No one likes to talk about their bathroom business, but we probably should.  Occasionally, we hear from a Teardrop customer who would like some options for an onboard potty with their trailer.  And while that solves some problems, it creates others.

Some teardrop owners park in campgrounds with bathrooms for showering and doing their toilet business, but overall, most intentionally find themselves in the outback wilderness with nary an accommodation insight, so where exactly is one supposed to poo?

Squatting in the woods is something most campers have done, and many continue to do, but environmental, health, and safety concerns and policies around them strongly suggest that isn’t the best thing to do.

The Poop and Bury

There is a proper way to poop in the woods and bury it. You will need a camp shovel designated for this very purpose and nothing else – be sure to store it in a plastic bag or container so it can’t contaminate anything else. Find a place no less than 200 feet from any waterways to avoid contamination. Prepare a hole at least 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. After you have done your business in the hole, put your used toilet paper in a sealable plastic bag to pack it out – leaving it poses a risk to animals with a keen sense that may dig up and ingest the toilet paper, which can cause illness or disease. Fill your poo hole with dirt and follow the universal camping rule of “leave no trace” by covering it with pine needles or leaves.

In some places such as Moab, Utah, and others with more delicate ecosystems, burying bio-waste is forbidden, and you are REQUIRED to pack out solid waste and toilet paper. That’s gross, but portable toilets are an inexpensive and effective solution designed to make this relatively easy and also to provide a wee bit of creature comfort while doing your business. Portable toilets are either a cushion on a bucket with a bag in it or a more sophisticated version of that very thing. You sit on a bucket, poop into a plastic bag and pack your waste and paper out to be disposed of in a regular bathroom or authorized dumpsite.

Going on the Go

Portable toilets range from DIY to pretty sophisticated flushing units – and a good and affordable solution can be found with a budget range from twenty bucks to several hundred. For a really sweet bathroom setup, check out this bathroom tent for privacy, these toilet tablets to help keep the smell in check, and this solar water heater for washing up.

The bottom line is that it is your responsibility to deal with your waste if you are going camping. If the thought of dealing with poop makes you dizzy, you may want to ease into sleeping in the great outdoors by staying in a campground that has a fully plumbed bathroom and bathhouse. With planning and preparation, though, your tushy can stay cushy, and the grossness of mother nature’s call can be minimized. Health, safety, and environmental requirements can easily be adhered to.

What About my Pets Poop?

Also, don’t forget your pet poop too.  If your dog poops while camping – and they will – you MUST pick it up and pack it out. The same rules apply while camping – pick it up and take it with you! Leaving an animal’s poop in the wild can have consequences for other animals.

And that, my friend, is the scoop on pooping outdoors when camping!

If you’re looking for more information, check out this great article on pooping in the backcountry. Also, check out the more environmentally focused “How to Sh*t in the Woods.”

Check out some of our favorite pottys and accessories here