How to Poop in the Woods: A No-Nonsense Guide for Car Campers 💩

Feel like this in the morning like our founder Reed instead of waiting until you get home on Sunday!

One of the most common reasons people hesitate to sleep outside isn't the gear, the weather, or finding a spot. It's this: What do I do when I need to go to the bathroom?

It's a fair question. And the answer is simpler than you think.

Whether you're parking at a developed campground with a vault toilet down the road or dispersed camping on BLM land miles from the nearest facility, here's everything you need to know — practically, hygienically, and without making it weird.

First, know where you're camping

This matters more than anything else, because the answer to "how do I go to the bathroom?" depends entirely on where you are.

Developed campgrounds (state parks, national park campgrounds, most forest service sites) almost always have vault toilets or flush toilets on site. You don't need to overthink it. Find the facilities, use them, done. Bring your own TP just in case. We've sat down, done the deed, then went to pull the roll and THERE WAS NONE 😮

Dispersed camping on BLM land, forest service roads, or backcountry sites is a different story. Here, Leave No Trace principles apply, and you'll need to manage waste yourself.

When in doubt, check the specific land management rules for wherever you're headed before you go. Rules vary by region, and some high-use areas require you to pack out all waste using a WAG bag (more on that below).

The basics: how to dig a cat hole

For most dispersed camping situations, the standard method is a cat hole — a small hole you dig, use, and bury. It works, it's low-impact, and it leaves the land in good shape for the next person.

Here's how to do it:

Get at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp. This protects water sources and keeps things sanitary for everyone. 200 feet is roughly 70 adult steps — farther than you think, but worth it. Plus, who wants an audience??

Dig a hole about 6 inches deep and 4 inches wide. A small garden trowel does the job perfectly. They're inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to tuck into a day bag. You can also bring a small shovel, or there's even such a thing as a folding poop shovel for camping! 

Do your business. Squat over the hole. A tree, rock, or trekking pole can help with balance if you need it. Enjoy it- there's no one around, the birds are chirping, and you are doing what we've been doing for 10's of thousands of years. Pooping outside.

Wipe, then deal with the toilet paper. In most areas, you can bury used toilet paper in the cat hole — but in dry or high-use areas, pack it out in a small zip-lock bag. When in doubt, pack it out. Alternatively we've camped places where its best to burn it because the coyotes dig it up! Just light it up in your cat hole.

Fill in the hole and disguise it. Use the dirt you dug out, replace any leaf litter or rocks, and move on. The goal is to leave no visible sign.

Wash your hands. Biodegradable camp soap and a small water bottle works fine. Hand sanitizer is a good backup and we love Dr. Bronner's!

What to keep in your car camping bathroom kit

You don't need much. A small bag or stuff sack with the following covers you for most situations:

• Small trowel (a dedicated poop trowel — keep it separate and labeled)
• Toilet paper
• Zip-lock bags for packing out TP if needed
• Biodegradable hand soap or hand sanitizer
• WAG bags if you're heading somewhere that requires pack-out waste

That's the whole kit. It fits in a gallon zip-lock and takes up almost no space in the back of your vehicle.

WAG bags: when you need to pack it all out

Some areas — high-altitude wilderness zones, desert canyon lands, heavily used spots — require you to pack out all human waste. No cat holes. No exceptions.

A WAG bag (Waste Alleviation and Gelling bag) makes this straightforward. You use it like a toilet, seal it, and pack it out to a trash facility. They're compact, odor-controlled, and widely available at outdoor retailers. If you're camping somewhere with a pack-out requirement, bring at least one per person per day. At least its not a river trip on the Grand Canyon and you have to bring out a giant ammo can of poo!

A note on campground vault toilets

If you've never used a vault toilet, they're simply a non-flushing toilet over a large underground tank. They can be a little fragrant on warm days, but they're perfectly functional and very common at established campgrounds.

The rules are simple: use them for waste and toilet paper only. No trash, no wipes (even "flushable" ones), no food scraps. This keeps maintenance manageable and the facilities usable for everyone.

The mindset shift that makes this easy

Here's the honest truth: this feels like a bigger deal before you do it than after. After a few times you actually look forward to it.

The first time you dig a cat hole in the woods, it feels a little strange. By the third camping trip, it's just part of the routine — like setting up camp or making coffee in the morning. It takes five minutes, it leaves no trace, and it genuinely doesn't need to be a barrier to getting outside. 

Car camping is supposed to be the easier version of spending time in nature. And it is. You've got a comfortable place to sleep, your gear is right there, and your daily driver becomes your basecamp. The bathroom situation is one small thing to figure out — and now you've figured it out.

Go find a good spot. Sleep well. Handle the rest when you need to.

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