No Reservations? No Problem.

Summer is here. Our son graduated from high school this week, and we're looking forward to a packed few months — including a 24-hour bike race in Kelheim, Germany, which is a story for another day. On the camping front, we only have one trip firmly on the books, thanks to friends who had the foresight to book a group site in the Eastern Sierra. Reservations everywhere else are nearly impossible to find at this point, which is frustrating — but also a good reminder that some of our favorite trips have been the ones where we just headed out and found a spot.

That's dispersed camping, and if you haven't tried it, this summer might be the year. A couple of weeks ago I came across this article from KQED that's one of the best primers on dispersed camping we've seen. It's geared toward Bay Area readers but the tips apply anywhere in the country — including the important reminder that different land managers have different rules, so always check who manages the land you're headed to before you go.

A few other resources worth knowing: Leave No Trace principles are the foundation of responsible outdoor recreation and worth a read if you're not already familiar. If you're new to off-road driving, Tread Lightly and Sierra Nevada Off Road Academy are both excellent — and both have an EV connection. Paid members of Rivian Club of America get a Tread Lightly membership, and Sierra Nevada Off Road Academy is owned and operated by CJ Arnesen, a Rivian driver and active leader of the Bay Area Rivian Club.

If the campgrounds are booked solid through Labor Day, maybe this is the summer you head a little further off the beaten path. We'll see you out there.