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In case you ask van lifers about their must-have van life apps or how they discover free campsites, they virtually all the time point out iOverlander.

Once I first began van life again in 2016, discovering campsites was much more troublesome than it’s as we speak. Whereas there have been campsite finder apps, they weren’t almost as strong. Cellphone service was additionally much more spotty. This meant you needed to do your analysis forward of time and rely extra on paper maps.

Fortuitously for van lifers, automobile campers, and highway trippers, the expertise has gotten so a lot better. Today, Ryan and I not often make a plan for the place we’re going to camp.

The truth is, the power to be spontaneous is among the issues I really like most about van life. Most frequently, after wrapping up our day’s actions, I flip to the iOverlander app on my telephone to see what our choices are for close by tenting. Whether or not we’re searching for a longtime campground, casual campsite, or dispersed tenting, iOverlander is extraordinarily helpful for locating locations to camp on the fly.

Though iOverlander is extensively generally known as an app for locating free campsites, you can too discover different useful van life, tenting, and journey options like water hookups, laundromats, and showers.

This iOverlander evaluate contains details about the app, find out how to use it, and the professionals and cons. I hope you’ll study extra about how iOverlander works and the way it may help you in your adventures!

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What’s an Overlander?

iOverlander defines overlanders as self-reliant vacationers searching for distant locations. In overlanding, the aim is to not attain a selected vacation spot; the aim of the journey is to benefit from the technique of getting there.

An “overlander” could be described by the next:

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What’s the iOverlander App & Web site?

iOverlander was began by two overlanders, Sam Christiansen and Jessica Mans. They noticed a necessity for compiling tenting places and different dependable assets for individuals touring and residing of their autos.

Slowly, the location reworked right into a nonprofit undertaking that’s now virtually fully operated by customers throughout the globe. This group volunteers their time, concepts, and GPS coordinates to assist different overlanders discover assets throughout their travels

iOverlander is extra than simply an app for locating free campsites, although. Listed below are just a few options that you could find on the iOverlander app and web site.

iOverlander app options

Today, virtually everybody within the nomadic group recommends downloading iOverlander as a solution to discover free campsites in addition to different facilities you want on the highway.

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What You Can Discover on iOverlander

Beneath is a listing of the sorts of campsites and facilities you will see that on the iOverlander app. Distinct icons on the app mark these classes.

It’s essential to notice that iOverlander is a world useful resource, so a few of the classes may not really feel relevant to US journey. Nevertheless, for those who had been to highway journey all the way down to Baja, go to the Icefields Parkway in Canada, or drive the Pan-American Freeway all the way down to South America (my dream!), the vary of facilities within the app could be very helpful!

Established Campgrounds

Paid campgrounds vary from privately owned RV parks with a pool, laundry, and extra to designated websites in a Nationwide Park with no facilities.

Whereas I personally assume there are extra complete van life apps for paid established campsites, having these websites in iOverlander remains to be useful if there aren’t many free or accessible campsites, an space doesn’t really feel secure, or you might be searching for a paid campground with facilities like a bathe.

Casual Campsites

These are on-advertised tenting spots hooked up to different companies or amenities. They’re locations the place tenting is permitted by the property proprietor reminiscent of a Cracker Barrel, Walmart, or Love’s fuel station.

Wild Tenting

In any other case generally known as dispersed tenting, these are distant spots the place tenting is permitted on public lands, reminiscent of BLM land and Nationwide Forest land.

They’re free and infrequently have facilities. This class is the primary purpose why van lifers have a tendency to make use of and advocate the iOverlander app for touring in america. Take a look at my detailed information on find out how to discover free dispersed tenting for more information about tenting on public lands.

Resort/Hostel

Inns and hostels listed on the app are usually accessible and not using a reservation. The app forbids Airbnb and long-term condo leases.

Gasoline Station

Gasoline stations in distant areas (particularly in worldwide locations) the place providers are in any other case restricted.

Propane

Locations you possibly can refill your fastened propane tanks or bottles.

Mechanic and Components

Locations that supply mechanical providers or auto elements.

Water

Locations you possibly can refill your tanks with secure, potable ingesting water. Most locations listed on the app within the class are fuel stations with complementary water spigots if you are going to buy gasoline or one thing inside. If I can’t discover any water fill stations on iOverlander, I flip to certainly one of my different favourite apps for locating water and showers on the highway.

Brief-Time period Parking

Daytime or in a single day parking spots in crowded locations the place parking is troublesome. We used this characteristic to search out parking in Banff the place parking for Sprinter Van-sized rigs is extraordinarily restricted.

