Stealth Camping for Pickup Trucks

Slip in at dusk undetected, stay the night and leave in the morning with no one the wiser of your stay. This is stealth camping. With minimal setup, a pickup truck and camper are ideal for this sneaky form of roughing it.

Background

Stealth camping follows the same principles of Leave No Trace camping, with the added intrigue of staying unnoticed. According to Darren Alff, the goal is to “remain hidden at all times and to leave no trace of your existence during or after your departure from the site.” Though your pickup truck may be visible, like in a city, it should not be noticeable you are staying inside.

Equipment

The pickup camper should be small and inconspicuous for optimum disguise. Use a specially designed stealth camper or retro fit a utility camper. Campsite setup should be quick and covert, keeping items inside where they are unseen.

Considerations

Stealth campers should select sites carefully so they are not camping illegally. Never park on property with “No Trespassing” or “No Overnight Parking” signs.

Never cross a gate or fence because you may end up on private property. Many public lands, such as National Forests, will allow undesignated camping.