Dispersed (Wilderness) vs. developed camping: Find out what suits your family
Lately, I've heard families express concerns about where to go camping with kids. It can be difficult to figure out if you're camping with an infant or bigger kids for for the first time or simply just not that familiar with your area. Where to take your family camping entirely depends on your comfort level and preferences. Let me walk you through what to consider when choosing what type of camping to do with your kids.
Wilderness (dispersed) vs. developed camping - Find out what suits your family
If you already know you want to avoid developed/designated camp sites and try dispersed camping, check out my easy step-by-step guide on how to find dispersed camping spots using Google Maps and CalTopo.
TIPS ON WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO CAMP WITH KIDS:
How far away from home would you like to go, meaning, how car happy are your kids?
Do you require any amenities (toilets, showers, water etc.)?
What's the time of year and what's the weather like?
What setup do you have? (Do you rely on permanent gazebos, easy-access roads, grills, your car, etc.)
How secluded would you like to be?
What is dispersed (wilderness) camping:
Dispersed camping is what I refer to as wilderness camping, usually on BLM land or National Forest. You have to be self-sufficient and can't rely on any amenities. This is our preferred type of camping, but only after we did a season or two of designated/developed camping (camp sites) until we had the right setup and felt comfortable with what we were doing.
Dispersed (wilderness) camping near White Sands, NM, in the Lincoln National Forest. We camped as a group, but had no neighbors in site and woke up to spectacular views.
Reasons for choosing dispersed camping
You don't have to worry about camp sites filling up if you're not the first one there (unless its a prime and well known spot you're going for).
Secluded camping and prime locations with spectacular scenery.
Dogs can run free.
Gratification in being self-sufficient and independent.
Multiple options for setting up camp means you can see how far you go and stop when you see a spot you like.
Camp right next to your car if you rely on it.
No noisy neighbors
Free!
Challenges with dispersed camping :
Finding out where you are allowed to camp (public land vs private land).
No reservations, so no guarantees - you will have to have a few options pinned on a map in case someone else is there or the spot turns out to be too uneven, too windy etc.
No facilities/amenities. You have to bring all your water, food and be okay with doing your business in the wild AND pack in everything to leave no trace behind.
Wildlife - be more cautious. There are no fences or bear boxes.
Harder to find non-taken dispersed spots in more populated areas (we are spoiled in the Southwest).
You are limited to where your car will take you. Most cars can travel on forest roads, but some roads are in such bad conditions that you need an off-road vehicle of some kind. Most trail rated Subarus and Jeeps do fine, but you have to check with the local ranger before relying on making it all the way. Road conditions worsen quickly, especially after heavy rain or snow melt, so take caution.
Related: How to find dispersed camping spots using Goggle Maps and CalTopo
What is developed (designated) camping:
This is what I refer to as camping in campgrounds or designated spots. Most National Parks, state parks and private owner's (RV parks) offer designated camping with amenities ranging from primitive to comfortable. Some camp sites are designated (marked) spots in the wilderness (with no amenities), so you can test it out without having to do the work of spotting it on a map yourself. You often find these spots in state parks.
Developed (designated) camping at Cochiti Rec Area, Buffalo Loop near Cochiti Lake, NM. We camped with a large group and had booked 3 spots. There was plenty of room for everyone between the sites and each site had a permanent bench and gazebo. It came with parking lots too, so our view was a bit obstructed by cars.
Reasons for choosing developed camping:
Easy to find a camping site through local camping books and online resources. You have multiple options, so you usually don't have to worry about getting a spot if you are open minded.
Amenities - depending on how primitive you go, you are guaranteed some or all of the following: toilets (vaults if rural), running water, showers, convenience shop, level surface, fire ring, grill, electricity, permanent gazebos etc.
Neighbors - if you worry about being all alone out in the wilderness, having neighbors and general signs of civilization can take the edge off.
Bear boxes and trash bins - wildlife is everywhere, especially where there's food. Many camp sites have bear boxes and bear safe trash bins set up to keep your food locked away safely.
Book in advance to take away the stress of finding an available spot.
Neighboring kids for your kids to play with.
All cars and trailers can make it to most designated camp sites.
Level ground for trailers and tents.
Walk-in camping at the Black Jack Tent Are in the Cimaron Canyon. This developed campsite was more ‘dispersed’ than the neighboring campgrounds because you had to walk in. It worked then with our small tent and one baby, but we now rely on our car for our kitchen and on-off -loading. (August).
Challenges with developed camp sites:
Some camp sites require you to park in a parking lot away from your spot (walk-in camping). You will have to carry everything to your camp spot. This is doable if you don't bring a lot and don't rely on your car.
Cost - camp grounds range from $10-25 per night usually.
Less flexible - you usually have to know how long you intend to stay.
(Noisy) neighbors
Dogs have to be leashed
More primitive sites have more primitive amenities. You might end up with a dirty, smelly vault toilet, but too many neighbors to comfortably 'go' somewhere else in the woods. (A shower/toilet tent is a great solution for this!).
Checkout time is usually 11 am at campgrounds, so spots quickly fill up if you're not there early and haven’t booked in advance. This is true for popular National Parks and State Parks. Often, there are no alternative to designated camp sites for popular destinations, so you have to book in advance either way.
Ground may be Rock solid making it a challenge to drive in pegs. This is usually only a problem in smaller lots where you can't move the tent much to softer ground.
Our second night with the Oztent: we were forced to pack and find a new camp site after JUST having arrived with hungry, screaming kids. The ground was rock solid, so the tent could not be staked down.
We started out camping with our primitive backpacker setup in developed camp sites around the state. It was a great way to get comfortable with our setup without adding the stress of finding the perfect location as well. The sites we chose were fairly primitive because we like feeling secluded. But we often had neighbors nearby which was only rarely an issue. We also tried the walk-in sites where we had to carry our gear to the camping spot. This was easy when we used a two person tent and only had one baby. It would be impossible now with our Oztent, our two kids, our fridge and everything else.
General safety advice for all types of camping
There are so much to mention safety wise that I can’t possibly cover it all. But remember that you need to be more or less self-sufficient for any type of rural camping. That extends to the obvious such as water, food and gas, but also first aid readiness, driving/mechanic skills and weather precautions. You are also limited to where your car will take you. Most cars can travel on forest roads, but some roads are in such bad conditions that you need an off-road vehicle of some kind. Most trail rated Subarus and Jeeps do fine, but you have to check with the local ranger before relying on making it all the way. Road conditions worsen quickly, especially after heavy rain or snow melt, so take caution and plan your route.
Always check the fire restrictions before you plan to cook all your meals over the fire. The summers get hot and dry and there are often fire bans in action, even for designated sites with fire rings. Always carry extra water, sunblock, chargers/battery pack and blankets/jackets and good boots (you may have to walk far). And always leave your coordinates/planned destination and route with family/friends/coworkers along with a planned return time. Be smart and come prepared.
Happy camping!!