Southern Soul Quest: Camping Adventures

Introduction

When planning my southern road trip, I was torn about buying a van to convert it into a camper van. After a lot of research and internal debate, I decided to try the experience of living out of the vehicle I already had: a Kia Sorento. Then I spent a lot of time figuring out the best setup. And finally, I had it. I removed the back seats, built a bed platform, and added storage bins. It was a primitive, but functional setup. Looking back, I’m not sure I took any pictures of the inside of my car.

• Mattress topper with sheets and a blanket (blanket not used much)
• Coleman stove
• folding table and chair
• Propane
• Water jugs
• Cooler
• Generator
• Camera gear (never used!)
• Cooking tools and utensils
• Camping gear (tent, inflatable mattress, etc)
• Books

Why car camping? First, it’s considerably cheaper than hotels, hostels, or other conventional options. Second, it is less limiting on where you can stay. And third, I could either sleep in my car or set up at campsites – the latter being preferred. Regardless of where I stayed – campground, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, hiking trail – I generally felt safe and was able to leave in a hurry if necessary.

Spaces and Campgrounds for Car Camping

Useful Apps for Car Camping

• iOverlander: This is a great app for finding water, camping spots, fuel, mechanics, and everything else a regular map would offer. I only used it for campsites, of which there are three types on the app: established campgrounds, informal sites, and wild camping. Informal sites are generally those parking lots at chain stores/restaurants.
  I particularly appreciated seeing reviews for each spot to see if it was a safe place. If you’re considering sleeping in your vehicle or looking for lesser-known campgrounds, this app is for you.
• KOA: I ended up staying at just one KOA, but I plan to visit more. These campgrounds are solid. And the app makes it easy to book stays. There are hundreds of KOA campgrounds, so it’s good to know that wherever you go, you’ll find a solid spot to sleep.

There are three types of places I stayed: parking lots, campgrounds, or with family. I won’t go into detail on the family stays, because the focus here is on reviews for the other stays. My family is great, so consider this a five-star review of my family’s accommodations. There are two exceptions. The first was a vacant (but not abandoned) hiking path. The second was a plantation in South Carolina. That was the only bed I slept on, and I enjoyed it for the one night I was there.

PA Welcome Center –> Hiking Path

My first leg of the trip got me close to the campground in VA. Twelve hours of driving is enough for me. My first plan was to work out at a nearby Planet Fitness. It was closed…so I headed to the store for some food and parked at the PA Welcome Center where I cooked my first meal on the trip. I wasn’t at the Welcome Center long before I started to feel nervous. There was a lot of car movement and a bunch of people congregating nearby. I decided to be safe and find another spot. I drove another hour before finding a hiking trail parking lot. It was secluded and vacant. Good enough for me.

Fredericksburg, VA: Fredericksburg KOA

The Fredericksburg KOA was a solid first campground. At first, I set up my car tent – the kind that is held up by the trunk door and wrapped around the back of the car. Well, it rained pretty hard and a lot of rain got inside the tent. I had a two-man tent and that’s what I ended up sleeping in. I put a large tarp over the front of the tent and placed my cooking gear. It didn’t look pretty, but it was a solid setup and kept everything out of the rain. Except when it poured and I had to make sure there weren’t big pools of water on the tarp. I could have rearranged it better.

Sandston, VA: Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel is one of the most welcoming places for car, van, and RV campers. I always ask someone if I can spend the night in the lot. It’s never been an issue yet. My one piece of advice is to leave yourself some time in the day if they do say no. Don’t wait until the last hour of light. Also, be a patron. I enjoyed having a little supper at a Cracker Barrel before heading to bed.

Williamsburg, VA: Chickahominy Riverfront Park

This park is part boat launch and part campground. I enjoyed my stay here while I visited Colonial Williamsburg and some other spots. But really, I found myself at the campsite a lot. I wrote, I read, I cooked, I relaxed. I was joined by a family of four, but only for an evening. It was a hot night and they ended up heading back home early. One thing I didn’t mention in the gear list: a fan. I wouldn’t say the fan kept me cool, but it kept me from overheating a lot.

After the family left, I was the only one tenting in the nearby area. If you look at the map, I was C2. This park offers glamping opportunities as well. But I enjoyed my quiet campsite and the shower house.

Cedar Creek, NC: Cedar Creek Campground

This is a campground in progress. At the time, they were donations only and open to just a few campers at a time. When I stayed overnight, I slept in my car. It was 100 degrees at 8pm. Not very enjoyable, but I felt safe and the two guys who own it are awesome. They let me use their outdoor shower and only hit on me a couple of times. The campground is fairly small and they’re working on their permit to make it official. Great spot for quiet and contemplation.

Broxton Bridge, SC: Broxton Bridge Plantation

Boy was it nice to sleep in a bed after such a long time. Honestly, this felt more like a hunting camp than a plantation. I stayed in a lodge that two other women slept in, although I never say them. It was an old place that felt like the 1960s or 70s. There were expired breakfast pastries and an atmosphere of old. I wasn’t opposed to the place; I rather liked sitting in the leather chair and reading old magazines on the Civil War or the 1958 yearbook for some technical school nearby. But if you want a plantation experience, this isn’t it.

Latrobe, PA: Walmart

Not much to add here. I was not the only overnighter. There were multiple cars with people who stayed overnight. I will say, this was one spot I felt a little uncomfortable. I heard some young men’s voices nearby and it startled me a couple times, but they eventually left and I slept soundly. I woke up early, hit the bathroom in the store, and drove off to my next stop.

Conclusion

Car camping is an experience for sure! After three weeks on the road, I found myself enjoying the lifestyle. Do I see myself doing it full time? No. I like having a home base…a home, period. But I can see myself buying a van one day and outfitting it to suit some short term trips. I’d like to visit more of the South and I’ve never been out West. The United States is a huge country and we’re bordered by two other large countries. North America offers so much to those who wish to road trip.

You can and should make plans for accommodations and activities, but the best stories come from being spontaneous. When I stayed in Latrobe, I met a very friendly man from Latin America. He let me practice my Spanish. As I left, he said, “see you next time.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him there likely won’t be a next time. But it’s these one time interactions with other humans that make us feel alive.

I didn’t plan my trip from end to end. I’d stay in one place, wander the area, and decide I was ready to leave. Then I’d look on Google Maps to see where I wanted to head next. After I had a spot, I’d use iOverlander to identify a campground (preferred) or a safe overnight spot nearby. That’s been my method to maximize the opportunities for spontaneity.

One issue I had was knowing when it was time to move on. How do you know when you’re ready? Besides a gut feeling, I don’t think there is a way. I’ll be going further in-depth on this in a future post.

Up next will be my time in Charleston! Thanks, Samantha!