With costs at record highs, you are probably looking for ways to save money during your camping adventures. You might be asking, “Where is the cheapest place to park an RV?”
Here are some of the cheapest places to park your RV:
- Walmart
- Cracker Barrel
- Cabellas
- Casinos
- Rest Areas
- Pull Outs
- Shopping Malls
- Truck Stops
- Stealth Camping
- Mooch Docking
- BLM and National Forest
- Local, State, and National Campgrounds
- Harvest Hosts
- Boondockers Welcome
- Thousand Trails
- Kampgrounds of America (KOA)
- Monthly Rates at RV Parks
We will discuss each of these camping options beginning with the free options and ending with the lower-cost option.
Free Camping
We are fortunate that, in the US, there are many places where you can camp for free.
In most of these places, stays are limited. However, if you piece these together, you can have many nights of free camping.
Free Overnight Parking
Walmart
Many, but not all, Walmart locations allow overnight RV parking. Some Walmart locations are limited by government regulations that do not allow overnight parking.
Check with the Walmart location before planning your overnight stay.
Cracker Barrel
Many Cracker Barrel locations have RV parking for your overnight visit.
It’s good practice to ask the management if it is okay to park your RV for an overnight visit.
If you do stay overnight at either Walmart or Cracker Barrel, it’s a nice gesture to patronize the business. Cracker Barrel has an awesome breakfast and Walmart has exceptionally low prices on groceries.
Cabellas
Cabellas has many Western locations where you can park overnight. They often have large parking lots that are quiet RV-friendly.
Some Cabellas locations have dump stations and freshwater that you can use to dump and fill your RV. It’s good practice to call ahead to make sure that they allow overnight parking.
Like Walmart and Cracker Barrel, it’s good juju to make a purchase. And honestly, it’s a fun place to shop.
Casinos
Many Casinos offer overnight parking.
Some even have campgrounds with RV hookups. The campgrounds are not normally free though.
While you’re there, enjoy a meal at the casino. They often have good prices on great food.
Rest Areas
Many states have interstate rest areas where you can stop and sleep overnight.
Rest areas are not the quietest place to overnight. Big rigs frequently run their engines and people come in and out of rest areas throughout the night.
Pull Outs
Highways often have areas with small parking areas or lots where you can pull off the highway. Sometimes, these areas allow overnight parking.
If the lot or pull-out does not allow overnight parking, a sign will be posted.
Shopping Malls
Shopping Malls often have large parking lots. They are a rare breed anymore, but if you find one, it’s likely to be deserted, especially at night.
As a bonus, many shopping malls have security guards, making it a safer place to overnight.
Before you overnight in a shopping mall, be sure to get permission from the management.
Truck Stops
Some truck stops allow overnight RV parking. If they do, they will have a car and RV section for overnight parking.
Truckers get upset when RVs are parked in the truck overnight parking. This is because truckers have fewer options for places where they can sleep. Besides, you won’t want to stay on the truck side anyway as it will be quite loud.
Stealth Camping
Stealth Camping is overnight camping outside of a campground, often without express permission. If you’d like to know more about stealth camping, read the article that I wrote here.
City Streets
As long as there aren’t any “no overnight parking” signs, you may be able to park on a city street.
Make sure that there are not any other types of parking restrictions before you overnight on a city street. Some cities have parking restrictions for street sweeping and others limit parking to residents. These restrictions should always be posted.
Limited Time Camping
Here are some camping options where you can stay longer than one night. However, there is still often a time limit.
If you’d like to get more ideas about camping outside of a campground, read our article, “No Campground? No Problem.”
Mooch Docking
Mooch docking is camping at the home of a friend or family member. Friends or family members may have room for you to park in their driveway or yard. We have also mooch docked on the street in front of our family’s residence.
Again, just make sure that there are not any signs that prohibit overnight parking for RVs.
Technically, there is no time limit with mooch docking, but you know what they say:
Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.
benjamin franklin
BLM and National Forest
Both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Forest allow limited, free overnight camping. Limits are usually two weeks but can vary. Check with the BLM or National Forest office for the area where you’re planning to stay to find out the stay limit.
If you’d like to know how we find these places to camp, read the article that I wrote about finding dispersed campsites.
If you’re not sure if dispersed camping is for you, read our article, “10 Top Reasons You Should Consider Boondocking, Dry Camping, and Dispersed Camping.”
Low-Cost RV Overnight Parking
If you need to stay at a location longer or you want to camp in a designated campground. There are some low-cost options. Some of these options won’t have hookups, but many will have a place to dump tanks and fill your water for a small fee.
Local, State, and Nation Campgrounds
Government-run campgrounds can be some of the least expensive places to camp. If you’re looking for a place to camp for a few weeks or less, check out a government-run campground.
National Forest Campgrounds
National forest campgrounds are some of the most reasonably-priced campgrounds I’ve seen. They are also some of the most beautiful. Recently, we paid $12.00 per night to stay in a national forest campground.
