State Parks

[u/ExistingDifference93]

Can you overland in a State Park?

[u/PickledJelloFarts]

Well, if you live in the south, that's kinda your only option... no dispersed camping or public land in Texas.

[u/BIGCHEEZUS_ → u/PickledJelloFarts]

Generally correct. But Big Bend Ranch State Park is mostly dispersed, and is perfect for toe testing the waters of an overland experience. You have BBNP right next door also. While not public there are quite a few "dispersed" camp spots, but there aren't very many "overland" sites

[u/PickledJelloFarts → u/BIGCHEEZUS_]

True, but either of those parks are hours away from any major metro area in the state where most people live.

[u/BIGCHEEZUS_ → u/PickledJelloFarts]

When trying to overland isn't the whole idea to be hours away from a metropolitan area

[u/aircuntioner → u/BIGCHEEZUS_]

Also piece of advice for anyone going to BB ranch state park, you NEED at least 10 inches of clearance for some of the campsites. Learned that lesson from a bad experience with my friends CRV

[u/BIGCHEEZUS_ → u/aircuntioner]

You can do it in a stock height midsized truck. I did it in a stock frontier pro-4x (pilos de los muchachos) 4x4 is recommended, but I bet it was fun in the crv though

[u/aircuntioner → u/BIGCHEEZUS_]

Yes I see that - the campsite we booked did not mention that was needed, so it was a rough trip in my friends Honda CRV. We left after one night bc we couldnt afford driving 2 hours from the NP to and from almost breaking her bumper (and did) every time. Bad experience and in my opinion, horrible lack of information and warning from the state parks side.

[u/BIGCHEEZUS_ → u/aircuntioner]

This is facts, the park department should've let yall know before hand after seeing the campsite yall checked out and what you're driving when you pulled up. I knew there would be obstacles so I asked before we went up the hill. I do hope that bad experience doesn't keep yall from trying again

[u/CLow48]

I enjoy hitting a state park for showers and bathrooms after 3-4 days of roughing it….

But if all i was ever going to do is state parks i’d buy a used trailer LONG before I would consider building an overland rig. It’s just a better experience in the parks where you typically have utility hookups and no barrier to dragging essentially an apartment into “camp”.

With what i have into my rig, i could have easily gotten a 1-3 year used 25’ travel trailer.

[u/Mountainmanwannabe2]

It’s basically a rustic smaller camper. Looks fun. I don’t have all the “over landing” stuff but I’d love to have a roof top fort for my kids (and myself).

[u/SwiftCEO]

Looks like camping in a backyard

[u/Professional-Guava97]

Looks like a neighborhood park.😂

[u/Spumad]

Technically you went OVER land, its just unfortunate that it was all pavement you went over. In all seriousness, i enjoy a good state park and a few nights camping as much as the next guy. Its just good you're getting out there

[u/CrayonMayon]

I definitely thought this was a backyard at first. Those tires yearn for the dirt.

[u/211logos]

Not sure about states or provinces outside the USA but in the USA the answer is often "yes."

Here in CA we even have state parks dedicated to offroad vehicle recreation. So do other states out west.

[u/shadow247]

We do a once a year state park birthday trip. Most of us are overlanders or tent campers, but some of us have RVs as well so its a good way to get everyone together.

[u/flipboltz]

You can for sure camp with your truck. My wife & I had to stay at many State Parks in the SE when we lived in our Jeep.

[u/Most_Poem_6809]

There are state-maintained OHV areas and OHV trails in some states. Not exactly what I would think of as "overlanding" but in a sense I'm overlanding today when I drive from my house to the grocery store, as I am driving over land.

[u/CaptainLaCroix]

Maybe not one that looks like that? Or at least not the part that looks like that?

[u/Mammoth-Bike1995]

You can. Just dont call it overlanding.