What is ...

... boondocking

An American term that could be winging its way across the Pond, 'boondocking' is the practice of pulling off the highway to stay at free locations in your car, caravan, RV (you're a RoVer if you drive one of these) or Winnebago, in spots that have zero or limited facilities. For this reason it's also known as 'dry camping'.

Although a boondock technically means a rural area of rough countryside filled with dense brush, some of the more popular spots in the US include Wal-Mart and shopping mall car parks and truck stops. Experienced boondockers suggest discretion when staying in these places: stay only a night or two and behave yourself to avoid being thrown out. They also say that rules restricting overnight parking often aren't enforced. You should avoid downtown areas, particularly streets covered in beer bottles or near nightclubs, where you might get hassled.

Outside the city, rather than paying to pitch in a National Park, boondockers often prefer National Forest land, usually a few miles away, where they can stop for free. They tend to carry binoculars and bird books to convince rangers they're there to see the birds at sunrise. Farmers are often willing to let drivers park on their land, as their presence provides security, particularly if they are willing to pay a few dollars for water or electricity. For some, boondocking is a long-term lifestyle choice.

For tips on how to survive, see phrannie.org/boondock; freecampgrounds.com has a map of 1,705 sites across the US; and boondocking.org has a list of GPS coordinates of good boondocking spots.