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RV glossary · Camping & travel

Boondocking

Also called: Dry camping, Off-grid camping

Camping without hookups (no water, sewer or electric), often on public land. How long you can stay depends on your tanks, batteries and propane.

Boondocking ranges from remote dispersed camping on public land to staying overnight in a parking lot where allowed. You live off the RV’s fresh water, holding tanks, batteries and propane, so tank sizes and power systems matter.

Water is usually the first limit: either the fresh tank runs dry or the gray tank fills. Solar panels, lithium batteries and a generator extend how long you can stay; careful water use (paper plates, quick showers) extends tank life.

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Related terms

Dry camping
Camping in an RV without hookups. Often used interchangeably with boondocking, though dry camping can also mean a campground site with no hookups.
Dispersed camping
Free camping outside developed campgrounds on public land such as national forests and BLM land, usually with stay limits (often 14 days) and no facilities.
Gray tank
The holding tank for used water from the sinks and shower. Many RVs have more than one gray tank.
Solar panels
Panels that charge the house batteries from sunlight, extending time off-grid. How much they help depends on panel wattage, battery capacity, sun and your power use.
Generator
A gas, diesel or propane engine that produces 120-volt power away from hookups. Motorhomes often have one built in; trailer owners often carry quiet portable inverter generators.

More camping & travel terms

BLM land · Full hookups · Partial hookups · Pull-through site · Back-in site · Big rig · Leveling blocks · Full-timer

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