Boondocking site planning
Pre-screen a campsite for access, legality, solar harvest, internet risk, water and dump logistics, weather, wind, and leveling before you drive the rig in.
Quick campsite read
The total score is 73/100. The weakest category is connectivity fit at 44/100, so that is the first thing to verify before the drive in.
Total score
73/100
Workable
First limiter
Connectivity fit
44/100
Scout flag
Paper fit
No hard stop
Start over
This calculator stores inputs locally in this browser. Clear saved inputs when stale values are getting in the way.
Campsite score
Score access, legal confidence, solar exposure, internet risk, water and dump logistics, weather, wind, and leveling before you commit the full rig to a pin.
Suitability result
Total score
73/100
Limiter
Connectivity fit
44/100
Scout flag
Paper fit
No hard stop
The total score is 73/100. The weakest category is connectivity fit at 44/100, so that is the first thing to verify before the drive in.
Road and rig access
80/10030 ft rig, 10 in clearance, 4 mi from pavement, graded gravel road, manageable turnaround.
Legal confidence
78/100likely access with a 14-day posted limit against a 5-day plan.
Solar exposure
75/10075% estimated solar exposure before weather, trees, dust, and parking angle change the harvest.
Connectivity fit
44/1002/5 cell bars and 80% satellite sky view for messages needs.
Water, dump, and supplies
67/10012 mi to water, 18 mi to dump, and 25 mi to groceries.
Leveling and weather
90/100minor leveling, mild weather risk, moderate wind exposure, and 3 arrival-buffer hours.
Recommended next move
Run the internet backup planner and treat this as a backup-connection problem before scheduling calls from camp.
Why this exists
A site can have perfect views and still fail because the last road is too rough, the stay limit is unclear, the sky is blocked for work, or the dump station is a half-day errand. This score puts those tradeoffs in one place.
Use this with
How to find legal boondocking sites
Use this to verify land manager, stay limits, closures, and rule changes after the score flags legal uncertainty.
Verify legal boondocking rulesInternet backup planner
Use this when the campsite looks good but the workday needs a stronger internet backup option.
Plan the internet backup stackStay length calculator
Use this after picking a promising site so power, water, gray, and black tanks are ranked together.
Find the stay limiterDesert boondocking checklist
Use this when the site is exposed, hot, dusty, windy, or far from services.
Read the desert boondocking checklistTool notes
This output is a pre-arrival planning screen. It helps compare risks before committing the full rig, but it does not replace official land-manager rules, road scouting, weather judgment, or common sense at the final turnoff.
The total score weighs legal confidence and access most heavily, then adds solar, connectivity, logistics, and comfort categories. A weak legal or road score can override a pretty campsite.
Restricted access, very weak legal confidence, unsafe road access, or a planned stay beyond a confirmed posted limit pushes the result toward avoid or scout-first.
Connectivity scoring rewards the best available connection for casual use, but critical workdays get better scores only when cell and satellite both have some support.
Avoid these traps
A campsite can look open and legal from a map while the last half mile has washouts, no turnaround, or a slope that makes backing out miserable.
Starlink wants open sky. Cellular wants tower reach and usable congestion. A great satellite site can still be a bad hotspot site.
A seven-day site 45 miles from water or a dump station is not just a tank problem. It becomes fuel, time, road wear, and errand friction.
Treat the campsite score as a pre-arrival screen, then verify land-manager rules, current closures, weather, road conditions, turnaround options, and a nearby backup site before driving the full rig in.See assumptions
Gear to compare after the math
These handoffs match the calculator family, not a one-click prescription. Verify fit, specs, clearances, and install limits before buying.
Camco TastePURE Water Filter
Best for
Basic refill hygiene on normal campground or service-stop fills
A simple first handoff when the calculator result says refill quality and speed matter more than a tank upgrade.
Current listing
Camco TastePURE Water Filter at Camco.
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon
Best for
Adding portable reserve without rebuilding the plumbing
A jug-style reserve makes sense when the water result is close but one extra refill buffer changes the trip.
Current listing
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon at Reliance.
Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System
Best for
Higher-flow filtration for regular refill routines
Consider this class when the water plan depends on frequent fills and you want better flow than a small inline filter.
Current listing
Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System at Clearsource.
Frequently asked
No. It is a planning screen. Verify the current land manager, posted stay limit, closures, fire restrictions, and overnight rules before driving in.
Above 82 is usually a strong paper fit. Between 65 and 81 is workable if the weak category is manageable. Below 65 means scout first, and any hard stop should be resolved before taking the rig in.
Yes when road access, turnaround, leveling, or legality is uncertain. A short scout drive can prevent a long backing maneuver, body damage, or a stressful late-day reroute.
Treat connectivity as one category, not the whole answer. A work site also needs enough battery, solar, shade, road access, and backup options to survive a bad signal day.