Preppers, survivalists, and homesteaders are all becoming more and more interested in living “off the grid.” Everyone has their own reason for living off the grid, whether it’s to stop paying for utilities, get ready for the end of the world, or just be independent.
Still, cutting yourself off from the water, sewage, and electricity grids can be scary, and the process is often hard to understand.
People often wonder how they will be able to live off the grid, but even more, aren’t sure where they could even try to live this liberating way of life. Can you do it anywhere? Nope. Unfortunately, many states and cities in the US have deemed it illegal in one way or another to remove yourself from the grid.
So, where can you actually be free in the land of the free? Keep reading, friend, to find out for yourself the top 5 states where you can live off the grid and have the freedom you desire.
1. Hawaii
Hawaii might be the best place in the United States to live without electricity. It can be expensive, but after all the costs are paid, it can be a safe place in the tropics for people who want to be on their own.
As an off-grid state, one of the best things about Hawaii might be that the grid only goes so far. Yes, the main city is on a grid, but if you move a little bit into the island, you don’t have to worry about living on a grid because there isn’t one!
When you add that freedom to the fact that Hawaii gets a lot of rain, is usually sunny, and has very fertile soil, you have a very stable source of energy and farming.
Not only that, but Hawaii is the only state in the US where you might be able to grow your own coffee beans.
2. Missouri
If you don’t like tropical places or just prefer to stay on the mainland, Missouri is a great place to go off the grid because they encourage it. Missouri’s laws are very friendly to people who want to get away from society. It’s legal to collect water, and you don’t even need a well or septic system to live on your own land, so you have a lot of choices that aren’t limited by the government.
Missouri is also a good place to farm because the land is cheap and the weather is good for growth. Summer is hot, humid, and lasts for a long time. This might bother some people, but it is great for farming and livestock in general. Winter is incredibly bearable, with temperatures averaging 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the occasional snow, allowing for the growth of certain crops as well as a consistent source of food for livestock.
Taking all of the above into account, plus the fact that Missouri gets an average of 41 inches of rain a year, this state seems like an off-grid paradise!
3. Washington State
If you’ve always wanted to live off the grid in a lush, dark-green forest, Washington State is probably the place for you.
Who wouldn’t want to spend their days away from modern society in a place where the average summer temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the average winter temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit? When you add that to the fact that it rains an average of 39 inches per year, you could say that this is the perfect place for a homestead.
Washington State has very strict rules about how you can build your house, but if you can look past that and enjoy the fact that you can collect rainwater, sell raw milk legally, and have more than one type of livestock, you will love this state.
Washington also has a lot of off-grid communities that are already up and running, as well as lots of land with off-grid homes already built and set up for sale.
4. Oregon
You don’t have to go very far to find the next best place to get away from everything. In fact, you only have to go down one state. Oregon is a great place for people who want to live off the grid, but mostly for different reasons than the places listed above.
Instead of focusing on whether the land is good for farming or if it rains enough, Oregon promotes its great off-grid communities. Take the Three Rivers Recreation Area as an example. It is a big town where people share water and solar energy.
The Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon is a holistic, off-grid community that is also a place to go on vacation. You work with them for a year, and then they vote to see if you can stay longer, but who wouldn’t want to live in a hot spring?! Either way, there are many communities in Oregon that can help you get off the grid if you don’t want to do it alone.
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5. Tennessee
Tennessee is known for producing some of the best country music stars ever, but its rural areas are a great place to get away from everything.
Tennessee is one of the few places in the south of the US that gets to experience all four seasons, from summers that are warm and humid to winters that don’t get too cold.
Tennessee is a good place to save or make a decent amount of money because it has one of the lowest tax burdens in the US, low property costs, and the freedom to collect rainwater and share cows for raw milk.
Also, the growing season lasts about 260 days on average, which is great for anyone who wants to farm. Having more land and warmer days also means you have to buy less feed for your animals.
With all of these advantages and the fact that Tennessee was voted one of the freest areas in the u.s., you should really think about moving there.
What do you think are the best places to live? Share your ideas in the section below for comments: