BEST Van Life Camping: HOW TO FIND PUBLIC LANDS While Living in a Van 

We just noticed a HUGE spike in app sales for US Public Lands and tracked down this video. Bob, you absolutely humble us with your review and detailed tutorial on how to use the app to find amazing lesser known boondocking spots. Exactly why we created it so many years ago. Thank you thank you thank you!!

AWESOME Bob. I think almost everyone beginning this life has been baffled by this subject at first. Thanks so much for such DETAIL in your instructions, rather than leaving it for others to try to figure out by themselves.🤔 You are such a kind man.

I love this app. Been using it for years. Just be aware there is often privately owned land within public lands. I have found this app doesn’t always show the separation of private land. In short, the app will show you are on public land when in fact you are on private land. ✌🏼

Thanks for this video. I finally took my first trip age 71 not fully recovered from major surgery. My first night I stayed in a campground as I wanted to rearrange my stuff to where I will actually use it. I felt totally wore out so actually dis nothing. 3 days later I was at my dearest friends home and stayed for a week and saw my son also. Then instead of going home I decided to cut over to the coast. I have this tall water bottle with push button spout works great except for if you don’t secure it well. I didn’t realize the road was so EXTREMELY winding to the coast. The bungee cord I had on the bottle would allow it to go so far and spill water on every turn unbeknown to me. Shortening story here because it was pouring rain and everything was wet. Then I decided to stay at a KOA because they have a little store to get bread n milk etc. not much choice but I was exhausted. Anyway to sum this all up on day three I was at a rest stop an some gal was rearranging her gear in her car. I asked her if she wanted a Van. She looked scared and got in her car. So back home trying to recover and won’t sell it yet but if I find a bigger Van it will be a possibility. I have never had a mini van before and with my mobility issues it is a bit tough to get into. But the gas mileage blew my mind. 6 hrs driving and I still had half a tank. Maybe when I get over this exhausted feeling from three surgeries at once I might find it a lot easier. Oh n I traveled with my cat. She has more stuff than me. Again thanks for video. I am close to Bend OR so will have to check out this app.

I just left that area. What a beauty it is! Don’t forget to pack in/pack out. We had to remove a canopy structure somebody had left on a site! (Along with a lot more trash)🤦🏽‍♀️

As someone who lived in Arizona for 20 years and ran around country roads I never thought about checking for tire sink. I always eyeballed it but this is a much smarter and cautious way especially traveling alone.

If you are ever in WA after the 4th of July, try going south of Randle, WA and take the fork to the left and you will be in the Gifford Pinchot national forest, and there are so many nice places to camp just off the roads or off of the smaller roads that resemble jeep trails. You will be in deep forest of tall Douglass fir, where there is plenty of shade. The mornings in summer are usually cool, the sky usually overcast, and then the sun comes out before noon and you usually have blue sky. It's quiet and peaceful with wildlife. There are smaller roads to explore and more places to camp. I used to have a favorite place to camp during the spring, summer, and fall, and there was never anyone there. You can be the only camper there. I believe you can stay there for 30 days before you have to move, but from my experience, you likely won't even be bothered by a forest service ranger. Mosquitos are rarely if ever a problem. It's just wonderful.

What a tremendous help! I am a little over a month from going full-time on the road. I have worried I would take off, get lost, and never be found again! Thank you so much for this wonderful information. Some of my fright has subsided. You have helped so many, Bob, thank you so much.

We are always quick to criticize but slow to give praise. So for what it's worth, I find this to be one of the best in depth, detailed instruction on how to use an APP I've seen and it is most appreciated. Thank you!! I think the intro is great too!

Well Yoda, thank you again for teaching us the ways of nomad! I love your channel stay safe

Thank you for another great video. One caution, you want to keep your drive wheels on the road. If you have front wheel drive this means you will to back onto the spot you want to check. I know I am being picky but not everyone knows how to keep from getting stuck. Thank you again for the video. Safe travels.

by dropping a pin on google maps at the location you want to go will show you the off ramp you need to take

The problem is that sites are being closed and restricted for camping. I used to camp for two weeks at a year-round ACOE campground right next to the Columbia River. Now it's closed for half the year and camping is restricted to one week. The reason? The ranger told me campers are trashing the environment. Other sites are now only open for day use.

what an incredibly helpful and potentially life-saving video! Thank you Bob and your staff for all you're doing to help so many people. Homeless, helpless, all the way to us old retired ones just looking to go out to some of these spectacular places of natural beauty. Again, such vivid beauty in the background of your great video! Thanks to you and your amazing team.

