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A Collection of Tidbits for Sleeping, Hiking and Working on the Road

  • cookse08
  • May 15, 2024
  • 2 min read

After over a month of adventures as a full time "rubber tramp", I've collected some helpful tips from fellow travelers and haphazard Google searches. Here are my top tidbits for sleeping and camping, hiking, and working remotely as a digital nomad in the Southwest.


Sleeping and Camping Tips

Sleep is gold in this way of life. When it comes to free overnight parking and car camping, these are some of the best spots:


Cracker Barrel

Usually the best option - low light, close to highways and gas stations.


Walmart

Brighter due to more street lights, but centrally located inside cities near coffee shops and amenities.


Camping World

Offers RV hookups and large lots for spreading out with more privacy away from entrances.


Another fantastic option is dispersed camping areas, which are free spots for car or tent camping, sometimes even with portable bathrooms.


A few of my favorite dispersed camping locations in the Southwest:


Breckenridge, CO

Officer's Gulch parking lot with trail access, low lighting, and distance from highway for quiet sleeping.


  • 19751 I-70, Frisco, CO 80443 (39.5376266, -106.1439675)


Moab, UT

Recreational area right at Canyonlands National Park entrance with restrooms, picnic tables, and free overnight parking.


  • G84Q+QW3 Moab, UT (38.5067520, -109.6601994)



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Sedona, AZ

Coconino National Forest Dispersed Camping Area - my favorite! Lots of site options, portable bathrooms, hiking/biking trails, no overhead lighting (ideal for stargazing), and amazing views of Thunder Mountain. A perfect place to rest, read, create, and reflect.


  • Forest 525 RD, Sedona, AZ 86336 (34.7893515, -111.9067695)



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Bonus: Pro Tips for a Less Crowded Hiking Experience in Sedona


At Devil's Bridge, skip the long line at the destination point. Walk just a bit past the line for the same amazing views with far fewer crowds.


For The Crack at BellTrail, the watering holes along the 4-mile Bell Trail are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. But for more seclusion, take one of the side trails carved out along the way, especially after the second marker for Bell/Bruce Brockett Trail.



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Amarillo, TX

Rosita Creek Flats OHV Area - close to town but far from main roads, low light, great for an overnight camp (but beware of dirt bikers/off-road vehicles)


Working Remotely as a Rubber Tramp

While remote work allows for an adventurous lifestyle, it also presents unique challenges. In no certain order of importance or category, here is a quick list of how I make working during this time easier:


  • I drive no more than 6 hours per travel day to avoid excessive fatigue

  • Thursdays are my driving days to reach weekend destinations

  • Opened my calendar for earlier/later meetings to keep Fridays light

  • Research cafés and coffee shops the night before for WiFi, food options, pet policies, etc. This helps maximize sleep - it's priceless for this lifestyle!

  • I will work from the "living area" of my Jeep using Wifi accessible from parking lots (fast food chain parking lots are great for this!), or utilize my hotspot to avoid extra costs that come with ordering coffee and sweet treats every day

  • Take advantage of any downtime for work AND adventure time

  • Most importantly, balancing productive work periods with embracing the freedom to explore.


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What's next? The Pacific Northwest. Cheers!

 
 
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