



Picture courtesy of Nubia Navarro





With a total of 58 national parks, the United States is chalk full of natural wonders just waiting to be explored. But what is the best way to go about seeing them all? And can it be done on a budget?





Whether you’re a photographer, a hiker, a backpacker, a painter, or anything in between, we have an affordable, exciting prospect for you: make your car your home.

In this post, we’ll show you the best way to prepare for living out of your car during a road trip. Whether your trip will last one week, or three months, we’re going to share some insights to help get you and your car ready.





Plan Your Route





The first thing you need to do when preparing for a road trip is to determine where you’re going to go and when. That may seem obvious, but this will have huge implications towards what bring with you and where you sleep during your trip—for example, if you plan your trip for winter you will need so much more clothing than if you were planning a summer excursion. This may also dictate how you prepare your car for the trip. Will you need winter tires? What about chains? Will your car stay warm enough at night? So much of how you prepare for your trip depends on where and when you plan on going, so don’t skimp out on planning.





Storage





As every adventurer knows, outdoor hobbies require gear. So much gear. Almost an endless amount of gear. That’s why one of the first things you’ll need to keep in mind for your road trip is: where will I put everything?





This is where we would argue that a roof rack is essential. The truth is, no matter what kind of rig you drive, you will need more space for things. A roof rack allows you to carry more gear without having to sacrifice the living space inside of your car. You could also consider removing unnecessary seating from your car to open things up for you even more.





For anything you need to keep inside your car, we recommend using plastic storage bins. These bins are generally inexpensive and can be stored with relative ease inside your vehicle. You could even go the extra mile—as some van dwellers have—and build a small frame for your bed in the back of your vehicle. This will raise your bed off the floor and allow you to store things underneath it—like your plastic storage bins, for instance.









Photo courtesy of Spencer Selover





Organize It!





Organize your gear before you leave. Nothing will get old faster than digging through everything you brought with you every day of your trip just to find that one specific thing you’re looking for. Make sure it is all stored in a way that will make life easier for you.





Even consider making a bin for toiletries, a bin for cold weather clothing, a bin for your collection of park ranger hats, etc.





While you’re organizing, make sure you make a separate area for wet clothes/laundry—this will help keep the rest of your clothes in better condition.





Sleeping





Your sleeping arrangements will vary depending on how much comfort you need when you hit the hay, but we recommend trying to make it as comfortable as possible for yourself. Cramped sleeping will get old fast and will put a damper on the rest of your trip.





One option is to clear a space in the back of your car where you can sleep fully extended. Removing unnecessary seats before your trip will make this much easier to do.





Make sure you bring a comfortable sleeping pad as well as a sleeping bag and blankets. There are few things worse than not being able to sleep because you’re too cold.

Like we mentioned earlier, some road trippers have gone so far as to construct a sleeping platform that fits in the back of their vehicle. This can require some technical skills, but could be worth it if you’re planning an extended trip.





Blackout curtains are necessary for your privacy and comfort. Make sure you install some before you leave on your trip. They can be installed simply by gluing or sewing strips of Velcro into your car above the windows and attaching your curtains that way.









Photo courtesy of picjumbo.com





Power





Steady sources of power outlets won’t be available to you the majority of the time that you’re on the road, so you’ll need to explore other options for keeping your gadgets charged. If you won’t be gone for long, a small, portable solar charger may be the best option for you. Most models come with USB ports so that you can easily charge your phone or your camera battery.





For those of you who plan to stay on the road a little longer, there are solar powered generators which store enough energy to fully charge multiple devices at a time. This is probably the most expensive option, but it will pay off if your trip is going to last more than a few weeks.





Eating





It’s important to consider how you plan on feeding yourself during your trip. Eating out every meal can be expensive and is not always possible while visiting national parks, so prepare other options. Coolers are a relatively cheap option for storing food and keeping it fresh. Consider investing in one to use throughout your trip.





Camping stoves can work great for boiling water and cooking smaller meals and are compact enough to take with you basically anywhere. this means that you will need to store food in your car. Backpacking meals are a good option because they can be stored easily and will not spoil, but we recommend stocking up on fresh fruit and vegetables when possible to help vary your meals.





Hygiene





Hygiene is always important and affects your morale. Make a plan for how you will brush your teeth, bathe, keep your clothes clean, and keep any dishes you bring with you clean.





Rivers and lakes work pretty well for bathing and laundry, but make sure you use biodegradable soap when bathing or washing clothes. Bring a clothesline with you to dry any clothing you may wash while on the road. If you’re shy about bathing in nature in your birthday suit, you could either purchase a camp shower or pack a swimsuit to wear.





Make sure you always have access to potable water. This could mean purchasing a cooler and constantly keeping it topped off with fresh water, or it could mean bringing a water purifier with you everywhere. You will use this water not only for drinking, but also for brushing your teeth and cleaning your dishes, so make sure you always have enough with you. Using dirty water for these things could make you seriously ill, so plan ahead.









Parking





The easiest method for finding a place to park is to reserve a campsite for the night at the national parks you stop at along your journey. This can be done online or over the phone. If you’re looking for a cheaper method, highway rest areas or truck stops are available to anyone who needs to sleep while on the road. The other option is to scout out the nearest public land, such as land from the Bureau of Land Management, where you can camp for free.





Whatever option you choose, make a plan for where to sleep before you leave on your trip. You could get ticketed, towed, or simply woken up and asked to move your vehicle if you park in the wrong place overnight.





Hit the Road





The United States national parks are full of towering mountains, verdant forests, and majestic vistas just waiting for you. If you’ve followed our guide and thoroughly prepared like we’ve suggested, you’re finally ready to hit the road.

#backcountry #hikes #hiking #campsites #camping #