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Safety & emergency guide

Boondocking is one of the most rewarding ways to travel — and one of the most unforgiving when things go wrong. Out here you are your own first responder. This guide is written by and for people who camp beyond cell service. Read it before you leave the pavement.

Packing checklist Download offline maps
In a life-threatening emergency, dial 911. If you have no cell signal, use a satellite messenger's SOS button or move to high ground and try SMS — text often gets through when calls fail.

Core safety essentials

The non-negotiables. If you skip a section, don't skip these.

Emergency numbers

Critical
  • 911 — works on any cell network with any reachable tower, even without your carrier's service.
  • 112 — also routes to 911 in the US/Canada from most phones.
  • *HP / *55 / *47 — state highway patrol shortcuts (varies by state).
  • 1-800-222-1222 — US Poison Control, 24/7, free.
  • 211 — non-emergency local services in the US/Canada.
  • 1-888-275-8747 — National Park Service general info; save the specific park dispatch before you arrive.
  • 1-877-535-1365 — BLM Law Enforcement.
  • 1-800-273-8255 or dial 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

When there's no cell service

Critical
  • Satellite messenger (Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, Apple Emergency SOS, Android Satellite SOS) is the single highest-impact piece of safety gear for boondockers. Test it before every trip.
  • Pre-share your trip plan and expected return time with one person who will call SAR if you don't check in.
  • Set a hard "if I don't message by X, call for help" time. Don't be vague.
  • Drive to high ground or a ridge for a single bar of cell — often enough for an SMS.
  • Keep a paper map and compass. GPS fails; paper doesn't.
  • FRS/GMRS handheld radios for talking between rigs in a group.
  • Download offline maps for your area before you leave service — use our Offline regions tool.

Medical preparedness

  • Real first aid kit — not a drugstore $10 kit. Trauma bandage, tourniquet (CAT or SOF-T), irrigation syringe, tweezers, SAM splint.
  • Multi-day supply of all prescriptions plus a written list with dosages, allergies, and blood type in the glove box.
  • Take a Wilderness First Aid course (WFA, 16 hours). It changes how you think about everything.
  • Know the nearest hospital and urgent care before you set up camp. Drop a pin.
  • Tick removal tool, antihistamines, EpiPen if prescribed, and antibiotic ointment.
  • Hydration matters more than you think — dehydration is the most common medical issue off-grid.

Wildfire

Critical
  • Check current fire restrictions for your district every day: inciweb.nwcg.gov and the local NF/BLM website. Restrictions change fast.
  • Never leave a fire unattended. Drown, stir, drown again — cool to the touch before you leave.
  • Park nose-out so you can leave fast. Always know two escape routes.
  • Air quality can shut down a whole region within hours. Move early, not late.
  • Fire extinguisher (5 lb ABC minimum) and shovel accessible — not buried in a basement bay.
  • If you see smoke you didn't start, call 911 with GPS coordinates. Don't assume someone else has.

Weather hazards

  • Never camp in a dry wash or arroyo. Flash floods come from storms 20 miles away you can't see.
  • High winds: point the nose of the rig into the wind, retract awnings, lower slides if possible.
  • Lightning: stay inside the rig, away from windows. The metal cage protects you — not the tires.
  • Hail can total an RV roof. Park under cover or move if a strong cell is forecast.
  • NOAA weather radio + a phone app like Windy or RadarScope. Don't trust one source.
  • Check the forecast for the drainage above you, not just where you're parked.

Vehicle recovery & getting stuck

  • Don't spin your wheels. The moment you feel slip, stop. Spinning digs holes.
  • Carry traction boards (MaxTrax-style), a folding shovel, and a long tow strap with soft shackles.
  • Air down tires to 15–20 psi for soft sand or mud — instantly doubles your footprint.
  • Always scout new roads on foot for the first 200 yards before committing.
  • Never cross moving water if you can't see the bottom. Six inches can float a vehicle.
  • Good Sam / Coach-Net / AAA Premier RV often cover off-pavement tows. Verify coverage before you need it.

Situational safety

Solo travel, wildlife, weather extremes, and the silent killers most people ignore.

Solo camping safety

  • Share your live location with a trusted contact via Google Maps, Life360, or inReach MapShare.
  • Have a check-in cadence: "if I miss two consecutive check-ins, call for help."
  • Arrive at camp before dark. Setting up in the dark is when accidents happen.
  • Trust your instincts. If someone or somewhere feels off, leave. There is always another spot.
  • Keep the rig locked at night, keys in a known spot, headlamp within reach.
  • Consider a firearm only if you're trained and licensed for the state. Bear spray works on humans too and requires no license.

