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The Unlost Dispatch · #002

Free Camping Isn't Always Cheap Living

Original issue date: . Publication: Published 2026-11-04.

The Unlost Dispatch — Issue #002

Free camping sounds like a pretty fantastic deal. No nightly campground fees, beautiful scenery, and the freedom to settle somewhere quiet.

What's not to love?

Well, your fuel budget might have a few opinions.

I've been living and traveling in an RV full-time, and one thing I've learned is that the real cost of a campsite involves considerably more than what you pay to park there.

Fuel, water, propane, maintenance, supplies, and the distance from work or essential services can make a supposedly free campsite surprisingly expensive.

In this issue of The Unlost Dispatch, I'm taking a practical look at the economics of boondocking, including some of the expenses that are easy to overlook and five things worth considering when choosing your next spot.

Because free camping can absolutely save you money.

But it helps to know what you're actually saving.

Subscribe free to The Unlost Dispatch to read the complete article and access the subscriber back catalog.

Wander freely. Find what you need.

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