Free Camping — The Best Resources for Finding Free Campsites
One of the best things about RV life is that you do not have to pay $40–$60 a night at a crowded campground every single time you want to camp. Free camping exists all across the United States and Canada — you need to know where to look.
We have been full-time RVers since 2018, and finding free camping spots has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. It takes some effort and planning to find the really great spots, but once you know the right resources, it gets a whole lot easier.
We put together this guide of the resources we personally use and trust. Whether you are a weekend warrior or a full-timer like us, these tools will help you find free and cheap camping wherever your travels take you.
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In This Guide
- FreeCampsites.net — Community-Driven Free Camping Map
- Free Camping on Public Lands (BLM & Dispersed Camping)
- Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
- AllStays — Our Favorite Camping App
- Boondockers Welcome — Free Stays on Private Property
- Harvest Hosts — Wineries, Farms & Breweries
- Hipcamp — The Airbnb of Camping
- Essential Gear for Free Camping
- Tips for Finding Free Camping
New to boondocking? Start with our complete guide to boondocking to learn the basics before diving into these resources.
FreeCampsites.net — Community-Driven Free Camping Map
FreeCampsites.net is one of the first resources we recommend to anyone looking for free camping. It is a community-driven website that you can access right from your smartphone while you are on the road.
What makes it so useful is the range of options. You can find free camping on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management), WMAs (Wildlife Management Areas), Forest Service land, city and county parks, and even cheap camping areas. Whether you are tent camping, car camping, or RV camping, this site covers it all.
Why We Love It
Because the community drives the content, you get real, up-to-date information from people who have actually camped there. You will find reviews, ratings, and useful details like “the road to this campsite has massive potholes” or “cell signal is strong enough for streaming.”
Most official campground websites will not have this kind of honest, practical info. Let the community do the research for you — spend more time camping and less time guessing.
Once you have used the site, we encourage you to give back. Share your experience, leave a review, and help other campers find those hidden gems.
Free Camping on Public Lands (BLM & Dispersed Camping)
Some of our absolute favorite camping spots have been on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These lands cover millions of acres across the western United States and offer some of the most scenic, secluded free camping you will find anywhere.
BLM Campgrounds
Many BLM campgrounds charge a small fee to help maintain the facilities. Selecting a campsite is usually first-come, first-served, but some take reservations through Recreation.gov. Camping stay limits vary by location but are generally about two weeks within a 28-day period.
BLM Dispersed Camping (Truly Free)
This is where it gets good. Dispersed camping means camping on public lands away from developed campgrounds — and it is typically 100% free.
Most public lands are open to dispersed camping as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or harm wildlife and natural resources. The general rule is that you can camp in one spot for up to 14 days within a 28-day period.
Dispersed campsites are usually located along secondary roads and may not be marked. Look for flat, disturbed areas that show signs of previous use — fire rings, cleared ground, or tire tracks. If possible, use existing sites rather than creating new ones.
The trade-off with dispersed camping is that you have zero hookups. No water, no electric, no sewer. That means you need to be self-sufficient. We rely on a portable power station paired with solar panels to keep our batteries charged, and we always carry extra water containers so we can extend our stay. For a deeper dive on keeping the lights on off-grid, check out our guide to boondocking electricity options.
Important: Always follow Leave No Trace principles. Pack out all trash, do not dump sewage, and leave the area better than you found it.
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
Wildlife Management Areas are another overlooked resource for free or cheap camping. Every state manages WMAs differently, so the rules and regulations will vary.
The easiest way to find WMAs is a simple Google search: look up the state you want to travel to and search for “wildlife management areas” plus “camping.” Some WMAs allow primitive camping for free, while others may have seasonal restrictions or require a small permit.
These tend to be less crowded than BLM lands because fewer people know about them. It is worth the research. A Good Sam Campground Guide can also help you discover lesser-known camping areas in each state, and the National Geographic National Parks Guide is a solid companion if your route takes you through park country.
AllStays — Our Favorite Camping App
AllStays is one of our favorite free camping apps. Period. We use it constantly when traveling.
The website works fine, but the app is where it really shines. In addition to the main RV and camping app, they offer specialized apps for truckers and tent campers.
You can map any area and filter resources as needed — rest areas, truck stops, Walmart parking lots, privately owned campgrounds, dump stations, propane stations, and more. The filtering is what makes it powerful. You can easily filter specifically for free camping options.
It is completely free to use. Download the app and start exploring. We have found some incredible spots through AllStays that we never would have found otherwise.
Boondockers Welcome — Free Stays on Private Property
Boondockers Welcome is a membership service that connects RV travelers with private property owners who invite you to camp on their land — for free.
