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So I finally got myself a car, yay me. This means I can explore on a much more consistent basis without having to beg for my mom's car. It's fuggin great. I'm curious though if people devote large amounts of time driving with the sole intent of finding spots? Since I can do that now, I'm definitely thinking about it, but I'm just wondering how many people have found that method beneficial without wasting gas.
And yes, I use Google Earth and it's somewhat helpful, but definitely limited.
[last edit 10/25/2017 2:36 AM by sanctive - edited 3 times]
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I live in a pretty small area with a concentrated "downtown" area and driving or walking around that downtown area definitely shows some new opportunities. I think it would be worth the drive/gas if the concentration of buildings in decently dense. If you're in a city or urban-esq area yeah, but rural areas might be a little taxing on the gas IMO.
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Posted by ChvsingxGhxsts
I live in a pretty small area with a concentrated "downtown" area and driving or walking around that downtown area definitely shows some new opportunities. I think it would be worth the drive/gas if the concentration of buildings in decently dense. If you're in a city or urban-esq area yeah, but rural areas might be a little taxing on the gas IMO.
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Not a bad plan. I almost feel like going from street to street in some older urban areas would uncover some hidden gems.
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I have devoted a great deal of driving around finding spots. In 2007 I got more serious about UE simply because I bought a new scooter, went out driving, and found an abandoned neighbourhood about 15 minutes from my home.
Usually these days I go out riding with a specific destination in mind, but I keep an eye open for other finds along the way. Once on my way to an abandoned hospital, I found a completely different abandoned hospital much closer to home. Once when tracking down an abandoned neighbourhood a friend told me about, I ended up at a completely different abandoned neighbourhood. Wait, that happened twice.
Gas is cheaper for me though, as is parking.
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Posted by Steed
Once when tracking down an abandoned neighbourhood a friend told me about, I ended up at a completely different abandoned neighbourhood. Wait, that happened twice.
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Now that is something special right there, especially if you came across multiple.
Lucky duck.
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Posted by sanctive
Now that is something special right there, especially if you came across multiple.
Lucky duck.
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I'd have to think hard but there have probably been cases where I discovered more than one abandoned area in one ride. Sometimes I'm tired and on my way home and I see another and I just have to stop and do the bare minimum.
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It's better if you've established a few spots to go to first. Then when you're driving between them you just stay off the main roads. If you switch up your routes you'll cover a lot of ground.
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Posted by EsseXploreR
It's better if you've established a few spots to go to first. Then when you're driving between them you just stay off the main roads. If you switch up your routes you'll cover a lot of ground.
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That makes sense yeah, I'll have to utilize that more often. I know most of the classic spots around me so that should make things easier.
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Driving around looking for spots is a fun part of the UrbEx experience for me and the misses. The cost of gas is a small price of admission for a day of enjoyment. We have a good time just cruising and dropping pins on google maps. Then we'll come back and scout the area at a later date.
We always find some cool things to take pictures of while driving around as well. Murals, architecture, even people.
Driving around looking at the city is time well spent to me. 
Never climb after somebody with ulcerative colitis. -Steed |
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Posted by 4Valhal
Driving around looking at the city is time well spent to me.
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Preach
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Plus, it doesn't hurt to take the backroads when driving through rural areas, if you can spare the time. Crumbling barns and houses can be plentiful depending on where you go.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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Posted by Aran
Plus, it doesn't hurt to take the backroads when driving through rural areas, if you can spare the time. Crumbling barns and houses can be plentiful depending on where you go.
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Oh yeah, old houses and shit are actually so cool, definitely gotta find some. I remember back in Montana there was a huge abundance of old houses and towns it was amazing.
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I find it easier to look around and takes notes when I'm a passenger. I don't have a car, so I take public transit or am the passenger in a car, and I find that allows me the best view of the streets I'm travelling and to take notes on where I find potential spots.
As I've learned from two places I've discovered recently; don't pass up a place because it looks boring or not worth it. Two places I had on my list, one looked like a total dump, the other like everything had been removed. In both places, it was the total opposite, and there was lots left behind in both locations.
One day I got a good camera.
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Posted by Fleeting
As I've learned from two places I've discovered recently; don't pass up a place because it looks boring or not worth it. Two places I had on my list, one looked like a total dump, the other like everything had been removed. In both places, it was the total opposite, and there was lots left behind in both locations.
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This is some solid advice man, big thanks.
[last edit 10/25/2017 8:31 PM by sanctive - edited 1 times]
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For the past year I’ve dedicated a lot of time for UE. Driving around solely to find some spots. Usually I’d do it several times a week but for the past couple months I’ve been working and sadly haven’t gotten to nearly as much as I want to!
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I started UE just recently and have been driving around also looking for new places to explore. In the nor-cal area. So hard to find good places. So far only found 3 great spots. look forward to more.
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To the OP, living in Minnesota, and as a former Midwesterner myself, driving around outside the city should yield you some great abandoned farm houses and the like.
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Posted by WestOhooligan
To the OP, living in Minnesota, and as a former Midwesterner myself, driving around outside the city should yield you some great abandoned farm houses and the like.
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This I have heard, definitely gonna start doing this often. Thanks man.
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I think without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me in regards to UE was getting my motorcycle license. Lightweight motorcycles are so fuel efficient these days (we're talking 60 - 80 MPG on new fuel injected bikes) that the cost of gasoline for exploration becomes almost negligible, this would especially be true for Americans. I commute 140 km on average (round trip) a day and try to take a different route every day to spot new abandonments. Up here in Canada where gas is significantly more expensive I can still do 150 km on my bike for about $6 depending on how hard I flog the throttle. On top of that motorcycles naturally have a size advantage over cars that really comes in handy for exploration, countless times I've driven my bike right in through the front door of an abandonment to hide it from public view, or simply parked it behind something.
Definitely worth considering and looking into, it's an expensive (in terms of maintenance and the neverending urge to buy more bikes) and dangerous hobby, but really maximizes your ability to roam and explore the world, especially if you get into dual-sport.
[last edit 11/2/2017 6:32 PM by EPOCH6 - edited 2 times]
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I am in the same boat as a lot of these people, went driving to a location, found an abandoned middle school on the way. Stuff is out there and it's not too hard to find if you get out there.
Edit: also took a wrong turn going to a different location and found some abandoned silos that were pretty cool.
[last edit 11/3/2017 2:39 AM by ryan5685 - edited 1 times]
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