About

Hi, I'm Ray

I'm the person behind Overland Route Lab. I camp out of a 2017 Acura RDX, usually in a tent, sometimes sleeping in the car with the rear seats folded down. My trips so far have centered on national parks like Badlands, Yellowstone, and Bryce Canyon, and I book campsites through the Recreation.gov app.

A few of the trips that shaped this site:

  • Badlands National Park, my first camping trip. The wind was much stronger than I expected, I forgot eating utensils, and the griddle I packed never got used.
  • Canyon Campground, Yellowstone, four days in a 3–4 person ALPS Mountaineering tent. Heavy hail soaked the tent, and because I hadn't thought about where water would run, the floor ended up damp underneath.
  • Bryce Canyon, where the campground was so dark that the night sky felt like stars pouring down. It's still the most stars I've seen from any campsite.
  • Hot trips, up to 110°F, where a 48-quart cooler full of bagged ice from Costco held ice for about two days. That's why I recommend a good cooler over a 12V fridge for tent campers without hookups.
  • My coldest night, about 23°F (−5°C), when I had a sleeping bag but wished I'd brought hand warmers.

From My Trips

A few photos I took on these trips:

Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone framed by pine trees

Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Mineral terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone

Hoodoos below the rim at Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon from the rim

I've also visited Arches and Canyonlands national parks in Utah, though I didn't camp there:

Canyon overlook at Canyonlands National Park with red rock spires

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park (video, sound removed)

Trail toward red rock arches at Arches National Park

Arches National Park

Arches National Park (video, sound removed)

I started this site to write down what I learned the hard way, and to pair it with the numbers that matter: fees, ratings, fuel math, and the trade-offs most gear reviews leave out.

How I Make These Guides

  • Personal experience is labeled. When a guide includes something I actually did, used, or got wrong, it's in a clearly marked box. I don't describe tests I didn't run or places I haven't been.
  • Facts come from official sources. Specs, fees, and rules come from manufacturer spec sheets, the National Park Service, Recreation.gov, and other public agencies, listed at the end of each article.
  • I use AI tools to help research and draft. I review every article, check numbers against their sources, and add my own experience where I have it.
  • Articles get updated. Prices, fees, and rules change, so each article shows when it was last updated.

Advertising and Affiliate Links

This site may show ads and may include affiliate links. If you buy through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That never changes what I recommend, and articles with affiliate links will say so.

Say Hello or Report an Error

If a spec, fee, or link is out of date, or you just want to share what worked on your own trip, email me at overlandroutelab@gmail.com. Corrections and reader stories make every guide better.

Overland Route Lab · Written and run by Ray

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