When you start thinking about it, there are many options for places to park overnight in your RV. And let’s face it, it’s fun. Even if you can afford a RV Park every night, do you really want to always be packed in-between other RVs with the noise and spotlights shining in your window?
Service stations like Camping World and other dealers. You can blend in like you’re waiting for a early morning appointment.
Some gambling casinos. They like customers who spend money. Check to see if you need to join a club or get a pass. Many have real RV sites and campgrounds now and may charge.
When out west, you have lots of road going nowhere. Find a spot but stay out of the way in case a farmer or worker does come by. You also have BLM and other Federal lands all over the place. Keep binoculars and a wildlife or bird book with you so have an nice peaceful excuse.
Blue Highways is a term used for the old roads and highways. There is also a great classic book by the same name that you may want to check out some day. They go through small towns and places that time forgot. More options exist in these places than in cities or near busy interstates.
Talk to locals. They may know of a local park or even offer to have you park out back and watch over the place for the night.
Play in the park. More than once, I have taken a break for a lunch, a nap or a playground stop and found out that you could park overnight there. I’ve even found free town parks with just two or three electric hookups. You’d never know about them without stopping or talking to a local. Some of these towns are one step away from being a ghost town and keeping you there to buy a meal or such makes a difference. If I was a small town, that’s what I would do. Bring in the RV crowd.
Special Events. Watch for fairs, shows, flea markets, festivals and other club gatherings. You may be able to park for free at low cost. Even buying a spot at a flea market and then “deciding not to sell today” may be cheaper than a local campground.
Our Camp & RV iPhone app is out. Easily find all kinds of campgrounds, RV parks, Wal-marts (with parking/no parking comments noted), rest areas, low clearance alerts, truck stops and RV dealers near you as you travel. Where? What exit? Directions? Use GPS services or use the included manual lookup mode for when service is not available…more
How about you? Do you have any more tips and places you’ve found and would like to share?
It’s good this site is here. I’m going to Alaska from California in my van. I need all the help I can get because when I’m tired I’ll park anywhere that I won’t be harrased. I didn’t know that casinos charge. I’ve never been to one that did. What’s important to me is free wi fi. And now I’ll need a place to plug my computer in because I can’t plug my inverter into my cigarette lighter anymore, It been fixed 3 times and they didn’t do a very good job. The cigarette ligher was detached ’cause it was just clipped on instead of screwed on, like it should be. It was great when it was working though. I like to know where I’m going and I like my pc for that. Theres a free place near Brookings Oregon or sometimes it’s free, called miller bar but I was there this winter and so many people have been taking the rocks out that people were getting stuck in the sand. I haven’t been back there lately but it’s beautiful there and I saw a bald eagle for the first time there. One time I took off at night in the fog to find a place. and parked by a road. No one knew I was there ’cause they couldn’t see. I’ve never stayed at Walmart before, but I might try it, sometime. Donna
Slab City, highlighted in the movie “Into the Wild” is near the Salton Sea in Southern Calif. When the end of the world happens this is what it might be like! But everyone should see it once.
Community Colleges are sometime amenable to overnight camping especially during off peak times like Christmas, Summer break, Easter break.
You can frequently get a free shower at the gym. Go the the college website, find the security department and email them.