Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by Nikole
Free camping for camper vans is also known as dispersed camping or boondocking. The technical definition is the act of camping without any amenities such as; toilets, showers, electricity, and running water. It also means there are no campsite fees! This is awesome news, but you can’t just free camp wherever you like.
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Our Experience
We remember all too clearly picking up our new camper van. The Ford dealership was located about five hours away, near Charleston South Carolina. We brought our queen-sized air mattress to put inside our new Ford Transit Connect after we made the purchase.
Then came the big “speed bump” in our trip, where are we going to legally spend the night in our van? We drove through a national forest only to end up in the back yard of an old lady’s house with her chihuahuas chasing our van (I’m still not sure how we ended up in someone’s back yard. We got a hotel because we didn’t know where we could legally stay.
Check out how we came to choose our Ford Transit Connect for a camper van.
So, to help you avoid this awkward situation here is your free camping guide for camper vans.
National Forests and Grasslands
A large expanse of land that is owned by the federal government. Not only does the government own the lands, but they also maintain and preserve them.
Where to Find it:
You can find free camping in the USA at the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. This website will show you all the national forests and grasslands.
is it Legal:
Absolutely! But some areas are off-limits to camping, it’s always important to look at the U.S Department of Agriculture website to find any off-limit areas before you go free camping.
What to Avoid:
Avoid parking your camper van right off of the road if it is a high trafficked gravel path. We tried this at the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina, and we got dusted so much it was hard to breathe.
Other Advice:
Still try and have your trip planned out around where you will spend the night within a national forest. Otherwise, you may find yourself in the not so scenic Walmart parking lot.
National forests are different than state parks and national parks. Most likely there is no free camping In state or national parks.
There are also rules to boondocking/free camping in national forests, like setting up camp at least 200 feet away from streams and water sources. Make sure you look up the specific rules in the area you are going. You can check out any rules at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Dyrt App is a powerful app that has a map for boondocking in the USA.
Walmart Free Camping
If you don’t know what Walmart is, you live under a rock. Just in case you have been living under a rock, Walmart is one of the largest retail corporations.
Is it Legal:
In most cases yes! Walmart has graciously allowed travelers from all around to free camp in their parking lots. There are, however, some Walmarts that do not allow it. Check out the Allstays app to find Walmarts that will allow camping overnight with your camper van, car, or RV.
What to Avoid:
Avoid camping here, it’s anything but an explorer’s dream spot to camp. Walmart is great If you are just driving through, and you can’t find anywhere else to go.
Other Advice:
Avoid using grills, tents, or canopies in their parking lot. No one should be taking advantage of Walmart’s camping courtesies, therefore ruining it for everyone else.
Also, park in the back of the lot so you are not in the way of truck deliveries.
Staying at Bureau of Land Management
This is where some states will allow you to create a free campsite outside of developed campgrounds.
Is it Legal:
Yes, but you need to find these areas first because not all campgrounds have this. Check out the BLM interactive map to find free camping in the USA.
What to Avoid:
Try to avoid this option unless you are traveling out west. BLM is typically located in desert-like scenery.
Other Advice:
Just like with national forests avoid camping 200 feet or closer to water sources. Also, check for fire hazards and burn notices in the area.
Boondocking at Truck Stops
Truck stops were originally designed for long-haul truckers. Now many truck stops will allow camper vans, cars, and RVs to stay the night.
Is it Legal:
Yes, it is, just make sure you call the truck stop or pop inside to ask if they require reservations. Several stops that we tried staying at through South Carolina required reservations and were all booked up.
What to Avoid:
Try to avoid truck stops that require payment. One that we tried to stay at was $12 per night, which isn’t bad. If there is a Walmart down the street though, I would rather stay there for free.
Other Advice:
Call ahead to make sure reservations aren’t required. Truck stops can be a great asset to your adventure, especially if your camper van doesn’t have a toilet or a shower. Keep in mind that most truck stops will have you pay for a shower.
Rest Areas
You may have noticed random places with a parking lot dotting the highways, these are rest stops. They are great because they have vending machines and bathrooms.
Is it Legal:
Sometimes. Very rarely will you come across a rest stop that will allow you to spend the whole night in their parking lot.
What to Avoid:
Avoid staying at rest stops more than the time allotted by the specific state, county, and city. Every rest stop has different rules and regulations. In North Carolina, most rest stops won’t allow you to stay more than 4 hours.
Other Advice:
You can check out a list of rest stops here for places near you.
Casinos
Casinos are places you can go for earning some extra cash, but most likely you will lose it. If you are like me though you may walk out with about $300 each time you gamble… I don’t know, I’m just lucky I guess. Oh, did I mention they allow free camping?
Is it Legal:
Yes! Most casinos will allow you to camp overnight, but some will require you to stop in and sign papers at the front desk.
What to Avoid:
Maybe avoid gambling, the whole point of camping here is to SAVE money. So unless you are lucky like me, avoid playing games.
Other Advice:
Casinos are great places to stay overnight, because a lot of them are open all night, and offer free restrooms and cheap food.