I have tried to identify BLM land AND how to get to it from older videos on this channel: bewildering. THIS video did the trick. Thank you!!

Ah! Bob! You are a TREASURE! 🥰 Thank you so much!!!!

Bob and team, this may be the best video you have ever produced. A detailed tutorial, great camera work for the useful screen images and showing your movement in the app while driving--just outstanding. I am currently east of the Mississippi so no BLM land for me but now I know how and can use this app with confidence to find national park camping. Great work! TY

Great video! I'm in British Columbia and our public lands are usually leased out to timber companies, so the only access to the back country is via private forestry roads that are frequently gated. I'm jealous of your access, and desperately jealous of your data access! Thank you for this! 🚙🇨🇦

Hi Bob, my name is Karl watching your videos on RU-vid for a long time I'm about to step into a 26 foot motorhome and attempt to do what most of these people are doing in a much smaller one nevertheless I want to thank you for all the information you provided you truly are resource to the country. We plan to spend the next two years, working on my masters in American military history, on the road. I've lived in phoenix most of my life and just downloaded your public lands at suggestion it works beautifully. Hope to see you out there somewhere.

Born in Phoenix, moved to Oregon at 2 years old. I camp from the Ochocos to the coast, once in the Blue Mountains. Mostly I camp in the western Cascades and hike in a 100 mile radius from Eugene. I still use my atlas that shows topo and backroads, plus old foldable maps they don't make anymore. I use Google maps and USFS or BLM online maps to supplement or plan. Thanks for the app and tips, Bob!

Thanks. Great, useful video. A few things to add. AAA puts out Public Land maps that show all the public lands including State Parks. They include amenities, elevation, and all sorts of useful information. For California, there is one for Northern California and one for Southern California. Also, if you have the premium AAA membership to cover your RV, be sure that it covers you if you go deep into backroad country. Sometimes it doesn't.

Excellent orientation, Bob! I've had this app but not used it effectively. That will change. Thank you!

So good to see you, Bob. Thank you for these useful tidbits. Much appreciated.

Great video, Bob! VERY helpful! Thank you so much!

Love you Bob. Please keep sending videos. They keep me hopeful and willing to try.

Great video Bob. Thanks for posting!

BOB!!! YOU ARE AWESOME! THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO YOU GIVE US!!!!

I too love the details. It takes a lot of the fear/anxiety out of it. Thank you Bob!!!!

Wow, very helpful! As always. Thank you for helping.

great video Bob, very insightful!

Absolutely essential information, thank you very much Bob!

Excellent video! Very informative. Thank you so much for the great explanation!

Great information, thank you for posting!

We started watching CheapRVliving a few years ago. We have been to AZ many times and attended the rally in January. We are from Rhode Island. Sold our two houses and in the process of unloading all our stuff. Our large home and commercial welding business collected tons of stuff over the years. I will feel lost without our beautiful "stuff" but the freedom will be well worth it. We purchased a mobile RV (41') and will head out to Arizona in the fall. Heading to Quartzite public land for the winter. We want to buy an acre of land somewhere. I like Pahrump but maybe AZ would be better. Thanks to you Bob, a million times over.

Awesome thank you so very much for sharing Bob. 👍❤️

Thank you Great information, Great content always great videos

Invaluable information! Thank you so much!

Very interesting and useful information, thanks Bob

Great video Bob Very informative Will be downloading this app.

Thanks for the overview, Bob! Much needed and you are SO helpful! Great app. Going to buy it today.

Thank you Bob. This is so helpful

great job bob! thanks for the detailed info and how to use it and actually showing us, it is sooo clear anyone can do it.

Tremendously helpful, thank you.

Thank you for step by step guidance!

Thank you Bob for the DETAILED review of this app and your video!! ❤️❤️

Thanks Bob. This video was very helpful.

This is an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC VIDEO post !!! Very educational and EXACTLY what I needed to understand what it is like in this part of the country ! THANKS A MILLION BOB !!

Thanks Bob this nomadic life is a continual leaning process and you helped making it more easier. Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much! Just starting out and this is exactly what I need!

Bob, thank you for all you do!!! You are a FANTASTIC TEACHER!!!

