Dale and Sara Huber were searching for ways to create family memories. Their mission: focus less on stuff, more on experiences.

After 18 months of planning, the Eaton Rapids couple and their three kids spent more than five weeks trekking out West in a pickup, towing a 31-foot fifth-wheel trailer.

Along the way, they discovered how to “boondock,” successfully finding free places to camp for more than 30 nights.

They budgeted $2,500 for camping fees but ended up spending a minuscule $33.

Those freebies weren’t just economical. They provided some of the best scenery and most treasured experiences meeting other campers, the Hubers said.

“We knew nothing about boondocking. We knew nothing about all the opportunities out there to do that,” said Dale Huber. He and his wife own DS Huber, a Lansing real estate and property management company.

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Sara Huber said they devoured YouTube videos, blogs and websites to learn about it. Boondockerswelcome.com, which highlights a national network of boondockers who offer up their own private property for camping, was a goldmine. She also used websites offering information on free campsites.

The family, which includes Elizabeth, 10, Ethan, 8, and Emily, 5, has long camped in tents. And they spent a holiday break last year on a two-week trip to Florida in a smaller RV.

But such a long trip in uncharted territory was daunting.

Second thoughts

“We were having second thoughts periodically. Is this going to be OK? We had no idea,” Sara Huber said.

Their first night on the road was their most expensive in terms of camping fees. They spent $15 to camp at a state forest campground in Michigan. That was July 15.

From there, they went to a boondocker site in Minnesota, where they tipped the family $10 for refilling their water tanks.

After that, they paid for one night at a campsite and took advantage of two nights in an RV resort where they have membership.

The rest were free, and legal, including:

15 nights boondocking on public land

12 nights at Boondockers Welcome host sites

5 nights in Walmart or Cabela’s parking lots

2 nights in free campgrounds

The family’s favorite boondocking spot was on federal grasslands outside Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

It was a harrowing drive up a two-track trail but worth it. Mountain goats visited them at the campsite and they bonded with other campers, including a family with similarly aged kids. The two families are planning a road trip to Alaska next year.

The grasslands and other free camping spots didn't have electicity, water or other amenities. But the Hubers brought those with them in the family camper, including a bath and a half. For electricity, they relied on batteries that recharged as they drove.

“If you want to venture out a little bit more, the low-cost version is more fulfilling in different ways,” Sara Huber said.

Savor the experience

The trip took them as far west as Washington and Oregon. They planned to head south from there, but realized they needed to slow down and savor the experiences more.

In all, they drove more than 8,000 miles and spent $5,300 on their adventure with gasoline the biggest share of their expenses. They turned over their company's operations to staff but checked in daily.

They visited big scenery places -- Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park among them -- as well as smaller sites, such as the National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin.

The experience was transformative, they said.

“What is life really about? Is it about the accumulation of things or is it about really living life? Instead of doing it someday, do it today,” Dale Huber said. “You’ve got to do what you’re passionate about. Life is short.”

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Judy Putnam is a columnist with the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at (517) 267-1304 or at jputnam@lsj.com.Follow her on Twitter @judyputnam.

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