Most folks will be parking at RV parks and campgrounds, but today they have become overcrowded.
- RV Parks
- National Parks
- Rest Areas
- Truck Stops
- Truck Weigh Stations
- Gas Stations
- Walmarts
- Kmarts
- Sam’s Clubs
- Home Depots
- Lowe’s
- Ruby Tuesday
- Bass Pros Shops (also own Cabela’s)
- Cracker Barrel
- Casinoes (Also check out CasinoCamping.com)
- Warehouse districts are great. Some people feel comfortable around truckers. To find google warehouse spaces.
- State, City, or Community Parks (Look for signs that say 24 parking)
- National Parks
- City, County, or Regional Campgrounds
- BLM.gov (It’s everywhere but mostly on the west coast). Camp on BLM land with groups of 20 or more people to be safe especially if you are a solo female traveler.
- You can do “Driveway or Mooch Surfing” (also “Couch Surfing” — staying on someone’s couch) in a family’ member, friend or someone’s driveway as long as it is approved by city/county, Homeowner’s Association (HOA) and neighbors. Cars and van dwellers can do this easier than larger RVs.
- Medical Offices Complexes
- Hospitals
- Apartments especially Senior Apartments without security or security cameras
- 24 Hour Urgent Cares
- 24 Hour Gyms
- Strip malls in big cities. Strip malls or shopping malls that are opened 24 hours, but they might have security guards and will probably kick you out.
- If you live in a car, van, or even RV, you can go on Craigslist and run an ad that you will pay $100 a month (or less) to park in someone’s driveway or on their land. Tell them you will only show up at dark and leave during the daytime.
- Respect “No parking signs.”
- Do not park on private property. Somebody is always looking.
- Avoid residential neighborhoods.
What You Need To Know About Parking An RV at Walmart
- They are traveling continuously and it will be easier to get back on the freeway.
- When they don’t reach their RV parks or campgrounds before dark. No one wants to try to go to an RV park or campground after dark especially when they are miles off the highway. You never know what might be lurking around if you try to hook up after dark (snakes, alligators, strangers, etc.)
- When they run out of funds for the month and need to park somewhere for FREE.
- Purchase items from Walmart.
- Pick up after yourself.
- Pick up after pets.
- Do park far away from each other.
- Don’t stay for more than one night.
- When you stay overnight don’t take advantage so be kind to neighbors and don’t run your generator.
- Don’t set up camp or have a party.
- Don’t pull out your slides.
- Don’t pull out your awnings.
- Don’t put down hydraulic jacks.
- Don’t park crazy.
- Don’t pee in a bottle and leave it.
You can pay $4.00 a day for electric, $8 per day for full hookups (sewer, water, electric, trash, showers, etc.). Out of 30 state park campgrounds in New Mexico, 25 have FREE showers. Nevada also has state park passes.
- Go to Freecampsites.net
- Google Earth (Zoom in to look at the spot)
- US Public Lands App (Then look for U.S. Public Land for Boondocking)
- One type is parking in more out-of-the-way places, usually for several days or even an extended period of time. Public lands offer many opportunities for boondocking.
- The other type of boondocking is often referred to as “blacktop boondocking.” That is when you camp overnight on a Walmart or shopping center parking lot or in a truck stop. Some call it “dry camping” since you are not in the “boonies.”
- Get permission from the manager.
- Purchase dinner, fuel or other items as a thank you.
- Park away from other vehicles, along the sides of the parking lot. In a truck stop, if there is no designated area for RVs, park off to the side or to the back away from truckers. Truckers will appreciate you not taking their spaces, plus it will be less noisy for you.
- Do not get chairs and barbeque out, nor put out your awning. Avoid using your slideouts if possible too.
- Stay only one night.
- Pick up any trash you have generated.
- Escapees.com RV Club provides “Boondocking Etiquette Cards.” You can download and then leave on an individual’s windshield who is not following these guidelines and jeopardizing the rights of other RV travelers as well.
- Park in previously used areas. Do not create a new road or parking spot or run over vegetation.
- Park away from other RVs so each can enjoy the peace and quiet. If you do have a generator you plan to run, park far away from other RVs and limit your use to an hour or so in the morning and another in early evening. Generator noise carries and is not part of the wilderness experience.
- Respect quiet hours. Do not run generators or play TVs or radios loudly after 10 p.m. or before 7 a.m. (RVers Quiet Hours). Some areas may have different quiet hours so check with the agency.
- In some areas dumping grey water on the ground is permissible. Always check with the agency first. Dumping black water on the ground is NEVER PERMITTED.
- Leave the area cleaner than you found it. Dispose of trash in a trash container after you leave.
- Read and follow the agency’s rules regarding fires, collecting firewood, and quiet hours. Respect time limits, which are typically 14 days.
- Boondocking.org
- BoondockersWelcome.com (You can join them for less than $40 a year. Some have land and full hookups or you stay in front of someone’s home. If you have a place for RVs to park, then you should become a host).
- Know rules, areas and time limits.
- Obey “No Trespassing Signs”; respect the land; there are hunters, hikers, RVers, etc. so stay on road, don’t mess up vegetation, leave no trace, don’t chop down trees; leave only footprints, etc.
- Pack in what you pack out. Don’t leave your mess for someone else to clean up.
- Go out and have fun and explore. To help find your RV in parks or while boondocking, many RVers choose to put a flag on their RVs.
- Don’t ever block a dirt road. Try to point your vehicle toward the exit and try to reach your site early.
- Do not dump gray water. Most gray water is 20 to 30 gallons and it will be going in ONE SPOT. Don’t dump it while boondocking. It will change the eco system. It’s illegal and not good for the environment.
- Don’t rely on cell signal. If staying in touch. Get a personal locator. There is Inreach, Spot. etc. Have a paper map to maneuver out further when boondocking because your GPS might not work. Print it out ahead of time.
It’s time for us to think as pioneers did back in the day when many people went out west on wagon trains to Oregon, California, etc. to make better lives for themselves.
Just some of the places to live include:
Quartzsite, AZ: Quartzsite, AZ is the home for RVers. The month of January RVers converges onto the area for 3 BIG RV events which last all month — the Women Rubber Tramp Rendevous (RTR), Rubber Tramp Rendevous for men and women, and a big RV show afterward. The group Escapees.com celebrate a big New Year’s celebration there.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/SimpleLifeRVing

