If baseball is the all-American pastime, then camping must be a close second. Nothing is as relaxing as a campfire, and living with the bare necessities makes you feel alive and independent. One of the most convenient ways to camp is by loading all your gear and supplies into a truck that has living quarters fitted behind the cab. And especially during and after the pandemic, truck camping has exploded in popularity.

It might feel like it's going to be freer than you can imagine, but fun and safe truck camping requires plenty of forethought and planning. Although you have your bed with you, there aren't as many places to set up your campsite on a whim as you think. Here's what you'll need to do to plan out your truck camping trips to make it go as smoothly and enjoyably as possible.

Have a Clear Understanding of What You Want to Experience

Point at any spot in North America on the map, and it's possible to travel there and camp. It's not that simple, though, because there might not be anything you want to do or see while you're there. For example, visiting wineries might be your jam, but you're not going to have much luck with that if you head to North Dakota.

Decide before you plan dozens – or hundreds – of hours worth of driving what you would like to experience on your vacation. Obviously, the coasts are fantastic for beaches, not to mention hundreds of popular lakes smattered across the country. Parks are popular attractions, but not all parks are open year-round and you might miss out on attractions based on weather or seasonal changes. For example, you won't want to visit the Everglades National Park in the dog days of summer since the heat becomes unbearable and the mosquitoes might just suck you dry.

If it's all about getting away from cities and technology, you'll find hundreds of possibilities for backcountry hiking or biking where you could go days without seeing another living soul – parts of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, for example. Then, use your truck as a homebase.

Make Sure to Have Plenty of Places to Camp Out

The idea of truck camping is that you can camp anywhere at any time. and while you'll always find a Walmart parking lot that will let you set up, most people would agree that's not the ambiance you're expecting on a camping trip. You'll find yourself there, in a last-resort location, if you haven't pre-planned and reserved your camping spots weeks, months, or even more than a year in advance.

Hop onto the National Park Service website to dig up camping opportunities in the area you're headed. Browse campsites on the map to identify the type of campsite you need. Need power or sewer hookups? This is where you'll find that information as well as links to booking information.

If you plan to travel with your pets, make sure they're allowed. And although it's outdoors and nature, some campgrounds have strict policies restricting pets, especially if they're private campgrounds.

Some might also have limited stay lengths or be designated as 55-plus only, so make sure you read up on the campgrounds thoroughly and book well in advance.

And especially, make sure the campgrounds camping in truck popup campers. Some may limit the type to RVs or travel trailers, which wouldn't be good if you don't have a backup plan.

Leverage Top Truck Camping Websites and Apps

You don't need much to camp aside from a way to store food and a place to sleep, and a location to freshen up after a few days is always good too. But you don't need to re-invent the wheel – there are plenty of resources out there to help you enjoy your vacation in nature the most. We strongly encourage checking out these websites and apps while you plan.

National Park Service

We've already mentioned the National Park Service for finding a campsite at a national park, but there are plenty of other resources they offer too. From a list of common items to bring and proper camping etiquette to cooking and cleaning up, there's tons of great advice on the NPS site. It's particularly helpful for finding wilderness and backcountry camping possibilities – solitary places away from the throngs in the busy season.

The Dyrt

It's not a spelling mistake. The Dyrt is a website and app that helps you find campsites near you, and often at a discount. Filter by popular cities or parks to see options from privately-owned campgrounds with the map absolutely covered in possibilities. Pro tip: look for campgrounds with plenty of reviews to ensure your stay is as trouble-free as possible.

iOverlander

As an app or desktop site, iOverlander can help you identify and plan a jumping-off point for an overlanding or camping trip. Users leave details of their stay to help out those coming behind them. It's perfect for seeing if a campground or RV park is pet-friendly or has utilities available.

Campendium

To avoid the party life of tent-riddled campgrounds in less remote areas, Campendium primarily serves a clientele that has trailers, RVs, and other hard-sided places to stay. You'll be able to find camping spots as well as information on how to camp in RV parks, national parks and forests, plus state parks too. And if you fancy a few days in a more fabulous spot than your spartan truck camper, they have tidbits on glamping and cabin rentals too.

Harvest Hosts

A breakout type of camping that you might not have heard about yet features private owners who allow camping on their property called Harvest Hosts. It could be a farm, a winery, or an attraction with space to pull up and set up for a time, and you'll find them scattered all around the US and Canada. Again, check the details for each host location to ensure your setup complies, and book well in advance!

Need a solar power system to keep your rig's batteries charged, body armor to get you to and from your camping spot safely, or any offroad equipment to handle the rough-and-tumble trails, 4 Wheel Parts has it for you. Shop confidently with a best price guarantee and get expert advice from people who know camping, trucks, and everything in between.