Staying off-grid can be a truly rewarding experience. Whether you stay for a few nights or a few weeks. We’ve sourced different tips for you from true off-grid experts. Enjoy.
1. Where to stay.
Consider where you will be camping. There are several different apps and websites that can help you with this. Areas can have different rules and regulations. It is always good to check local websites and with the authorities. In North America, Campendium
is our go-to app is and Freecampsites.net is our favorite website.
In Europe Park4Night is one of our favorites. It’s well worth paying for the app’s extra features and it helps support its development.
2. Water needs.
How much water do you need? Are you planning on showering? Washing dishes? Are you in an RV or caravan with a flush toilet system?
Plan and calculate out how much water you will use.
Reduce your dependency on water: reuse your greywater for flushing the toilet…
get a composting toilet.
Wash dishes once a day,
take fewer showers and have a Navy Shower
Have extra freshwater jerry cans you can fill up.
Get a water filter.
If you are filling up your water supply see if you can wash your clothes and yourselves there before you head off-grid.
3. Toilet
On average, people produce 0.2-0.5 gallons of pee per day. If you’re using a chemical toilet this will quickly fill up your tank and interrupt your off-grid adventure. We suggest packing a small trowel in case you run out of capacity. Larger integrated black tanks can extend stays but consume precious drinking water for flushing. The best option is to use a dry composting toilet.
When emptying urine be sure to do so away from the camp spot and flowing water sources and to spread it over a larger area - large volumes of urine may kill a bush! For solids, don’t assume you can spread these in the woods. Composting takes time. The most sustainable solution is to add it to your composting pile at home but when this isn’t possible empty into a compostable bag and placing it in a suitable trash can
4. Power Supply
Where will you be getting your power from? Generator, solar, or gas? Several different options. If you’re moving between different spots it can help charge your battery but it’s important to try and conserve energy as much as possible on longer stays.
5. Food
How much food do you need? Where is the next store located? Do you have a fridge/freezer? Plan on eating perishable foods first and have canned and dried non-perishable foods for the end of your trip or as backups.
Trying to avoid unnecessary packaging on your food is even more important when you’re off-grid. You’ll need to hold onto it until you can dispose of it and until then it will get in the way and maybe smelly.
6. Staying Warm
How are you going to stay warm on cold nights? Winter getaways can be great fun, but ensure you stay warm at night. Our friends @Camper Dreamin’ installed a woodburner in their build. Who doesn’t like a crackling fire to keep them warm?
Another top tip is to have some thick wooly socks or sexy slippers. The floor of your RV can get quite chilly!
7. Staying Cool
Staying cool in the sun is also critical. Portable solar panels will allow you to park in the shade while still recharging the batteries. Staying cool is especially for a good night’s sleep to recharge and make the most of your trip! AC is power-hungry, but a cross-breeze over the bed is really effective. Our own combo is the MaxxFan on a low setting and a crack in the side windows. If you don’t have the side windows an adjustable fan like this one is the next best thing.
Staying off-grid is a really rewarding experience. The peace and solitude of being alone in nature does wonders. It makes you realize how much you consume, Water, Electric, Gas as well as produce Trash and Toilet.
Living off-grid requires a more sustainable lifestyle. We hope this resource helps you to get out and stay off-grid for a night, a weekend or longer.
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