Motorcycle Camping
How to Go Camping on a Motorcycle: A 10-Step Plan for Your First Trip
How to go camping by motorcycle in 10 steps: plan, check camping rules, load the bike low and balanced, pitch, cook safely and leave no trace.
Camping on a motorcycle comes down to ten steps: pick a short first trip, check where you may camp, practice the pitch, prep the bike, load it low and balanced, check the load as you ride, choose a site, set up, manage fire and food, and leave nothing behind. Each step below says what to do and why, with the rule behind it.
This plan is part of our complete guide to motorcycle camping.
Key takeaways- Make the first trip short and book a campground, so a forgotten item is a nuisance, not a crisis.- Load the bike low, over or in front of the rear axle, with saddlebags balanced side to side.- Stop and check the load regularly; loads shift.- Cook outside the tent: stoves, heaters and lanterns must never run inside it.- Drown, stir, drown, feel: a fire too hot to touch is too hot to leave.
What you need before you start
You don't need special motorcycle camping gear for a first night. You need these basics, packed into bags that strap or bolt to the bike:
- Shelter: a small tent that packs short enough to fit across a seat or rack
- Sleep: sleeping bag rated for the night temperatures you expect, plus a sleeping pad
- Luggage: saddlebags or panniers, a tail bag, a tank bag, and dry bags for anything that must stay dry
- Straps: elastic cords or cargo straps with more than one attachment point per side
- Camp kit: headlamp, water, simple food, a small stove if you plan to cook
- Bike kit: the tool roll that came with the bike, a tire repair kit and a pressure gauge
Our motorcycle camping checklist has the full list.
Step 1: Plan a short first trip to a campground
Pick a campground one easy riding day from home and book a site for one or two nights. A booked site with a toilet and water lets you test your kit without the pressure of finding a spot at dusk.
Ride there in daylight and arrive with a few hours of light left. Setting up an unfamiliar tent in the dark is a hard way to start.
For ways to find sites, see how to find motorcycle camping sites.
Step 2: Check where you are allowed to camp
Campgrounds are the simple option. If you plan to camp on public land instead, read that land manager's rules first.
On Bureau of Land Management land, most areas allow dispersed camping unless they are posted "Closed to Camping". Stays are generally limited to 14 days within any 28-day period, and limits vary by state and field office. When you hit the limit you must move, often 25 to 30 miles away. National forests set their own rules, so call the local ranger district before you go.
Camping where it isn't allowed is a separate topic; our page on stealth camping by motorcycle covers the practical and legal limits.
Step 3: Practice the pitch at home
Set up the tent in your yard or a park before the trip. Time yourself, then do it again with gloves on. You'll find the missing stake or the pole you can't figure out while you're still near a store.
Then pack it the way it will ride. Check that the tent bag fits the rack or seat and that nothing hangs past the bags. Our guide to tent camping on a motorcycle trip covers the full tent routine at camp.
Step 4: Get the bike ready
A camping trip adds weight and miles, so check the bike as you would before any tour. Look at tire pressure and tread, oil level, chain or belt, brakes and lights. Check your owner's manual for the tire pressures to use when carrying a load.
Learn the basic roadside fixes for your bike before you leave, such as plugging a tubeless tire or patching a tube.
Step 5: Load the bike low and balanced
How you load the bike changes how it handles. Follow these rules from the Alberta government motorcycle handbook:
- Keep the load as low as practical.
- Put it over or in front of the rear axle, not hanging behind it.
- Balance the weight between the two saddlebags.
- Keep tank bag loads forward, keep hard or sharp items out of it, and make sure it doesn't touch the handlebars or controls.
- Use elastic cords with more than one attachment point per side, skip rope, and never strap anything to the front fender or handlebars.
Heavy items such as water and tools go low in the saddlebags. Light, bulky items such as the sleeping bag can go on top of the seat or rack. The step-by-step packing method is in how to pack for motorcycle camping.
Step 6: Check the load at every stop
Stop and check the load regularly to make sure nothing has worked loose or moved. A quick walk round the bike at every fuel stop is enough: tug each strap and look at each bag's mounts.
Step 7: Choose your campsite
At a campground, pick a site with firm, level ground where you can park the bike close to the tent. On soft ground, put something flat and hard under the side stand so it doesn't sink overnight.
In open country, pitch at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. On BLM land, use a site that is already disturbed and within 150 feet of a designated route.
Step 8: Set up camp and cook outside the tent
Put the tent up first, while you still have light and energy, then lay out your sleep kit. Unpack only what you need for the night; everything else can stay in the bags.
Cook outside the tent. Stoves, heaters, lanterns and grills that burn fuel should never be used inside a tent. A CDC report found that opening the tent flaps does not stop carbon monoxide building up from these devices.
Step 9: Handle fire and food
Check fire restrictions before you light a campfire. If fires are allowed, put yours out with Smokey Bear's method: drown, stir, drown, feel. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
Store your food properly and keep a safe distance from wildlife; in national parks, follow each park's own rules. Don't keep food in the tent.
Step 10: Leave no trace
Pack out all trash and everything you brought. Where there is no toilet, bury solid waste in a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. These come from the Leave No Trace principles.
Before you ride off, walk the site once more. If it looks as if nobody slept there, you're done.
Common mistakes on a first motorcycle camping trip
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Heavy bag high on the rear rack, behind the axle | Move heavy items low and over or in front of the rear axle |
| Uneven saddlebags | Balance the weight side to side |
| Rope or one-hook straps | Elastic cords with more than one attachment point per side |
| Running the stove in the tent on a cold night | Cook outside; never use fuel-burning devices in the tent |
| First pitch at dusk | Practice at home and arrive with daylight left |
| Packing for every possible problem | Start with the checklist and cut anything you didn't use after the trip |
Printable first-trip checklist
What to wear on the bike
Your riding jacket is also your evening layer at camp, so choose one you can wear all day and all evening. You can browse Leather Collection motorcycle jackets for touring.
Once you've done a night or two, read about motorcycle camping trailers if you want to carry more, or camping at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for a big event.
Related guides
- Planning a warm-weather first trip? See motorcycle camping in Florida.
- Planning to leave the pavement? Read our dual-sport motorcycle camping guide.
- Not sure which tent to buy? See how to choose a tent for motorcycle camping.
- For a full rehearsal of the kit, see our motorcycle camping set up tutorial.
FAQ
What is the 200 rule for camping?
It means camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams to protect the shoreline. Leave No Trace uses the same 200 feet for catholes, measured from water, camp and trails.
margumi Editorial Team
margumi articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.