Safety for Women Solo Camping
Is it Safe for Women to RV or Camp Alone?
When I tell people that I camp and RV alone, one of their first questions is usually about safety. How do you stay safe as a woman camping alone? My safety as a solo RVer is not something that I worry a lot about now, but that wasn’t always the case. If you’re concerned about safety as a solo woman RVer or camper, don’t fear! Take your power, be prepared and go explore.
I remember the first time I went hiking alone. My partner at the time and I just had a fight about me wanting to go on a hike and she did not. I took the dog and drove the Subaru about an hour away to one of our favorite hikes on the Salmon River near Mount Hood.
On the drive up, I was feeling resentful. I was mad at my partner because I thought I needed her along to be safe. Why wouldn’t she come along with me so that I could enjoy nature?
I was apprehensive as I pulled into the parking area. There were a few other cars at the trailhead. The day was cloudy, but not rainy as I descended into the old growth forest. At first I had my guard up, looking around for dangerous characters. I wasn’t worried about bears or snakes or cougars. I was worried about my fellow humans, or more specifically: men who could harm me.
That’s the reality and the sad truth for most women. It sucks that women have to be afraid to travel alone, to travel in the wilderness. While most of the time, nothing bad happens; we do have to keep our guards up, to be constantly vigilant.
Why You Should Travel Alone
It didn’t take long on this particular day until the rich smell of the forest duff, the sound of the river flowing over rocks and the beautiful towering massive doug fir trees calmed my nervous system and I was able to slip into the present moment and realize I was okay. I was strong. I could run fast and I had a big dog with me. I began to relax and really enjoy myself.
When I set out, I thought I needed someone to come with me hiking, so that I would be safe. I learned that day, that I was perfectly capable of keeping myself safe while in the wilderness. These days, I actually prefer to hike alone.
Hiking, camping and traveling alone are all great ways to learn about yourself–especially if you are anxious about it. Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is a great way to learn that you really are capable of tackling challenges. You get to know yourself in a way that is only possible when you are alone. You learn the things that you really like to do and not just the things your traveling companions want to do. You learn to be ok in uncomfortable situations, to figure your way out of jams, to rely on your instincts and trust your gut.
Which isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be prepared. One of the keys to safety for solo women camping is to be prepared. You should be prepared–whether you’re heading out solo or with others.
Is it safe for a woman to RV alone? Absolutely! There are millions of us out here doing it everyday. With a little preparation, you will have the tools and confidence to travel solo and safely.
Before you Go on a Solo Camping Trip
The first and most important safety tip is to feel comfortable with your RV, no matter if it’s a travel trailer, fifth wheel, Class B, A or C. Learn how the different systems work, how to check your oil and your tire pressure.
Take your first few trips with a friend or companion that who understand RVing. Sign up for a RV driving class. Take your first trips close to home in places you are familiar with that have good cell reception, in case you get into a jam.
If you don’t yet own an RV, try renting from a place like Outdoorsy to get a feel for what is involved with driving and camping in an RV or van.
Keep your gas tank full and be sure to fuel up before you head into wilderness areas. Check your tires each time you fuel up. Walk around and visually inspect your RV each time you stop to make sure nothing looks out of place, things aren’t coming loose or compartments opening. We ask our RVs to do a lot for us and driving on rough roads at high speeds through wind and rain and sun. It’s important to make sure nothing has rattled off or open.
What Equipment Should You Carry?
One of the biggest things you can do to ensure safety as a solo woman camper is make sure you have the basic tools you will need for minor repairs or emergency situations. You can build your own tool box or go with a ready made one, such as this car maintenance kit from Amazon.
Things to be sure to include in your RV Tool kit
- Jumper Cables or, I have a Lithium Power Pack, that way you don’t need to rely on someone else to jump your battery
- Survival Shovel, in case you get caught in sand or mud
- Reusable Flares, to make yourself visible in case of night time breakdown
- A pair of safety gloves
- Extra fuses
- Duct Tape
Also consider a roadside emergency plan such as those offered by AAA and Good Sam. And make sure your plan covers your RV or van.
Do You Need a GPS Locator?
Depending on the type of travel you do, you might also consider an emergency GPS such as a Garmin InReach. Especially if you like to boondock or hike in areas with no cell coverage, a GPS device could save your life, as they use satellites to communicate and are not dependent on cell phone reception. They’re a bit pricey, but the peace of mind they provide may be well worth the cost.
