Finding a campsite to park your RV can get frustrating, especially if you travel full time and live on a budget like us. Even if you have unlimited funds and only camp one day a year, you still need to find a place, right?
Campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts can get pricey, and depending on the season and location, they may require an advanced reservation. Free camping may require more in-depth research and preparation, but it’s free- and the views are usually better!
Our first 7 months on the road were spent almost exclusively in RV campgrounds. With the exception of a couple of parking lot overnighters, we mostly stayed at these places because we didn’t have solar power-I’m lying…
…we were scared to ‘boondock’ (or, dry camp in remote locations), but now it’s all we want to do! (And, we have solar panels, so no excuses.)
However you want to camp, these resources can help you find your next spot and many more to come.
Since every situation is unique, I’m going to show you how we find places, and also list several resources that can be utilized to suit a variety of situations.
WHAT WE MUST HAVE
We travel all year in a 35’ fifth wheel travel trailer, we run a business from the road and we have a dog; these facts translate into needs.
The Needs of the Trailer
- We must find good weather. We try to stay between lows in 40s and highs in the 80s, so we don’t need heat or A/C. Despite our best efforts, we have experienced an ice storm and triple digit temps (both in Texas).
- We must find a space large enough to fit our rig and truck. It’s big, which means it can’t fit everywhere. A smaller set up will give you more options, especially free ones!
The Needs of the Business
- We need cell service with usable internet. Our business is 100% remote, which allows us to travel fulltime, so we must be able to run that business when we park. Cell boosters are available, but we do not own one…yet.
The Needs of the Pup
- Wherever we stop has to be dog friendly.
WHAT WE WANT
After needs, come wants. We can certainly make due if these aren’t available, but it’s how we prefer life.
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- Privacy. Dealing with people can be exhausting, so it’s nice to be away sometimes.
- Peace and Quiet. Shhhh.
- Good views. These can vary widely depending on our surroundings and mood, but finding good scenery is high on the list.
- Open space for solar power (when dry camping). We carry a portable propane generator for when solar isn’t available, or powerful enough for our needs.
WHAT WOULD BE NICE
These are things that are nice to have but are by no means necessities: we’ll call them, luxury items.
- Electric, water and sewer, also known as Full Hookups or FHUs, are the glory trifecta, but you pay for them. Otherwise, partial hookups can be any combination of the three, or there are no hookups (dry camping). We have occasionally found all of these things for free, just not at the same place.
- We have portable solar panels, so we can stretch them away from the trailer. The sun can really heat things up, so some cover is nice.
- A natural body of water is preferable, but we’re not water snobs.
- Laundry close by. Driving 80 miles roundtrip to do a load of laundry is not ideal (I’m looking at you, Ashland, MT)
- Groceries close by. We keep a large cooler in the truck in case we have to drive an hour to get food, which happens.
- Off-leash friendly. Our dog Jax loves to adventure around off the leash and he listens (most of the time), so this is a definite bonus.
WHAT WE TRY TO AVOID
“No sir, I don’t like it.” – Mr. Horse, Ren & Stimpy
- Yellowstone in July, New Orleans during Mardi Gras, or New York City any time are just a few examples. We did the city thing for a few years, now we don’t.
- Residential RV Parks. Nothing against living in an RV, because we do it, but we’ve had some negative experiences with places that allow year-round residents, so we tend to avoid them.
- RV Resorts. Some campgrounds call themselves a resort, but really, it’s just a regular campground; those ones are fine. We tend to avoid the ritzy, amenity-rich, high price tag places. Just not our scene.
- Locations directly next to a busy roadway. This conflicts with our enjoyment of peace and quiet.
THE PROCESS
In an attempt to meet our needs and as many of our wants as we can, this is how we find places to stay. The order isn’t always the same and resourcefulness is key.
- Map out a general plan for the year based on weather (since we travel full time)
- Anywhere up to a few months prior to travel, research sites based on price
- Use several sources to try to locate free camping, ideally with at least one review
- Keep a running list of sites in an area, including labeling locations on Google Maps
- Narrow choices and solidify dates
- Up to several weeks in advance, make any necessary reservations (when applicable)
- Locate any needed resources, like fresh water, dump station, propane, etc.
- As the date approaches, make travel plans, check weather, and confirm reservations
This list looks really short, but I assure you, we spend several hours researching each of our locations. How much time it takes really depends on resourcefulness, circumstances and needs versus wants.
TIPS
- Have several contingency plans. Something is bound to go wrong.
- Be flexible. Things can change rather quickly.
- Check the weather often. See tip #2.
- Keep a list of resources handy (like this post!)
- Use maps for boondocking sites, like Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs)
- Be prepared. And, try to remain calm no matter what happens.
- Educate yourself. Every destination is unique and deserves respect.
- Always practice good etiquette and be a good neighbor.
- Leave sites cleaner than you found them.
RESOURCES
Weather
RV Parks
- RVParkReviews.com – It’s exactly what it says.
- CampgroundViews.com – Allows you to see images and video of campgrounds.
Parks & More
- Google.com – Great for locations, reviews, satellite views, and pinning/saving locations.
- Campendium.com – Locations and reviews of free and paid camping.
- AllStays.com – Locations and reviews of camping, resources, and more. Also, an app.
Free (mostly)
- FreeCampsites.net – Locations and reviews of free and cheap sites.
- DaysEndDirectory.com – Escapees membership + $15 required for access. Locations of free and cheap sites sourced from thousands of members.
Government Land
- Recreation.gov – Paid camping.
- NPS.gov – National Park Service resources.
- fs.fed.us– Forest service. Paid and free camping, maps, and more.
- Corps of Engineers (COE) – Paid and Free camping.
- StateParks.org – Paid camping.
- ForestCamping.com – Paid camping.
- BLM.gov – Bureau of Land Management. Free camping.
Additional Resources
- Word of mouth – Talk to other campers for recommendations
- Coverage? App – Cell phone coverage map. Created by fulltime travelers, Technomadia.
- Public Lands App – Map of public lands. Created by fulltime travelers, Technomadia.
- Instagram app – Use hashtags to search (i.e. #boondocking)
- Facebook – Use groups to crowd source information.
- DarkSkies.com – Get an idea of where to find the darkest night skies.
- AtlasObscura.com – Search for interesting and odd things to do in an area.
- GoRVing.com – Many resources available.
Memberships (we don’t have all of them)
- PassportAmerica.com (*)- 50% off camping; see homepage for our current savings
- BoondockersWelcome.com (*)- Network of places to stay for a night.
- HarvestHosts.com (*)- Network of breweries and wineries to stay for a night.
- Escapees.com (*)- Discounts on camping, mail services, and social gatherings.
- GoodSam.com – Discounts on camping, products/services, and more.
- ThousandTrails.com – Network of campgrounds with hefty membership prices.
Some of Our Favorite Blogs
- Campendium blog
- Drivin & Vibin
- Technomadia.com – Great camping and internet advice.
- Poop Sheets by phred (for entertainment purposes only)
Lesser-used Resources
- rv-camping.org
- PetFriendly.com/campgrounds
- GoCampingAmerica.com
- UltimateCampgrounds.com
- AirBnB.com – Yes, they have some camping available!
- ParkAdvisor app
- RV Parky app
- BoonDocking app
Have questions or other great camping resources? Share in the comments!
(*) Links with this asterisk are affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission for purchases made through this link. All affiliate links are provided with full faith in the product and presented as a optional resource only.