Newbie needs advice on finding overnight camping spots...

[TriMoot]

Originally Posted by WalkTheWalk

We've camped in our TT for years on our own property. Now, we have a 2019 Coachmen Class A and need help knowing where it's OK to overnight camp for free.

We don't know the ins and outs of camping at, say Walmarts or Cracker Barrels.

How do you know which ones allow overnight stays and which don't? Is there a website or app?

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

RVPARKY...it's a free app on both IOS and Android and it list campgrounds, Walmarts, Cracker Barrels and even Cabela's. What I love about it, is the reviews as well as if any of the free overnight places allow it...although, it's not always accurate, or up to date. But it has everything there you need: Prices, pictures, directions, phone number, list of what they have in the way of 30 or 50 amp hookups, etc, etc,...pretty great app for being free!

We stayed at a Walmart in Panama City Beach Florida when hurricane Zeta was passing through. The app said, "Overnight Parking Allowed". So we pulled in, positioned the RV into the wind so very little side wind was affecting us. I grew up in Florida and love hurricanes, (I know...strange), so was sitting outside in a chair behind the RV making Marco-Polo's to my kids. Since I was in the back, I wasn't getting buffeted by the wind at all, although the mud flap was swinging back and forth BIG TIME!

Anyway, a police cruiser came up and said we couldn't park here and we'd have to leave. I showed him my app that said it's allowed, but he said there's an town ordinance against it. I said okay I'll move.

But I started thinking about it and said no...I'm not moving. THERE's A FREAKING HURRICANE going by! I'm not gong to try and hunt around in the dark looking for a camping spot! No, I didn't say that to him, but I did go over to where he was looking at another RV (one that was obvious in very rough shape, and I thought, it looked like it had been there a long time!) and I told him gently that I didn't want to move during this hurricane. I told him I PROMISE I'll be outta here 1st thing in the morning. He backed down and said, "Well, I didn't say you HAD to move, only that there's a town ordinance against it"...uh-hu..okay.."Thanks" I said.

But yeah, we use that almost exclusively when looking for camp spots or boondocking places.

[SomeDay]

Over recent years we have seen more and more signage and closures to areas we used to pull in at for a dry overnight spot. Lately places outside Moab, North Vegas and others have shut down boondocking locations due to the terrible (think mattresses, appliances, tons of other trash) mess folks have left behind. Sadly we are going to lose a lot of our options especially after current pandemic times. Even locally due to so much trash and over use last year, our free parks are now charging $15/car entry.

Likewise we've seen quite a few parking lots of Big Box Stores near higher population areas turned into a trashy and often smelly urine type mess sadly we've noticed in recent years. The latter explains more and more why there are so many restrictions and ordinance mandates coming into play besides just local RV CG businesses pressuring their towns to abolish overnight parking.

However, we still dry camp or boondock 99% or more of our time out on the road. For the OP, we have stayed with permission if available to ask at so very many different places. Hubby loves to fish and I kayak so close to water and ability to fish late at night/early morning is always a winner for us. For example places we've stayed: Churches, Airports, Hospitals, Elks Clubs, Marina's, Boat Launches, Rec Centers, Town Parks, WMA's (Water Management Districts), BLM, AZ Trust Lands, USFS, Restaurant Carparks, Canal/Lake Parking areas, Big Box Stores, Stealth Street Parking where allowed still?, Business locations such as rafting, tours we might be using. A handful of our go to apps besides the main detailed BLM, USFS type sites are: Ioverlander.com; Freecampsites.net, Campendium, RVParky.com, Casinocamper.org (the latter not so much any more).

They are few and far between, but often small towns have either free or really low cost RV spaces in their towns for up to 3 days typically. This helps to encourage folks to stay and drop dollars at local businesses, which we always do so. Also many Theme Parks, Zoos and other businesses out of town have allowed us to O/N. Even some of our NP's in Canada have what they call "overflow parking" areas for a very nominal charge, albeit they are basically jammed up parking lots.

So OP, yes there are still a lot of options but for how long remains to be seen at the current lack of mindfulness and neglect by those not respectful of this privilege. We too always collect at least 2 and often more carry bags of garbage, fishing lines, dirty diapers etc wherever we stay that others just left. Signs of the times sadly.

Get out there and enjoy these great countries we are all so blessed with but ........ leave only footprints and take only photos.

Happy Travels.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by WalkTheWalk

Thanks a million. Your comments and suggestions are very helpful. That Allstars website is amazing, too.

I also didn't realize that hot asphalt could be damaged by the levelers. That would end overnight camping for others. Great tip.

Well,
This is certainly your decision. We've used Walmart a few times in our travels and some, in somewhat warm days. If those lots are even somewhat unlevel, my jacks are going down. I have a 10" round diameter, rounded edged foot on each jack. Now, some common sense needs to be applied here. I'm NOT lifting the coach completely off the ground, just doing what's needed for basic leveling and stabilization for the slides. We have never, ever left imprints of any of the jacks on any pavement, in any Walmart, ANYWHERE!

Not to mention, commercially laid pavement for those type applications is NORMALLY quite a bit thicker than your average residential driveway. They do that due to the high amount of heavier truck traffic that will be expected on a daily basis. Again, it's your choice. If a Walmart is all that's available in a given time frame, (later in the day after traveling), and there's nothing around for "Legal" camping, well, Walmart it is.

And while there may be some folks that setup camp like they're gonna be there for days, we're not them. We too arrive normally later in the day, put out a chair for some short relaxation from a days drive, go shop for something not needed (or needed), hit the rack, up and gone by normally around 07:00 in the morning with no trace we were there.
Scott

[Massparanoia]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

"Nothing illegal about it"????
Well Partner, I think you better re-think that. There are cities/jurisdictions/sub divisions/ etc. across the U.S. that not only have had NO OVERNIGHT PARKING/CAMPING ordinances in place, but many more are jumping on the bandwagon and are strictly enforcing those rules and ordinances. Heck, there's thousands communities where even the home owners can't park in their own driveways and streets.

And if they can't, I'm pretty sure they won't tolerate any OUT OF TOWNER parking in front of their home.

Nope, I'd definitely hunt for a Walmart or Cracker Barrel or Casino.
Scott

Well howdy doody pardner. We don’t take too kindly to them city slickers coming into our town now. Make sure you check your pistols with the sheriff.

[JudieandRick]

Look into harvest Hosts. they are great little breweries, wine vineyards and some farms. along with golf courses that allow overnight parking. need to call ahead. I think it is 79.00 a year to be a member and then they just ask that you support the company by a small purchase.

[rogerfromco]

Originally Posted by JudieandRick

Look into harvest Hosts. they are great little breweries, wine vineyards and some farms. along with golf courses that allow overnight parking. need to call ahead. I think it is 79.00 a year to be a member and then they just ask that you support the company by a small purchase.

HH is getting over saturated with users and harder to find reservations if traveling on the weekends or holidays. The online reservation system has a lot of users booking way in advance and then cancelling late if their plans change - seems like this is a spill over from what we are seeing with reservations on recreation.gov too. Sad, because HH was great when we first joined.

[SergioP]

HH is probably busier during the summer because school is out and that’s when families travel.

We traveled in April to Charlotte stayed at 3 HH on the way without problems. On the way back we camped at a county park on a lake in Georgia that was maybe 50% full during the week. But they told us every weekend is full thru the summer.

So if you are retired you can avoid the crowds by not traveling during peak season.