Most intelligent and useful video I've seen on youtube for awhile. Keep it up. Thanks

Beautiful, Bob. Thx so much for showing us how this works. Info re the tires helpful too. Will use this app.

Just loaded it. Looks good. Thanks Bob, I have been looking for something simple like this.

Thank you so much for teaching us this Bob! I always wondered how the bloggers get to such beautiful places!!!

As always very good advise from Bob Wells !!

Thank you Bob! Great app, great information!

Another fantastic video Bob thanks so much👍👍🙏

Super bob. Your wonderful. Thank you for everything. Jan a fan from texas.

Great video Bob. Thanks for the useful app.

As usual, very informative. Thanks.

I don’t even camp but I wanted to check out the ap! Love your videos. I live vicariously thru your channel. Thanks.

This is a game changer! Thanks so much Bob! I'd been relying on apps where users post places they have camped, but this opens the door up to so many more possibilities.

BOB,my gracious thanks....you have been helping people(and myself) for years in order to survive....

Thank you for this information Bob!

Great tutorial. You made it look so easy. The "don't get stick" tip was helpful, too.

Really detailed. Thanks for that.

Great video and good information for us who are starting our adventure.

Thanks for the great Tip Bobby 👍 😀.

Thanks Bob, you just eased my biggest fear with this video. I have already downloaded the app and feel more confident about boondocking.

Thank you Bob! I’m full timing in less than a month and this is a god send! I’ve been looking for this exact resource! Thank you!!! Found two spots ready!

Simple instructions, thank you!

Very cool

This is just fantastic information, makes finding a place so much easier, and it is not difficult to do

Such a cool app. Thank you for the video. I love that you show us in real time what the road look like.

Thank you so much! Just downloaded the app, this is exactly what I needed.

Thank you Barb that was the piece that was always missing from everyone else is videos. I often wondered how would you know if you were gonna be in sand or not other than getting out and walking around so this helped out tremendously thank you.

Very informative information Mr Wells! 👍

Thank you so much. I am in Tucson but leaving soon. This app is going to be so helpful!! Blessings!

Love how you have patience with explaining instead of be so quick & vague like most ppl. Actually seeing what you're doing makes all the difference.👍

I have been in the caravan at Parump since Friday. Enjoying it very much. This is my 1st nomad experience. Met some nice people, and they were very welcomeing. Thanks Bob, for all your information, would like to shake your hand some day. Just when I needed to know something else, about boondocking, your video shows up. Just what I needed for my next experience. Thanks

I want to say thanks for the great info. I just downloaded the app and it looks like I will be using it a LOT. Thanks again and keep the great videos coming.

Great video! Thank you Bob!

Hi Bob, just wanted to say your truck looks good, didn't know that was a wrap and the color is outdoors perfect. Take Care and safe travels friend

Great video, I downloaded the app and followed along with you, we live in the Eastern Sierras in California and we plan to do a lot of boon docking this year. Thank you very much for sharing.

Thank you Bob! This is the best tutorial for this app that I have ever seen!

Adding the app to my phone right now. Thanks Bob!

That area of Marana has some beautiful BLM land. I highly recommend checking out the biosphere 2 aka bio dome. I’m surprised this is bobs first time in camping in the area.

Thanks Bob. I just rolled into the Phoenix area for work as a first time nomad, I very much appreciate this.

It's been awhile since I last watched your videos. Last two years been wintering and working in Texas. Will start traveling this coming winter. Once again was not disappointed in you video and helpful tips! Would love to meet you again going to Q next January for WRTR. Take care and safe travels. Traveling Great Grandma

Super great video thanks Bob!!!

Thanks for the walk though on the app. I didn't have this app yet. Super cool!

Thank you, Bob, for the great advice on the app and on how to use it.

Outstanding video!! Thanks!!

Thanks Bob for the info. I wondered about that.

As always more practical information as I get closer to my goal of traveling across the southwestern United States!Thanks

Thanks, this was very helpful. I bought the app also going from Vegas to Ca, Or, W , ID and back to Vegas starting May 1st, so this will be very helpful in finding a place to chill in between travels

Thanks Bob for this information I will be downloading this app 🙂

This was sooooo helpful! I live in Tucson so it was fun to see the BLM land nearby. Thank you Bob!

You got a new subscriber Mr. Bob! Very much appreciate your help and information.

Thank you so much Bob for this video, because when I finally go with my little no build minivan "home" I was worried about where I can set up and park over here on the east coast heading west