RV parks and campgrounds can vary quite a bit in price, and those costs can add up quickly if you camp often. Boondocking is camping without hookups. It’s sometimes referred to as camping off the grid, dispersed camping, or dry camping. No water, no electric, and no sewer. Many people enjoy this, as it usually means more space and freedom than staying in an RV park. Some people like to exclusively boondock and do it for long periods of time, while others only do it for quick overnight stays only when necessary. Whatever your preference is, there are lots of free places to boondock. Keep reading to find out where they are!
There are two boondocking memberships that cost an initial fee, but after your membership is purchased, you can boondock at their locations for free.
1. Boondockers Welcome
Boondockers Welcome is free overnight parking on private property. People who are usually RVers themselves sign up to be hosts. They offer their driveway, land, or property as a place for RVers to spend the night. They only have to offer one-night parking, but many of them allow RVers to stay up to five nights! They aren’t required to provide any type of hookups, but some do.
The yearly cost of $50 easily pays for itself in one to two stays. Many hosts enjoy meeting travelers and swapping stories. It’s a great way to meet some interesting people and save money on stopovers when traveling. People can post reviews of the places they stay, so you know that other RVers have had good experiences at a specific property before making a reservation.
2. Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts is a collection of over 900 wineries, breweries, farms, and more across North America. After paying $79 for the year, you can stay on these properties for one night at a time for free. There are some really unique Harvest Host locations such as alpaca farms, lavender farms, and air and space museums!
3. BLM Managed Public Land
BLM Managed Public Land offers numerous opportunities for camping under the stars in stunning locations. BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management” and is easier to find in the west. Boondocking is allowed on BLM land for up to 14 days at a time within a 28-consecutive-day period. We’ve experienced some of the most beautiful campsites on BLM land.
4. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel restaurants sometimes offer RV parking in the back lot. What’s better than a warm country meal at the end of a long travel day?!
5. Casinos
Casinos almost always allow overnight parking and sometimes longer. Some casinos have sections of their parking lots designated for RV parking and even offer trash cans and portable bathrooms. They also have been known to gift RVers vouchers for gambling or food just for staying on their property!
6. Truck Stops and Rest Areas
Truck stops and rest areas often welcome overnight RV stays, but be sure to park in designated RV spaces and not in trucker spots.
7. Cabela’s
Cabela’s often has dedicated (free) RV parking spaces for overnighters. Some even have water and dump stations!
8. Walmart
Walmart is probably the most well-known option for a quick overnight parking option. You can get your grocery shopping done and rest your eyes for free for the night!
Where can you find these free spots? Campendium is my favorite website/app for finding places to boondock. It is important to note that you should always call ahead before showing up to ensure that overnight camping is allowed. Where have you camped for free that isn’t on this list?
Need some more boondocking information? Check out our article How To Conserve 12-Volt Power When Boondocking to understand the function of your batteries, and find ways to extend their charge. We also have this free video about Running 12-Volt Appliances on Generator While Boondocking:
About the Author: Lauren is a wife, mother of two, photographer, blogger, and lover of nature and adventure! Currently traveling around the US in a fifth wheel, Lauren and her family seek to live life to the fullest and continue to look for ways to simplify their lives in order to live larger with less. Follow along on their journey by visiting their family travel blog.
Godtoknow
ps everyone needs to pick up and leave as clean or cleaner as upon arrival. some walmarts have stopped overnights due to junk left behind. saw 3 rv form a circle and have a camp fire. hum??
we have used closed weigh stations
Walmart sells a road atlas with info on all Walmart and Sams Club locations.
I will call and ask if they allow RV parking and if they are open 24 hours.
If they are open, they will usually have security and leave parking lot lights on.
Walmart in Asheville NC do not allow overnight parking. I was told by security that someone in past dumped their tank in parking lot & they discontinued that option.
We stopped at a Connecticut rest stop and it had a designated area for RV’s. I do not know if all Connecticut rest stops have those or not but it was very nice and safe.
