What is Dry Camping?

Ever wanted to know what it is like to live without access to electricity and sewers? Or want to collect your own water, catch your own dinner, build your own fire, and sleep under the stars at night? Or maybe you just want to have a unique camping experience? If so, Dry Camping may be a fun, exciting activity you would want to try.

Dry Camping is camping outside of a designated campground. A camper would find a wooded place void of connection sites, such as sewer, electric and water to camp. This means that camping luxuries like toilets, drinking fountains, showers, grills and electrical sockets are not present at the camp site.

During dry camping, a camper would bring their own materials and use their wilderness skills to camp. Some things you may want or need to do to survive include water or find a lake/pond/river to collect, purify and use that water for drinking and bathing. In order to keep warm and cook food, a camper may want to build a fire. Also, a hole that is dug a distance away from the camp site makes a makeshift bathroom.

To find a place to dry camp, call the forest service near where you plan to camp and ask for a legal dry camping area. Also, you can call national parks and ask if they have dry camping available. Another option if you have your own land is to dry camp in your own woods.

Remember, dry camping can be difficult and a camper needs to be well prepared. Bring enough food and water to last throughout your camping trip. Bring any supplies you need for shelter, like a tent, and anything you may need to stay warm or build a fire, such as a sleeping bag and matches. Research the area you are going to camp beforehand and read materials about camping and survival. Always let a family member or friend know where you are going and for how long. Also, have a way, like a cell phone, to contact someone in case of an emergency. If you are well prepared, dry camping can be a fun, exciting activity.