Recycling & Eco-Pleasant Providers

In case you’ve been doing van life for some time, you know the way troublesome it may be to search out locations to drop off your cans and bottles. This class contains listings for amenities with eco-friendly providers reminiscent of recycling. If you wish to be extra eco-friendly on the highway, think about using these amenities in your travels.

Sanitation Dump Station

Locations the place it’s authorized to empty the bathroom or pee jug in your rig. Dump stations inside campgrounds are included on the app if they’re additionally accessible to non-campers.

Restaurant

Locations with exceptionally good (or dangerous) meals, costs, or places in distant areas.

Vacationer Attraction

Vital stops with detailed descriptions.

Procuring

Consists of high-quality grocery shops or these in distant areas. This class additionally options native handmade artisan items and markets. When BFT contributor Kaylin visited Sedona in her van, she seen there have been some Native American markets with hand-made objects marked on this class that she handed on the aspect of the highway.

Monetary

Banks or ATMs in areas the place there are few. It additionally contains locations to alternate cash in worldwide locations.

Wifi

These are companies that supply first rate wifi together with eating places and cafes. Once I’m engaged on the highway and have to add giant recordsdata to the web (or I simply wish to obtain some new Netflix reveals), I’ll use iOverlander to discover a place we are able to do this. See my information to Van Life Web for extra tips about getting wifi on the highway.

Medical

Spots the place overlanders can obtain medical consideration or care in distant or unusual areas. In case you are visiting a dispersed space close to a small city and have a medical emergency whereas tenting, this class might direct you to the closest medical heart (though in case you have telephone service, I’d in all probability go to Google first).

Pet Providers

Anyplace providing providers to pets, together with canine parks and veterinarians. On days when we’ve got lengthy drives with our two canines, we use the iOverlander app to search out close by canine parks and dog-friendly trails the place our canines can burn some power.

Laundromat

Locations the place overlanders can do their laundry.

Showers

Consists of places for each free and paid showers reminiscent of recreation facilities, truck stops, and many others.

Border Customs and Immigration

Useful info for overlanders relating to border crossings, together with information that helps vacationers keep away from paying bribes.

Checkpoint

Everlasting police, navy, or agricultural checkpoints with information about what to anticipate. Consists of useful info for overlanders to keep away from paying bribes.

Consulate/Embassy

Describes experiences at particular consulates and embassies.

Car Insurance coverage

Getting insurance coverage in your camper van could be difficult – particularly for those who’re touring overseas. iOverlander lists locations to get insurance coverage whenever you’re touring overseas.

Car Transport

Locations the place you possibly can ship your car (ex: going throughout the Panama Canal).

Car Storage

Areas the place overlanders can retailer their autos for over every week.

Warnings

Warnings to non-public well being, security, or property, reminiscent of muggings, thefts, or violent crimes.

This class additionally contains main highway issues when the highway is impassable or delayed for 2 hours or extra.

Different

Locations that don’t slot in different classes however are of curiosity to overlanders.

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Use iOverlander

You may entry iOverlander by way of the web site or the free app. Each present a practical, user-friendly expertise, however I discover the telephone app to be a lot simpler to make use of on the go than the web site.

All the info in iOverlander is crowdsourced, that means all the places within the app are uploaded by different customers.

You not solely have the power to browse campsites and different facilities within the app, however you can too add new places or replace listings based mostly in your expertise.

This part walks you thru find out how to create an account, browse places, apply filters, examine into current locations, add new locations, and look at your check-in historical past.

Create an iOverlander account

To create an account, you have to to enter your electronic mail deal with and select a password. You too can select to show your weblog/username for those who like (notice that this will likely be seen to everybody on the app).

For instance, since BFT contributor Kaylin has a weblog and social media channels along with her husband beneath the identify Roam With Much less, she likes to depart evaluations for locations beneath this identify on the iOverlander app.

You do not want to create an account to make the most of the app. Nevertheless, I like to recommend creating an account for the advantages listed beneath.

iOverlander account advantages:

Browse places

You have got a few completely different choices for shopping places on iOverlander. You may both:

1. Browse by map
2. Browse by listing

I all the time use the “Map” view to browse the area I’m trying to camp in. Whenever you click on on “Map,” iOverlander will present your present location and all the locations customers have marked on the map round you.

To make use of the map, you possibly can zoom out and in by pinching your fingers collectively and aside.

