If you don’t have a shower in your traveling home, and if sponge baths just won’t do it for you, what are your options?

Some people cobble together shower-like setups using things like garden sprayers, electric pumps, foot pumps, gravity, kiddie pools, tarps and such. But if you want real showers, with nearly endless hot water, here are some places to try.

HEALTH CLUBS

If you’re going to spend much of your time in populated areas, you might want to invest in a club membership. And you could workout, too, even if it’s just to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike.

RECREATION CENTERS

Various cities and counties run recreation centers where a small fee will buy a visitor’s day pass, which includes the use of the locker room showers.

PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

These showers might be available to us only at certain times, such as during designated adult swim hours.

COMMERCIAL HOT SPRINGS

Come for the showers, stay for the soak and maybe some socializing. And, of course, there are natural hot springs scattered all around the country if you want to get clean but don’t need water spraying on you.

CAMPGROUNDS

Different campgrounds have different policies about who can use their showers and whether they’re free. Some require you to pay for a campsite (which could require reservations, sometimes months in advance), some require only a day pass. Sometimes you’ll discover free campgrounds with free showers, like Falcon County Park near Zapata, TX.

MARINAS AND BOAT RAMPS

Not only can you sometimes stay overnight at marinas and boat ramps, you might be able to get a shower while you’re there.

HOSTELS

At most hostels a small fee can buy a shower even if you don’t stay the night. For example, I’ve had many excellent showers at the Whitney Portal Hostel in Lone Pine, CA.

HOTELS

Sometimes we crave not only a long hot shower with lots of towels but also electricity, climate control, cable TV and wifi, so we splurge on a hotel room. I heard of one charismatic and persuasive guy who talked a manager into letting him use the shower in a room housekeeping hadn’t gotten to yet.

CHARITABLE SERVICES

There are organizations that serve not only the homeless but also us “houseless” folks. Food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, missions and such sometimes have free showers. They might be limited to certain days and hours.

TRUCK STOPS

For some people “truck stop” conjures up thoughts of grease and grime, but their showers are quite nice and cleaned between each use. They even supply towels. However, at $12 to $15, they can be spendy for anything but occasional use. But sometimes kind OTR drivers behind you in line will give you one of the showers they’ve earned on their rewards card. And sometimes employees will just give you a shower. The wait for an available shower can be horrible at some locations and during certain hours. Midday usually works best.

LAUNDROMATS

Just about every nomad knows about the laundromats in Quartzsite and Ehrenberg that also have public showers. It’s not a common thing, but I’ve discovered them in Cody, WY and Buena Vista, CO as well. I’m sure there are more around the country.

STORES

General stores and convenience stores in areas with a lot of campers and backpackers sometimes have public showers. There’s a gift shop in the town of Joshua Tree with showers out back—an unexpected combination.

EMPLOYEE LOCKER ROOMS

Some vehicle dwellers have jobs that provide showers.

RINSE STATIONS AT BEACHES

This is an option if you don’t mind cold water, don’t need soap, and you’re okay with bathing in a swimsuit, with passersby. Some beaches have more private rinse stations.

NATURAL BODIES OF WATER

Again, if you don’t mind cold water and don’t need soap, this could be a way to get clean. Natural hot springs can be wonderful. Do not use even biodegradable soap in natural waters.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

If you’re fortunate enough to have the use of someone’s shower, clean up after yourself, don’t wear out your welcome.

I’ve heard stories (confessions?) of people bathing in the rain, in park sprinklers, in fountains, in irrigation ditches, in livestock tanks, at self-service car washes and other places of questionable legality. Desperation leads to inventiveness. And tales to tell. What stories do you have?