I have been traveling alone for the last 3 weeks in a Honda odyssey, from Florida to S Dakota, Rocky Mountains and now in Georgia. The first night I stopped at a Cracker Barrel, had a nice dinner then asked about staying overnight. Always ask first. Never assume that other people are there so it must be okay, Stayed that night with no problems at all. After that I stayed at other Cracker Barrel’s, Walmarts, Pilot Truck Travel Centers, Loves Travel Centers, interstate rest areas and even a couple hotel parking lots, No problems at all. I stayed in a couple paid reserved campgrounds and dealt with children and pets not always behaving themselves. Boondocking was much more relaxing! I have foam insulation board cut to fit my windows to provide even temps and provide privacy. I choose not to need refrigeration but I do have a camp toilet and rechargeable fan on board. My biggest suggestion is don’t carry too much stuff! Most free camping will be along interstate highways. Don’t let fear stop you from seeing this awesome country of ours!
First time 92 year old boondocking suggestions. For Volvo Wagon ?
Just wanting to hear from other campers. I plan to Winter camp in Wyoming and Montana and was curious what worked best around door, windows and if skirting was used.
Best spots in Southwest to boondock?
We have not tried any boondocking sites yet, but plan to this year. Sounds fun and exciting. What’s some good ones in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey?
Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds are great deals! New to Class C RV. Water Heater needs
THERE ARE A FEW FREE CAMPING AROUND THE BC PROVINCE IN WHICH U WILL HAVE TO FIND IN THE MUNICIPAL PARKS
Go to BC Forest Service Campsites, there are many all over the province to use for free or very cheap.
More information on Boondocking .
Cabela’s in Reno doesn’t allow overnight parking. The parking lot is marked everywhere. We asked and they said no. We stayed anyway.
Hi. I have had to use the auxillory switch to start my onan 7kw generator. The generator runs as long as the mh engine is running. When I shut the mh engine off the generator stops running. Any thoughts on why? Thanks.
Hello Kenneth,
Thank you for contacting us.
It sounds like the chassis battery is weak or has low voltage. The generator normally starts off of the engine battery. When you turn on the AUX switch you are using the house batteries to start it. The engine is then keeping the charge with the alternator. When the engine turns off the battery is supposed to take over. Since the generator is turning off it seems to lead to the battery not holding power. It could just be a loose connection or bad wires but I would get the battery tested to see if it can still hold voltage.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
just bought 2007 pace arrow 36d and looking for gas fill location.
Hi Lenny. I don’t have the specs to tell you the exact location but it should be on the drivers side or rear. A lot of times there is a cover that needs opened to gain access to the fill. I have seen a few models that require a storage door to be opened as well. If you are still having trouble locating the fill I would recommend contacting Fleetwood directly as they are the only ones who would know for sure.
https://www.fleetwoodrv.com/about/contact-us
Dan
RV Repair Club
My auxiliary battery does not maintain a charge I have replaced the battery twice now. I took the RV to Jayco and into Ford as I have a Ford chassis and they indicated everything was working as designed. When the RV is sitting sitting in the garage I have no issue with the axcillary battery it is only when I’m driving the vehicle for long periods of time when I get to my location if there’s no power I cannot open the slides and the lights will not work any .thoughts on what the issue might be.
Hi Susan,
Here is what our expert had to say:
It sounds like there is a high amp draw on the batteries while traveling or something wrong with the charging system. The batteries should be getting a charge from the alternator while driving down the road so the opposite should be happening. If the batteries are weak after travel, there is something pulling the voltage from the batteries. This could be the sign of a weak alternator or shorted auxiliary switch. This switch is what combines the house and chassis batteries for travel so they can get a charge as well. If the switch is faulty and has a short then it could actually be draining the batteries instead of charging them. It really can only be the switch or the alternator on the vehicle. It is possible there is another short somewhere causing the batteries to drain but since they are fine when stored really the only thing that makes a difference is this switch that combines the system.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
make sure that it is turned off. My fifth wheel it needs to be off to charge while driving or while plugged in.
Problem solved. Last week when they put in a new refrigerator they inadvertently left the invertor unplugged. When I plugged it back in all the batteries started charging and all the lights went back to normal.