Personal security

  • Camp away from trailheads and parking lots when possible — those attract foot traffic.
  • Motion-activated lights or a cheap doorbell cam are massive deterrents.
  • Don't broadcast your exact location on social media in real time.
  • Vary your routine. Predictability makes you a target.
  • Keep valuables out of sight; nothing visible in the cab.

Wildlife encounters

  • Bears: Store all food, trash, and scented items in a hard-sided vehicle or approved bear canister. Never in a tent. Carry bear spray in accessible locations.
  • Mountain lions: Never run. Make yourself large, maintain eye contact, back away slowly. Fight back if attacked.
  • Snakes: Watch where you step and put your hands. Most bites happen when reaching blind. If bitten, stay calm, immobilize, get to a hospital — no cutting or sucking.
  • Moose & elk: Give 75+ feet. Moose kill more people than bears — they charge without warning during rut.
  • Ticks: Permethrin-treated clothing, DEET on skin, full-body check daily.

Cold weather & winter

  • Insulated water lines or bring in the fresh hose before dark. A frozen pipe can crack the plumbing overnight.
  • Never run propane heat without a working CO detector and cracked window for ventilation.
  • Carry emergency blankets, hand warmers, and calorie-dense food. Cold-weather calorie burn is real.
  • Snow chains + a shovel + kitty litter for traction. Know if your rig is 4WD, AWD, or RWD.
  • Hypothermia can start above freezing when wet. Change out of wet clothes immediately.

Heat & desert survival

  • One gallon of water per person per day, minimum. Double it in the desert.
  • Electrolytes, not just water. Straight water in extreme heat causes hyponatremia.
  • Never hike between 10am and 4pm in summer desert. Dawn or dusk only.
  • Park with the fridge side in shade. Reflectix on windows drops interior temp 15+ degrees.
  • Symptoms of heatstroke: confusion, no sweating, hot dry skin. This is an ER-level emergency.

Carbon monoxide, propane & fire

Critical
  • Test your CO detector every trip. Replace it every 5–7 years — they expire.
  • Never run a generator near a vent, window, or under a slide. Minimum 15 feet from the rig.
  • Shut off propane while driving and while sleeping if possible.
  • Smell gas? Open everything, no flames or switches, find the leak with soapy water.
  • LP detector low to the floor (propane sinks). Smoke detector on the ceiling.
  • Sleep with a headlamp and shoes within arm's reach. If you have to evacuate at 3am, you'll know why.

Pre-trip safety checklist

Run this before every trip. Ten minutes now, hours saved later.

  • Told someone your route + expected return date
  • Satellite messenger charged and tested
  • Offline maps downloaded for the region
  • First aid kit inventoried and in-date
  • Fire extinguisher pressure checked (green zone)
  • CO and LP detectors tested; batteries fresh
  • Tire pressure and tread checked (spare too)
  • Fresh water full; two extra gallons drinking water
  • House batteries charged, propane full
  • Recovery gear accessible (not buried)
  • Weather + fire restrictions checked for destination
  • Nearest hospital and ranger station saved offline
Open the full packing checklist

Red flags — turn around, don't push through

Nearly every rescue starts with a decision someone knew was wrong at the time. Get comfortable turning around.

  • You're tired and it's getting dark — stop somewhere obvious, not down a new road.
  • The road ahead looks worse than what you've driven — turn around while you can.
  • Weather is deteriorating and you're in a wash, exposed ridge, or under dead trees.
  • Locals or rangers give you a warning — take it seriously, they know the area.
  • You feel physically off — dehydration and altitude sneak up. Rest and hydrate.
  • A vehicle keeps circling or a stranger is asking probing questions — leave.

Resources & training

Wilderness First Aid

NOLS and SOLO offer 16-hour WFA courses across the US. Worth every dollar.

Garmin inReach

Two-way satellite messaging and SOS anywhere on earth. The industry standard for backcountry comms.

InciWeb wildfire tracker

Official US wildfire incident info. Check daily during fire season.

NOAA Weather

Free official US weather forecasts, watches, and warnings.

Ready.gov

Federal emergency preparedness guides — a good baseline everyone should know.

Red Cross first aid app

Free offline-capable first aid guidance for common emergencies.

This guide is informational and does not replace training, certification, or professional emergency services. Conditions in the backcountry change constantly — always verify current information with local land managers and rangers before your trip.