An alternative choice on the primary menu is to browse places by clicking “Record.” This view will present you a listing of close by locations customers have marked on the app based on your present GPS location. On this view, additionally, you will have the ability to see the coordinates in your present location and your present altitude.

Apply filters

The default setting for iOverlander is to point out all places in all classes on the app. To make the map really feel much less cluttered, you’ll wish to use the Filter characteristic to solely show the classes you have an interest in.

On each the “Map” and “Record” view, you possibly can click on the blue “Filter” button within the prime proper nook of the app. You may click on the blue “None” button to show all of the classes off, then choose the one(s) you wish to see on the map or listing.

I take advantage of this characteristic when looking for one thing particular, reminiscent of free campsites in an space. On this case, I activate the filters for “Casual Campsite” and “Wild Tenting” and switch the opposite filters off.

Examine into current locations

You may assist preserve the locations listed on iOverlander up-to-date for different vacationers by checking into places and leaving an outline or evaluate of your expertise there. If one thing doesn’t match the outline, you possibly can replace any particulars in regards to the spots as wanted.

For instance, if a list says the location has a hearth ring, however land managers have eliminated hearth rings resulting from a hearth ban, you possibly can replace that information throughout your keep. Or if the highway is rather a lot rougher than the outline, it’s actually useful for future guests to know that so that they don’t enterprise down a highway they shouldn’t.

Take into account that your evaluate could not present on the app instantly. Moderators could evaluate it earlier than publishing it on the database.

examine into a spot

Add a brand new place

All the spots in iOverlander are added by customers, which suggests you possibly can add new locations to the database in the event that they meet the factors for entry. The principle criterion is that every one spots within the iOverlander database are of curiosity to no less than one sort of overlander (i.e., overlanders touring with pets).

iOverlander location standards

I admire these guidelines as a result of it means I don’t have to fret about getting a knock from the police or pissing off any locals – each of which assist me sleep higher at night time.

New listings should include related and high quality info, and the contributor should additionally bodily go to the place earlier than itemizing it.

add a brand new place

View your check-in historical past

One of many advantages of checking into locations you go to on the iOverlander app is having the ability to view them in your check-in historical past. This characteristic is useful whenever you wish to confer with locations that you’ve got beforehand visited.

For instance, one time I stayed at a tremendous spot close to Crater Lake that I discovered on iOverlander. By checking in, I can simply discover that spot once more subsequent time I’m in that space searching for tenting.

From the primary menu, click on “Examine-in historical past.” This view will present you a listing of all of the earlier places you may have checked into on the app. They’re listed so as by date, with the newest locations you may have checked into listed first.

In case you click on on one of many places you may have beforehand checked into, you possibly can see the coordinates, altitude, description, and photographs you included. You may edit these at any time.

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Execs of iOverlander

Now that you know the way to make use of iOverlander, you might perceive why this app is so standard amongst vacationers!

On this part of the iOverlander evaluate, I spotlight my favourite options of the app.

1. It’s free

One of many greatest perks of utilizing iOverlander is that this app is free. There may be at the moment no paid possibility for customers, so everybody enjoys all the advantages for free of charge.

Since iOverlander is a nonprofit undertaking, there are not any commercials on the app or web site.

Though the creators have thought of including a paid possibility for iOverlander sooner or later, they declare on the web site that they may all the time proceed to supply a free model of the app.

2. It’s straightforward to make use of

One other professional of iOverlander is that it’s straightforward to make use of. The app supplies an intuitive, simple consumer expertise.

Useful iOverlander components

3. It’s the finest app for locating free campsites

Many iOverlander customers like myself use the app for the first goal of discovering free campsites.

iOverlander free campsite advantages

4. It’s handy to see accessible amenities in an space

Whereas discovering free campsites on iOverlander is handy, the app is greater than only a free tenting app.

As a part-time van lifer who usually wants different journey facilities reminiscent of water, showers, and laundromats, I take advantage of iOverlander to see what different vacationers have advisable and skilled within the areas I go to.

As an alternative of spending time researching these facilities in Google, I can open iOverlander to see which facilities can be found in an space.

5. It’s accessible with out cell service

A closing advantage of utilizing iOverlander is that you do not want a cell sign to make use of the app or entry the places within the database. You solely want cell service to view the photographs of places.

This characteristic is useful whenever you camp in dispersed areas with no cell service and have to view the map or see your GPS coordinates.

There have been instances once I’ve misplaced service on the way in which to a campsite, making Google Maps unusable. Fortunately iOverlander labored, and I used to be nonetheless in a position to navigate our solution to a campsite. 

