Gas prices hurt. Campground fees hurt worse. We started boondocking in 2018 because we were broke, and honestly, that turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to our RV life. Free rv camping is everywhere in this country if you know where to look.
We have spent years tracking down the best spots. Some were incredible. Some were parking lots. This is what we know from actually sleeping in our rig at all of them.
What makes a good free rv camping spot
Level ground. That is the number one thing. You can work around almost everything else.
Cell signal is nice but not required. Shade matters a lot in summer. Access to water within a reasonable drive saves you from rationing. And a spot where you can actually turn your rig around without a 47-point turn is a bonus most people forget about until they are stuck.
We look for all of those things, but level ground is the one that makes or breaks a spot for us.
BLM land is the gold standard for free rv camping
Bureau of Land Management land covers something like 245 million acres out West. Most of it allows free dispersed camping for up to 14 days. No reservations. No fees. You find a spot and park.
Arizona desert spots
Quartzsite is the big one. Every winter, thousands of RVers flock there and camp on BLM land for free. We go every year. It is dusty, flat, and the sunsets are unreal.
Lake Havasu City has BLM land right along the Colorado River. Water access and hiking trails without paying a dime. We have stayed there in January and the weather was perfect.
South of Yuma, the East Wetlands area is another spot we keep coming back to. Full cell coverage, water at a nearby rest stop, and enough space that you never feel crowded. If you are new to free rv camping, Arizona in winter is the easiest place to start.
Nevada surprises
Nevada has more public land than almost any other state. The red rock areas outside of Las Vegas are gorgeous, but summer temperatures will cook you. We learned that the hard way when our AC could not keep up and we had to relocate to higher elevation for two days.
The mountains outside Reno are a completely different experience. Cool air, pine trees, and you are close enough to town for groceries. Some of the best free rv camping we have found is on those quiet forest roads north of the city.
California BLM spots
Slab City gets all the attention, but the rest of the Imperial Valley has plenty of BLM land too. It is not for everyone. The desert is hot, dry, and remote.
The Alabama Hills near Lone Pine though. Those rock formations have been in dozens of old Western movies. Almost zero light pollution, so the stargazing is incredible. We stayed there for a full week and saw maybe four other rigs the entire time.
Around Barstow, there are a lot of easy pulloff spots that work well for overnight stops when you are passing through. Not scenic, but free and flat.
National forest dispersed camping
National forests allow dispersed camping in most areas, usually for up to 14 days. The catch is that forest roads can be rough. Know your rig’s ground clearance before you commit to a road you cannot back out of.
Colorado mountain spots
The Leadville area sits above 10,000 feet. Thin air, alpine lakes, and views of snow-capped peaks that you would normally pay good money to see. Hiking trails start right from the campsites.
We love Colorado for boondocking in summer, but be ready for cold nights even in July. Temperatures can drop into the 30s at elevation.
Montana forest roads
You cannot disperse camp inside Glacier National Park, but the surrounding national forests have tons of spots. Be serious about food storage here. We had a black bear visit our outside storage compartment at 2 AM one night. Nothing happened, but it will wake you up fast.
The rivers around the Flathead area are crystal clear. You can camp on gravel bars and wade right in. Montana might be our favorite state for boondocking, period.
Utah forest gems
Dixie National Forest is close to Zion and the temperatures are comfortable in spring and fall. Summer gets too hot at lower elevations, and winter pushes the snow line down. So timing matters a lot here.
The Wasatch National Forest east of Salt Lake City is another good one. Fall colors that rival Vermont, plus easy access to hiking. Most visitors stick to the established campgrounds and miss the dispersed spots entirely. More room for us.
Army Corps of Engineers sites
Most people do not think about Army Corps of Engineers when they think of camping. But the Corps manages lakes all over the country, and a lot of them have free or dirt cheap camping areas with boat ramps and fishing access.
We have stayed at Corps sites where the grounds were kept better than paid campgrounds. Seriously. The camp hosts take pride in those places.