What these campgrounds lack in amenities, they make up for in site size.
Almost all national forest campgrounds will have a pit toilet, a fire ring, and a picnic table. Some have trash pick up and some do not.
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a national forest campground that has a dump station and a water fill. In my experience, this is a rare but appreciated treat.
National Park Campgrounds
National park campgrounds are more expensive than national forest campgrounds. However, they generally have a better location and better amenities.
National park campgrounds will always have a toilet. Many national parks have flush toilets and some even have showers. You can expect trash pickup at national park campgrounds.
While you may not be able to get potable water at all national forest campgrounds, national park campgrounds will have potable water. Some even have a dump station and a water fill.
The average cost per night for a national park campground is about $30.00 per night.
Keep in mind that you may also have to pay the national park entry fee.
If you hold an Interagency (America the Beautiful) Access Pass, a Military Pass, and 4th Grader Pass, or an Interagency (American the Beautiful) Senior Pass, your entrance fee to the park is waived.
If you hold a Senior Pass, you will receive a 50% discount on some amenities, including camping, at federal recreation sites.
Some national parks are difficult to get into due to high demand. For example, you may have trouble getting a campsite at Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park. If you’re having trouble getting a site at a national park, try Campnab. Last year, we booked campsites in Grand Tetons and Glacer National Parks using Campnab.
State Campgrounds
Like federal campgrounds, state campgrounds are generally less expensive than private campgrounds. Many states subsidize the costs of the campgrounds.
The cost of state campgrounds vary by state. Some states levy a surcharge if you are not a resident.
The average cost for a state park campsite for an RV is between $30-$45 per night.
State parks vary on amenities. For example, most state parks in California do not have hookups, whereas state parks in Oregon frequently do have hookups.
Military Campgrounds
There are 279 military campgrounds in the US.
These campgrounds are open to active duty military, veterans and their dependents.
Local Campgrounds
Local campgrounds are the hidden gems of camping. They are often lovely parks that have an area for camping.
County Parks
Some county parks host campsites. These campsites are frequently booked through the county office. Some even have an online reservations system.
You can find these campgrounds in apps like Campendium and the Dyrt.
Here are Campendium’s 10 favorite county park campgrounds.
Utility District Campgrounds
Utlility district campgrounds are owned and managed by utility districts. Normally, these are water and electric utilities that provide camping on owned or leased land.
Like county park campgrounds, you can find these campsites through apps like Campendium and the Dyrt.
Campsites vary in price. Some have hookups while others do not.
Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds
The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) manage over 400 campgrounds in 43 states. These are military run campgrounds on waterways, such as dams and rivers.
Many of these campsites offer full or partial hookups. Costs vary, but the costs per night ranges from around $22 – $50 per night for a single site.
COE campgrounds are available to the general public – no military affiliation is required.
COE campgrounds are elegable for discounted fees with the American the Beautiful senior pass.
Search for these sites on Campendium and the Dyrt.
Camping Memberships
Campground memberships are a less expensive way to stay at nice campgrounds or RV parks with hookups. If you’d like to know if camping memberships are worthwhile, read this article that we wrote.
Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts membership is an inexpensive way to spend one night at a farm, winery, brewery or other place of business.
You pay a nominal annually membership fee for the opportunity to camp overnight for free!
Harvest Hosts camping is usually dry camping. However, there are a few locations that have some sort of hookups.
We have been to some beautiful locations and really have enjoyed our stay. For us, Harvest Hosts is a great place to overnight on a long journey.
If you do stay at a Harvest Hosts location, please thank your host by purchasing a product or making a donation.
Boondockers Welcome
Boondockers Welcome is owned by Harvest Hosts. The concept is somewhat similar. For a nomial annual fee, you boondock (dry camp) at the private home of a member.
Noramally, hookups aren’t available. However, if your host does have hookups, please compensate them for the use of those utilities. In addition, a small gift is a nice token of your appreciation.
Thousand Trails
The Thousand Trails membership is a high up-front cost but will save you money in the long run. If you like having RV hookups and prefer to camp in a campground or RV park, you’ll appreciate Thousand Trails. Thousand Trails has many locations all across the US.
If you’d like to know more about Thousand Trails, read the article we wrote here.
Kampgrounds of America (KOA)
Campgrounds of America have a different kind of membership. If you join the KOA membership program, you can save money if you stay at KOA frequently. Read what I wrote about the KOA membership here.
Monthly Rates at RV Parks
If you don’t plan to travel much, but are looking for a less expensive way to stay in your RV, a monthly rate might work for you.
The great thing about monthly rates is that you can know exactly what your monthly housing costs will be.
Monthly rates are a great cost savings over daily camping rates.
Conclusion
Parking an RV on the cheap may take a little planning, but, in the end, it’s worth the effort for the money you’ll save.
Resources:
Long Long Honeymoon Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_zF0OMWfA