Boondocking Itineraries
Five destinations, each available as a 9-day base (5 vacation days + weekends) or a 10-day long weekend (5 vacation days + one 3-day weekend). All trips depart Austin at 10 AM and follow the 3/3/3 rule: ≤ 300 miles/day, arrive by 3 PM or earlier, stay ≥ 3 nights per stop. Return days allow up to 450 miles (home by 6 PM).
Gulf Coast & River Country
Gulf beach → South Texas birding → desert reservoir
Gulf Coast & River Country — 9 Days
9-Day BaseGulf beach → South Texas birding country
- ▶ Drive-on Gulf of Mexico beach camping — sunset and surf right from your campsite
- ▶ Best winter birding in Texas at Choke Canyon — Green Jay at the northernmost range limit
Gulf Coast & River Country — 10 Days
10-Day Long WeekendGulf beach → South Texas birding → desert reservoir
- ▶ Drive-on Gulf beach camping → South Texas birding → free international reservoir in one loop
- ▶ Best bass fishing on any itinerary at Lake Amistad (US/Mexico reservoir, 67,000 acres)
East Texas & Louisiana
Piney woods → cypress bayou → Louisiana longleaf pine
East Texas & Louisiana — 9 Days
9-Day BasePiney woods → Louisiana longleaf pine savanna
- ▶ East Texas Piney Woods: loblolly pine and Spanish moss in a dense, quiet forest
- ▶ Longleaf pine savanna at Kisatchie — one of the rarest ecosystems in North America, being actively restored
East Texas & Louisiana — 10 Days
10-Day Long WeekendPiney woods → deep East Texas cypress bayou → Louisiana longleaf pine
- ▶ Three distinct eastern forest ecosystems: loblolly pine, big cypress bayou, Louisiana longleaf pine
- ▶ Jefferson TX Historic District day trip from Lake O' the Pines — most scenic small town in East Texas
West Texas Desert
Ancient pictographs → spring-fed pool → dark-sky observatory
West Texas Desert — 9 Days
9-Day BaseAncient pictographs → mile-high mountain observatory
- ▶ 8,000-year-old Fate Bell Shelter — the most significant Native American rock art site in North America
- ▶ McDonald Observatory Star Party — best accessible dark-sky stargazing in the continental US
West Texas Desert — 10 Days
10-Day Long WeekendAncient pictographs → spring-fed desert pool → mile-high observatory
- ▶ Rock art → spring-fed pool → dark-sky observatory — three iconic West Texas experiences in one loop
- ▶ Balmorhea: world's largest spring-fed swimming pool at 72–76°F year-round; turtles and fish visible while snorkeling
New Mexico Mountains
Guadalupe Peak → Sacramento Mountains → desert oasis
New Mexico Mountains — 9 Days
9-Day BaseRock art transit → Guadalupe Peak → spring-fed pool
- ▶ Guadalupe Peak — highest point in Texas at 8,751 ft; panoramic Chihuahuan Desert views
- ▶ Balmorhea spring-fed pool as a summer decompression stop: 4 nights at 72–76°F water
New Mexico Mountains — 10 Days
10-Day Long WeekendRock art → Guadalupe Peak → Sacramento Mountains → desert pool
- ▶ Texas high point (Guadalupe Peak) + highest National Forest in TX (Lincoln NF Cloudcroft at 9,000 ft)
- ▶ Four drive days — the most drive-intensive itinerary; suited for those comfortable with moderate daily distances
Oklahoma Forests
Sulphur springs NRA → Ouachita river canyons → $3/night mountain camp
Oklahoma Forests — 9 Days
9-Day BaseSulphur springs NRA → cedar river canyons of the Ouachitas
- ▶ Chickasaw NRA: sulphur springs, swim beach, and mineral water — unusual NPS destination on the southern plains
- ▶ Beavers Bend: cedar-canopied Mountain Fork River with stocked trout, kayaking, and old-growth pine hiking
Oklahoma Forests — 10 Days
10-Day Long WeekendSulphur springs → Ouachita river canyons → $3/night mountain trail camp
- ▶ $3/night at Winding Stair — the cheapest per-night camp on any itinerary
- ▶ Talimena Scenic Drive from Winding Stair: Oklahoma's best mountain panorama, almost unknown outside the state
Bucket List Trips
Iconic national parks and destinations across the West. Each is offered as a Compact version (efficient routing, some longer drive days) and a 3-3-3 Pace version (max 300 miles/day, minimum 3 nights per stop, regardless of total trip length).
