Live Simple Live Free: A 2 month boondocking trip

In the National Forest you can find primitive free camping areas for boondocking. What is boondocking? Boondocking is primitive camping in a self contained RV with its own water, electric, gas, and a toilet. But if you look around, you will find some National Forest sites that have a vault toilet and some that have water available in the area. The National Forest limits your time to 14 days in the month for most places and then you have to move. The distance you move varies according to the local rules. Some places it is a mile, others it is to a new ranger district.

This trip was planned for stays of 14 days before moving on to the next site. After spending 2 weeks at a campground, you may want to stay in one of the National Forest Campgrounds with full hookups to recharge you batteries, fill up on water, and take a long hot shower. Most campgrounds are reasonably priced even with full hookups. So, at the end of the 2 months you would only pay for these 4 nights at a campground. A really frugal way to enjoy the outdoors.

Here at the 4 campgrounds that don't require you to travel many miles between each one. You can save on gas, have free camping, and still find plenty to do in the area.

Lost Creek campground is located in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. There is a wild flower trail near the campground with the best viewing in April and May. The Smoky Mountain National Park is in the area and don't forget the Cherohala Skyway, a 43 mile National Scenic Byway that winds its way over mountain peaks. From I-75, take the Calhoun exit (no. 36, Hwy 163). Travel east toward Calhoun. At the intersection of Hwy 11 turn right and travel approximately 1 mile then take a left at Hardees onto Hwy 163 East. Travel 13 miles to Hwy 411. Turn right onto Hwy 411 and head south approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Hwy 30 and travel east toward Reliance, TN. Continue on Hwy 30 for 1.6 miles past Reliance and turn left at the sign to Lost Creek Campground. Continue on gravel road (FDR 103) for 7 miles to the campground. The trail begins across the road from the campground and follows the creek upstream.

Fires creek, located northwest of Hayesville, NC off Forest Road 442, is a area that allows dispersed camping. A 25-mile-long Rim Trail follows the ridge around Fires Creek and is a good place for a hike. It provides scenic vistas as it winds through several high-elevation bards. If you like white water, this is a nice place to raft down the creek.You will also find excellent trout fishing along with picnicking and hiking. There is a swimming hole in the creek at the bottom of the leatherwood falls.To get there: From RT 1302 at Fires Creek, turn left (north) on RT 1344. It will turn into FR 340, continue to the Leatherwood Falls parking area. Swimming hole is in creek near bottom of falls.

The Tallulah River Road is in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. It is a land of gorges, waterfalls, and scenic splendor. The Appalachian Trail is in the area and can be accessed from many of the other trails. You will also find everything from white water rafting to hiking along the rim of Tallulah Gorge where the old train used to run. For those fishermen, there is wonderful trout fishing in the river. With its 62 miles of shore line, Lake Burton is the uppermost and largest lake in a series of five lakes along the Tallulah River. The other lakes flowing south of Lake Burton are Lake Seed, Lake Rabun, Lake Tallulah and Lake Tugalo.

Lake Santeetlah is located in the Nantahala National Forest. There are over 200 miles (320 km) of hiking trails in the Cheoah District of the Nantahala National Forest, and one can hike about eight miles (13 km) from Lake Santeetlah to the Appalachian Trail. Nearby is the Cheoah River which is noted for its Class IV and V whitewater rapids. You can rent boats to use on the lake or take the kids to Cheoah Point Recreation Area complete with white sand beach, picnic tables, protected swim area, and restrooms. Lake Santeetlah adjoins a portion of U.S. 129 called the Tail of the Dragon, a road frequently used for recreational purposes by motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts because of its roughly 318 curves in 11 miles (18 km).