Hitchhiker Worries: WHERE DO I SLEEP?

[johncamps]

I just traveled from Delaware to Florida and for the most part people let me crash at there place. Or if that didnt happen i would walk all night then sleep at a public park. seemed to be the best options.

[WurdBendur]

Also for day sleeping, look for universities. I haven't hitchhiked yet, but when I was in school I used to catch some sleep in the lounge all the time between classes. They expect it from students, and nobody will notice somebody unfamiliar. Plus everybody else is carrying around backpacks and such, so you probably won't stand out much unless you carry a lot. At some universities you can even get in at night, though it may not be the best time to sleep there.

And while you're there you might get into a dorm (you'll probably have to follow somebody else else in because the doors will usually be locked) for a convenient shower. My brother knew a guy who slept in his truck and showered in the dorms every morning rather than pay to live there.

[highbear]

i rarly spent time in a city when hitching. and would even stay up all night to avoid camping in a town. i was once arrested for sleeping in astrange area. and found out that i had been sleeping just outside litraly of a milatary base. other wise never had real problems camping.in the 80s.
i used to also crawl up under interstate overpasses and lay down on the narrow shelf ( i have noticed those are disapearring rapidly. ) and always travel light. take a day pack and bedroll. wear layers to stay warm.
and for long rides try to hitch at night. drivers on long trips want conversatioin to stay awake.
just an old timer speaking from experiance and days gone by.
you are a new generation of hitchers . so my advice could be outdated.
happy trails and keep asmile on your face
highbear

[TeotlOnion]

[quote:87830318f6="Strobe"]Okay. How about just laying a tarp on the ground then laying your blnket or w.e inside of that or throw on a couple extra pairs of clothes, wrap yourself up in the tarp.. thats better than anything, I think. you dont need to make a home, just need to keep you alive and safe. Or if you have two tarps then you could do a tarp bed with a tarp blanket that you cover up with in case of rain or other foul wheather. either way your are going to wrap yourself in the tarps..[/quote:87830318f6]

Little late, I know, but any time I've EVER done the tarp burrito like this, I've gotten soaked. ugh.

[RangerChris]

With very few exceptions I stealth camp exclusively. Strongly recommend the military surplus bivy bags, picked mine up for 90$(its current issue and unused) but i see some used ones in decent shape go as low as 30$. Mine is digital woodland camo and although I am very adept at stealth camping in urban centers it has opend up alot of oportunitys. you see if you are invisible you can be right under someones nose. A tiny lot in town with tall grass youd never dream of pitching a tent on is now fair game, the bivy is lower than the grass and because its camo blends in anyways. Worst case scenario if someone comes up on you, well youve got the jump on them and act accordingly;)

[rubsley]

I've slept anywhere and everywhere. Obviously the best is to be out of the towns and then the world's your oyster, just find a bit of spare ground, but within cities I've slept in parks, vacant lots, on roofs. That includes LA. There's always somewhere: last place I slept in a town was in a doorway in Oaxaca City, down in Mexico; was nice.

Cheers!
Rory

Discovering Beautiful: On The Road To Somewhere - a tale of 20,000 miles of hitching through the US and Mexico, and some other things besides, available on Amazon now

[gospeltruth]

I'm going to be hitching in the USA from June-August/early September. It'll be my first time hitching in the States, so I have a question regarding tent/vs tarp.

I'll be traveling all over the country and doing a mixture of urban covert camping/camping/sleeping by roadsides; from big cities and small towns to national parks/the desert and who knows else where. I guess the point is everything and anything, I don't know yet.

Two things that come to mind, temperature and protection (mosquitoes, spiders, snakes, other miscellaneous wildlife). Do i go with a tent/roll mat/sleeping bag or tarp/roll mat/sleeping bag?

Pros and cons of each, with regards to temperatures/climate/rainfall and protection over the entire USA months June-August would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Lightfoot]

[quote:e0e0d0ea33="gospeltruth"]

Two things that come to mind, temperature and protection (mosquitoes, spiders, snakes, other miscellaneous wildlife). Do i go with a tent/roll mat/sleeping bag or tarp/roll mat/sleeping bag?

Pros and cons of each, with regards to temperatures/climate/rainfall and protection over the entire USA months June-August would be much appreciated. [/quote:e0e0d0ea33]

I would try it minus the tent. Tents weigh you down and most of the time you'll regret hauling it around. There will be nights where you might have a passing rainstorm, and those might be miserable nights, but many more of your nights will probably be dry. Look for summer nights no lower than the 40's in the high mountains and upper 50's or low 60's most everywhere else.

The South has high humidity in the summer and hence, more precipitation. Also more insects like fire ants and mosquitos. You might want to consider avoiding that part of the country, especially if you find snakes and alligators crawling into your sleeping bag bothersome.

[gospeltruth]

The south is probably the area I'm looking forward to most. So, I'm thinking find the lightest tent possible for a reasonable buck (not worrying too much about it being waterproof) and crash mostly on a roll mat with sleeping bag and then use the tent when necessary?

[redford]

I carry a tarp and a lightweight tent. Even though I curse the weight somedays I also am extremely grateful that I have some nights just to be protected from bugs and rain.