest water fill station is to your boondocking spot
Dump stations often have potable water fill. Some gas stations and campgrounds allow water fills for a fee. The FreeRoam app and iOverlander app show water sources near dispersed camping areas.
Recommended Items 9
Reviews 0
Discussion 0
Leave the Noise Behind.
Reconnect Outdoors.
Our mission is to help people make well-informed RV buying decisions, so they can leave the noise and screens behind, reconnect with family, and create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.
Free tools. No sales pressure. Just better decisions.