Hopefully, stealth camping remains a fun way to travel and stay somewhere and avoid hook-up or camping fees.

In a survival situation, however, your ability to blend in and not attract attention is key; here are some stealth camping tips you can use.

Overnight Parking Law Enforcement Tips

Do not stealth camp on private property without written permission from the property owner. Some property owners (residential and business) will grant this permission if you simply ask, but do ask permission before staying the night.

Most municipalities prohibit parking a motor vehicle in one spot for more than 72 hours before being considered abandoned and subject to removal. Keep your selected stealth camping location within this period.

Motor vehicles must be properly registered and valid at any time they are parked or operated on a highway and/or roadway. Make sure your vehicle registration is current and easily visible, without effort, by a passing enforcement authority.

For a motor vehicle to be properly parked, it should not be more than 12-inches from the edge of the roadway, pavement edge, edge marking, and or curbing. The front of the vehicle must be parked facing the direction of the traffic flow, and not less than 15-feet from a driveway, fire hydrant, traffic control device, or the corner of a street as it intersects with another.

Be aware that local authorities can create additional rules and ordinances including enforcement of RV use on streets and private property.

Preparing a Truck Camper Rig for Stealth Camping

If stealth camping is a priority, I strongly recommend a non-slide truck camper, or a slide-out camper that can be entered and fully-used with the slide-out(s) in. For example, my Lance 1191 model (now discontinued) can be fully used with the slide-out in. This is very important for stealth camping if you are planning on stealth camping often.

It is also important to be able to enter and exit the camper with the entry steps retracted, or be able to retract the steps once inside. Just remember that the steps are retracted when you go to exit the camper! I have done this a couple of times.

The interior of the camper should have window coverings sufficient to block as much of the interior lighting possible. Pay particular attention to sky lights.

One should have their belongings organized and activities completed, or curtailed, prior to arriving at a stealth camping location. For example, have your meals and any shopping completed and put away before entering your stealth camping location.

Once in the chosen stealth camping location, minimize anything that generates light and sound including interior lighting, radio, television use, loud talking, door slamming, as well as loud diesel engine sounds.

Selecting Stealth Camping Locations

Ask for overnight parking recommendations from a local resident, local church, local police officer, or the local fire department. If it’s a small town, you can even ask at the local post office.

Closed and abandoned businesses and empty parking lots are often good locations for stealth camping overnight.

Industrial parks are often busy during the day, and quiet at night. These areas can be good places for stealth camping. These areas are my first choice for stealth camping. Neighborhoods are a good choice for stealth camping as well. Due to the fact that many grandparents travel in RVs and visit their kids and grandkids, it would not be out of character to see a truck camper in a neighborhood.

Use satellite imagery, available through search engines (Google and Bing in particular), to scout for possible stealth camping locations.

In small towns there are many locations that have city parks that allow overnight parking, by just coming in and stealth camping at the curb. Small towns often have sports complexes, such as football fields or baseball diamonds and these afford excellent locations to park along the curb, pavement edge, or gravel pull outs.

Look for locations where a street does not have homes facing the curb. Avoid parking directly in front of a home as home owners tend to be territorial about the curb space in front of their homes. Also avoid obstructing and or encroaching on intersections, sidewalks, and/or driveways.

Observe how surrounding vehicles are parked. Vehicles facing the wrong way, on the wrong side of the street, or covered with dust are good indicators that there is a less aggressive parking enforcement environment suitable for stealth camping.

Most contacts by parking authorities arise from a citizen’s complaint. Often these situations may be avoided by walking up to the adjacent home or business, introducing yourself, and sharing that you are the one in the truck camper.

Most people just want to know that you are not a threat, that you are friendly, and – paramount – when you are leaving.

Don’t overstay your welcome. Leave when you stated you will leave. Generally three nights in the same location should be the maximum.

Be a Good Neighbor, Even When Stealth Camping

Be cordial with your surrounding neighbors. It never hurts to smile, wave, and say, Hello!

Do not use a neighbor’s trash receptacles, water, electricity, or property.

Do not set out chairs or grills, as if you’re at a campground or beach.

Keep your truck camper clean and in good appearance, with minimal items hanging off of it.

If there’s some trash on the ground, or street, pick it up and take it away.

Additional Stealth Camping Tips

When possible, scout stealth camping locations during the day. With a location in mind, arrive after sunset. As soon as possible, the following morning, move on.

Never leave valuables in your truck visible through the windows. This includes phones, GPS devices, cameras, and electronics.

When traveling with pets, try walking them prior to your stealth camping location for the night. When not possible, stay to the street and sidewalk areas and pick after your pet.

Refrain from putting a slide-out out. Even if it’s on the street side of your truck camper.

If you have a pop-up truck camper, keep the top retracted when possible. If you can sleep with the top down, this is preferable for stealth camping. If that’s not possible, extend the top and keep the pop-up window flaps closed.

Your ability to remain on the “down-low” is paramount to the safety of you and your loved ones, particularly if you are traveling through unfamiliar territory.

Stealth camping is one way of making sure you can stay in populated areas without drawing too much attention to yourself.

To see more tips on stealth camping as well as one guy's experiences with it, please visit Truck Camper Magazine.