Texas lake camping
The Lake Buchanan area is solid for fishing and free camping. It can get windy. We caught a big gust storm there once that taught us to always check the weather forecast before setting up camp on exposed shoreline.
Canyon Lake has limestone cliffs, clear water for swimming, and oak trees for shade. Some of the sites are first come, first served and free.
Arkansas river system
Dardanelle Lake is a great base if you need level sites. Most are graded and flat. The 14-day stay limits apply here too.
Along the Arkansas River, you can find spots right near the water where catfish practically catch themselves. It is one of those places where you set up, put your feet up, and do not move for a week. Deer graze under the trees in the morning. Eagles fly over. Your coffee tastes better out there, I swear.
Walmart and truck stop parking
The Walmart situation
Some Walmarts still allow overnight RV parking. Some do not. Always call ahead because policies change store by store.
When they do allow it, park in the back of the lot away from the entrance. Keep your slides in and awning down. This is a rest stop, not a campsite. Be respectful and do not set up chairs and a grill in the parking lot. We have seen people do that and it is why stores start banning RVs.
If you run out of coffee creamer at midnight, at least you are in the right place.
Truck stops and travel centers
Flying J and Pilot Travel Centers usually have designated RV parking. Quality varies a lot. Some are fine, some are loud all night with trucks idling.
Love’s Travel Stops have improved their RV areas over the years. Designated spaces, sometimes even dump stations. Not glamorous, but these work great for breaking up a long drive. Free camping does not always mean scenic. Sometimes it means convenient, and that is fine.
State-specific spots worth knowing
Florida
People assume Florida RV camping costs a fortune. Not true. The Ocala National Forest, Apalachicola National Forest, and Withlacoochee State Forest all have dispersed or primitive camping options. The Suwannee River Valley has cypress trees draped in Spanish moss and hardly any people. Check our Florida camping spots guide for more details.
Oregon
Coastal campgrounds in Oregon are expensive and booked months ahead. But the Tillamook State Forest and Siuslaw National Forest are both inland from the coast and offer free dispersed camping. You can still smell the salt air and drive to the beach in 20 minutes.
Michigan Upper Peninsula
The Hiawatha National Forest along Lake Superior is some of the most beautiful primitive camping in the country. Watch freighters pass on the lake and fall asleep to waves that sound like the ocean. Mosquitoes in summer are aggressive, so bring your best bug spray. The UP does not get the attention it deserves.
Safety and etiquette
Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Pack out all garbage. Dump wastewater properly. Follow fire restrictions, especially out West where one spark can start a wildfire.
When you head into remote areas, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to come back. Bring extra food and water. Download your maps before you lose cell signal.
If you are new to boondocking, our what is boondocking guide covers the basics, and the boondocking safety tips page has specific advice for staying safe out there.
Weather awareness
Flash floods can happen fast in desert washes. Do not camp in a dry creek bed. Ever.
Mountain weather changes quickly. We have had 80-degree afternoons turn into freezing nights in Colorado. Desert temperatures swing 40 degrees between day and night. Check the forecast and have a plan if things turn bad.
Apps and tools we actually use
Campendium has saved us more than once. Reviews from actual RVers with photos of the sites.
iOverlander works worldwide and is solid for finding boondocking spots. FreeRoam is another good one built specifically for boondocking. For offline maps, we use Gaia GPS on our phones.
But honestly, do not sleep on paper maps. GPS can lose signal in canyons and dense forest. We still keep a road atlas in the rig. Our free camping resources page has links to all the tools we recommend.
Get out there
Free rv camping takes more planning than pulling into a campground with full hookups. You need to manage your water, power, and waste on your own. But the tradeoff is worth it. Better views. More privacy. No reservation fees or noisy neighbors three feet from your window.
Start with easy BLM spots or a national forest near a town so you are not totally off the grid your first time out. Your confidence will build fast. Before you know it, you will be wondering why you ever paid $50 a night to park next to 200 other rigs. Happy camping.
