Wild camping. Guide from A to Z

Wild camping is the only “acceptable” form of recreation for some people. Many campervan and caravan owners proudly point out that they have never used a campsite with caravan infrastructure. What are the pros and cons of this solution? Is it possible to stay everywhere and in what places is wild camping prohibited? We will answer the above questions in our article.

In the wild?

The first association: in the wild, that is, somewhere in the wilderness, far from civilization, but close to nature, there is only greenery around, maybe water and a fantastic silence, broken only by the singing of birds. It's true, we all like places like this. But in the wild, this simply means that where we don't have infrastructure, we don't connect to power poles, we don't use toilets, we don't fill water tanks.

Therefore, for tourists traveling in a trailer or camper, “outdoors” also means “in the city.” Tourists who do not use campsites spend the night “in the wild” in safe parking lots located on the outskirts of cities attractive to tourists. This is one of the reasons why small campers and vans built on buses, such as the VW California, are becoming increasingly popular. Their main advantage, the manufacturers emphasize, is the ability to drive anywhere, including crowded cities.

Pros and cons of wild camping 

There are many reasons why we choose wild camping. First of all: complete independence, because we decide where and when we park our motorhome. Secondly: closeness to nature and distance from people. These are definitely additional benefits. Wild in the city? We have excellent living conditions, as close as possible to the city sites that interest us.

Photo by Tommy Lisbin (Unsplash). CC license.

Of course, finances are also important. Wild simply means free. This can be a considerable saving if you take into account that the price lists in campsites have a number of points - a separate payment for a person, a separate payment for a vehicle, sometimes a separate payment for electricity, etc. You just need to remember that not everywhere is wild camping is legal. It's worth checking the local regulations in the countries we're going to, or the parking regulations where we want to stay. You also need to know and respect the difference between camping (outdoor shelter, chairs, grill) and secluded camper or trailer camping.

Wild camping advocates say:

I don't have a bathroom, kitchen, or beds in a camper to go camping with all this gear.

This solution also has disadvantages. Let's listen to Victor, who has been living in a camper in the middle of nowhere for many years:

I am often asked about security (theft, robbery, etc.). We never encountered any dangerous situation and no one bothered us. Sometimes we didn't see a soul for 24 hours a day. Wild camping is a little more difficult because you need to be perfectly prepared for the trip. If I forget tools or equipment, no one will lend them to me. At a campsite you can always ask for help, but in the forest there is no one. In complete wilderness the signal sometimes disappears. Wifi doesn't work. Therefore, the camper for such trips must be in perfect technical condition.

Where can you camp? 

In Poland you can set up a wild camp, but under certain conditions. First of all: camping in national parks is strictly prohibited (prohibited by the National Parks Act of 26 January 2022, art. 32(1)(4)). They are created to protect biodiversity and nature, so any interference is prohibited.

In forests, camping is allowed in specially designated areas determined by individual forest districts. These do not include protected areas and nature reserves. Tents are permitted on private land with the consent of the owner.

Is it possible to pitch a tent or camp in the forest?

It is possible, but only in specially designated areas. The first question to ask yourself is: whose forest is this? If the forest is located on a private plot, the owner's consent will be required. If these are state forests, then the decision on parking areas is made by individual forest districts. Everything is regulated by the Forestry Act 1991, according to which: pitching tents in the forest is allowed only in places determined by the forester, and outside them is prohibited by law. It is best to use the “Spend the night in the forest” program. State forests have been managing it for several years. There are designated places where you can camp as much as you like, and drivers of campers and trailers can leave their vehicles in forest parking lots for free.

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Photo by Toa Heftiba (Unsplash). CC license

Where to look for places in the wild?

You can find places for wild camping using the following resources: 

1.

Wild places can be found mainly in the Places section of the Polish Caravaning website. We create this database together with you. We already have more than 600 locations in Poland and a number of European countries.

2. Groups of travelers

A second source of information about verified wild places is forums and Facebook groups. We recommend it, which has around 60 members. Many of you are willing to share your experiences and provide information about wild places from which only good memories have been taken away.

3. park4night app

This smartphone app probably doesn't need any introduction. This is a platform where users exchange information about trusted places where, as the name suggests, you can stay overnight. The application was created by several million tourists from all over Europe. We can find locations in cities, along trails, and also in wilderness areas.

4. Time to go to the forest (page of the program “Spend the night in the forest”)

The website Czaswlas.pl, managed by the State Forests, can be a source of inspiration for many people looking for places in the wild. There we have detailed maps and directions. We can filter the places we are looking for according to our needs – are we looking for a forest parking lot or maybe a place to stay overnight? As we reported, the State Forests have allocated forest areas in almost 430 forest areas where we can legally stay overnight.