10 Safety Tips for Solo Women RVers
1. Listen to Your Gut
A few summers ago, I was traveling through Colorado. I planned to spend the night in a town I’d visited years before. I had fond memories of waking up in that town on Christmas morning to a magical fresh blanket of snow, horses in pastures and families dressed in their finest Western gear. But this time, as I pulled in on a dusty late summer evening, I got a totally different vibe. Shops were boarded up, transients huddled in the park drinking from paper bags and there wasn’t a shade tree in sight. I listened to my gut, pulled out my map and moved on to the next town.
As women, our intuition is often our best guide. As my friend Randy likes to say, “God gave us intuition for a reason.” She’s traveled solo for years and has never run into any problems, because she listens to her gut and if something doesn’t feel right, she moves on.
Your home has wheels. Move on to the next place.
2. Sleep with Your Steering Wheel
There are a lot of different vehicle options and there are pros and cons to each. Trailers are awesome, because you can leave them in a campsite and go explore with your tow vehicle. Tents are great because they’re inexpensive and you can pack them up and store them away easily when not in use. One of the reasons I choose to travel in a van is because I don’t have to exit by vehicle to get to the steering wheel if I need to take off in a hurry. Even if I’m connected to electric and water at a campsite, the cost to replace the damage to my van will be worth it if I get out alive.
3. Let Someone Know Where You Are
Whenever I travel, whether for a night away or months on end, I let my sister know where I’m going to be. I’ve also activated the Share my Location app on my phone with my sister and a close friend, so people can find me in case of an emergency. Always make sure someone knows where you are. If you’re going off-grid, let them know when you’re expected to be back in service and what to do if they don’t hear back from you in that timeframe.
4. Safety for Women Solo Camping – Carry Protection
While I do not have a gun, some women feel safe with one. I won’t get into the pros and cons of traveling with a gun because frankly, it’s not something I know much about. Others have a bat or a knife or mace. Personally, I have bear spray . It serves a double purpose and can cause some damage at close range to a human face. Wasp spray can also be effective. It’s also smart to carry something like a whistle or horn that makes a loud noise. Attracting attention to yourself in that way can potentially scare intruders off. Whatever weapon you carry make sure you feel confident using it and also know it can be used against you.
5. Take a Self Defense Class
I had a free class offered by my employer not long ago and I still play the scenarios in my head of what I would do in the event of a physical attack. I feel confident knowing I have the ability to fight off an attacker.
6. Secure Your Vehicle
Before I climb into bed at night, I check to make sure all the doors and windows are locked. I leave my keys and a headlamp near the ignition. Bring any valuable things from outside in. And be sure to secure any food if you’re in bear country.
7. Park with Your Front Toward the Exit
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best at backing my big van up. I always make sure to park in a spot where I’m not boxed in and I can easily pull out forward if I need to exit fast.
8. Get to Know Your Neighbors
One of the best things about camping alone is the people you meet. I distinctly remember the first time I went out with Squeaky by myself. I camped at a cool place on the coast with vintage trailers. I was new to my van and needed a little help backing in. The sites were tight and my neighbors helped me back in and then to figure out how to dump my sewage. They shared their own mishaps and favorite places to camp.
I quickly realized that I’m now part of a cool subculture. But I also felt safer, having chatted with my neighbors and getting to know them a bit. I’ve often been invited to join a campfire of strangers or just chat with folks who are camped nearby. By talking to the others, I am building community and lasting memories, but also getting a sense of who is around me and if I need help in the middle of the night, I know who I can call on.
9. Arrive before Dark
Another RV blog that I follow talks about the 330 rule. They never drive more than 330 miles in a day and plan to arrive at their destination by 3:30pm. While I might not be that strict, I always plan to arrive before dark, especially to a destination I haven’t been to before. I like to get a sense of my surroundings, who my neighbors are and any hazards I need to keep an eye on.
10. Solo Camping Safety Tip: Set Boundaries
My van Squeaky is cute. It gets a lot of attention and I do like talking about the unique layout. Sometimes people are just curious and want to know about it. Other times they ask intrusive questions, like how much did I pay for it or can they see inside. I’ve learned to say, “That’s information I don’t share.” And simply, “No.” I don’t owe strangers anything. However, if I’m camping and getting to know some fellow campers and they ask to see the inside, often I will say yes. Listen to your gut and if it feels intrusive, just say no.
Those are my top 10 safety trips for women traveling solo. What are yours? Do you have anything to add to my list?
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase via my links.
