On a tight budget? Here's how to find free places to park your RV and save a bundle on your next vacation.
Here’s How to Find Free Places to Park Your RV Overnight
Updated on Jun. 30, 2025
Planning to take that long-awaited road trip through the country from the comfort of your RV? Whether you’re a seasoned RV driver planning your fifth road trip or a first-timer gearing up for a grand adventure, knowing where to stop for the night is key. While some travelers opt for full-service RV parks, others prefer to skip the fees and find free places to park their RV, especially when it’s just for a quick overnight rest.
But do these free places to park RVs come with the same amenities that established RV parks offer? Well, yes. There are plenty of lesser-known spots across the United States that let you park for free without skimping on safety or convenience. From retail store lots to quiet public lands, these options can help keep your budget intact and keep your journey stress free. Read ahead to plan out your next no-cost (yet safe and comfortable) pit stop for the night.
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Where can you find free places to park an RV overnight?
Whether you plan to park overnight in an RV park or in a national forest, researching ahead of time goes a long way. You can use an American road trip guide to help you plan your trip in advance, but even if you don’t get that detailed, you should know what your options are and how to find them.
When it comes to free places to park your RV, here’s what most RV trip guides recommend:
Multiple-use lands
Lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are “multiple use” sites, so they’re dedicated to preservation but also allow for recreational activity. These sites are your best bet for finding free overnight parking for your RV. Most of them are also dog-friendly.
RV and camping apps
The RVParky app, Allstays app and Campendium website have exhaustive lists that include overnight RV parking and camping options across the United States and Canada. Search by location and price (filtering by “free,” if you’d like) to find free RV parking options in parks, forests, parking lots and public lands. Additionally, you might also want to check out these top spots for beach camping if you’re going to be along the coastline.
Can you park your RV anywhere?
The short answer: no. Many towns and cities prohibit long-term parking on public streets. So even if you’ll be parking your RV or travel trailer right in front of a friend’s home, you’ll need to abide by public ordinances. Off-grid camping is typically allowed anywhere on federal public lands within a specified distance of established roads, except where it’s otherwise restricted. Check with local authorities or online to see the varying rules for each location you want to visit.
It’s true that some of the most popular RV parks and campsites fill up quite quickly during warm-weather months, with some booking up months in advance. If you’re committed to parking only where there isn’t a fee, understand that there will be fewer options, and there likely won’t be electric or water hookups. No matter what your plan is, always have a backup plan, just in case the RV park or campsite you had in mind is at capacity. Under no circumstances should you set up in an area that doesn’t allow it.
Not only could parking and camping in these areas damage the ecosystems and threaten wildlife, but they’re also illegal. The same rules apply if you leave your RV at home and do some free camping instead.
Are these free places to park RVs also safe?
Though many full-time RV travelers swear by Cracker Barrel and Walmart parking lots as safe and secure overnight options, free overnight parking isn’t always guaranteed. And although Walmart has a longstanding RV-friendly parking policy, you’ll still want to call the store ahead of time to check with the manager.
If you plan to rely on the stores during your trip, first check this list of no-go Walmarts, which is regularly updated based on the experiences of RVers who attempted to or successfully camped in Walmart lots. Avoid large retail shopping center parking lots, as they tend to be patrolled private property, and you’ll be asked to leave.
Rest stops and truck stops also tend to be great options for overnight RV parking because they are well lit and have 24-hour bathrooms. Casinos fall into this category too. However, the grounds may be patrolled, but some casinos may also attract sketchy characters. Many outdoor stores like Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s and Camping World will also let you park your rig overnight, but it’s always best to check with the manager in advance.
How long can you park your RV for free?
Each campsite, RV park, forest and public space has its own rules about how long you can park there. Most Bureau of Land Management sites cap free camping at 30 days, though the amount of time can vary by location. Most national forests allow dispersed camping for up to 14 days, but some areas are limited to one day, while others allow up to 30 days.
As a responsible RV camper, it becomes crucial to check the local regulations by visiting the ranger stations or calling ahead of your stay.
Why are free places to park RVs better than popular RV parks?
Aside from not wanting to pay a hefty fee (which is a big motivator in itself), there are other reasons you might want to stay somewhere other than an RV park. They aren’t necessarily bad places to stay—they’re great for comfortable amenities and for meeting like-minded fellow travelers—but sometimes you may want to get off the grid. Here’s what you stand to gain if you choose to avoid RV parks on your road trip:
- More peace: If you’re not concerned with having hookups for electricity and water, boondocking (camping without the hookups) can be a great way to avoid the crowds, noise and light pollution associated with RV parks.
- Reconnect with nature: Opting for a dispersed campsite (a site outside of a designated campground) also lets you reconnect with nature.
- Save money: If you’ll be heading out on an extended RV adventure, you’ll likely need to stay in proper RV parks sooner or later, but if you just need a quick place to sleep, sacrificing amenities during short-term stays can add up to big long-term savings.
But how much can you really save? Is finding a free RV parking spot actually worth it? Let’s break it down.
How much does it cost to stay in an RV park?
According to Alyssa Padgett, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV, the average price of an RV park is around $45 to $50 per night, but that price can vary dramatically. Depending on the season, location, size of your vehicle, amenities offered and whether or not you’ll need electric and water hookups, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $120 per night for 24-hour parking at an RV park. A large RV park that has tennis courts, playgrounds, showers and dining facilities may cost three or four times as much as a park that only has electric and water hookups.
If you’re heading out on a longer road trip (say, a 19-day Atlantic Coast road trip), those seemingly small nightly costs can quickly add up—and blow your budget by the end. This is exactly what makes free places to park RVs a much better financial choice than popular RV parks.
Aside from RV parks, where else can you find paid parking?
If you’re the type of traveler who’s looking for a non-campground experience, there are options for you too. Check out:
- Hipcamp: Like Airbnb for campers, it offers ranches, farms, beaches and private land preserves (for a fee).
- Harvest Hosts: This is a paid membership program (costing about $100 per year) that allows members access to more than 1,500 RV-friendly breweries, wineries, vineyards and museums.
How can you be a responsible RV camper?
In the excitement of kicking off your RV road trip, it’s easy to overlook a few common camping mistakes—especially if it’s your first time. Here’s what to keep in mind once you hit the road:
- Plan ahead: The most important Leave No Trace principle is properly planning ahead. Knowing exactly where you’ll camp, having backup plans for alternate campsites and bringing all the supplies you’ll need will go a long way.
- Practice proper waste disposal: While RV parks may have waste-disposal options, dispersed campsites won’t, so you’ll need to keep all your waste with you until you’re able to safely dispose of it. This includes packing up all your food waste and garbage, as well as burying human waste in an 8-inch “cathole” 150 feet from trails and water sources.
- Stay on track: Vehicles can do significant damage to the environment, so it’s crucial that you look for already impacted sites with well-worn access drives. Never drive onto vegetation, cut down trees or stray beyond the borders of established camp areas.
- Follow campfire protocol: If and only if you confirm campfires are allowed in an area, you can minimize your campfire impact by seeking out existing campfire rings instead of creating new ones. Buy local firewood (or gather firewood in the area, if it’s allowed) to prevent the spread of invasive species. Before you leave, make sure that the fire is completely out and that any food you may have thrown in the fire has completely burned up so wild animals aren’t attracted to it.
With the right know-how about free places to park your RV and how to be a respectful camper along the way, you’re set for an unforgettable trip. Just plan smart, stay open to new experiences and let the road take it from there!
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Sources:
- U.S. Forest Service
- Bureau of Land Management: “Camping on Public Lands”
- A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV by Alyssa Padgett
