How to Find Free Overnight RV Parking
Before heading out on the road for the new camping season, now is a good time to refresh your RV camper trailer with a few accessories. Consider installing a new weather-resistant ball mount or coupler and leave at home worries about rust and corrosion. Or step up your trailer parking - fit in tight corners and narrow spaces with our original 5X trailer mover.
It is often much better to find free overnight RV parking than to constantly overpay for campgrounds that cost a lot of money. If you are not planning to stay in that place for a longer period, finding a place to park your RV and rest for the night for free is the optimal choice. Many people choose to go for free overnight parking because they prefer to rest at a stop where there is no noise and too many people.
To safely park overnight and sleep in your RV for free you will have to make sure the ground allows RVs to stay overnight. For this, you will have to follow a few rules and act properly in these free campgrounds.
There are many RV parks where you can get free overnight RV parking and rest before you hit the road again in the morning but making sure they allow RVers to park there is paramount. Some safe and popular options where you can rest for free are the following:
Truck stops are one of the most common places where you can park your RV for the night and get some rest without having to pay. They are probably the cheapest option but the riskiest one because most truck stops have no supervision and letting someone know where you are before you go to bed is a smart decision.
Walmart parking lots are usually available for RVers to park for 24 hours. While you are there you can use the time you have to renew your supplies and go back to the road fully equipped for what is waiting for you up ahead. The bonus here is that these parking lots have security cameras and you are much safer if you decide to camp there.
You can also find free RV parking by looking up service roads in national parks that are on your way. You can use these roads to find a spot to park your RV and camp for the night. This is especially fun for those who love nature and want to spend their night in a quiet environment surrounded by national forests.
Walmart is not the only big box store that offers free overnight RV parking locations. You can find free camping grounds in many other big box stores like Cracker Barrel, Cabela’s, Denny’s, and IHOP. Not all of them allow free overnight RV parking but the store usually has this information on their site so make sure you check it before you plan your road trip.
You can also use the national forests and the Bureau of Land Management for your RV camping trip. These campsites are quite primitive and do not offer any amenities but if you are looking for some rest and a one-night stop they can be amazing.
If you have a small RV or a smaller travel trailer, backcountry camping can be an amazing choice for an overnight stop at no cost. Going for this option will allow you to rest safely even though these campsites do not have dump stations and hookups. Before you decide to camp somewhere in the backcountry you will have to check if the place you chose requires a backcountry permit or not so you can be on the safe side.
The final option that you can go for is dry camping. Dry camping is when you are in a campground where you can hook up your RV but you decide not to so you can save money. This way you completely rely on your own resources and generators. These campgrounds where you can stay without hookups are often much cheaper than those who have full hookup options.
Related: 5 Best Waterfront RV Park
Remember that planning is key so researching the places you want to stay at before you head over there is very important. Picking the wrong place for an overnight stay may get you in trouble or even ruin the entire positive experience you would otherwise get from RVing across the country. Once you do your research properly and you map out the places you are going to stay at you will be able to save a ton of money just by not paying for parking your RV when you want to rest for the night.
We hope that this article on how to find free overnight RV parking will cut the cost of your trip in half and allow you to be on the road for longer so you can enjoy more RV adventures with your entire family.
It is often much better to find free overnight RV parking than to constantly overpay for campgrounds that cost a lot of money. If you are not planning to stay in that place for a longer period, finding a place to park your RV and rest for the night for free is the optimal choice. Many people choose to go for free overnight parking because they prefer to rest at a stop where there is no noise and too many people.
To safely park overnight and sleep in your RV for free you will have to make sure the ground allows RVs to stay overnight. For this, you will have to follow a few rules and act properly in these free campgrounds.
How To Find Free Overnight RV Parking
There are many RV parks where you can get free overnight RV parking and rest before you hit the road again in the morning but making sure they allow RVers to park there is paramount. Some safe and popular options where you can rest for free are the following:
Truck Stops
Truck stops are one of the most common places where you can park your RV for the night and get some rest without having to pay. They are probably the cheapest option but the riskiest one because most truck stops have no supervision and letting someone know where you are before you go to bed is a smart decision.
Walmart Parking Lots
Walmart parking lots are usually available for RVers to park for 24 hours. While you are there you can use the time you have to renew your supplies and go back to the road fully equipped for what is waiting for you up ahead. The bonus here is that these parking lots have security cameras and you are much safer if you decide to camp there.
National Parks
You can also find free RV parking by looking up service roads in national parks that are on your way. You can use these roads to find a spot to park your RV and camp for the night. This is especially fun for those who love nature and want to spend their night in a quiet environment surrounded by national forests.
Big Box Stores
Walmart is not the only big box store that offers free overnight RV parking locations. You can find free camping grounds in many other big box stores like Cracker Barrel, Cabela’s, Denny’s, and IHOP. Not all of them allow free overnight RV parking but the store usually has this information on their site so make sure you check it before you plan your road trip.
BLM Land
You can also use the national forests and the Bureau of Land Management for your RV camping trip. These campsites are quite primitive and do not offer any amenities but if you are looking for some rest and a one-night stop they can be amazing.
Backcountry Camping
If you have a small RV or a smaller travel trailer, backcountry camping can be an amazing choice for an overnight stop at no cost. Going for this option will allow you to rest safely even though these campsites do not have dump stations and hookups. Before you decide to camp somewhere in the backcountry you will have to check if the place you chose requires a backcountry permit or not so you can be on the safe side.
Dry Camping
The final option that you can go for is dry camping. Dry camping is when you are in a campground where you can hook up your RV but you decide not to so you can save money. This way you completely rely on your own resources and generators. These campgrounds where you can stay without hookups are often much cheaper than those who have full hookup options.
Related: 5 Best Waterfront RV Park
Final Thoughts
Remember that planning is key so researching the places you want to stay at before you head over there is very important. Picking the wrong place for an overnight stay may get you in trouble or even ruin the entire positive experience you would otherwise get from RVing across the country. Once you do your research properly and you map out the places you are going to stay at you will be able to save a ton of money just by not paying for parking your RV when you want to rest for the night.
We hope that this article on how to find free overnight RV parking will cut the cost of your trip in half and allow you to be on the road for longer so you can enjoy more RV adventures with your entire family.
