Where to Find Free RV Camping & Boondocking
So you’ve got your rig ready to rumble and you want to start exploring, but you’re on a budget or don’t want to deal with campground crowds.. no problem! Just find free boondocking and rv parking spots, of which there are tons across the country, and you’ll be on your adventure in no time!
There are a ton of resources on the web to help you find free boondocking and overnight parking spots for your RV. It just takes a little bit of time and research to find a great spot in your direction. The biggest hassle is looking into each resource, which can be time consuming, but it’s worth it.
NOTE: This isn’t a complete list by any means, as there are millions of miles of public lands that are filled with great boondocking opportunities. This is just a list of the best databases that already exist to help RVers find free overnight parking.
Here are some favorites:
Freecampsites.net – This is an unbelievably helpful, crowdsourced database of campsites (including boondocking), many with reviews. It has a useful search-by-map function along with color coded icons for free or permitted/paid overnight spots. A must-have resource for any serious boondocker who wants to go into the wilderness.
Campendium – Campendium is very similar to the website above, however it also included paid campsites. Pick a state in the free boondocking area, and you can continue to search other states with free RV parking by map!
Overnight RV Parking (Paid Membership) – This is a highly recommended paid website with a huge database to free overnight RV parking locations.
Harvest Hosts – Harvest Hosts is a fee paid membership website with options for free RV camping all across the US. The great thing about this one is most locations are often the beautiful scenery of a farm or winery!
Boondockers Welcome – This is a great website for those who want to boondock for a night or two with the help of fellow RVers and RV enthusiasts. It’s made up of people who have property and space for RVs and are willing to let you stay overnight. Each person has a profile and you can read reviews on the property before contacting the owner. There are some true gems here!
Update: Boondockers Welcome is now a part of Harvest Hosts and is part of their paid subscription
Casino Camper Don’t mind staying in a casino parking lot for free overnight? This is the resource for you! Some casinos may have requirements for boondockers to come in and play (and it’s just good etiquette), so make sure you check first.
Forestcamping.com – a great resource for free USDA Forest Service camping spots.
