boondocking

Overview

Meaning Now

• The practice of camping in a recreational vehicle (RV) or camper in remote, wilderness, or informal areas without access to utility hookups like electricity, water, or sewage.
• Living off-the-grid in a temporary or nomadic fashion.

Journey

The term emerged from the American military experience in the Philippines during the early 20th century, specifically World War II. Soldiers adapted the Tagalog word 'bundók' (mountain) into 'boondocks' to refer to rural, untamed areas. In the late 20th century, the RV community repurposed the term to describe the act of staying in these remote areas without traditional campsites or utilities.

Evolution

1. 18th-19th century

   bundók

   “mountain”

   Tagalog root word.

2. World War II (1940s)

   boondocks

   “remote, rugged terrain”

   Adopted by U.S. soldiers in the Philippines to describe wild or isolated inland areas.

3. 1980s

   boondocking

   “wilderness camping without facilities”

   Coined by the RV community to describe 'dry camping'.

Connections

Explore next

Related to boondocking

• boondocks→