Think of it as a community of RVers helping each other out. Hosts are real people — often fellow RVers themselves — who have a driveway, a piece of land, or a parking area where you can stay for 1–5 nights. Over 70% of hosts even offer hookups like water or electric, so “boondocking” is a loose term here.
Good to know: Boondockers Welcome was acquired by Harvest Hosts in 2021, and the two platforms now share the same app and backend. You can get a combined Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome membership ($169/year) for access to over 9,000 locations across North America, or pick up a standalone plan. Either way, it typically pays for itself in one or two nights compared to campground rates.
How It Works
Once you have a membership, search the listings for a host near your route. Be as flexible as you can — this will give you more options. You can search within a radius around a particular area, or browse the map.
Read the host details carefully: RV size they can accommodate, availability, hookups offered, and recommendations from other RVers. Some hosts have room for slide-outs and allow you to sit outside and BBQ. Others have more limited space.
Send a request through the app, and once accepted, you have a safe, legal, and free place to stay. Remember to respect your host’s property and privacy. Be thankful and polite — you got free camping! At the end of your stay, consider leaving a small token of thanks, especially if you used their electric or water. And always leave a review to help other travelers.
Harvest Hosts — Wineries, Farms & Breweries
Harvest Hosts offers free overnight camping at some truly unique locations — wineries, farms, museums, breweries, alpaca ranches, wildlife rescues, cider mills, and lavender farms, to name a few.
Imagine camping in a peaceful vineyard, sipping wines as the sun goes down. Or waking up on a working farm with a view of the mountains. That is what Harvest Hosts is all about.
What You Need to Know
To participate, you need a self-contained RV — no tents. Most locations do not provide hookups, and there are no bathrooms unless you happen to be a customer of a store that is open. Your stay is typically one night unless the host agrees to more.
The expectation is that you support the host’s business — buy a bottle of wine, grab some produce, or purchase something from their shop. It is not technically “free” since you are spending money at the business, but it beats a $50/night campground by a long shot.
Membership Plans
Harvest Hosts now offers several tiers:
- Harvest Hosts Classic ($99/year) — Access to 5,800+ farms, wineries, breweries, museums, and attractions
- Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome ($169/year) — All Classic locations plus 3,600+ private property hosts
- All Access ($179/year) — Everything above plus golf course stays and an Escapees RV Club membership
Any of these plans pays for itself after two or three nights compared to typical campground fees. We have found it is one of the best investments in our RV travel budget.
Explore Harvest Hosts Membership Plans
Hipcamp — The Airbnb of Camping
Hipcamp is another great option we have used. It is not 100% free, but it is free to sign up and browse. Think of it as an Airbnb for campers.
Thousands of people offer their land to camp on for a set fee, so you get a truly unique experience. Typically it is not very expensive — and the locations are often incredible. Private lakefronts, mountain meadows, working ranches — places you would never find on a campground listing.
Hipcamp allows you to search for available campsites based on location, landscape, activities, and amenities. You can filter by tent camping, RV camping, or lodging type. In addition to private land listings, Hipcamp also features reviews and photos of public campgrounds in State and National Parks.
Want to Be a Host?
If you have land or an area that you would be interested in hosting campers on, you can apply through Hipcamp. They will let you know if your property is eligible.
Explore Hipcamp — Get $10 Off Your First Trip
Essential Gear for Free Camping
Free camping means no hookups — no water spigot, no electric pedestal, no sewer connection. The trade-off for saving money on campsite fees is that you need the right gear to be self-sufficient. Here is what we carry every time we head out to a free camping spot.
Power & Electricity
Without shore power, you need a way to keep your batteries charged and your devices running. We have used a few different setups over the years, and this is what works for us now.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station
This is our go-to for off-grid power. It charges laptops, phones, runs a CPAP machine, and can even handle small appliances. Pair it with a solar panel and you can camp for days without worrying about power.
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel
We pair this with the power station above. Set it out in the morning, and by afternoon the power station is topped off. Solar is the quietest, most neighbor-friendly way to keep your batteries charged when you are boondocking.
For extended stays or when you need to run the AC, a generator is still the most reliable option. Ours is whisper-quiet and can power most RV accessories. Check the rules at your camping spot though — some dispersed areas restrict generator use during certain hours.
Want the full breakdown of solar vs. generator vs. battery? Read our detailed guide: Boondocking Electricity Options.
Water & Filtration
Water is the thing that determines how long you can stay at a free camping spot. Here is how we stretch our supply and make sure what we drink is clean.
We always carry extra water beyond what is in our fresh tank. When you are dry camping for a week, that extra supply makes all the difference. Fill up at a campground dump station or water spigot before heading out to your free spot.
We have a Berkey at home and brought it right into the RV. It gives us peace of mind knowing we have pure, clean drinking water no matter where we fill up. In our opinion, it is the best gravity-fed filter on the market.
