YES VIRGINIA… FREE GREAT CAMPING // Overlanding George Washington National Forest In Revel (1of3)
YES VIRGINIA… FREE GREAT CAMPING // Overlanding George Washington National Forest In Revel (1of3)
No more excuses! We are pointing our Winnebago Revel towards East Coast DIRT ROADS! Sure it would be easier to find awesome dispersed camping and overlanding adventures on the west coast… but that’s not where we live… and appointments keep us from driving the 30 hours to explore there… right now… so…
We did a little research and it turns out there’s quite a bit of dirt road fun near our home state… we just need to head off to Virginia and West Virginia to find them. So this week we start a 3-episode adventure entitled East Coast Dirt Roads!
We start out in NC, cross over into Virginia and quickly find ourselves in West Virginia. First stop? New River Gorge National Park. Then it’s back into Virginia to Covington, VA where we enter the George Washington National Forest in search of a dispersed, free, awesome campsite. We find that campsite and setup camp for the night, build a campfire in the Solo Stove and create and awesome dinner on the Blackstone Griddle of steaks and sautéed vegetables.
Did we find dirt roads? Well, not as much on this repositioning episode as we’d hoped for… but we did find them and they were as awesome as we’d hoped they would be. Were they as epic as some of the dirt roads we’ve longed for out west?… maybe not, but for a close-to-home east coast trip this started out great and we went to bed in the Revel with smiles on our faces and dreamed of the dirt road adventures awaiting us the next day.
We hope you’ll stay connected to us and follow along as we get a little dirt and mud on our tires as we explore the back roads of Virginia and West Virginia. We’re glad we get to take you along with us.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Chapter/Segments:
00:00 Why we want to find dirt roads in our Revel
03:32 New River Gorge National Park
04:23 How planning a dirt road trip is different
09:20 Virginia back roads in our Revel
09:47 Arrive at George Washington National Forest
10:31 Our dispersed campsite for the night
11:42 Campsite meal on Blackstone Griddle – Steak and Veggies
18:04 Unwinding at a dispersed campsite
19:05 Closing thoughts
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
LINKS TO ITEMS FROM THIS VIDEO:
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
LINKS TO THINGS WE USE:
Items You See Us Use In Episodes:
🔥 Solo Stove: https://solostove.com/?rfsn=5554373.73289cf
🚴 RAD eBikes ($50 off coupon): http://rwrd.io/y71bizy?s
🏪 Our Amazon Store:
✴️ Master List On Amazon: https://amazon.com/shop/VanTrekkingLifestyle
📸 Camera Gear:
✴️ Insta360 One X Camera: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M3B9754?ref=exp_vantrekkinglifestyle_dp_vv_d
✴️ DJI Osmo Action – 4K Action Cam:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RJMK2GV?ref=exp_vantrekkinglifestyle_dp_vv_d
✴️ VLOG Camera (Sony ZV-1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08965JV8D?ref=exp_vantrekkinglifestyle_dp_vv_d
Other Items Folks Ask About:
✴️ Pop-up Room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2S5YCD?ref=exp_vantrekkinglifestyle_dp_vv_d
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
#vanlife #winnebagorevel
* Many of the links included are affiliate links, meaning we will make a small commission from these sellers should you choose to purchase with our link
Great Video! BTW the heck with bears, I’d be on the lookout for Sasquatch! LOL
LOVE meat !!!!!!!!! Jim & Cynthia have been A LOT of places and in the lower 48 right now. I”D LOVE TO BE out and about in my STO MODE BEAST 4×4. Yet financial debt is keeping me in place for another 2 years. I’m sure we are close to the same age…. I’m 62. PLEASE DONT LET FEAR OR ANYTHING ELSE stop YOU TWO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE !!!!!!!! OH and I do NOT yet have my STO MODE BEAST 4X4 RV; YET I WILL IN 2023.
If there is a way i can donate I will gladly spring for that second knife. 🙂
Best places to camp are National forests. Boondocking is the best!
Another awesome adventure.
We are thinking about getting back into camping and are thinking about going small.
Would you include more about usability of your Revel. Using your trailer, bikes, griddle, fire pit, chairs, shower etc. It seems like without the trailer the Revel is too small for all the extras.
Happy trails and tails.
Owen, I was wondering why you don’t hook your blackstone up to your quick connect propane connector on your van so you don’t have to bother with the those expensive little green cans. Also, can you show us how you pack the solo stove on your van?
Thanks and safe travels!
Hi to you all, dinner looked yummy especially the butter on the steaks 🥩👍
what fun. looking forward to seeing you in the dirt. We take ours in dirt all the time, and even though ( I agree with Lynn) it is occasionally a little scary, it is SO much fun, and so many more beautiful places to see.
Have yall ever heard of a place called land between the lakes national Recreation area in Tennessee and Kentucky it’s awesome lots of dirt roads and desperced camping or campgrounds yall need to Google it we went last November we only did the southern part planning on going back to do the northern part but in september or october because it was already getting cold in november
I’m buying a Revel. I’d love to have a B-Box just like you mentioned but they are being sold for $380,000. I just can’t justify that kind of money for an RV similar in size to a 24′ Sprinter van. Great video as usual.
I simply was looking for some over landing national park videos and I came upon this. As a West Virginian who is out of state right now for school, this was so good to see! Hope you had fun, come back anytime!
