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Finding free or cheap camping
Can you really camp for free?
YES, there are actually many options for free or cheap camping, and you can save some money on campsites in order to make the full-time RV life work for you!
Some terms for camping without hookups or other amenities
Dispersed camping – a term used by the bureau of land management for free camping in non-developed areas. These campsites are usually free.
Boondocking refers to any type of camping that is far from civilization and is a term mostly used by RVers or full-time campers.
Dry camping refers to campsites with no hookups, and is also sometimes called primitive camping.
Where to find free or cheap camping
Federal and state public lands offer free or cheap camping, and each of these has their own camping information on their websites. However, we use USCampgrounds.info for a listing of (almost) all of them, and it includes provincial campgrounds in Canada. They do not list private campgrounds.
Another great tool to use is at Campgroundviews.com. The great thing about this site is that there are virtual tours of many campgrounds (over 200 at the time this was written), and they are adding new ones all the time! Use the 360 degree video to tour the campground, and look at each campsite. Click on a campsite that you like and be redirected to the campsite booking tool at Recreation.gov, which lists all of the national campgrounds. Along with the online booking tool, Recreation.gov has tools to find public campgrounds and a free trip planning / itinerary tool, helping you find nearby attractions as well.
If you are 62 or over, get an “America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass” which is good for free entry for yourself and those accompanying you to national parks and also gives you up to 50% discounts on national park campgrounds.
Bureau of Land Management
Army Corps of Engineers
National Parks
National Forests
Dept of fish and wildlife
State parks & recreation areas (check for website by state)
County parks (check for website by county)
Uscampgrounds.info
It’s all here, on one map and at your fingertips: All 13,000 US and Canada (vehicle-accessible) public campgrounds, with accurate lat/lon for your GPS or smart phone, campground amenities, phone numbers and web links for both the campground itself and it’s reservation system. Includes all National Park, National Forest, State Park and Provincial campgrounds, all BLM, TVA and Army engineers and military-only campgrounds. Most regional, county, city and utility-owned are also included. Go to site
Freecampsites.net
This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. They add many free camping spots but also ask that you add some of your favorite camping places as well. They have a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information. This site also has a route planner, and we use it quite often. Go to site
Freeroam.app
I love this app because not only do they have almost every imaginable filter for finding a campground, but they also encourage sustainability. Besides the usual filters like RV size, required amenities, prices, etc., you can also filter by the temperature and weather conditions in an area, strength of cell signals, elevation and services nearby (you set the distance). These folks have really done a ton of work, and this app is free – they only ask for a donation and to share their app with others. Go to site
Campendium
Over 2,800 free campsites are listed on Campendium, with listings by state. They have an interactive map, with links to campground websites and camper reviews. They also have a camping blog. Go to site
Hipcamp
All kinds of campgrounds including free and cheap sites and private campgrounds. Hipcamp has over 300,000 campsites and claims to be the most comprehensive list of campsites available. Search by “RV Camping” to find sites. You can filter by price – there is an “under $25” category. Go to site
Boondocking.org
This database was put together by someone who has been boondocking across the country for years, and other campers can add places to the database as well. It’s a pretty extensive database, but the search is based upon GPS longitude and latitude coordinates rather than a city, state or zip code. Also, the listed campgrounds aren’t formatted and don’t include any further information such as prices, website links and phone numbers. I found it somewhat difficult to use. Go to site
Harvest Hosts
A membership is required in order to use the Harvest Hosts site to find and use free campsites. The member hosts are vineyards, golf courses and other small businesses that will allow you to stay for free overnight (sometimes longer). It is expected that you will make a purchase while you are there, and also abide by their rules. Our Harvest Hosts membership was $65 for the year and we have used it (4) times so far. I do believe since we purchase our membership, the price has increased to $99 for the year (GET A 15% discount if you sign up HERE). The sites have been really beautiful, camp hosts gracious and generous, and we have acquired some great bottles of wine! Their site also has a route planner with the ability to save trips and add hosts to your trip. Typically, there are only one or two spots for campers on these properties. Go to site
Allstays
We have found this to be quite a complete list of campgrounds, and it includes RV services such as weigh stations, washes, and dump stations. They have over 30,000 campgrounds listed and include public and private campgrounds. The basic app is $9.95 and this includes quite a few map filters. They also list free overnight camping sites such as Walmart parking lots and rest areas. Allstays PRO includes a more sophisticated search and also RV services search, and is currently $32.95/year for the RV Camping app. The good thing about this app is that some of the information is available on your phone even when you don’t have service (data is stored on your phone, and the app uses GPS). This is available for iphone/ipad devices only. Go to site
Free or Cheap Overnight Parking
These places will typically allow campers to stay overnight. If parking for free overnight, do not use your slide outs, grills, etc. You are not supposed to be “camping”, only using the parking lot to rest overnight before continuing on your way. Always ASK management first before staying, and make a purchase at their establishment. I have included movie theaters in this list as I have read that some of them will allow you to stay overnight, but I have not ever tried this (listed in “Motorhome and RV Retirement Living” by Jerry Minchey)
Walmart
Pilot/Flying J
Love’s truck stops
Cracker Barrel
Kmart
Casinos
Rest areas (not every state allows overnight parking in rest areas)
Movie theaters
Churches – see Faithfulparking.com. Host churches charge from $10-$20 for overnight parking and may include some amenities.
How long can I stay at a free campground?
National Forest Service and state parks or recreation areas, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and US Army Corps of Engineers usually will allow a 14 day stay, though there are exceptions and verify the allowed length of stay prior to planning a trip. Areas that allow free overnight parking (listed below) such as Walmart generally only allow one night, so this option is good if you just need a place to rest before hitting the road again the next day.
What to expect when camping for free:
No hookups or amenities are typically available when camping for free. Some of the campgrounds have restrooms, fire rings and/or picnic tables, but no electrical hookups, water or dump stations. However, these areas tend to be some of the most beautiful sites ( in my opinion ! ) and may have walking trails, fishing, swimming, and other wonderful natural areas to enjoy. More detailed information is on the “Boondocking” page.
Some preparation is necessary before setting up camp in a dry camping or primitive campsite. With no electricity, water or restrooms available, you definitely will need to have a checklist of extras and gadgets to consider bringing with you. I’ve put together this list which includes items that I have forgotten to bring along, as well as items that I’ve heard other people mention that they’ve forgotten to bring with on long trips.