This connects directly to your water hose before it enters your RV. Even if you plan on using a Berkey for drinking water, the water coming in is also your shower water and dishwater. We have been to places where the water did not smell or seem very clean. This filter handles it.
A compact backup for emergencies or day hikes away from your RV. If you are deep in the backcountry and find a stream, a LifeStraw lets you drink directly from the water source. We keep one in our hiking pack at all times.
When you want to conserve your RV’s water supply, a solar shower is a simple solution. Fill the bag, leave it in the sun for a couple of hours, and you have a warm shower outside. We use ours all the time during extended boondocking trips.
For more on managing water off-grid, check out our guide to water solutions for off-grid camping.
Waste Management
This is the part nobody talks about, but it matters. If you are going to camp for free for more than a couple of days, you need a plan for your tanks.
Portable Black Tank (Tote-N-Stor)
This portable waste tank lets you dump your black and gray water without having to move your entire RV. Drive it to a dump station, empty it, and head back to your free spot. It is a game-changer for extending your stay at dispersed camping sites.
Setup & Leveling
Dispersed camping sites are not paved, level pads. You are parking on dirt, gravel, or grass — and it is almost never flat. Come prepared.
We cannot tell you how many free camping spots we have pulled into where the ground was sloped. Leveling blocks stack to whatever height you need, and they are lightweight enough to store easily. Do not skip these.
Always chock your wheels before you do anything else at your campsite. On uneven ground at a dispersed site, this is even more important than at a paved campground. We use them every single time.
Safety & Comfort
Free camping spots are often more remote than campgrounds. That is part of the appeal — but it also means you are further from help if something goes wrong.
When the nearest hospital is an hour away, a solid first aid kit is not optional. This one covers everything from minor cuts to more serious injuries. We keep ours in the same spot every trip so we always know where it is.
Thermacell Radius Mosquito Repeller
Free camping near water? You will want this. The Thermacell creates a 15-foot zone of protection around your campsite. No spray, no coils, no mess. We have been using ours for years and it has made our evenings outside so much more enjoyable. Read more in our article on stopping mosquitoes instantly.
Keep Track of Your Adventures
When you start finding free camping spots, you are going to want to remember the good ones. We created our own Camping Journal & RV Travel Logbook specifically for this — it has space for recording campsites, routes, and the details that matter. We also have an RV Notebook Journal for all those important things you never want to forget (tire pressures, tank sizes, maintenance schedules — you know the stuff).
Tips for Finding Free Camping
After years of finding free camping spots across the country, here are a few things we have learned:
Be flexible with your plans. The best free camping spots are often not right off the highway. If you are willing to drive 15–20 minutes down a forest road, you will find much better options than sticking to the main routes.
Check multiple resources. We rarely rely on one app or website. Cross-referencing FreeCampsites.net with AllStays and Google Maps gives you the most complete picture of what is available in an area.
Read the reviews. Other campers are your best source of real information. Road conditions, cell signal strength, noise levels, safety concerns — it is all in the reviews if you take the time to read them.
Arrive during daylight. Finding a dispersed camping spot in the dark is stressful and sometimes unsafe. Plan your travel days so you arrive at your free camping spot with plenty of daylight to get set up.
Know the rules. Every location has different regulations. BLM land, National Forests, WMAs, and state lands all have different stay limits, generator rules, and fire restrictions. Take five minutes to look them up before you go.
Have a backup plan. Free spots can fill up, especially during peak season. Always have a second option in mind so you are not scrambling at sunset.
Top off everything before you go. Fill your fresh water tank, charge your batteries, and stock up on groceries before heading to a free camping spot. The less you have to leave your site, the better.
Leave it better than you found it. Free camping only stays free if people respect the land. Pack out all trash, do not dump gray or black water on the ground, and use existing fire rings. We all share these spaces.
For more tips on staying safe while camping off-grid, check out our boondocking safety tips. And if you are still building out your rig, our RV camping checklist covers everything you need to have before you head out.
More Boondocking & Free Camping Resources
- What Is Boondocking? Essential Guide for Beginners
- Free Boondocking Near Me — More Resources & Apps
- Boondocking Electricity Options — Stay Powered Off-Grid
- Water Solutions for Off-Grid Camping
- RV Camping Checklist — Everything You Need
- RV Newbie Tips — What We Wish We Knew
We hope these resources help you find your next free camping spot. There is nothing quite like pulling up to a beautiful piece of public land, setting up camp, and knowing it did not cost you a dime. That is the RV life we love.
If you have a favorite free camping resource we missed, send us a note — we would love to hear about it.
Happy camping,
Tony & Gina
RVBoondocker.com
