How to Start Overland Camping–A Beginners Guide

Camping has been a part of my life since I was a child which has made me really excited about overland camping and my first experience was everything I hoped for.

Having grown up in a small rural town in Idaho I am no stranger to the outdoors but in my adult life my interactions with the outdoors have looked a lot different, especially after moving to the “city”. My love for the outdoors has never left and as I got into trail running in 2017 I started to reconnect with nature by running up and climbing mountains.

Over the past several years I have spent a couple of weekends each summer camping with my family out of their campers. I’ve always enjoyed the experienced and been bummed when summer would pass by and I would have only made it on one or two camping trips. This past summer I didn’t go on a single one though I did spend a few evenings at campsites with family just hanging out. 

What I did do towards the end of the summer was become familiarized with the concept of overland camping. I actually had no idea what this was until my significant other got really intrigued by it and started telling me all about it. After a couple of months of talking about it and a weekend cabin getaway canceled due to wildfires, I knew we needed to experience overland camping ourselves. 

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Tips to Start Overland Camping

So here’s the deal, an overland camping set-up is expensive and takes time to put together. As a beginner you may not have the funds or knowledge to get your own set-up together and on top of that, you may not even know if it’s something you are interested enough to fully invest in. 

Choosing an overland vehicle or preparing the one you have, planning and packing your gear, and choosing where you’re going to go are all important aspects of overlanding and require some time and effort to plan out. Once you have a feeling for the experience planning will take less work but you can expect to take some time to work out the kinks and find out what works for you. 

Rent an Overland Vehicle

We wanted to get a feel of the overlanding experience so we rented someone’s set up. Here in the Boise, Idaho area, there are a couple of companies that offer overland vehicle rentals. 

Overland Rental Options Near Boise Idaho

• Idaho Adventure Vehicle Rentals 
• Outdoorsy
• OutWander

If you want to get the experience without the huge investment then I highly recommend checking out one of these websites and renting an overland vehicle for a weekend. We found an overland truck set-up equipped with a Tuff Stuff Alpha hard shell rooftop tent (RTT) that sleeps 3-4 people and a Rigd brand swing gate, equipped with a drop-down camp table and cutting board.

The truck also had the ability to attach a bike rack and a roll-up tonneau cover to keep our gear dry and protected which was great since we got poured on one night. Renting this truck helped us get an idea of what we would and wouldn’t want in an overland vehicle if we were to own one. On top of all that, the owner offered add-ons like hammocks, a Blackstone, camping chairs, a kitchen set, and a bike rack. 

I am local to the area and already had some camping supplies (plus I purchased some) so we didn’t use any of the add-ons but this is a great option for people who may be traveling from out of town or don’t have camping items already and aren’t ready to start investing in them. 

Organize Your Gear List

Camping seems straightforward and minimal and yes, it can be. However, for a comfortable experience, there are a few things that are nice to have and some that are necessary. For a detailed list of what to pack and insight into how I organize my gear list check out The Best Camping Gear–What to Pack as a Beginner Camper.

You are going to need some hygiene items. You’ll need to pack environmentally friendly toilet paper or wet wipes, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, environmentally friendly soap, and possibly cleaning spray. Yes, you’ll get dirty when camping and that’s okay but I at least like to keep things sanitary especially when prepping food. 

Speaking of prepping food, you’re going to need some things for that if you plan on eating hot meals. At the very least you’ll need a single gas burner, a cooking vessel, cooking and eating utensils and dishes. I recommend a coffee percolator or a camping kettle as well because a warm morning beverage is a must when camping. A portable table or prep surface is also great but you can always use the tailgate of the truck or a rock if you must. 

Finally, you’ll need blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and comfy clothes! Comfort and warmth are key when camping so carefully consider how you’ll need to dress. This includes protection from the elements and possibly bugs as well. Packing insect spray and a first-aid kit is also a good idea. 

This list is super minimal and of course, your needs will vary depending on the type of experience you are aiming for. 

Pick Your Destination

This is my favorite part! I love route and itinerary planning and Google Sheets has become my best friend for this. What’s so great about overland camping is the ability to go almost anywhere and still camp in comfort. Unlike taking an RV out, you don’t have to worry quite as much about road size or conditions and while you can pitch a typical tent anywhere, it’s most ideal to have a nice camping pad to put it on. 

With a rooftop tent, even ground and clearance are needed but that’s about it. While you can park at an actual campground with amenities and such, you don’t have to. Since it was our first time going out we did park at campgrounds. One was a dry campground with nothing but a firepit and the other did have vault toilets but no firepit where we parked. 

Three are some pretty cool apps you can use to find camping spots when overlanding. I used iOverlander and the Dyrt. I think iOverlander is ideal for overland camping since it gives GPS coordinates and more information about what to expect specifically as an overlander but the Dyrt is great for more popular campsites. You can use them both and put together an awesome itinerary. 

What’s cool about iOverlander is that it lists totally off-the-grid spots that other campers have shared and will let you know if the spot is public land and any restrictions around utilizing it. You can pull over anywhere with an RTT as long as it is permissible for the area and iOverlander typically provides that information. 

I would probably recommend staying in one spot for at least 2 nights but if your time is limited and you want to explore it’s super easy to pack up camp and head to a new destination which is the beauty of overland camping. It’s also easy enough to set up even if you arrive late to your destination. 

_{This post may contain affiliate links, including links to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Mae Today!}

Takeaways

All camping takes a lot of prep work and can seem overwhelming as well as be an investment but the views and memories you experience will be worth it. Remember that it’s a good idea to check and double-check your gear list and make sure you’ve packed everything on it. You should also always share where you are going with someone in case you end up without cellphone service. 

If you are new to overland camping or hoping to get started, take your time to research what to expect and how to operate the equipment you end up with. There are tons of YouTube videos available that can help you prepare for your first overlanding adventure.