What Dry Camping Actually Is
Dry camping means camping without external hookups — no shore power, no water connection, no sewer connection. You're running entirely on what's in or on your rig: battery bank for electricity, fresh water tank for water, and holding tanks for waste. It's the most self-sufficient form of RV travel and opens up free public land camping that fully-hooked campgrounds can't access.
Power: The Primary Constraint
Your battery bank determines how long you can dry camp comfortably. Most RVs ship from the factory with a single 100Ah lead-acid house battery — enough for 1 night of modest use, but inadequate for extended dry camping without a generator or solar supplement.
Typical power consumption in an RV per day: LED lights (5–20Ah), phone charging (5–10Ah), fan (10–20Ah), roof AC (100–200Ah/hour — the biggest draw by far). Running AC on a battery bank without solar is impractical for more than a couple hours without a significant battery upgrade.
For first-time dry campers without solar upgrades, the practical approach: run the generator for 2–3 hours in the morning to recharge batteries and run the AC, conserve power through the afternoon, and manage expectations about what's comfortable at ambient temperatures.
Water: Conservation Is the Skill
A standard RV fresh water tank holds 25–50 gallons. At unrestricted use, that lasts 1–2 days for a couple. With conservation, it lasts 4–7 days. The practices that stretch the tank: Navy showers (wet, turn off, soap up, turn on, rinse — under 2 minutes), using water jugs for drinking water rather than the tank, doing dishes with a rinse bucket rather than running water, and using paper plates for some meals.
Know where your nearest water fill station is before you leave. Many campgrounds, RV parks, gas stations, and BLM ranger stations have potable water available for filling. Apps like iOverlander and Campendium note water sources at and near free camping spots.
Waste Management
Gray water (from sink and shower) fills faster than most first-timers expect — often faster than the black tank. Standard gray tank capacity: 30–50 gallons. At the campsite, monitoring the tank level on your monitor panel (many panels read imprecisely — check manually if uncertain) prevents the unpleasant surprise of an overflowing gray tank.
Know where the nearest dump station is. Apps like SaniDumps and RV Dump Stations locate dump facilities. Many campgrounds with full hookups allow day use of their dump station for $5–$15 even if you're not camping there.
Generator Etiquette and Quiet Hours
Generator use is the most contentious aspect of dry camping, particularly in shared public land areas. The standard courtesy: generator hours are 8am–8pm (some areas 9am–9pm). Running a generator before 8am or after 10pm in a multi-unit area is a genuine imposition on neighbors. Keep this in mind when planning your power management strategy.
First Dry Camping Recommendation
Before heading to a remote BLM area for your first dry camp, spend one night in your driveway or a campground without connecting to hookups. Run entirely on your battery bank and water tank, use the generator per your plan, and discover what your actual consumption looks like before you're 40 miles from the nearest service. This "practice run" identifies gaps in your system or habits before they become problems in the field.
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