Grand Canyon South Rim
Palo Duro → Taos → South Rim → Sedona → lava field
Grand Canyon South Rim — 10 Days
CompactPalo Duro canyon → Taos mesa → South Rim → Sedona → lava field
- ▶ Mather Point sunrise 10 minutes from your campsite — the iconic South Rim view without fighting parking
- ▶ Free shuttle to every South Rim viewpoint including Hermit's Rest, Yaki Point, and Desert View Watchtower
Grand Canyon South Rim — 3-3-3 Pace (16 Days)
3-3-3 Pace3 nights per stop · max 300 miles per drive day · no rush
- ▶ 3 nights at every stop — see each place properly, not just in transit
- ▶ Taos Pueblo UNESCO World Heritage day trip from Rio Grande del Norte camp
Grand Canyon North Rim
Bandelier → Lake Powell → North Rim → Zion → Monument Valley
Grand Canyon North Rim — 13 Days
CompactPalo Duro → Bandelier → Lake Powell → North Rim → Zion → Monument Valley → home
- ▶ North Rim at 8,200 ft — 15°F cooler than South Rim, 10% of the visitor count, Ponderosa pine forest
- ▶ Lake Powell boat access to water-only slot canyons from Wahweap Marina
Grand Canyon North Rim — 3-3-3 Pace (21 Days)
3-3-3 Pace3 nights per stop · max 300 miles per drive day · Jun–Sep only
- ▶ Six destinations, 3 nights each — no day feels rushed, no attraction feels skipped
- ▶ Valles Caldera NP day trip from Bandelier — volcanic caldera and bison herd rarely on any itinerary
Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Devils Tower
RMNP → Grand Teton → Yellowstone → Devils Tower loop
Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Devils Tower — 14 Days
CompactPalo Duro → Rocky Mountain NP → Grand Teton → Yellowstone → Devils Tower → home
- ▶ Lamar Valley dawn wildlife drive from Madison CG — bison, wolves, bears in their natural habitat
- ▶ Yellowstone booked via yellowstonenationalparklodges.com (not Recreation.gov) — a common planning mistake avoided
Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Devils Tower — 3-3-3 Pace (25 Days)
3-3-3 Pace3 nights per stop · max 365 miles per drive day · Jun–Sep only
- ▶ 4 nights at Yellowstone — enough time for Lamar Valley wildlife, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the geyser basins without rushing
- ▶ Black Hills day trip from Devils Tower: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Jewel Cave all within 90 minutes
Colorado Rockies Loop
RMNP → Maroon Bells → Mesa Verde → Black Canyon → Rio Grande del Norte → home
Colorado Rockies Loop — 15 Days
CompactPalo Duro → RMNP → Maroon Bells → Mesa Verde → Black Canyon → Colorado NM → Rio Grande del Norte → home
- ▶ Trail Ridge Road — highest continuous paved highway in the US at 12,183 ft, tundra and 360° alpine views
- ▶ Maroon Bells at dawn from Silver Bell CG — the most photographed mountain scene in Colorado before the crowds arrive
Colorado Rockies Loop — 3-3-3 Pace (24 Days)
3-3-3 Pace3 nights per stop · max 380 miles per drive day · Jun–Oct · returns via Rio Grande del Norte
- ▶ 3 nights at Maroon Bells — late September aspen peak turns the entire Elk Mountain drainage gold; impossible to rush
- ▶ 3 nights at Mesa Verde — Long House (Wetherill Mesa) on day 3 sees a fraction of Cliff Palace crowds
International — Mexico
Boondocking destinations within 10 hours of Austin, across the border
U.S. State Dept. Level 3 — Reconsider Travel
Both destinations are in states rated Level 3. Exercise increased caution. Travel only on Federal highways during daylight. Mexican auto insurance and a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) are required — purchase before crossing.
Cuatro Ciénegas Protected Natural Area
Ancient desert pozas with endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Crystal-blue pools, stromatolites, and exceptional dark skies at 1,200m elevation. Within the 300-mile daily limit via Eagle Pass crossing.
Real de Catorce & Wirikuta Desert
Colonial silver-mining ghost town at 2,750m. Sacred Wirikuta desert, cobblestone ruins, and exceptional dark skies. Best reached as a 2nd stop after overnighting at Cuatro Ciénegas (~280 mi south).
Required for both destinations: Mexican auto insurance (purchase online before crossing) · FMM tourist card (~$30 USD at border) · Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) from Banjercito at the crossing · Valid U.S. passport.