A winner, once again – relaxed, funny, interesting, and just beautiful camera work. On another note, how do you like those Pico chairs? Are they mostly worth it because they fold up small, or are they comfy too?
Love the adventures you take us on. Thanks for all your efforts.
GAIA is a pretty good tool. I used it for 4 years in the west for many back road adventures. The biggest key is to make sure you have the best layers. After 4 years I found these to be the best.
1) Nat Geo Illustrated- set as the base map.
2) GAIA topo – kicks in when not in an area that Nat Geo covers
3) Public land – shows state and local public use land. Covers BLM which is mainly out west
4) MVUM – forest road
5) USFS roads and trails – this gives you all the lesser used roads/trials that MVUM does not. This one more than double are options to explore our west.
If you ever want to discuss or get pointers just reachout
Don’t forget you can take pictures from with the app and it will keep those pics and upload them so if you ever decided to revisit or share with others the actual phone shows up in the GAIA app
Hi can you please tell me who makes your outdoor screen room. I know you’ve talked about it before, just don’t remember what video it was in. Thanks, see you down the road! Laurie in Tampa Bay
Looks beautiful! One knife…lol… thanks for sharing.
Awesome!!!👠🚌👠
If you like the beach, Check out cape lookout. No camping fee but you do need a permit and have to pay for a ferry.
I take my Promaster into National Forest dirt roads and Florida’s are full of sand tracks… I thought yours did great in Alaska and wondered why you exchanged it for the Revel which seems much less comfortable .
i like lots of seasoning on my vegetables too
I went with you two to Alaska and now W V.getting close to home for meto h
What a site! Are you able to share the coordinates of this spot by any chance?
Just found your site because I was looking for info about boondocking in National Forests in Virginia. I live just in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Sherando. It’s so hard to find free camping in this area. So I will be following you two for awhile to see where you go here in Va. Thanks so much for sharing. I really enjoyed watching. Blessings,Teri
What map did you use to find this camping spot? Love your viedeos.
We subscribed. Love the van life and outdoors!
You were in my neck of the woods when you were at the gorge. Definitely need to try the white water rafting.
PLEASE TO ANSWER KIND GENTLE PEEPLE: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE DEWALT SAW TYPE MACHINE YOU WERE USING IN THIS VIDEO CLIP.. THANK YOU !!
My wife & I are so glad you folks got a Revel 4×4 so we could see how little difference, for the money, there is between the dispersed Campervan experience and just throwing some air mattresses in the back of a Subaru Outback. Also, as I approach retirement it was good to learn that I’d rather keep working vs. have to put all that driving & research in just to cookout; something I can do on my back patio. We always saw #VanLife as an adventure but in reality it’s just very expensive “car camping”. I’d rather just go play golf, come home and take a nap. My wife mentioned she’d rather just garden and have the grandkids come see us than we have to travel to see them. Anyway thanks for showing us how happy we already are!
Bugs ain’t bitin’. life is good! You two are awesome! what a wonderful video, it just put me in a great mood! Happy Travels!
i fell out of an upstairs window when crawling but fall cushioned by bushes and blanket-thankfully i was not hurt and don’t remember
You guys are very likeable ppl. Great vid.
GW Forest is my go-to for overlanding 👍 I too, bring the solo stove 😉
That’s the way I like it, secluded with no one around! Glad to see you had fun!
I love that rest stop at the NC VA border. We go there every time we go see our kids. In less than a year we will be doing it in our van!
I recognize those tunnels.. we pass through them every year going from Kentucky to Myrtle Beach! The road there and back is full of beautiful rolling mountains in the Virginia’s going into North Carolina! If you’re still in the Virginia’s area, Williamsburg Virginia has the presidential statues that’s a pretty cool site to see. Their are super big enormous statues of past presidents that’s along the way toward Virginia Beach!
Maggie is supposed to be looking for bears, not to watch you eat.
Definitely you’ll have to visit WV again for the whitewater rafting on the New River! I’ve rafted a few times with River Expeditions they do a great job, you will love it :o)
Superbly done ! Another great video enticing me to buy a van.
My 4 wheel Colorado doesn’t like to turn real tight in 4 wheel drive.
I love to go off road. I bring an InReach, Max Trax, whinch, air compressor for tires, saw, water and water filter/purifier, food, first aid kit and 0 degree down sleeping bag along with suitable clothing and rain gear. Self rescue gear and emergency communications is paramount in the back country. Have fun!
Great episode, intro was fantastic.
Great video as always. Loved your start to the video!
Great video! Nice camping spot too! It seemed really quiet. Have a fun trip going back and being with family and a great weekend and see you both and Maggie soon! Those streaks and squash look good. I always fry my squash. I have squash I need to fry up this weekend. Speaking of squash.
What a cute video 🙂
Thanks for the share. Good camping on the East Coast is tricky!
U guys are amazing
Bravo 👏 I’ve been telling people for years there is plenty of boondocking on east coast but they just don’t listen.
Lynn , I want to know if Owen cooks in the sticks and bricks or only outdoors? Nothing like help in the kitchen! “My men” are fabulous cooks. Yahoo
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. It helps me sort through some ideas. However snow is not in my plans so there is that! I am now looking forward to your next plan!
Dropped out of a second story window?!? If it’s a long story…
MAKE A LONG VIDEO to explain it!!
Love y’all!