While dry camping all of a sudden the interior lights dimmed and both the main battery and coach batteries starting draining down. I disconnected the main battery and put a small charger on it. Now the main and coach batteries are coming back up in power. The 120 circuits are all working perfectly. Is this an inverter problem or something else entirely? I didn’t think the engine battery would be drained by something in the coach.
Hi Michael. The engine battery shouldn’t be draining unless there is a switch on that shouldn’t be. Some coaches have a switch to combine the batteries to either help start a dead engine battery or to start something like a generator. If this switch is left on it could drain the engine battery. Typically there is a battery isolater solenoid that connects the system only when the engine is running to charge the house battery when driving down the road. If this isolater is bad or shorted out it can drain both batteries. If you have one of these it will be in the engine compartment connected to the positive battery wire. These are common but not all have them. Every RV is different and has different options so you might only have manual switches. These could be set wrong or something is wrong with the switch. The converter/inverter only comes into play when you are using 120v power. Since you were dry camping the only system that came into play would be the 12v system. This is just the batteries connected to the fuse panel to operate everything. There can be other things in line like disconnect switches or other safety devices. Since they dimmed and drained so fast you either have something high amperage running or a bad short somewhere. With both sets of batteries draining the short could be in the switch connecting the systems or the battery isolater switch has shorted out. Unfortunately you have to test and trace the circuits to isolate the issue. I would look for the battery isolater or whatever could connect the batteries. Most likely the issue would be here.
Dan
RV Repair Club
I have a water works panel and one of the knobs pulled off , how do I know I put it back on right?
Hello Kay,
Thank you for the question, here is the reply:
The only way is to test the operation of the water lines. The knob just turns a valve, usually only turns a 1/4 to change. Typically these are used to winterize so it could be blocking off water flow to a certain area or something else. The only way to know is to operate the system and see if something isn’t working properly and then try changing the valve to correct it.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Can’t seem to get the engine cover removed.
Hello Dan!
We’d love to help!
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
We are New to RVing, and Excited to trying out all facets of it ! Any Advice is Appreciated !
rear jacks go down , and the front you can hear the motor but they dont go down
Hello Julian,
Thank you for contacting us. If you want to ask the experts a question they will need the now the make, model and the year of the RV before they can assist.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Ask your question to dolphinclub.com
This is the original National RV group,still in existance.
I just had the coach summerized, brought it home and plugged it in. Now it will not start. I am new to running as RV as my late husband always took care of this kind of issue, What do I need to do?
Hello Marion!
We’d love to help you out. What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Hi Marion, I just wanted to chime in to extend my condolences to you. My husband passed in January of 2021 and I am just starting to venture out in an RV by myself. I wish you the very BEST as you go forward!
Thanks for the great tips on Boondocking. This is our first season. Can’t wait to go.
We want to change the wires in the battery box to something not so stiff since they are getting older and could break. What would a good wire be? They are not the standard big red or black wires for batteries. Is there a carbon fiber or something we can use.
Hi Jann,
Thanks for your patience, here is the Expert reply:
I actually only recommend only using the stranded copper wire for use in the 12v system. They have the most reliable conductivity and flexibility for 12v wiring and that’s why they are standard for use in these systems. I would not recommend using any other type of wires. They do make stranded copper wiring with smaller strands but more of them and it is much easier to flex. I would check with local suppliers to see if they offer the smaller stranded copper and see if that makes a difference.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Cable for RV batteries is available from Amason
On top of the customer service comment, the wires insulation from automotive industry is different than other electrical wires. They are design to support more heat than the rest of the wires available out there. So every time you have a battery source of power is highly recommended automotive wires.
We like to boondock at state beaches and a lot of boat slips mainly you’re bigger boat ramps for the public a lot of those you can stay overnight at for free
Have camped at many Nebaska State NRD (Natural Resource District) lakes.
What type of camping spots are available in. Western Canada?
would like to hear from other camper experiences
Many Walmarts in Washington State no longer allow overnight parking, be sure to check with the management when you arrive.
Your tutorials/videos/infomation are invaluable! Thank you for taking the initiative!
State Forests are my favourite, largely free of the obnoxious restrictions of national parks and consistently featuring side tracks for parking deep in the bush. Love it :)
We are committed dry campers and have camped in 30 states.