Riley Cobb
Van-life contributor
Based in currently somewhere in Utah
riley lives in a van that has a name (Patricia) and writes the way she thinks — fast, lowercase, occasionally without ending the question. she's slept in more national-forest pullouts than most people have seen in their lives and is honest about which ones were worth it. she will tell you the price of everything. coffee budget: aggressive.
40 published articles · most recent September 20, 2026
Articles by Riley Cobb
When Is Camping Season in Maine? Month-by-Month Realitymonth-by-month reality on maine camping season — when to book, when to skip, and why late august is quietly the best time to go.
When Is Camping Season in Kentucky? Month-by-Month RealityKentucky camping season month-by-month — the real windows, what to skip, and why October at Red River Gorge is worth planning your year around.
When Is Camping Season in Kansas? Month-by-Month RealityMonth-by-month reality of camping in Kansas — when to go, when to skip, and which state parks actually deliver in each season.
When Is Camping Season in Illinois? Month-by-Month RealityMonth-by-month reality of camping season in Illinois — when to go, when to skip, and which parks actually deliver in each window.
When Is Camping Season in Florida? Month-by-Month RealityFlorida camping season, honest month-by-month breakdown from a van-lifer who's done it in every season — including the summers you shouldn't.
When Is Camping Season in Delaware? Month-by-Month RealityMonth-by-month honest take on Delaware camping season — when parks are open, when to book, and when to just skip it entirely.
When Is Camping Season in Colorado? Month-by-Month RealityColorado camping season by month — when to book, when to skip, and which reservation site is actually worth using.
When Is Camping Season in Arizona? Month-by-Month RealityArizona camping season isn't one season — it's two, running opposite ends of the state. Here's the real month-by-month from someone who's lived it.
Beach Camping in Minnesota: What You Actually GetMinnesota beach camping, honestly reviewed: which state parks have real sand, which lakes are swimmable, and where to skip.
Best Campgrounds in Michiganhonest picks for Michigan campgrounds — from UP wilderness to Lake Michigan dunes — plus how to actually book them without losing your mind.
Pet-Friendly Camping in Maryland: Where Dogs Are Genuinely WelcomeDog-friendly camping in Maryland — the state parks and forests that actually welcome pets, plus which loops to book and what to skip.
Free Dispersed Camping in Maine: Where We Actually Pull Infree dispersed camping in maine — public reserved lands, the WMNF sliver, and which logging-road pull-offs are actually worth the drive.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Maryland — Under 90 Minutesseven campgrounds within 90 minutes of Baltimore, ranked by drive time, with honest notes on booking, cell service, and which loops to pick.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Massachusetts — Under 90 MinutesReal campgrounds within 90 minutes of Boston — state parks, harbor islands, and which private spots are worth the booking fee.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Indiana — Under 90 MinutesNine campgrounds and state forests within 90 minutes of Indianapolis, ranked by an honest van-lifer who's actually slept at most of them.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Hawaii — Under 90 Minutesseven camping spots under 90 minutes from honolulu — permits, prices, and which ones are actually worth the drive.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Georgia — Under 90 MinutesHonest roundup of tent camping within 90 minutes of Atlanta — state parks, Corps of Engineers sites, real costs, and which spots to skip.
Camping Near the Biggest City in Connecticut — Under 90 MinutesEight campgrounds within 90 minutes of Bridgeport, CT — honest picks, real drive times, and which ones aren't worth the gas.
Mountain Camping in Maryland: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsWhere to tent-camp in Maryland's mountains for genuinely cool summer nights — Garrett County plateau picks, Catoctin, and honest booking tips.
Pet-Friendly Camping in Massachusetts: Where Dogs Are Genuinely Welcomewhere dogs are actually welcome camping in Massachusetts — real state park picks, private campgrounds worth it, and where "pet-friendly" is a lie.
Lake Camping in Maryland: 10 Sites With Real Water AccessTen Maryland campgrounds where the lake is actually walkable — Deep Creek, Rocky Gap, Big Run and more, with booking tips and honest picks.
Mountain Camping in Massachusetts: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsHonest picks for mountain camping in Massachusetts — Sperry at Greylock, Savoy, Mohawk Trail and more. Cool Berkshire nights, real fees, real gotchas.
Lake Camping in Massachusetts: 10 Sites With Real Water Accessten Massachusetts campgrounds with real lake or pond access — from Nickerson's kettle ponds to Tolland's Otis Reservoir, with honest booking notes.
Mountain Camping in Indiana: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsIndiana doesn't have mountains, but the southern hills, ridges and ravines get you the closest thing — here's where to camp for cool nights.
Mountain Camping in Hawaii: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsCold nights, cloud forests, and crater walls — the high-elevation campsites in Hawaii worth the drive, from Hosmer Grove to Kokee to Paliku.
Mountain Camping in Georgia: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsNorth Georgia's highest campgrounds, ranked honestly — from Black Rock Mountain to Lake Conasauga, with elevation, booking tips, and cool-night gear notes.
Mountain Camping in Connecticut: Elevation Picks for Cool NightsCT isn't a mountain state, but the Litchfield Hills and AT shelters offer surprisingly cool nights. Honest picks, real elevations, no fluff.
Kentucky State Parks for Camping: The Ones Worth the DriveA van-lifer's honest roundup of Kentucky state parks worth camping at — Natural Bridge, Cumberland Falls, Carter Caves, the lake parks, and which to skip.
Kansas State Parks for Camping: The Ones Worth the DriveA van-lifer's honest picks for the Kansas state parks actually worth the drive — Wilson, Kanopolis, Scott and more, with booking tips and what to skip.
Beach Camping in Maine: What You Actually GetHonest roundup of oceanfront campsites in Maine — from Hermit Island to Acadia to Cobscook Bay, with real gotchas and booking tips.
Beach Camping in Kentucky: What You Actually GetKentucky doesn't have an ocean but its lake beaches deliver — here's where to actually camp on the sand, from LBL to Dale Hollow.
Beach Camping in Kansas: What You Actually Getkansas has no ocean but plenty of reservoir beaches. here's which ones are worth the drive, what to book, and which lakes are just a wind tunnel with a picnic table.
Beach Camping in Illinois: What You Actually GetBeach camping in Illinois — Lake Michigan shoreline, Corps reservoirs, and the state park spots actually worth the drive. Honest picks from someone who's slept them.
Beach Camping in Florida: What You Actually GetHonest breakdown of Florida beach camping — Bahia Honda, the panhandle, booking reality, and which oceanfront campsites actually earn the drive.
Beach Camping in Delaware: What You Actually Gethonest look at beach camping in Delaware: Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore, what an oceanfront campsite actually gets you, and what to skip.
Beach Camping in Colorado: What You Actually Getno ocean, but Colorado's reservoir beaches are the real deal — here's where to camp, what to book, and which lakes to skip.
Beach Camping in Arizona: What You Actually GetArizona has no ocean, but its lake beaches deliver. Real sand camping at Havasu, Powell, Patagonia and more — plus honest costs and crowd notes.
RV Campgrounds in Louisiana: Hookups, Sites, Honest Reviewshonest roundup of louisiana RV campgrounds — full hookup state parks, private resorts, Kisatchie forest spots, and which ones are worth the drive.
Free Dispersed Camping in Kentucky: Where We Actually Pull InWhere to actually find free dispersed camping in Kentucky — Daniel Boone NF spots, the BLM myth, LBL permits, and the WMAs worth the drive.
Free Dispersed Camping in Kansas: Where We Actually Pull InFree dispersed camping in Kansas is weird — almost no BLM, one national grassland, and a workaround network of wildlife areas. Here's where I actually pull in.