Motorcycle Camping
Motorcycle Camping: The Complete Guide, From First Night to Rally Week
Motorcycle camping in five decisions: style, shelter, loading the bike, where you may camp and camp rules. Sourced basics plus a page for each step.
Motorcycle camping means carrying your shelter, sleep kit and cooking gear on the bike and stopping at a campground or on open public land for the night. It comes down to five decisions: your camping style, your shelter, how you load the bike, where you may camp, and how you leave the site. This guide sums up each one and links to the page that covers it in depth.
New to it? Start with how to go camping by motorcycle, our step-by-step plan for a first trip.
Key takeaways- Decide whether you ride to camp or camp to ride; that choice sets how much you carry.- Keep the load low and over or in front of the rear axle, with saddlebags balanced side to side.- Never run a stove, heater or lantern inside your tent.- Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.- On BLM land, dispersed camping is generally limited to 14 days in any 28-day period.
Pick your style first: ride to camp or camp to ride
Some riders camp so they can ride more: long days, cheap nights, pack up at dawn. Others ride to reach a camp they want to enjoy, and carry a chair, a better stove and more comfort. Neither is right. Knowing which one you are keeps the wrong gear off the bike.
Your style also decides your pages here:
| If you are... | Read next |
|---|---|
| Planning a first night out | The first-trip plan linked at the top of this page |
| Planning a longer trip | Planning a motorcycle camping adventure |
| Going alone | A guide to solo motorcycle camping |
| Riding gravel and dirt | Adventure motorcycle camping guide and dual-sport motorcycle camping |
Shelter and sleep
A small backpacking-style tent is a sensible default: look for one that packs short enough to strap across a seat or rack. Our guide to tent camping on a motorcycle trip covers pitching, gear storage and condensation. To buy one, see how to choose a tent for motorcycle camping and our tents for motorcycle camping comparison.
Other options:
- Hammock camping by motorcycle for wooded sites.
- Choosing a sleeping bed for motorcycle camping: pads, cots and air beds.
- Motorcycle camping in the rain for wet nights.
One safety rule applies to every shelter. Stoves, heaters, lanterns and grills that burn fuel must never be used inside a tent. A CDC report notes that opening the tent flaps does not stop carbon monoxide from building up.
Gear and packing
Start the gear list with the basics: shelter, a sleeping bag and sleeping pad, a camp stove if you cook, dry bags, water, tools, and riding gear you can wear in camp. Use our motorcycle camping checklist as a start, then the essential gear and best gear guides. If weight is the issue, read lightweight gear for motorcycle camping.
How you load the bike matters as much as what you bring. Keep the load as low as practical and over or in front of the rear axle. Balance the weight between the two saddlebags, and stop to check that nothing has shifted.
| Packing question | Page |
|---|---|
| How do I load the bike? | How to pack for motorcycle camping |
| How little can I take? | How to pack for minimalist motorcycle camping |
| How do I set up camp fast? | How to set up a motorcycle camping kit |
| Is a camp chair worth the space? | Choosing a chair for motorcycle camping |
Trailers: when the bike can't carry it all
Some touring riders tow a small trailer. Pop-up campers sold for motorcycles are light by trailer standards: one maker lists 260 lb and one retailer lists 385 lb empty for another model. A different type is towed by a car, carries the motorcycle, then opens into a camper.
Whether your bike may tow at all depends on its maker and on state rules. Our page on motorcycle camping trailers: types and uses compares the types. If you'd rather build one, see how to build a DIY motorcycle camping trailer.
Where you can camp
You will usually sleep at a paid campground or on public land. On land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), dispersed camping is allowed in most areas unless the area is posted closed. The usual limit is 14 days within any 28-day period, but limits vary by state and field office.
- How to find motorcycle camping sites and finding motorcycle camping near you
- Stealth camping by motorcycle: the practical and legal limits
- Places: motorcycle camping in Florida, camping at Croom Motorcycle Area, and camping at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Camp rules that apply on every trip
Leave No Trace sets out seven principles: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors.
Two of them matter most on a bike trip. Pitch at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. And put out every fire with Smokey Bear's method: drown, stir, drown, feel; if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
Riding gear for camp trips
On a camping trip your riding jacket does double duty as an evening layer, so pick one you are happy to live in for the whole trip. You can browse Leather Collection motorcycle jackets for touring.
FAQ
What is the 200 rule for camping?
It means pitching your camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams to protect the shoreline. The BLM gives the same distance as best practice for lakes, rivers and streams. Leave No Trace also uses 200 feet for catholes, measured from water, camp and trails.
Can you pull a camper with a motorcycle?
Some small pop-up campers are sold for towing by motorcycles. Check your motorcycle maker's towing guidance and your state's rules first. The trailer section above links to our full comparison.
margumi Editorial Team
margumi articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.