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Cons of iOverlander

Though the iOverlander app has the advantages of being free, straightforward to make use of, accessible with out cell service, and options campsites together with facilities for an space, there are some downsides.

This part of my iOverlander evaluate explores a few of its shortcomings.

1. Its info will not be all the time present

As a result of this app depends on information from volunteer vacationers, a few of the info on locations listed is incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated.

Lack of particulars

Once I seek for wild campsites, I usually discover locations missing an in depth, useful description. For instance, some contributors fail to incorporate info just like the accessibility of the highway to get to the campsite, what number of spots can be found, and if there may be cell service. It’s also arduous to inform what the campsite will likely be like when the contributor doesn’t embrace photographs.

I’ve arrived on the campsites to search out that the spot will not be as described. Maybe the contributor said that the campsite features a hearth ring or good cell service when it doesn’t. This discrepancy might be as a result of contributor offering inaccurate details about the spot, or there may be the chance that the campsite modified for the reason that contributor wrote the preliminary description.

No current evaluations

One other downfall is that some places lack current evaluations. There are spots with no consumer evaluations in months and even years. It’s arduous to inform if the spots are nonetheless there or nonetheless have the facilities talked about.

For that purpose, I have a tendency to choose spots with extra strong, current evaluations and photographs. The draw back of that is the extra thorough the evaluations, the busier and extra standard the spot tends to be.

2. It lacks some useful options

Though the app contains useful options reminiscent of the choice to filter classes and see a listing of spots you may have visited in your check-in historical past, it additionally lacks some options that might profit the general consumer expertise.

No search bar

One lacking characteristic is the power to sort within the location of the place you might be touring right into a search bar.

For instance, if I wish to see spots round Phoenix, AZ, I would really like to have the ability to sort this location right into a search bar that takes me on to this space on the map. As an alternative, customers must go to the map view, zoom out of the map, navigate to Arizona, after which zoom into Phoenix to see the places listed there.

No filters for particular campground options

One other downfall is that there is no such thing as a solution to get essential info on campsites with out clicking on them individually.

For example, there is no such thing as a solution to inform which campsites require 4×4 or which spots are big-rig pleasant. You may solely discover this info by clicking on the situation and studying the descriptions.

It will prevent time to have particular tenting filters, particularly for wild tenting.

Additionally, some campsites nonetheless seem on the map even after customers mark them completely closed. There may be at the moment no solution to filter these out both.

Can’t save future campgrounds

A closing characteristic that iOverlander lacks is the power to save lots of or mark spots you want to preserve monitor of to go to sooner or later.

If I selected one characteristic I’d like to see them add, that is it. Though you possibly can examine into spots if you are there and look at spots you may have beforehand visited, there may be at the moment no solution to save the campsites you propose to journey to.

Once I seek for spots on iOverlander and discover a place I plan to go to, there is no such thing as a manner to reserve it. It’s inconvenient to attempt to refind spots on the map. I normally screenshot the coordinates and outline of the spot to recollect it for my journey. This technique works, however I want I might mark or save spots instantly within the app.

3. It has an outdated interface

Though not a serious downfall, the iOverlander app has an outdated interface. The design of the app lacks a contemporary contact.

It appears to be like and feels just like the designers made it a very long time in the past. Because the app is a nonprofit undertaking managed by volunteers, it looks as if they might not have the funds, time, or capability to enhance it. Fortunately this doesn’t have an effect on the efficiency or performance of the app.

4. Standard campsites get busy

A few of the well-known or most continuously visited spots on the iOverlander app have change into overcrowded. Now that extra individuals know in regards to the iOverlander app and use it as their go-to supply for tenting, many vacationers are driving to the identical campsites, particularly in areas the place there will not be many choices without spending a dime tenting.

Since everybody has entry to the identical free campsites, the spots which are the most well-liked and extremely reviewed are sometimes already taken, particularly for those who present up after work on a Friday night time.

Utilizing iOverlander, there is no such thing as a solution to know forward of time if the campsite you keep in mind has already been taken, so you need to take an opportunity for those who decide a preferred tenting space that solely has a few spots.

Chances are you’ll danger having to discover a new spot on the final minute at nighttime. This has occurred to Ryan and me many instances, forcing us to maintain driving a lot later than we deliberate, and it’s taught us to not wait till the final minute – particularly on the weekends.

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Have you ever tried the iOverlander app? What info would you add to this iOverlander evaluate? Inform me within the feedback!

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